BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Indiana Wesleyan garnered a 34-26 victory at Olivet Nazarene Saturday afternoon in the second contest of the season. The Wildcats improve to 1-1 on the season while Olivet Nazarene falls to 0-2.

Xander Stokes led the passing attack by going 12-21 for 100 yards. He also tossed a pair of touchdowns without an interception.

The ground attack was outstanding, rushing 47 times for 267 yards. Daniel Weems led the vicious attack with a whopping 134 yards on 13 carries (10.3 average). Dederrian Williams accounted for 123 yards on 23 attempts. Collectively, the team rushed for 5.7 yards per carry.

Jacquez Carter and Charlie Hill each hauled in touchdowns.

Jamis Carson paced the defense with eight total tackles while Clayton Mosher and Aaron Harris had six and five, respectively.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• IWU took control early and never relinquished control in the 34-26 win at Olivet Nazarene.
• A close contest early on, the Wildcats took control in the second half, posting a two-touchdown lead at 28-14.
• Although the home team made it close, IWU ensured a victory by recovering an onside kick and promptly converting the possession into a touchdown less than 30 seconds later.

FIRST QUARTER

• IWU took a 3-0 advantage early in the frame. Daniel Weems went for 14 yards before Xander Stokes completed a 21-yard pass.
• After a short completion to Jacquez Carter for three yards, the Wildcats were unable to get any closer. Ethan Collins blasted a 22-yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

• Stokes got things going in the second quarter, hitting Stephens-Peppers for 10 yards, pushing the team past midfield.
• Weeks went for 13 yards on a carry before Dederrian Williams scampered for a 31-yard touchdown. After the ensuing extra point, IWU led 10-0.
• Leading 10-7, IWU went 75 yards in 4:11 to claim a 17-7 advantage. Weems' 29-yard rush was the catalyst. Stokes' nine-yard pass to Charlie Hill for the touchdown.

THIRD QUARTER

• Collins connected on a 39-yard field goal with 7:020 to play in the third frame, but saw Olivet Nazarene pull within six at 20-14 less than two minutes later.
• An 11-play, 73-yard drive that took 5:13 off the clock resulted in Austin Myers pushing the pile for a one-yard dive. The ensuing two-point conversion made ti 28-14 just before the start of the fourth frame.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The home team pulled within eight with 1:47 to go but IWU answered with a lightning-quick 46-yard drive that resulted in Williams busting loose for a 20-yard run, clinching the game with 1:20 to go.
• Olivet Nazarene scored a touchdown with four ticks remaining, but it was not enough.

TURNING POINT

• Although the Wildcats had a two-touchdown lead at 28-14, the turning point came when Justin Johnson recovered the on-side kick with 1:47 to go.
• Four consecutive rushes by Williams chewed up the clock and his touchdown sealed the first win of the season for IWU.

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

• The victory means IWU will be 1-1 when the squad opens its home slate next week. The win pushes the Wildcats to 4-1 against Olivet Nazarene in the all-time series.  

KEY STATISTICS

• Miser registered a sack for a 14-yard loss while Carson had a sack for a 10-yard loss.
• The defense posted eight pass break-ups and Justin Johnson had an interception.  

NEXT UP

• IWU opens its home slate Saturday, Sept. 24 at home against Trinity International University (Ill.).
• Individuals looking to attend can purchase tickets at IWUWildcats.com/Tickets.

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