VALPARAISO, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan battled back from a halftime deficit to knot the score at 17-17 at Valparaiso Saturday evening, but the Wildcats dropped a 20-17 decision in the 2022 season opener.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• IWU got on the board first with a field goal only to see the Beacons rattle off 17 unanswered points.
• The Wildcats bounced back and knotted the score at 17-17 late in the fourth quarter.
• However, a 50-yard field goal gave Valpo the three-point victory.

FIRST QUARTER

• IWU took the lead with the first points of the season on a 25-yard field goal by Ethan Collins just 4:32 into the game. The drive took eight plays and went 66 yards before the squad put points on the board.
• Valpo tied the contest on a 30-yard field goal from Brian Bartholomew.

SECOND QUARTER

• The Beacons managed to take a 17-3 lead into halftime with a pair of touchdowns – one via the deep ball and another on a 20-yard rush.

THIRD QUARTER

• The Wildcats sliced the deficit to just seven when Xander Stokes connected with a 72-yard pass to rookie Markell Stephens-Peppers.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Justin Johnson put all the momentum in favor of the Wildcats when he returned a 49-yard punt 59 yards to the Valpo 20.
• After a first down, IWU knotted the score on an eight-yard rush from Daniel Weems with 3:50 to play in the game.
• Valparaiso started the drive with a 22-yard pass. The home team managed to continue the drive off a pass interference penalty for another 15 yards before getting to the 33-yard line with under two minutes to play.
• Valpo took a 20-17 lead on a 50-yard field goal with 1:36 to go from Dawson Pierson.
• With 1:36 to play, Stokes found Stephens-Peppers for 15 yards. Late on the drive, a holding penalty on Valpo gave the Wildcats another first down.
• The Wildcats got to the 37-yard line and on fourth down, Collins attempted a 54-yard field goal that was short.

TURNING POINT

• The turning point was the 50-yard field goal by the Beacons with less than two minutes to play.
• Despite a tremendous effort by the Wildcats, the squad was unable to tie the contest in the waning seconds.

KEY STATISTICS

• Indiana Wesleyan recorded 298 yards compared to 339 for Valpo. The Beacons held a 4.8 yard-per rush average compared to 1.0 yard per rush for the Wildcats.
• IWU completed 26 passes for 273 yards. Valparaiso completed 16 passes for 194 yards.
• Thanks to Johnson's outstanding punt return, the Wildcats returned three punts for 91 yards. IWU had sensational special teams help, allowing just seven punt return yards on two returns.
• Defensively, IWU had 31 solo tackles to 29 for the home team.
• Stokes completed 26 passes for 273 yards.
• Jacquez Carter caught a game-high nine passes for 97 yards. Stephens-Peppers hauled in eight passes for 113 yards.
• Neil Campbell led the defense with a game-high 11 total tackles. Donovan Shelton added 10 tackles while Johnson's seven solo stops were enough for game-high honors. 

NEXT UP

• IWU has a bye week to prepare for its next contest, which will be played Sept. 17 at Olivet Nazarene. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.

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