UPLAND, Ind. – No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan football scored early and often in the 42-17 victory over Taylor University Saturday afternoon behind an outstanding ground attack. Dederrian Williams highlighted the night with 310 yards of total offense and 3 touchdowns.
In Williams' two games against Taylor as a Wildcat, he has totaled 499 rushing yards, 51 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.
- The win extends the Wildcats' record to 6-0 on the season.
- Dederrian Williams got things going quickly. On the first play from scrimmage, he took the handoff 60 yards for a score. Josh Clifton's kick pushed the lead to 7-0.
- After forcing the home team to punt, Xander Stokes went back to work. He completed a pair of passes and a pair of rushes to put the ball at the Taylor 26-yard line. However, the team was unable to convert a fourth-and-three from the 19-yard line.
- Taylor took over possession at the 7:52 mark and marched to the IWU 23-yard line before the quarter ended.
- Taylor finished the drive with a field goal. Overall, the drive went 58 yards on 15 plays over nine minutes of game time.
- The teams traded three-and-outs. After a 55-yard punt by Nolan Foley for a touchback, the Wildcats got the ball back quickly after Anthony Cheesebourough forced and recovered a fumble.
- Stokes struck quickly, finding Simon Vinson for a 17-yard touchdown for a 14-3 lead.
- On the next offensive possession, Stokes found Vinson for a 10-yard gain to the IWU 36-yard line. Williams finished the quick-strike drive with a 64-yard scamper for a 21-3 edge with 6:49 to play in the quarter.
- Taylor made it 21-10 after a 66-yard drive that ended with a 61-yard touchdown with less than two minutes to play before halftime.
- The Wildcats returned the favor. With 57 seconds to play, the team went 60 yards in 42 seconds with five plays. Highlighting the quick drive was a 19-yard rush by Stokes, a 22-yard reception by Levi Tidwell, and a 14-yard touchdown run by Stokes for a 28-10 margin at the break.
- Ammen Hicks forced his second fumble of the season, recovered by Robert Hunter, as time expired in the half.
- Midway through the third frame, Williams had back-to-back rushes for 32 yards. After an eight-yard pass to Tristen Hayes, Williams took a handoff to the house for an 18-yard score to make it 35-10.
- Taylor struck back with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to pull within 18, 35-17, with 12 seconds left to play in the frame.
- After multiple empty possessions by each team, IWU took the ball with 8:05 to play on the Taylor 30-yard line. Two plays later, Stokes hit senior Tony Myers for his first touchdown of his career, putting the finishing touches on the victory.
- Xander Stokes attempted just 22 passes and completed 13 attempts. He was efficient, tossing a pair of touchdown passes.
- Dederrian Williams led everyone with 288 rushing yards on 18 attempts. He went for three touchdowns with a long run of 64 yards. Williams accounted for 16 yards per carry.
- Stokes also reached paydirt. Overall, he had six rushes for 26 yards and a score.
- Tony Myers and Simon Vinson each caught touchdown passes. After setting back-to-back school records for receiving yards in a game, Tidwell added two catches for 27 yards.
- Luke Bays led the defense with nine solo stops and 13 total tackles. Clayton Mosher was not far behind, posting seven solo tackles and 11 overall.
- Anthony Cheesebourough and Ammen Hicks were each in on a sack. The duo each forced a fumble, while Cheesbourough and Hunter each recovered one.
- Mosher led the way with two tackles for loss.
- Overall, 10 IWU student-athletes were in on a tackle for loss.
- Nolan Foley recorded five punts, including one of 55 yards. He produced one inside the 20-yard line.
- Neil Campbell returned three kickoffs for 70 yards, including a long of 28 yards.
- Josh Clifton was once again on target, hitting all six extra point attempts.
- Taylor tallied one more first down (19-18) than the Wildcats but IWU held a 13-6 edge in first downs by the ground attack.
- IWU totaled 351 yards on the ground compared to 168 by the home team. The Wildcats averaged over 10 yards per carry while limiting the opposition to 3.4 yards per attempt.
- Overall, IWU outgained Taylor 486-343.
- The victory keeps IWU among the ranks of the undefeated.
- The Wildcats host Madonna for Homecoming (0-6) as the Crusaders play their second top-five team.
- "It was a great atmosphere and a really fun rivalry game," said Andrew Rode, Head Football Coach. "The offense was explosive, and both Tay and the offensive line played really well today. Really proud of the defense and their performance. They had to play assignment sound and physical, and they did that against a tough Taylor offense."
- "The offensive line did a tremendous job tonight opening up running lanes," said Dederrian Williams, Senior Running Back. "We practiced our runs and blocks relentlessly. All the hard work this week definitely paid off tonight. Big shout-out to my offensive line!"
- The Wildcats return home to host Madonna for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1:00 p.m.
- Links for tickets, video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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