Football 11/10/2023 11:21:00 AM

PREVIEW: NO. 3 FOOTBALL HEADS TO CONCORDIA LOOKING FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON

Football 11/10/2023 11:21:00 AM

PREVIEW: NO. 3 FOOTBALL HEADS TO CONCORDIA LOOKING FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON

PREVIEW

WEEK 10: No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan (9-0) at Concordia (6-3)
This marks the fifth meeting between the two programs – and the fourth one on the road.

KICKOFF

Kick-off for the regular-season finale will be at 1:00 p.m.

ON THE INTERNET

Fans can watch the game by clicking HERE.
Listen to the game on 1400 AM WBAT.
Live stats are available by clicking HERE.

THE SERIES

The Cardinals hold a 3-1 lead in the all-time series, but the Wildcats won a 23-13 game last year. IWU is looking for its first road win in the series.

GRITTY WINS

The Wildcats have won both games over ranked opponents by a combined three points this season. This includes a 42-40 victory over Marian on Saturday. The Wildcats erupted for a 21-point fourth quarter in the come-from-behind win. The balanced attack produced 265 yards through the air and 238 yards on the ground. Isaiah Gibbs rushed nine times for 101 yards and two scores, while Xander Stokes ran for 98 yards and a touchdown. Levi Tidwell hauled in nine passes for 99 yards and a score.

AT THE HELM

Head Coach Andrew Rode returns to Concordia after spending five seasons as their offensive coordinator from 2015-2019.
In his first year at the helm of the Wildcats, Andrew Rode has his team as one of just four undefeated teams in NAIA heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The others include No. 1 Northwestern (Iowa), No. 2 Grand View (Iowa) and No. 9 Evangel (Mo.).

WILDCAT LEADERS

Xander Stokes leads the talented multi-dimensional offense with 2,191 yards through the air with 22 touchdowns. Stokes has completed 62.02 percent of his passes on the year.
Levi Tidwell leads the talented receiving corps with 908 yards and eight scores. Isaac Smith has 390 yards and four touchdowns, while Dederrian Williams also has four receiving touchdowns.
Williams, one of the biggest threats in NAIA, has rushed for a team-high 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns. Isaiah Gibbs and Stokes also have four touchdown runs apiece.

Luke Bays and Clayton Mosher share team-high honors with 27 solo tackles apiece. Bays has a team-high 87 total tackles, while Mosher's 9.5 tackles for loss are second on the team to only Isaac Abeo's 12.5 tackles for loss. Abeo's 9.0 sacks for 71 yards lead the way for the defense.
IWU is 9th in the NAIA with 702 total tackles.
Neil Campbell's six interceptions lead the vaunted defense, while Preston Sykes and Mosher have four and two interceptions, respectively. IWU is second in the NAIA with 19 interceptions.
Jamis Carson and Keenan Hicks each have four pass break-ups on the season.
Drake Deshetsky and Ammen Hicks have each scooped up two fumbles.

Nolan Foley averages 32.0 yards per punt with a long of 55. He has placed 10 inside the 20-yard line.
Josh Clifton's been solid in the kicking game, converting five-of-seven on the year with a long of 49. He is a perfect 46-46 on PAT's.

CARDINAL LEADERS

Gavin Brooks leads the Concordia offense through the air. He has thrown for 2,006 yards and 21 scores while completing 56.5 percent of his attempts. His main target has been Seeger DeGayner, who has hauled in 51 passes for 822 yards and 14 scores. Bailey Brooks and Jordan Garcia each have over 20 receptions and 300 yards. The duo has combined for four scores. Logan Hay (3 touchdowns) and Nicholas Patton (two touchdowns) each have multiple scores.
The rushing attack is led by Brandon Stewart's 460 yards on 4.4 yards per carry. Stewart has six of the team's 11 rushing touchdowns. James Carpenter has two scores while Shondel Hardnett, Elijah Taylor and Brad Sollom all have reached the end-zone.

David Cage and Casey Rauch lead the defense with 27 solo stops apiece while Liam Karry's 86 total tackles are tops on the team.
Cagle has been in the backfield a lot, tallying 15.5 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks – both of which lead the squad.
Andrew Wiemer has a team-high four interceptions while Rauch, Gabe Whitmore and LeRoy Watson have two interceptions apiece.
Rauch has forced two fumbles while Chase Maynard's fumble return of 38 yards tops the team.

The special teams are led by Casey Rauch's 40.6 yards per punt. He has placed 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and has forced five fair catches. Dejai Robinson has converted five-of-eight field goals and 27-of-29 extra points.

WHAT TO WATCH

After a thrilling game last week against Marian, this week could be another close one. Despite the 6-3 record, Concordia's three losses have been by a combined 20 points. The Cardinals lost to Marian in a defensive struggle 14-7 on Oct. 14.
With it being the final regular-season game on the road, the contest could be a defensive battle.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats will enter the 2023 NAIA Football Championship Series.
IWU will learn their fate during the Selection Show on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m.
Fans can watch the show on the NAIA YouTube Channel. The link will be posted on the NAIA
Twitter and Facebook page at the appointed time.

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

Follow Athletics (@IWUWildcats): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Follow Football (@IndWesleyan_FB): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo: DL; 6' 3"; Graduate Student; /

#5 Luke Bays: LB; 6' 0"; Junior

#24 Neil Campbell: DB; 5' 11"; Senior; /

#0 Jamis Carson: DB; 5' 9"; Graduate Student; /

#10 Drake Deshetsky: LB; 6' 2"; Junior

#75 Ammen Hicks: DL; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#1 Keenan Hicks: DB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#2 Clayton Mosher: LB; 6' 0"; Junior

#2 Isaac Smith: WR; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#16 Xander Stokes: QB; 6' 1"; Graduate Student; /

Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student; /
: DL

#5 Luke Bays
: 6' 0"; Junior
: LB

#24 Neil Campbell
: 5' 11"; Senior; /
: DB

#0 Jamis Carson
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student; /
: DB

#10 Drake Deshetsky
: 6' 2"; Junior
: LB

#75 Ammen Hicks
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DL

#1 Keenan Hicks
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DB

#2 Clayton Mosher
: 6' 0"; Junior
: LB

#2 Isaac Smith
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: WR

#16 Xander Stokes
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student; /
: QB

Indiana Wesleyan University

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PREVIEW: NO. 3 FOOTBALL HEADS TO CONCORDIA LOOKING FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON

PREVIEW: NO. 3 FOOTBALL HEADS TO CONCORDIA LOOKING FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON

Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo

#5 Luke Bays

#24 Neil Campbell

#0 Jamis Carson

#10 Drake Deshetsky

#75 Ammen Hicks

#1 Keenan Hicks

#2 Clayton Mosher

#2 Isaac Smith

#16 Xander Stokes

Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo

#5 Luke Bays

#24 Neil Campbell

#0 Jamis Carson

#10 Drake Deshetsky

#75 Ammen Hicks

#1 Keenan Hicks

#2 Clayton Mosher

#2 Isaac Smith

#16 Xander Stokes