Indiana Wesleyan University

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats suffered a 21-10 loss at Concordia Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale. IWU still have secured a share of the MSFA Mideast championship with a 6-1 record. This marks their second-straight conference championship in just five season in the MSFA. 
 

OVERALL

• The Wildcats fall to 9-1 on the year while the Cardinals improve to 7-3. 

FIRST QUARTER

• After two quick drives, the Wildcats got the ball back on the 34-yard line. Isaiah Gibbs rumbled eight yards and Blake Brumbaugh hauled in a four-yard pass for a first down. On third-and-five, Gibbs rushed for four yards and he was stopped for no gain on fourth down on the 13-yard line. 
• A 61-yard pass by the Cardinals set up first-and-goal. Concordia used the running game for a 7-0 lead with 3:00 to play in the first quarter.
• On the ensuing drive, Xander Stokes found Levi Tidwell for a 22-yard gain. On second-and-eight, Gibbs rushed for a 10-yard gain. A four-yard loss on a running play and a sack led to a punt by Nolan Foley to end the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

• On third-and-13, Concordia completed a 37-yard pass to the IWU five-yard line. A penalty put the ball at the three and the Cardinals went up 14-0 on a running play with 10:57 to play before halftime..
• IWU took the ball and slowly moved down the field. On third-and-four, Xander Stokes rushed for five yards. Gibbs followed it with a 15-yard run to the IWU 39-yard line. Gibbs and Dederrian Williams combined for 15 yards and another first down. Stokes hit Tidwell for a 16-yard gain to move the ball to the CU 31-yard line
• Two plays later, Gibbs' run moved the ball into the red zone at the 18-yard line. After a loss of three yards on second down, Stokes found Caden Currie for a 14-yard gain but a penalty was called, nullifying the first down. An incomplete pass made it fourth-and-17 from the 25-yard line. Josh Clifton promptly blasted the 46-yard field goal with 4:27 to play in the half. 
• The score remained 14-3 at the break. 

THIRD QUARTER

• The Wildcats received the ball to start the third quarter. Gibbs started things off with a rush before Brumbaugh hauled in a nine-yard pass for a first down. Two plays later, Tidwell's 11-yard reception gave IWU a first down at the 40-yard line. On third-and-six, Brumbaugh pulled in a pass for five yards but the Wildcats were stuffed for no gain on fourth-and-one. 
• Luke Bays hurried the quarterback on third-and-nine, forcing an incomplete pass and another punt by the Cardinals. 
• IWU had third-and-two on its own 33-yard line but the squad managed just a yard. A Nolan Foley punt flipped the field. Bays and Matthew Schager recorded a tackle for loss on first down. Caleb Williams had a sack on second down. Robert Hunter had a quarterback hurry on third down, which led to a punt. 
• After three consecutive plays for no gain, Foley launched a 57-yard punt to the Cardinals' five-yard line. Concordia made it to its own 24-yard line before having to punt on fourth-and-one. 
• Three straight running plays by the Wildcats produced a first-down at the CU 47-yard line to start the fourth frame.  

FOURTH QUARTER

• After gaining a first down on a penalty, Stokes connected with Tidwell for 15 yards to the 22-yard line. Two plays later, Brumbaugh hauled in a pass from Stokes for a score. The extra point made it 14-10 with 13:48 to play.
• After the Wildcats were unable to gain a first down while facing a third-and-13, Concordia took over at its own 34-yard line. Moments later, the Cardinals converted on fourth down for a 21-10 lead. 
• IWU tried to slice into the deficit. Facing second-and-goal, the Wildcats were whistled for intentional grounding. The squad had back-to-back incompletions, giving the ball back to the home team with under 2:00 to play in the game.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

• Stokes completed 21-of-41 for 208 yards and a touchdown. He also had an interception.
• Tidwell hauled in nine passes for 103 yards while Brumbaugh had six catches for 75 yards with a score. 
• Gibbs led the way with 23 attempts for 88 yards on the ground. Williams had six carries for 18 yards in the loss. 

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

• Bays accounted for nine total tackles, including six that were assisted. He had two tackles for loss in the game. 
• Jamis Carson had six tackles in the game. 
• Caleb Williams had a pair of quarterback hurries and a sack. 
• Kennan Hicks had two pass break-ups in the contest. 

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS

• Clifton made his one field goal attempt – coming from 46 yards out. Neil Campbell returned three kicks for 58 yards (19.3 average). 
• Foley had six punts for a 42.5-yard average, including a long of 61 yards. 

STATS COMPARISON

• WU had a 20-13 edge in first downs. The Wildcats had 114 yards on the ground while limiting the home team to 63 yards.
• Passing yards were close but IWU still maintained a 208-205 edge. 
• The Wildcats had two fumbles and lost one in the game. IWU also had one interception. 
• IWU was four-for-17 on third-down attempts while the host school was three-for-15. 
• The Wildcats converted one-of-five on fourth down while Concordia was perfect at two-for-two. 

LOOKING FORWARD

• The Wildcats will learn their postseason matchup during the NAIA Selection Show on Sunday evening.
• Links for video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

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