MARION, Ind. – After picking up a second-round victory over Morningside last week, No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan football returns to action this weekend in the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals at No. 4 Georgetown (Ky.) on Saturday.

 

PREVIEW

• NAIA FCS SECOND ROUND: No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan (10-1) vs. No. 6 Georgetown (Ky.) (9-1)
• This marks the first meeting between the programs.

KICKOFF

• Kick-off for the NAIA FCS Quarterfinal 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.

TICKETS

• Tickets can be purchased now by clicking HERE.

THE SERIES

• Despite being two of the top programs in NAIA, this marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

BACK IN THE QUARTERFINALS

• This marks the second consecutive season the Wildcats have earned a berth in the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals. Last year, the team bested No. 13 Avila 14-7 to square off against No. 6 Benedictine in the quarterfinals. In 2022, IWU downed Benedictine 24-13 for a spot in the NAIA FCS Semifinals.
• This season, IWU knocked off No. 10 Morningside by a score of 24-21 to reach the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals at No. 4 Georgetown.

AT THE HELM

• Head coach Andrew Rode continues his solid run during his first season at the helm of the Wildcats' program. The MSFA Mideast Coach of the Year led IWU to a 9-1 regular-season record before taking down his former school, Morningside, in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. Rode won his first nine games as the head coach of the Wildcats' program and is now 1-0 during postseason competition.

WILDCAT LEADERS

• The IWU high-powered offense runs through the hands of Xander Stokes, who leads the way with a program record 2,739 yards on 225 completions with 25 touchdown passes.
• His favorite target has been Levi Tidwell, who has already registered a program record 1,101 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. He leads the way with 100.09 yards per game through the air. Isaac Smith's five touchdown catches are second on the squad. He has 28 receptions while Tristen Hayes has 26 receptions and a score.
• Do-it-all back Dederrian Williams has 1,164 yards rushing on 180 carries. He is only 25 yards away from breaking the program career rushing record in just two seasons as a Wildcat. Williams has 12 touchdown runs and accounts for 105.82 yards per game. The multi-talented running back also has four touchdown receptions and 185 yards on 31 catches. Both Isaiah Gibbs and Stokes have four touchdown runs apiece. 

• Luke Bays leads the outstanding defense with a program record 108 total tackles. His 32 solo stops also top the squad. Clayton Mosher has 63 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. Isaac Abeo's 12.5 tackles for loss, including 9.0 sacks, are team highs. Drake Deshetsky, Jamis Carson, Neil Campbell and Preston Sykes all have over 50 tackles on the season.
• Campbell has six interceptions, while Carson has five pass break-ups.
• Bays has forced 3 fumbles, while Deshetsky and Hicks have two fumble recoveries apiece.

• Nolan Foley averages 33.41 yards per punt. He has punted 13 inside the 20 and has three that have covered at least 50 yards.
• Josh Clifton has converted seven-of-10 field goals with a long of 49 yards.  

TIGER LEADERS

• The Georgetown offense runs through Darius Neal, literally. The standout has 1,212 rushing yards, averaging 7.8 yards a carry. He has 20 touchdown runs with a long of 88 yards on the year.
• Gehrig Slunaker has completed 111-191 passes for 1,509 yards and 13 scores through the air.
• JC Shegog leads the receiving corps with 453 yards and three scores. Aaron Maggard's four touchdown catches are the most on the team.

• Chad Holleran leads a defense that gives up just over 12 points per game with 82 total stops. He has 9.5 tackles for loss as well as an interception and a forced fumble to his credit. Payton Standifer has 65 total tackles.
• Kyren Simpson leads the way with four interceptions while three have broken up four passes.
• Davon Starks has two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to his credit. He leads the team in both categories.
• Simpson and Brycen Huddleston have each blocked a kick.

• Drew Rader averages 39.6 yards per punt and has placed 16 inside the 20-yard line.
• Rader also has converted six-of-seven field goals as well as 48-of-49 extra-point attempts.

WHAT TO WATCH

• Both teams force opponents to commit turnovers. The Wildcats have forced 33 turnovers on the season, while the Tigers have forced 28 turnovers. The key to this postseason game could come down to the turnover battle.

UP NEXT

• Should IWU be victorious, the Wildcats would compete in the NAIA FCS Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 9.
• The contest would be at the campus site of the higher seed en route to the NAIA National Championship in Durham, N.C., on Dec. 18.

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