MARION, Ind. – The No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan football team recorded a 42-40 victory over No. 5 Marian Saturday afternoon in arguably the most thrilling game in NAIA this season. IWU clinches a share of the MSFA Mideast regular season championship with an opportunity to secure it outright next week. This marks their second-straight conference championship in just five season in the MSFA. 




 

OVERALL

• The Wildcats are now 9-0 overall, including 6-0 in MFSA action.

FIRST QUARTER

• Trailing 3-0 early in the first quarter, Stokes took off on a 19-yard run but lost a fumble, giving the ball back to the visitors. However, IWU's defense stepped up and forced a punt.
• After another drive stalled, Marian pushed the score to 10-0 on a 35-yard touchdown strike with 4:52 to play in the stanza.

SECOND QUARTER

• Marian finished off a drive that started late in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run with the first play of the quarter for a 17-0 advantage.
• After trading three-and-outs, IWU got the ball back and Stokes hit Tidwell for a 10-yard gain. Facing third-and-nine, Stokes galloped 23 yards for a first down at the Marian 47-yard line. On the ensuing play, he hit Tristen Hayes for a 34-yard gain.
• Looking at another third-and-long, Stokes connected with Simon Vinson for a 16-yard touchdown pass, pulling the team within 10 at 17-7 with 7:48 to play.
• The defense stepped up and forced a punt that Neil Campbell returned 21 yards. Stokes found Myles Cox for a 17-yard gain. After finding Blake Brumbaugh for nine yards, Stokes evaded the defense for a 32-yard touchdown run with 5:02 to go before halftime.
• Marian answered with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, taking a 23-14 lead. IWU pulled within two at 23-21 moments later. The Wildcats took the ball 76 yards over 2:41 on 10 plays. Stokes had seven pass attempts during the drive, but Dederrian Williams went the final 12 yards on the ground for the score.
• Just before halftime, Marian took a 31-21 lead on a 46-yard hail-mary pass as time expired.

THIRD QUARTER

• Much of the quarter was taken up by Marian's 13-play, 49-yard drive that took 6:52 off the clock. The defense stepped up and kept the visitors out of the red zone. However, Marian connected on a 39-yard field goal for a 13-point lead (34-21).
• With just 22 seconds to play in the quarter, Stokes hit Tidwell for a 22-yard gain.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Looking at third-and-three, Isaiah Gibbs converted the run for a 25-yard gain and a first down. Stokes and Tidwell hooked up again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown, with 13:20 to play.
• Drake Deshetsky recovered a fumble, giving the ball back to the Wildcats. Gibbs rushed three straight times but looking at fourth-and-eight, Stokes hit Tidwell for a 15-yard gain. After getting to the 1-yard line, Marian took a time-out.
• After the break, IWU took the lead on a three-yard run by Gibbs on third down.
• The Wildcats' defense once again stepped up on third down, forcing an incomplete pass. A 52-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left, keeping the score at 35-34.
• IWU took over at the 35-yard line. After Gibbs rushed twice for six yards, he broke a 59-yard run for a touchdown. Josh Clifton's extra point made it 42-34 with 4:10 to play.
• The Wildcats took the ball and marched 80 yards on 10 plays in just 2:54. The visitors scored on a four-yard touchdown run but the two-point conversion was no good.
• IWU recovered the onside kick and Stokes took a knee twice, ending the game. 

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

• Xander Stokes was outstanding, hitting 23-of-34 for 265 yards with two scores through the air while throwing just one interception.
• Levi Tidwell hauled in a game-high nine catches for a game-best 99 yards with a touchdown reception. Myles Cox caught seven passes for 83 yards, while Simon Vinson pulled down a touchdown pass.
• IWU nearly had two 100-yard rushers. Isaiah Gibbs averaged 11.2 yards per carry for 101 yards and two scores on nine carries. Stokes also had nine carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Dederrian Williams had a touchdown run on 15 carries.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

• Luke Bays and Preston Sykes each led the way with 10 tackles. Jamis Carson and Neil Campbell each had five solo stops.
• The team had seven tackles for loss. Matthew Schager and Sykes each had 1.5 tackles for loss while Schager had the lone sack.
• Drake Deshetsky recovered a fumble, and Schager recorded a blocked punt.

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS

• Nolan Foley averaged 27.3 yards per punt with a long of 34. Josh Clifton converted all six extra-point attempts.
• Campbell had two punt returns for 42 yards, while Blake Brumbaugh had one kickoff return for 23 yards.

STATS COMPARISON

• The rushing attack was the biggest difference as IWU registered 238 yards on the ground compared to 93 by Marian. The Wildcats held a slim 265-250 advantage through the air.
• IWU converted 7-14 third downs, while the visitors only converted 5-15. Both teams had two fourth-down conversions. Each team scored three times in the red zone.

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

• The Wildcats remain among the ranks of the unbeaten ane clinch a share of the MSFA regular season championship.

STOKES PERSPECTIVE

• "Incredibly proud of the way this team responded," said Xander Stokes. "Going down 17-0, we had the fight to climb our way back when adversity continued to come our way. Credit to our defense for stepping up at the end when we needed it most, and credit to our OL and WR's for making plays all day long. Great team win!"

LOOKING FORWARD

• The Wildcats heads into the regular-season finale against 6-3 Concordia (Mich.).
• Links for video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

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