Football 8/24/2023 4:34:00 PM

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NO. 5 WILDCATS OPEN 2023 SEASON AT LAWRENCE TECH

Football 8/24/2023 4:34:00 PM

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NO. 5 WILDCATS OPEN 2023 SEASON AT LAWRENCE TECH

PREVIEW

WEEK 1: Indiana Wesleyan (0-0) at Lawrence Tech (0-0)
Sporting a No. 5 preseason national ranking, IWU opens the season at Lawrence Tech.

KICKOFF

Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Tech.

ON THE INTERNET

Fans can watch the game by clicking HERE.
Listen to the game by clicking HERE, then clicking "Listen Live Kokomo".
Live stats are available by clicking HERE.

THE SERIES

The Wildcats lead the all-time series against Lawrence Tech 5-0. IWU is 2-0 on the road in the series, and the team has put up at least 35 points in each of their victories. Last season, the Wildcats tallied a 35-14 victory on Oct. 15 at Blue Devils Stadium.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Andrew Rode is enters his first season at the helm of the program. Rode arrived at IWU after spending 2020-2022 at Morningside University as the Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. He helped the school to the 2021 National Championship and was tabbed the 2021 Football Scoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year. In three seasons, the team was 35-2. The squad led the NAIA in points per game all three seasons.
Last season, the Wildcats scored 33.8 points a game while giving up just 13.8 points a contest. IWU tallied a program-best 11 consecutive wins – spanning the entire season between the first game and the semifinal round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.
The Wildcats are looking to pick up their second season-opening victory in school history. The squad is 0-3 in season openers on the road.

WILDCAT LEADERS

Xander Stokes headlines the offense. A graduate student, the standout completed 213 passes for 2,338 yards with 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 2022. He was 36th nationally in passing yards per game.
Dederrian Williams rushed for 1,175 yards with 14 scores on the ground a season ago. Carrying the ball at 5.3 yards per carry, he accounted for 90.38 yards a game, which was 14th nationally. A dual threat with his hands, Williams will give opponents fits several ways this year.
Junior Clayton Mosher headlines a stout defense. The leading tackler from 2022 tallied 99 stops a season ago, including 11 tackles in the backfield.
Isaac Abeo returns on the defensive line. The AP All-American was 6th in the nation with 11.5 sacks. His 18 tackles for loss rank 18th in the NAIA.

BLUE DEVIL LEADERS

Lawrence Tech's Tyler Kulka graduated, which leaves Kaleb Garner as the team's lone returner from 2022 that has completed a pass (3-6, 16 yards).
CJ Davidson returns in the backfield after averaging 6.2 yards per carry a season ago. He tallied 590 yards on 95 attempts with a team-best three scores.
Wide receiver Kendyl Williams hauled in a team-best 56 passes for a team-high 802 yards with 11 scores. A threat every time he touches the ball, Williams had a season-best 75-yard reception.
Leading tackler Ryan Crowley returns. He posted 76 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss. He also added an interception and had four pass break-ups.

WHAT TO WATCH

With lofty preseason rankings fresh off an 11-2 campaign, the Wildcats are primed for a deep playoff run. The team lost a lot of production from 2022 but a core group returns. Playing on the road for the first game of the season Wildcat Nation will see how the newcomers can handle a tough environment.
Lawrence Tech will be breaking in a new quarterback but whoever the starter is has an abundance of talent returning at the skill position.
In addition to seeing how IWU handles a hostile environment in the season opener, the key match-up will be the Wildcats' stout defense against Lawrence Tech's offense.

UP NEXT

IWU hosts Valparaiso Sept. 9 at 6:00 p.m. for the home opener. Last year, the Valpo managed to hold on for a 20-17 victory over the Wildcats.
Individuals looking to attend can purchase tickets at IWUWildcats.com/Tickets.

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; /

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

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

#14 Dederrian Williams: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#14 Dederrian Williams
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

Indiana Wesleyan University

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NO. 5 WILDCATS OPEN 2023 SEASON AT LAWRENCE TECH

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NO. 5 WILDCATS OPEN 2023 SEASON AT LAWRENCE TECH

Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo

#2 Clayton Mosher

#16 Xander Stokes

#14 Dederrian Williams

Players Mentioned

#4 Isaac Abeo

#2 Clayton Mosher

#16 Xander Stokes

#14 Dederrian Williams