MARION, Ind. – Playoff football is officially coming to the campus of Indiana Wesleyan, as the No. 3-seeded Indiana Wesleyan will host No. 15-seeded Southwestern (Kan.) for the second round of the 2024 NAIA Football Championship Series.

 

PREVIEW

• NAIA FCS SECOND ROUND: No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan (10-1) vs. No. 15 Southwestern (Kan.) (11-1)
• This marks the first meeting between the programs.

KICKOFF

• Kick-off for the NAIA FCS Second Round will be at 12:00 p.m. in Wildcat Football Stadium

HOW TO FOLLOW

• Fans can visit the Championship Central page by clicking HERE.
• Live Video is available by clicking HERE.
• Live Stats are available by clicking HERE.
• Tickets are highly encouraged to be purchased in advance by clicking HERE.

THE SERIES

• This marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

RETURN TO THE POSTSEASON

• This marks the third-consecutive season IWU will compete in postseason play. Last year, the team opened the playoffs with a 24-21 win over Morningside in the second round, before falling to Georgetown College in the NAIA Semifinals, 31-21.
• The return to the postseason this year saw IWU gain a first-round bye. For the third-consecutive season, the team will compete in front of its home crowd.

WILDCAT LEADERS

• The Wildcats rank Top 5 in the NAIA in 15 offensive categories, and Top 10 in six defensive categories. Click HERE see more.
   
• Kyle Antoine is hitting 64.83% of his attempts, ranking 11^th in the NAIA. His 2,399 yards and 25 touchdowns are good for Top 20 in the nation.
• Isaac Smith ranks 5^th in the NAIA with 13 touchdowns and ranks 16th with 948 yards. Levi Tidwell has 715 yards, while Myles Cox has 337 yards receiving.
• The dynamic duo of Ryan Whitwell and Roosevelt Cage are two of the best in the NAIA. Cage comes into the game with 1,023 yards in just nine games. His 8.1 yards per carry are good for 2^nd in the NAIA and his 16 touchdowns rank 16^th in the nation. Whitwell has totaled 977 yards in eight games. He is averaging 120.13 yards per game, ranking 6^th in the NAIA.
   
• Luke Bays has a team-best 77 total tackles while Clayton Mosher is close behind with 75 tackles.
• Mosher has a team-best 12.5 tackles for loss, and Da'Veon Turner's four interceptions are good for 19th in the nation.
• Anthony Cheesebourough and Robert Hunter  lead the team with five sacks each this season.
   
• Josh Clifton has scored 97 points this season, ranking 3^rd in the NAIA. He has hit 10 of his 13 field goal attempts with a long of 37. He has converted 67-of-70 extra-point attempts.
• Jaden Downs is averaging 37.57 yards per punt and has placed eight inside the 20-yard line.
• Myles Cox owns the return duties with over 300 yards in both kickoff and punt returns.

MOUNDBUILDER LEADERS

• The Moundbuilders rank Top 10 in the NAIA in 11 offensive categories, and Top 20 in three defensive categories. Click HERE see more.
   
• Braden Howell leads the way for Southwestern with an NAIA-leading 40 touchdowns. He ranks Top 10 nationally with 2,849 total yards through the air, a 67.7% completion percentage, 216 completions, and five interceptions. Howell is a dual-threat quarterback with 322 rushing yards and a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.
• Howell's primary target is Matthew Holthusen who leads the way with 985 yards on 65 receptions. His 15 touchdowns are good for 2^nd in the NAIA. Bryce Chambers has 510 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Josh Edson is just behind with 482 yards.
• JB Burnett leads the ground attack with 867 yards and six scores while his 6.5 yards per carry are ranked 19^th in the nation.
   
• Isaiah Yehudah leads the defense with 69 total tackles and a team-best 44 solo tackles for loss. Joey Mars is second on the team with 65 total tackles.
• Jacardon Hardemon has registered 14 tackles for loss and his nine sacks rank 10 in the NAIA.
• Corey McCoy and Deago Stubbs have each picked off four passes this year for the Moundbuilders.
   
• Preston Fansher has kicked in four games this season and connected on his one field goal attempt from 42 yards. He has converted 15-of-16 extra-point attempts.
• Cadon Clark is averaging 41.1 yards per punt with a long of 74 yards.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Moundbuilders picked up a win last Saturday in the NAIA FCS First Round against MSFA-foe Saint Francis (Ind.) 31-24. Southwestern have gone 1-1 against Top 25 opponents this season with a 21-3 win over Evangel (Mo.) and a 37-31 loss to Friends (Kan.).
• IWU picked up three Top-25 wins and has won 18 consecutive home games dating back to the 2021 campaign.  

UP NEXT

• Should IWU be victorious, the No. 3-seeded Wildcats would remain at home next week for the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 12:00PM ET. 

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

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