MARION, Ind. – The No. 3-seed Indiana Wesleyan football team bested No. 15-seed Southwestern (Kan.) in the Second Round of the NAIA Football Championship Series, 24-13. The Wildcats put up 424 yards of offense to punch their ticket to their third-straight NAIA Quarterfinal.
 
Levi Tidwell was voted the Offensive Player of the Game after recording 100 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Clayton Mosher was voted Defensive Player of the Game after totaling a season-high 16 tackles, a 0.5 tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.


 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Football Stadium
• Records: IWU: 11-1 | SWC: 11-2
• NAIA FCS Seeding: IWU - #3 | SWC – #15

FIRST QUARTER

• Southwestern began their second drive of the muffed punt return to set up IWU with great field position.
• Ryan Whitwell got the Wildcats on the board from nine yards out for the 7-0 lead.
• The Moundbuilders responded with an explosive 68-yard touchdown catch and run from Howell to Holthus. However, a missed PAT attempt made the score 7-6.
• IWU was unable to convert from the goal line on their next redzone trip, and Josh Clifton put a 21-yard field goal through the uprights to make it 10-6.
• SWC closed out the first quarter by going 89 yards in five plays to take the 13-10 lead off Howell's second touchdown throw.

SECOND QUARTER

• Whitewell scored his second touchdown of the half from the goal line as IWU retook the lead 17-13.
• Anthony Cheesebourough and Garrett Hathaway both recorded sacks to end SWC's final drive of the half.

THIRD QUARTER

• Drake Deshetsky got to the QB for a 10-yard sack midway through the quarter.
• An eight-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Antoine to Isaac Smith was the only score of the second half, giving IWU the 24-13 lead.
• Southwestern was held to just 58 yards of offense and zero points in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Preston Sykes picked off Southwestern on the second play of the fourth quarter.
• Luke Bays got his helmet on the ball to force a fumble on a QB run by Howell. Cidney Mills recovered the ball to give IWU the ball back.
• The Wildcats did not score in the quarter but kept possession of the ball for over nine minutes to run the clock and secure the victory.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

• Levi Tidwell led the receiving group with 100 yards on nine catches. Isaac Smith tallied 69 yards and a touchdown
• Ryan Whitwell finished with 94 yards and two touchdowns. Roosevelt Cage had 79 yards on 13 carries.
• Kyle Antoine went 23-for-38 for 260 yards with a touchdown.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

• Clayton Mosher led the defense with a team-high 16 tackles. He also finished with 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
• Garrett Hathaway, Anthony Cheesebourough, and Drake Deshetsky recorded sacks.
• Cheesebourough and Luke Bays forced fumbles with Braxton Myers and Cidney Mills recovering them.
• Preston Sykes snagged the lone Wildcat interception.
  
   

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS

• Josh Clifton made his one field goal attempt and went 3-3 on PAT attempts.
• Jaden Downs averaged 35.4 yards on his five punts with a season-high long of 57.
• Myles Cox totaled 26 yards on his three punt returns and 40 yards and three kickoff returns.

STATS COMPARISON

• The Wildcats totaled 24 first downs compared to 17 by Southwestern.
• The team rattled off 164 rushing yards compared to 78 to the visitors.
• Overall, IWU registered 424 yards compared to 335 by SWC.
• The defense held Southwestern to 5-14 on third down and 1-3 on fourth down.

RODE PERSPECTIVE

• "Really proud of our guys today,"  said by Head Coach Andrew Rode. "We didn't play our best football but they found a way to win as a team!"

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

• The win means the highly talented Wildcats are one of eight teams left that have a chance to compete for a National Championship.
• It marks the third-consecutive season IWU will compete in the Quarterfinals. Last year, the team lost on the road to Georgetown, 31-21.

LOOKING FORWARD

• The Wildcats advance to play in the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals at home on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 p.m.
• Links for tickets, video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

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