MARION, Ind. – No. 14 Indiana Wesleyan (6-2) dominated Defiance College (2-6) with a 56-17 victory at Wildcat Stadium for Homecoming Weekend, bolstered by 11 receptions for 105 yards from Isaac Smith and a new program record for kicker Josh Clifton.
Isaac Smith set a new career-high with 11 receptions tonight and is just 12 catches away from breaking Brayden Smith's career record. He also ties Brayden Smith for the program record with his fourth-straight 100-yard receiving game.
Josh Clifton broke the program career scoring record with his 237th point tonight. A record that was previously held by Ben VonGunten.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Football Stadium
- Records: IWU: 6-2 (2-0 MSFA) | DC: 2-6 (0-2 MSFA)
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #14 | DC - Unranked
FIRST QUARTER
- Arjun Lothe sparked Indiana Wesleyan's opening drive with a 37-yard pass to Drew Dutton, setting up a nine-play, 71-yard drive capped by Lothe's 6-yard touchdown pass to Dutton at 10:43.
- Defiance struggled to gain momentum, with Ethan Thanthanavong being sacked by Anthony Cheesebourough for a 5-yard loss on third down, leading to a punt.
- Lothe continued his passing efficiency, connecting with Simon Vinson for a 25-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 6:14 left in the quarter.
- The Wildcats held a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- Lothe connected with Isaac Smith for a 6-yard touchdown, with Josh Clifton's extra point giving IWU a 28-0 lead at 13:49.
- Cameron Turner sparked DC with a 47-yard rush, but Vincie Solano intercepted an Ethan Thanthanavong pass at 10:05, halting the drive.
- Lothe found Dutton for a 34-yard touchdown at 08:30, extending the lead to 35-0.
- Lothe's 85-yard touchdown pass on the following drive to Montez Jones is the second-longest in program history behind a 90-yard bomb from Xander Stokes to Jacquez Carter in 2021.
- The Yellow Jackets responded late with a Mar'Kel Wade 11-yard touchdown reception from Thanthanavong at 01:11, followed by a 19-yard field goal from Carson Marroquin as time expired, narrowing
THIRD QUARTER
- Cameron Turner opened the quarter with two consecutive rushes totaling 32 yards, advancing DC to midfield.
- Leo Morrow returned a punt 43 yards to the DC 37-yard line, setting up a scoring opportunity.
- Lothe connected with Smith for a 34-yard touchdown pass, extending IWU's lead. Smith not only set a new career-high with 11 receptions but is also just 12 catches away from breaking Brayden Smith's career record of 198.
- After Thanthanavong's 3-yard rushing touchdown brought the Yellow Jackets within striking distance, Dutton responded with an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown for the red and gray. Dutton extends his program record to three kickoff's returned for a touchdown this season.
- Ayden Ewing closed the quarter with
FOURTH QUARTER
- Defiance advanced to the IWU 18-yard line, aided by a 21-yard pass from Thanthanavong to Caleb Johnson and a defensive pass interference penalty.
- A fumble by Marshawn Taylor at the IWU 22-yard line was recovered by Conner Woods, halting the Yellow Jackets' drive at 12:22.
- IWU's Zach Dutton completed a 10-yard pass to Jackson Tupps, but the drive ended on a failed fourth-down attempt at the DC 38-yard line.
- Daione Lunsford intercepted Thanthanavong with 1:47 remaining, and Chris Del Valle carried for 27 yards on the final drive to run out the clock.
- The Wildcats secured a decisive 56-17 victory.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Arjun Lothe: 23-of-33, 383 yards, 6 TD
- Isaac Smith: 11 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
- Ties Brayden Smith for the program record with his fourth-straight 100-yard receiving game.
- Montez Jones: 5 receptions, 132 yards, 1 TD (85 yards)
- Drew Dutton: 4 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD
- Cameron Morrison: 8 carries, 49 yards
- Ayden Ewing: 7 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
- Trey Speek: 10 tackles (season-high), 0.5 TFL
- Vincie Solano: 10 tackles (season-high), 1 INT
- Anthony Cheeseborough, Arlondo Sheets: 1 sack each
- Daione Lunsford: 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 pass breakup
- Connor Woods: 1 fumble recovery
- Team: 3 turnovers, 2 sacks, 8 tackles for loss
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
- Josh Clifton: 8-for-8 PAT's, 7 kickoffs for 389 yards
- New program record with his 237th career point
- Leo Morrow: 6 punt returns for 110 yards (program-record)
- Drew Dutton: 2 kick returns for 102 yards, 1 TD
TEAM COMPARISON
- Total Offense: IWU 546 yards (406 pass, 140 rush); DC 428 yards (271 pass, 157 rush).
- First Downs: IWU 25; DC 25.
- Turnovers: IWU 0; DC 3 (2 INT, 1 fumble lost).
- Sacks: IWU defense 2 sacks (10 yds); DC recorded 0 sacks on IWU.
- Penalties: IWU 5 for 46 yards; DC 4 for 30 yards.
- Time of Possession: IWU 26:32; DC 33:28.
RECORD BOOK NUMBERS
- Josh Clifton
- New career scoring program record with his 237th point tonight. Previously held by Ben VonGunten ('21).
- Isaac Smith
- Tied Brayden Smith ('21) with his fourth-straight 100-yard receiving game.
- Tied the single-game program record with 3 touchdown receptions earlier this season against Madonna.
- He needs 12 catches, 140 yards and two touchdowns to break Brayden Smith's career program records in each category.
- Arjun Lothe
- New program record for touchdowns passes in a season with 29 after tonight's game. Previously held by Xander Stokes in 2022.
- He needs 297 yards to break Stokes' single-season record in 2023.
- His 85-yard touchdown pass to Montez Jones tonight is the second-longest in program history behind a 90-yard bomb from Xander Stokes to Jacquez Carter in 2021.
- Previously set the single-game records this season with 401 total yards and 7 touchdowns.
- Simon Vinson
- Tied the single-game program record with 3 touchdown receptions earlier this season against Madonna.
- His 124 yards against Madonna were the highest for a tight end in program history.
- Needs 3 catches and 2 touchdowns to break the career program record for a tight ends in each category.
- Drew Dutton
- Owns the career program record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns.
- Leo Morrow
- Set a new single-season program record tonight with a total of 344 total punt yards. Previously held by Myles Cox in 2024.
- Brock Short
- Owns the single-game program record with 21.16 yards/rush (min. 100 total yards) earlier this season against Judson.
- Grant Irwin
- Owns the single-game program record with 57.5 yards/catch (min. 100 total yards) earlier this season against Judson.
UP NEXT
- The Wildcats are back on the road next Saturday as they travel to Upland, Ind. to play cross-county rival Taylor University at 12:00PM.
- Live video and stats will be available on IWUWildcats.com.
NEXT HOME GAME
- IWU returns to Wildcats Stadium for Senior Day on November. 8 against Lawrence Tech at 12:00PM.
- Tickets can be purchased at IWUWildcats.com/tickets or by clicking HERE.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
#
