UPLAND, Ind. – No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan escaped a high-scoring rivalry test with Taylor at Turner Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 56-48. The Wildcats remain undefeated in MSFA Mideast play and solidify their chance at a fourth-straight conference championship. The 104 combined points are the most in an IWU game in program history.
Arjun Lothe's impressive performance broke both the single-game and single-season passing yard records with 435 yards in the game and 3,120 for the year. Isaac Smith broke the career receiving yards record with 2,733 yards, while also tying the career records for receptions and touchdowns. Drew Dutton was electric once again on special teams with his fourth kickoff return for a touchdown this season, tying the NAIA single-season record.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Upland, Ind. | Turner Stadium
- Records: IWU: 7-2 (3-0 MSFA) | TU: 5-4 (2-1 MSFA)
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #14 | TU – Receiving Votes
FIRST QUARTER
- Indiana Wesleyan's Vincie Solano intercepted Alex Amburgy's pass at the Indiana 14-yard line, halting Taylor's initial drive.
- Arjun Lothe led a scoring drive, connecting with Drew Dutton for a 53-yard touchdown pass at 6:28, putting Indiana Wesleyan ahead 7-0.
- Nathan Parker responded for Taylor with a 47-yard touchdown run, leveling the score at 7-7 with 4:07 remaining.
- Lothe and Isaac Smith combined for a 49-yard touchdown pass at 2:14, giving the Wildcats a 14-7 lead to end the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Trojans opened the period with a promising drive, but Anthony Cheesebourough's tackle on fourth down halted progress, allowing Indiana Wesleyan to take over.
- Nathan Parker's 74-yard rush set up Ethan Albert for a 2-yard touchdown, leveling the score at 14-14 at 11:18.
- Indiana Wesleyan responded with Arjun Lothe's 57-yard touchdown pass to Drew Dutton, reclaiming the lead 21-14.
- Cameron Morrison extended the Wildcats' advantage with a 24-yard rushing touchdown, pushing the lead to 28-14 at 8:39.
- Taylor answered with a touchdown drive capped by Alex Amburgy's 10-yard pass to Ethan Albert, narrowing the gap to 28-21.
- Drew Dutton returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown at 6:06, reestablishing a two-touchdown lead for Indiana Wesleyan. This return tied the NAIA record with Dutton's 4th kickoff return for a touchdown this season.
- In the quarter's final minute, Taylor completed a drive with Damon Hockett's 15-yard touchdown run, closing the half with the Wildcats ahead 42-28.
THIRD QUARTER
- Indiana Wesleyan opened the quarter with an efficient drive, capped by Ayden Ewing's 12-yard touchdown run at 11:14, pushing the lead to 49-28.
- Taylor responded with a swift 68-yard drive, highlighted by Nathan Parker's 7-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 49-34 after a blocked extra point by Arlondo Sheets.
- A 38-yard touchdown pass from Arjun Lothe to Drew Dutton at 01:56 extended the Wildcats' lead to 56-34.
- Taylor closed the quarter with a missed opportunity due to a holding penalty that negated a potential touchdown run by Damon Hockett. The period ended with Indiana Wesleyan leading 56-41.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Early in the period, Leo Morrow fumbled a punt return, which was recovered by Seth Tolliver at the Wildcats' 30-yard line, shifting momentum to Taylor with 15:00 remaining.
- Vincie Solano intercepted his second pass of the day at the 2-yard line, returning it 21 yards to the IWU 23, stopping Taylor's drive at 11:57.
- Alex Amburgy was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Quintin Walker, but a personal foul penalty against Indiana Wesleyan extended Taylor's drive with 10:04 left on the clock.
- Amburgy later connected with Jack D'Arcy for a 24-yard touchdown pass, and Aiden O'Dell's extra point narrowed the Wildcat lead to 48-56 with 4:17 remaining.
- Daione Lunsford came up clutch with an interception on Taylor's last drive looking to tie the game.
- IWU went to victory formation and secured a 56-48 victory as the clock expired.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Arjun Lothe: 24-for-33, 435 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
- Isaac Smith: 11 receptions, 161 yards, 1 TD
- Drew Dutton: 5 receptions, 161 yards, 3 TD, 92-yard kickoff return TD
- Cameron Morrison: 20 rushes, 101 yards, 1 TD
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
TEAM COMPARISON
- Total Offense: IWU 565 yards (435 pass, 130 rush); TU 579 yards (203 pass, 376 rush).
- First Downs: IWU 24; TU 32.
- Turnovers: IWU 0; TU 3 (3 INT).
- Sacks: IWU defense 1 sacks (10 yds); TU recorded 0 sacks on IWU.
- Penalties: IWU 7 for 89 yards; TU 3 for 40 yards.
- Time of Possession: IWU 24:15; TU 35:45.
INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
- Josh Clifton
- New career scoring program record with his 237th point tonight. Previously held by Ben VonGunten ('21).
- Isaac Smith
- Broke the career receiving yards record with 2,733 yards, while also tying the career records with 198 receptions and 32 touchdowns.
- Set program record with his fifth-straight 100-yard receiving game.
- Arjun Lothe
- New single-game and single-season passing yard records with 435 yards and 3,120 for the year.
- Drew Dutton
- Ties the NAIA record with four kickoff returns for touchdowns this season.
- Tied the single-game program record with 3 touchdown receptions.
- Tied his single-game program record with 170 kickoff return yards.
UP NEXT
- IWU returns to Wildcat 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.
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