MARION, Ind. – In a battle between two NAIA top-10 programs, No. 2 Keiser University held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan, escaping with the 38–31 victory on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium. IWU falls in their season opener for the first time since 2022.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Football Stadium
- Records: IWU: 0-1 | KU: 1-0
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #6 | KU – #2
FIRST QUARTER
- Keiser struck first with a methodical 12-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge from running back, Jaden Miller.
- Miller added his second score of the quarter, another 1-yard run, giving the Seahawks a 14-0 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
- IWU responded early with a 31-yard field goal by Josh Clifton.
- Vincie Solano picked off the Seahawks on the following drive to begin shifting momentum back to the Wildcats.
- Ryan Whitwell narrowed the deficit to 10-14 with a 3-yard score for the first touchdown of the 2025 season for Indiana Wesleyan.
- Keiser answered with a 46-yard field goal from Dorian Hall and a 2-yard touchdown pass from Shea Spencer to Elisha Edwards, taking a 24-10 halftime lead.
THIRD QUARTER
- IWU cut the margin when QB Arjun Lothe found WR Braxton Myers for a 37-yard touchdown, making it 24-17.
- Keiser responded quickly as Miller scored his third touchdown of the day on a 13-yard run to push the lead back to 31-17.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Wildcats capped off a 15-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard tush push by Lothe to make it 31-24.
- An interception from Da'Veon Turner on the following drive gave IWU the ball with 6:56 left in the game.
- Moments later, Lothe connected with WR Isaac Smith on a 21-yard touchdown strike, tying the game at 31–31 with just over five minutes remaining.
- On the ensuing drive, Miller delivered the dagger, breaking free for a 70-yard touchdown run to give Keiser the final 38–31 advantage.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
TEAM COMPARISON
- Total Offense: Keiser 436 yards (171 rush, 265 pass); IWU 380 yards (130 rush, 250 pass).
- First Downs: Keiser 29, IWU 25.
- Turnovers: Keiser 2 INT, IWU 0.
- Time of Possession: Keiser 30:15, IWU 29:45.
LOOKING FORWARD
- The Wildcats return to Wildcats Stadium next Saturday to play under the lights at 6:00 p.m. against Saint Xavier.
- Links for tickets, video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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