MARION, Ind. – No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan rallied from a two-score deficit and shutout Olivet Nazarene in the second half to secure a 28-27 comeback victory at Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats improve to 3-1 with their fourth-consecutive win over the Tigers.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Football Stadium
- Records: IWU: 3-1 | ONU: 2-1
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #5 | ONU - Receiving Votes
FIRST QUARTER
- Olivet Nazarene opened the scoring with a 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Christian Dhue to Japheth Lilo, putting the Tigers ahead 7–0.
- IWU responded immediately, as QB Arjun Lothe connected with WR Braxton Myers on a 16-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 7–7.
- Just over a minute later, Dhue went deep again, finding Ray Coffey for a 76-yard touchdown to give ONU a 14–7 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Tigers stretched the margin when Dhue tossed his third touchdown of the half, a 50-yard bomb to Blake Lamb, making it 21–7.
- IWU answered with a hard-nosed 80-yard march, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from RB Cameron Morrison to trim the deficit to 21–14.
- Dhue added a 4-yard rushing touchdown late in the quarter, though the PAT was blocked by LB Terry Sylvester, leaving ONU in front 27–14.
- Before halftime, IWU's defense came up big with a fourth-down stop, keeping the Wildcats within two scores.
THIRD QUARTER
- The Wildcats cut into the lead early in the second half when Lothe found Morrison for an 11-yard touchdown pass, making it 27–21.
- Later in the quarter, ONU once again entered the red zone, but the Wildcats' defense held firm, forcing a missed 38-yard field goal attempt.
FOURTH QUARTER
- IWU seized its first lead of the game when RB Ayden Ewing capped a 79-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, putting the Wildcats on top 28–27.
- From there, the defense took over. The Wildcats delivered two crucial fourth-down stops, including one at the goal line, to preserve the advantage.
- With just seconds remaining, LB Brock Thomason intercepted Dhue near midfield, sealing the dramatic 28–27 comeback victory.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Arjun Lothe: 20-for-34, 316 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT.
- Ayden Ewing: 15 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD.
- Cameron Morrison: 15 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD; 3 receptions, 36 yards, 1 TD.
- Braxton Myers: 5 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD.
- Isaac Smith: 5 receptions, 56 yards.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
TEAM COMPARISON
- Total Offense: IWU 496 yards (316 pass, 180 rush); ONU 484 yards (290 pass, 194 rush).
- First Downs: IWU 25, ONU 22.
- Turnovers: IWU 1 (INT); ONU 1 (INT).
- Sacks: IWU 1 for -12 yards; ONU 0.
- Penalties: IWU 5 for 40 yards; ONU 10 for 71 yards
- Time of Possession: IWU 25:24; ONU 34:36.
UP NEXT
- The Wildcats are back on the road next Saturday as they travel to play No. 21 Marian University on September 27 at 1:05PM ET.
- Live video and stats will be available on IWUWildcats.com
NEXT HOME GAME
- IWU returns to Wildcat Stadium on October 4 against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) at 12:00PM ET.
- Tickets can be purchased at IWUWildcats.com/tickets or by clicking HERE.
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