MARION, Ind. - Indiana Wesleyan Football and Taylor will run it back for Grant County bragging rights Saturday, with No. 7 IWU welcoming the Trojans to Wildcat Stadium in a rivalry that has produced nothing but shootouts the last two years. The Wildcats enter off an 86-7 rout of Madonna and have scored at least 53 points in five of their last six games, while Taylor has answered blow for blow of late, piling up 70 points against Defiance last week behind a ground game that's chewed up nearly 245 yards per contest. A year ago in Upland, IWU needed every bit of a 56-48 win to take down the Trojans, and both programs look built to make this one just as close.
THE ESSENTIALS
- #7 Indiana Wesleyan University vs Taylor University
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Football Stadium
- Kickoff: 12:00 PM
- Records: IWU: 7-1 | TU: 7-1
- NAIA Top-15: IWU - #7 | TU - Unranked
HOW TO FOLLOW
THE SERIES
- IWU holds a 6-2 edge in the all-time series with Taylor, including last year's 56-48 shootout at Taylor on November 1, 2025.
IWU TEAM STATS
- The Wildcats are averaging 607.8 total yards and an eye-popping 60.0 points per game, splitting their production between 291.3 rushing yards and 316.5 passing yards per outing.
- IWU's defense has forced 19 takeaways on the season (14 interceptions, 5 fumble recoveries) and added two safeties.
- Of the team's 67 touchdowns, 36 have come on the ground and 30 through the air, with one more scored off a turnover on defense.
WILDCAT LEADERS | 2026 SEASON STATS
- Arjun Lothe paces the passing attack at 134-of-192 for 2,184 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions.
- Ryan Whitwell leads the rushing corps with 1,093 yards and 17 touchdowns on 141 carries, while Dede Person (520 yards, 9 TD) and Ayden Ewing (325 yards, 7 TD) round out a deep backfield.
- Blake Brumbaugh tops the receiving group with 19 catches for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns, with Braxton Myers (24 catches, 456 yards, 5 TD) and Drew Dutton (16 catches, 292 yards, 2 TD) close behind.
- AJ Schafer anchors the defense with a team-high 60 tackles, with Terry Sylvester adding 53 and Wilson Webster chipping in 32 tackles to go with a team-best 4 interceptions.
- Brad Allen leads IWU's pass rush with 2.5 sacks, followed by Jamarie Starks (2.0) and Arlondo Sheets (1.5).
- Josh Clifton has connected on 5 of 9 field goal attempts, while Drew Dutton (15 kick returns, 397 yards) and Jackson Tupps (5 punt returns, 68 yards) headline the return game.
TU TEAM STATS
- Taylor is putting up 443.8 total yards and 38.8 points per game, leaning on a run-heavy attack that averages 244.8 yards rushing to go with 199.0 passing yards per contest.
- The Trojans' defense has come up with 13 takeaways (9 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries) this season.
- Taylor has found the end zone 43 times, with 27 touchdowns coming on the ground, 14 through the air and two more via special teams.
TROJAN LEADERS | 2026 SEASON STATS
- Alex Amburgy leads the Trojans' passing game at 60-of-110 for 888 yards and 7 touchdowns, with Brady Trebley adding 614 yards and 6 scores of his own through the air.
- Jedidiah Galvin fuels the rushing attack with 784 yards and 7 touchdowns on 112 carries, while Evan Barker has punched in a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns on 324 yards.
- Aidan Zimmer (16 catches, 344 yards, 2 TD) and John Irwin (16 catches, 342 yards, 1 TD) lead the receiving corps, with Nathan Munson chipping in 4 touchdown grabs.
- Grady Stanley and Samuel Ringer each lead Taylor's defense with roughly 48-49 tackles apiece, with Stanley also pacing the pass rush at 3.0 sacks and Ringer right behind at 2.0.
- Reid Messer tops Taylor's turnover-creators with 3 interceptions.
- Cooper Sloan is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals this season, and David Worlds handles return duty for the Trojans on both kickoffs (8 returns, 178 yards) and punts (9 returns, 119 yards).
UP NEXT
- IWU will return to Wildcat Stadium next Saturday, November 7 against Saint Francis (Ind.) at 12:00 p.m.
- Live video, tickets, and stats will be available on IWUWildcats.com.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
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