MARION, Ind. – No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan Football's offense was nearly unstoppable and its defense forced four turnovers in a 68-0 shutout of St. Mary-of-the-Woods at Wildcat Stadium. Ryan Whitwell scored four rushing touchdowns, tied for the second-most in a single game in program history, and the Wildcats forced two safeties in a five-minute span of the third quarter as IWU improved to 3-0 to open the season.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Stadium
- Records: IWU: 3-0 | SMWC: 0-2
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU: No. 9 | SMWC: Unranked
FIRST QUARTER
- IWU's opening drive featured a 53-yard completion from Arjun Lothe to Drew Dutton to the SMWC 2, but the play was nullified by offsetting penalties. The Wildcats still finished the drive as Ryan Whitwell scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, making it 7-0.
- Jacarvis Alexandre intercepted a Caden Gordon pass at the IWU 23 to end the Pomeroys' ensuing possession.
- IWU's next drive included a 31-yard Dede Person run that was also wiped out by a holding penalty, but the Wildcats regrouped behind a 23-yard Lothe-to-Luke Munoz completion, a 24-yard Whitwell run, and a 23-yard Lothe-to-Casey Hawkins completion before Whitwell capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0.
- IWU needed just one play on its next possession, as Lothe found Drew Dutton for a 58-yard touchdown, and the Wildcats led 21-0 after one quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- IWU's offense kept rolling behind a 20-yard Dede Person run and a 29-yard Lothe-to-Jesse Parson completion, and Whitwell punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0.
- On the Wildcats' next drive, Lothe hit Drew Dutton from 23 yards out for their second TD connection of the game.
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods picked up a 15-yard completion from Caden Gordon to Marlon Salmon on its ensuing drive, but the possession ended when Terry Sylvester forced a fumble by Joshua Murray that Kelby Roberson recovered for IWU.
- Ryan Whitwell broke off an 18-yard run on the Wildcats' next drive, part of a possession that ended with his fourth rushing touchdown of the half, extending the lead to 41-0.
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods' final drive of the half ended when Caden Gordon was sacked for a 14-yard loss on 4th-and-2, and IWU's Josh Clifton missed a 47-yard field goal try just before halftime. IWU led 41-0 at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
- The opening kickoff of the second half featured a 89 yard return by Drew Dutton, setting up the Wildcats with great field position. Bronson Edwards would later connect with Jackson Vest for the two-yard score to make it 48-0.
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods' first possession of the half ended when Daione Lunsford intercepted Caden Gordon and returned it 50 yards to the SMWC 9-yard line.
- On IWU's ensuing drive, Bronson Edwards fumbled on the goal line and it was recovered by the Pomeroys at their own 1-yard line.
- Backed up deep in their own territory, St. Mary-of-the-Woods was forced to punt. The Pomeroy punter stepped out of the back of the endzone for the safety, making it 50-0.
- IWU's following drive ended with a 28-yard Dede Person touchdown run, extending the lead to 57-0.
- The Pomeroys punting struggles continued two drive later with another mishandled snap, forcing the punter to kick the ball through the back of the endzone for another safety, making it 59-0.
- IWU converted a 4th-and-2 with a 3-yard Ayden Ewing run late in the quarter, part of a 12-play drive that Josh Clifton finished with a 20-yard field goal, making it 62-0.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Kamden Zeisloft intercepted a Brayden Lipari pass at the IWU 30 to open the quarter.
- Michael Albin broke off runs of 16 and 20 yards on the same drive, then punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 68-0.
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods' final possession included a 29-yard completion from Brayden Lipari to Ju'Elz Given Evans, but the drive ended when Garrett Boling intercepted Lipari and returned it 35 yards, sealing the shutout.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
- Josh Clifton: 7-for-8 PATs, 1-for-2 FG (20 yards made, 47 yards missed); 10 kickoffs, 634 yards, 5 touchbacks
- Drew Dutton: 3 kickoff returns, 136 yards
- Leo Morrow: 2 punt returns, 28 yards
TEAM COMPARISON
- Total Offense: IWU 601 yards (404 rush, 197 pass); SMWC 126 yards (15 rush, 111 pass)
- First Downs: IWU 35; SMWC 15
- Turnovers: IWU 1 (fumble); SMWC 5 (4 INT, 1 fumble)
- Sacks: IWU 1 (14 yards); SMWC 0
- Penalties: IWU 7 for 78 yards; SMWC 4 for 20 yards
- Time of Possession: IWU 32:02; SMWC 27:58
UP NEXT
- The Wildcats will travel to Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Sept. 19 next weekend.
- Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM Eastern
- Live video and stats will be available on IWUWildcats.com.
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