CHICAGO, Ill. - No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan Football continues its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Saturday, traveling to face Saint Xavier (Ill.) in Chicago. The Wildcats enter 3-0 behind Ryan Whitwell, who has rushed for 470 yards (3rd in NAIA) and 8 touchdowns (1st in NAIA) through three games, and a defense that has already produced seven takaways and two safeties this season. The Cougars are 0-2 to open the year, with quarterback Blainey Dowling throwing for 610 yards and 4 touchdowns but also 6 interceptions, setting up a matchup between IWU's balanced attack and an SXU offense still searching for its footing. IWU has won all three previous meetings between the programs, including a 31-3 win last season.
THE ESSENTIALS
- #6 Indiana Wesleyan University at Saint Xavier University (Ill.)
- Location: Chicago, Ill. | Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
- Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
- Records: IWU: 3-0 | SXU: 0-2
- NAIA Top-25: IWU - #6 | SXU - Unranked
HOW TO FOLLOW
THE SERIES
- Indiana Wesleyan leads the all-time series against Saint Xavier (Ill.) 3-0, most recently defeating the Cougars 31-3 on September 6, 2025.
IWU TEAM STATS
- IWU is averaging 618.7 total yards per game (1st in NAIA) through three contests (360.7 rushing, 258.0 passing) and 54.7 points per game (3rd in NAIA).
- The Wildcats' defense has forced 5 interceptions, recovered 2 fumbles and recorded 2 safeties this season.
- IWU has scored 22 total touchdowns through three games, powered by a ground attack that has found the end zone 15 times (2nd in NAIA).
WILDCAT LEADERS | 2026 SEASON STATS
- Arjun Lothe is 47-of-75 passing (62.7%) for 646 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception through three games.
- Ryan Whitwell leads the ground game with 470 yards (3rd in NAIA) and 8 touchdowns (T1st in NAIA) on 63 carries, adding 6 catches for 20 yards and a receiving touchdown. Dede Person has added 259 yards and 5 touchdowns on 33 attempts, and Ayden Ewing has 117 yards and a score on 22 carries.
- Drew Dutton leads the receiving corps with 8 catches for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Casey Hawkins has 11 catches for 146 yards and a score, and Luke Munoz has 10 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
- Terry Sylvester leads the defense with 22 tackles and 2 forced fumbles, while AJ Schafer has added 21. Five different Wildcats have each intercepted a pass, and Arlondo Sheets and Brad Allen have a sack apiece.
- Josh Clifton is 3-of-5 on field goals with a long of 36 and has converted 19 of 20 PATs.
- Drew Dutton has returned 10 kickoffs for 262 yards, and Leo Morrow has added 7 punt returns for 90 yards.
SXU TEAM STATS
- The Cougars are averaging 442.0 total yards per game through two contests (105.0 rushing, 337.0 passing) and 22.5 points per game.
- Saint Xavier's ground game has struggled out of the gate, managing just 210 total yards and a single touchdown on 50 carries as a team.
- Defensively, the Cougars have recorded 129 tackles, 4 sacks and 10 pass breakups but have yet to force an interception through two games.
COUGARS LEADERS | 2026 SEASON STATS
- Blainey Dowling is 53-of-102 passing (52.0%) for 610 yards, 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions through two games. He is averaging 305 yards per game (7th in NAIA). Dominic D'Ambrosio has added 64 yards and a touchdown on 7-of-11 passing.
- Carter Wynn has a team-long 39-yard run, while Kendall Netters and Caden Brann have each rushed for 23 yards. D'Ambrosio leads the team with a rushing touchdown.
- Coen Demack has been the focal point of the passing game with 22 catches for 271 yards (14th in NAIA) and 3 touchdowns. Mario Price has added 7 catches for 148 yards and a score, and Charles Campbell has 8 catches for 78 yards.
- Owen Schickel leads the defense with 22 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup. Nathan Gonzalez has been the most disruptive front-seven presence with 12 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a forced fumble, and Kyle Boelkens has added 14 tackles.
- Ayden Sheppard is 1-of-1 on field goals and has converted all 4 PAT attempts, while also handling punting duties with a 48.6-yard average on 7 attempts and a long of 72.
- Kendall Netters leads the return game with 5 kickoff returns for 49 yards.
UP NEXT
- IWU's will be off next week, but will return to Wildcat Stadium on October 3 against Judson at 12:00 p.m.
- Links for Tickets, live video and stats are available on IWUWildcats.com.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
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