Indiana Wesleyan University

CHICAGO, Ill. – Ryan Whitwell set a new career high for with 243 rushing yards, the second-most in a single game in program history, and pushed his career total past 2,100 yards in just 16 games, now third all-time at Indiana Wesleyan. Whitwell's performance powered the No. 6 Wildcats to a 59-17 road win over Saint Xavier (Ill.) at Deaton Field on Saturday night. The win also made program history for head coach Andrew Rode, who passes Jordan Langs for the most career wins in Wildcat football history with 34.


THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Chicago, Ill. | Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
• Records: IWU: 4-0 | SXU: 0-3
• NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU: No. 6 | SXU: Unranked

• Saint Xavier's opening drive went 10 plays before stalling, and Christian Casillas connected on a 33-yard field goal to make it 3-0.
• IWU answered on the very next play from scrimmage, as Arjun Lothe found Blake Brumbaugh for a 78-yard touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 7-3 lead.
• The Cougars responded with an 8-play, 81-yard drive, capped by a 56-yard touchdown pass from Blainey Dowling to Coen Demack, retaking the lead at 10-7.
• Arjun Lothe was sacked for an 8-yard loss on IWU's next drive, which ended in a punt.
• On IWU's following possession, Lothe was intercepted by Tai Sesta at the Saint Xavier 45.
• The Cougars capitalized, driving 55 yards in four plays, a 16-yard Dowling-to-Charles Campbell completion setting up a 19-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Benson, and Saint Xavier led 17-7 after one quarter.

• IWU's offense stalled on a three-and-out to open the quarter, and the Wildcats punted.
• Saint Xavier's ensuing drive included a 17-yard completion to Joey Thompson, but the possession ended when Leo Morrow intercepted Blainey Dowling at the IWU 46.
• The Wildcats used the momentum for a 13-play, 54-yard drive, a 23-yard Ryan Whitwell run among the highlights, and Ayden Ewing capped it with a 4-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 17-14.
• After a Saint Xavier punt, IWU took the lead for good on a 3-play, 80-yard drive finished by a 52-yard touchdown pass from Lothe to Brumbaugh, making it 21-17.
• Following another Cougars punt, IWU drove into scoring range behind a 53-yard Lothe-to-Drew Dutton completion, but Josh Clifton's 34-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
• Dowling was sacked by Tobias Delaney on Saint Xavier's next drive, leading to another SXU punt.
• IWU responded with a 6-play, 65-yard drive as an 18-yard Whitwell run set up a 4th-and-6 conversion, as Lothe found Brumbaugh again for a 40-yard touchdown, and the Wildcats led 28-17 at halftime.
   

• IWU fumbled the ball away almost immediately to open the second half, as Ryan Whitwell lost the ball at the IWU 37.
• The Cougars couldn't capitalize, losing 11 yards on three plays before punting.
• IWU needed just two plays to answer, a 41-yard Whitwell run setting up a 30-yard Ayden Ewing touchdown run, making it 35-17.
• After a Saint Xavier punt, IWU drove 59 yards in five plays, converting a 4th-and-1 with a 39-yard Whitwell touchdown run, extending the lead to 42-17.
• Saint Xavier's next possession ended on 4th-and-10 when Leo Morrow intercepted Dowling for his second pick of the game.
• IWU's ensuing drive featured a 32-yard Lothe-to-Braxton Myers completion and another 4^th down conversion by Whitwell, and Whitwell finished the 8-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 49-17.
• Saint Xavier's final drive of the quarter ended in a punt.

• IWU opened the quarter with a 9-play drive that included a 21-yard Dede Person run erased by offsetting penalties, and Josh Clifton connected on a season-long 39-yard field goal to make it 52-17.
• After a short Saint Xavier punt, IWU's Brock Short broke off a 26-yard touchdown run to make it 59-17.
• Saint Xavier's final real scoring bid featured a sack of backup quarterback Dominic D'Ambrosio and a 19-yard Caden Brann run, but the drive died when Connor Yates stuffed Brann for a 2-yard loss on 4th-and-1, turning the ball over on downs.
• IWU ran out the final 5:26 on the ensuing possession to close out the win.

• Ryan Whitwell: 27 carries, 243 yards, 2 TD
• Arjun Lothe: 10-for-18, 278 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
• Blake Brumbaugh: 3 receptions, 170 yards, 3 TD
• Ayden Ewing: 10 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD
• Brock Short: 8 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD

• AJ Schafer: 10 tackles
• Leo Morrow: 2 interceptions, 3 tackles
• Connor Yates: 6 tackles, 1 TFL
• Arlondo Sheets: 3 tackles, 1 sack (6 yards)
• Tobias Delaney: 4 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards)
• Jamarie Starks: 1 sack (1 yard)

• Josh Clifton: 8-for-8 PATs, 1-for-2 FG (39 yard long); 10 kickoffs, 564 yards
• Leo Morrow: 1 punt return, 10 yards
• Aidan Gansert: 2 punts, 43.0 average

• Total Offense: IWU 654 yards (376 rush, 278 pass); SXU 256 yards (77 rush, 179 pass)
• First Downs: IWU 28; SXU 14
• Turnovers: IWU 2 (1 INT, 1 fumble); SXU 2 (INT)
• Sacks: IWU 3 (12 yards); SXU 1 (8 yards)
• Penalties: IWU 1 for 15 yards; SXU 6 for 57 yards
• Time of Possession: IWU 34:22; SXU 25:38

• 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.

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