BOXSCORE

Bloomington, Ill. – The 12th-ranked Wheaton football team fell to #19-Illinois Wesleyan 20-17 on Saturday in a key CCIW battle. The Titans scored all 20 of their points in the second half of today's game, overcoming a 10-0 Wheaton lead early in the third quarter. Wheaton is now 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, as the Thunder falls to second place in the CCIW standings. Illinois Wesleyan is now 8-1 overall and 5-1 in CCIW play and tied for first atop the conference standings.

Wheaton recorded 337 yards of offense in the game, with 174 passing yards and 163 rushing yards. The Titans had 374 yards of offense, with 167 passing yards and 207 rushing yards.

Wheaton quarterback Sean Norris completed 14 of his 23 passing attempts for 174 yards and one touchdown pass. The senior also ran for 31 yards, with one touchdown run. Junior tailback Rocky Gingg carried the ball 16 times for 70 yards and sophomore Charlie Velling had 12 carries for 57 yards.

Defensive backs Tim Shaw and Brian Hollett (PICTURED RIGHT) each recorded seven total tackles in the game. Linebacker Jordan Chapman and Jordan Langs each made six total stops, as Langs added a quarterback sack.

Illinois Wesleyan quarterback Brien Rooney was 14-for-26, with 145 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Rooney also ran for 93 yards. Eli Williams added 77 rushing yards on 14 carries. P.J. Cummings led the Titan defense with 10 total tackles, a blocked kick and an interception.

The Thunder reached the scoreboard first when Sean Norris threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior Charlie Antal in the endzone. Antal's touchdown was setup three plays earlier when the Wheaton defense forced an Illinois Wesleyan fumble and the Thunder recovered the ball at the Titans' 20-yard line. The Thunder defense also made a key stop early in the second quarter. The Titans marched the ball down to the Thunder six-yard line on a lengthy 14-play drive. A Titans' pass was tipped in the air and senior linebacker Steven Lutes caught the ball for an interception as the Wheaton defense held strong. The Thunder defense also stalled a Titan drive late in the second half. Illinois Wesleyan blocked a Thunder punt and got the ball to Wheaton seven-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter. However, the Titans attempted a field goal that was blocked as the first half concluded.

Wheaton extended its lead to 10-0 with 7:53 left in the third quarter when Thunder sophomore Scott Roche kicked a 25-yard field goal. Illinois Wesleyan reached the scoreboard with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter on a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jack Scalcucci. The Titans missed the ensuing extra point attempt as the hosts cut Wheaton's lead to 10-6. The Titans took a 12-10 lead with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter when the hosts completed a 10-yard touchdown pass. However, Illinois Wesleyan was unable to convert the two-point conversion attempt that followed.

The Titans' strong second half continued into the fourth quarter as Illinois Wesleyan capped an eight-play drive of 80 yards with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Scalcucci. Scalcucci's second touchdown of the game extended the hosts' lead to 18-10 and the Titans converted the ensuing two-point conversion to take a 20-10 lead with 11:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. Wheaton closed the Titans' lead to20-17 with a gutsy five-yard run by Norris, as the senior quarterback bowled over two would-be tacklers and stretched the football over the end zone line for the touchdown with 6:46 left in the game. However, Illinois Wesleyan would maintain possession of the football for the final 6:40 of the contest as the Titans' second half surge earned the hosts the win.

Wheaton will close out its regular season next Saturday at home with a 1 PM kickoff against Carthage College. Illinois Wesleyan will travel to North Park for its regular season finale.