Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton football team, ranked sixth this week in Division III by D3football.com, defeated Carthage College 69-20 on Saturday night at McCully Stadium. The 69 points tallied by the Thunder tonight is the most for the team since a 79-0 victory against Elmhurst on Nov. 10, 2018 at McCully Stadium.

Wheaton has now won five games in a row and improves to 6-1 overall and 5-1 CCIW play. Carthage is 3-4 on the season with a 3-3 record in CCIW play.
The Thunder offense recorded 598 total yards tonight, with 365 yards on the ground and 224 passing yards. The Wheaton defense held Carthage to just 42 rushing yards tonight. The Firebirds passed for 261 yards, with 303 yards of total offense.

Thunder running back Sam Singleton carried the ball 12 times for 164 yards tonight. Singleton averaged 13.7 yards per carry and he reached the end zone three times.
Quarterback Luke Anthony completed nine of his 15 passing attempts for 181 yards with two touchdown passes. Jeremiah Tucker passed for 43 yards and he ran for 95 yards with an 81-yard touchdown run.

Seniors Caleb Grotelueschen and Ryan Schwartz each recorded a team-high seven total tackles for the hosts. Josh Shaffley and Luke Gammichia each had five total tackles for the hosts. Caleb Egbert intercepted two passes tonight, including one INT return for a touchdown.

Wheaton scored four touchdowns in the first quarter. Sam Singleton had TD runs of 59 and 15 yards in the quarter. Cristian Carstens scored on a 20-yard touchdown run and Spencer Peterson caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the far corner of the end zone. The touchdown toss from Anthony to Peterson marked the eighth time this season that the quarterback and tight end have connected for a touchdown catch this season. Peterson has had at least one TD catch from Anthony in every game this year. Tommy Gallagher added a 40-yard field goal in the quarter as Wheaton led 31-0 at the end of the first.

Carthage scored twice early in the second quarter. Sylvere Campbell caught a 10-yard touchdown catch for the Firebirds. Eddie Ell had a 12-yard touchdown catch. Singleton reached the end zone for the third time on a 14-yard touchdown run in the third. Anthony connected with Terrini on a 30-yard touchdown pass and on the Carthage drive that followed, Caleb Egbert intercepted a Firebirds' pass and returned it 37 yards four a touchdown. Wheaton led 52-13 at the halftime intermission.

Offensive lineman Jake Hibben scored on one-yard touchdown run for Wheaton's first score of the second half. Tucker scored on an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Gallagher added a 20yard field goal return in the quarter. The Thunder led the Firebirds 69-13 at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Campbell scored on a 41-yard touchdown catch for the guests in the fourth quarter to account for the 69-20 final score.

Wheaton travels to Elmhurst next Saturday for a matchup with the Bluejays. Saturday's game at Langhorst Field kicks off at 1:00 p.m.