Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton football team, ranked 14th in this week's D3football.com Top-25, shut out Elmhurst University 56-0 on Saturday in front of a Homecoming crowd at Wheaton's McCully Stadium. Wheaton (3-2, 3-1 CCIW) returns to the road for its next matchup as the Thunder travel to Carthage next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against the Firebirds.

Wheaton totaled 507 yards of offense today against the Bluejays as the Thunder ran for 323, with 184 passing yards. The Thunder defense held Elmhurst to 133 yards of total offense as the Bluejays gained 46 yards on the ground and passed for 87 yards.

Thunder running back Giovanni Weeks ran for 119 yards on 13 carries, with two trips into the end zone. Quarterback Will Bowers completed 17 of his 23 passing attempts for 143 yards with two touchdown passes. Will Eggleston caught a team-high five passes for 56 yards. Matthew Tucker and McNeill Stout each had touchdown grabs. 

Linebacker Jalen Shaffer (PICTURED LEFT) led the Thunder with eight total tackles, including to two tackles for loss (minus-6 yards), and an interception. Sam Bell recorded seven tackles, and Clayton Reeves made six tackles, with a 1/2 tackle for loss (minus-one yard).

Wheaton reached the end zone three times in the first quarter. Weeks (PICTURED RIGHT) scored in a 39-yard touchdown run and he added a 17-yard touchdown run to give the Thunder a 14-0 lead. Matthew Tucker caught a sensation four-yard touchdown pass from Bowers for a 20-0 Wheaton lead with 1:19 remaining in the opening quarter.

Cristian Carstens scored on a three-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Jalen Shaffer intercepted a pass for a touchdown and Tyler Gautier caught a 12-yard pass from Bowers to account for Wheaton's second-quarter scoring. The Thunder led Elmhurst 39-0 at halftime.

Caleb Mary kicked a 27-yard field goal and Jeremiah Tucker scored on a 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter as the hosts led 49-0 at the end of the third.

Wheaton's final touchdown of the game was a one-yard touchdown run by Jack Allen with 9:40 remaining in regulation to account for the 56-0 final score.