#17-Wheaton defeats #5-Bethel 10-7, under wet conditions in the season opener

Senior captain Mike McKinney tied for the team lead with nine total tackles

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BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton College football team was a 10-7 victor against Bethel University (Minn.) on Saturday at home in the season-opener for the Thunder. Bethel (1-1) entered the game ranked fifth in this week's D3football.com Top-25 poll and Wheaton (1-0) was ranked 17th in same poll. Due to consistent rains throughout Northern Illinois since Friday night, including during the game, today's meeting was played under very wet conditions.

Thunder head coach Mike Swider noted after the game, “We had to overcome a number of things to earn this win today. First of all, we played a great, well-coached and well-disciplined football team. Secondly, Bethel had already played a game and they had an opportunity to make improvements from the first game to the second. And then both teams had to deal with the weather conditions. I am proud of our team in overcoming those things to win this game.” He added, “This team played hard. There were many opportunities that they could have let the game get away and our entire football team didn't.”

Wheaton took a 3-0 lead with 14:56 left in the second quarter as senior Tim Ellingsen (PICTURED RIGHT) successfully booted a 22-yard field goal in tough field conditions. Ellingsen's field goal was setup when Thunder linebacker Jon Ryan forced a Bethel fumble that was recovered by Ben Kuenzle, seven plays later Ellingsen battled the elements to score Wheaton's first points of the season.

Bethel punted the ball to Wheaton All-American Pete Ittersagen (PICTURED LEFT) at the Wheaton 35-yard line and Ittersagen scampered 65 yards, past several Bethel tacklers, for a touchdown with 8:34 left in the first half to give the Thunder a 10-0 lead. The score marked the fourth time in his career that Ittersagen has returned a punt for a touchdown to set a new Wheaton career record and he also tied the school record for punt/kickoff returns in a career which is also held by Brian Lazear (1990-93) who had two kick returns and two punt returns in his career.

Bethel scored with 39-seconds left in the first half as quarterback Reid Velo threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Bernstetter to cut the Thunder lead to 10-7. A scoreless second half, filled with big defensive plays would lead to the final outcome of 10-7. On the first play to start a Bethel drive with 5:52 left in the game, Ryan recorded a quarterback sack and the ball was fumbled by Bethel as Ryan recovered the fumble to give Wheaton the ball back and allow the Thunder to run valuable time off of the clock. The Royals regained the ball back with 1:58 left in the game, but the Thunder defense again came up big as defensive tackle Grant Roszkowiak (PICTURED RIGHT) tallied a sack on third down and the duo of Roszkowiak and Kuenzle chased Velo into an incomplete pass as the Thunder regained the ball and ran out the clock.

Swider noted of his defense, “The defense made big play after big play. I can't say enough about our entire defensive unit.” Swider noted of the record-setting Ittersagen, “If Pete isn't one of the best players in Division III, I don't know who is. He is a special player and he had some special plays today, including that punt return.”

Wheaton tallied 127 yards of total offense, rushing for 115 yards, with 12 passing yards. Bethel racked up 202 yards of offense, with 84 passing yards and 118 rushing yards.

Sophomore tailback Rocky Gingg (PICTURED LEFT) led the Thunder rushing attack with 81 yards on 25 carries. Wheaton Quarterback Sean Norris ran for 44 yards on 10 carries.

Senior linebackers Mike McKinney and Stephen Pagh each made nine tackles to lead a strong Wheaton defensive effort. Ryan had a big game with seven total tackles, with two tackles for lost yardage (-13 yards), including a quarterback sack of 12 yards. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one. Defensive lineman Eric Theisen played well with six tackles, with two tackles for lost yardage, including a six-yard sack and a forced fumble. Nick Theobald and Shane Woodward also each made six tackles and cornerback Tyler Langs had an interception with two pass break-ups. Langs and Ittersagen each made five tackles.

Logan Flannery led the Bethel offense with 142 rushing yards on 27 carries. David Benjamin led the Bethel defense with eight tackles and a pass interception. Trent Pearson, Andrew Johnson and Darrin Schwarze each made seven tackles.

The Thunder will return to action next Saturday when Wheaton will travel to Concordia (Wis.) for a 1 PM kickoff. Saturday's game will be broadcast on WETN radio and online at www.wetn.org.