#13-Thunder football team opens the 2023 campaign with a 30-21 victory against #19-Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton football team (1-0) opened its 2023 season on Saturday in impressive fashion with a 30-21 victory at home against UW-Oshkosh (1-1) in a battle of nationally ranked foes. The No. 13 Thunder defeated the No. 19 Titans in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Wheaton totaled 449 yards of offense today and the Titans amassed 333 yards. The Wheaton gameplan played out well for the hosts as the Thunder offense had 81 plays in the game, to just 53 for the Titans. Wheaton had a time of possession advantage o 36:33 to 23:27.

Thunder quarterback Ben Thorson (PICTURED LEFT) was efficient under center today as he completed 22 of his 29 passing attempts for 254 yards, and no interceptions thrown. Thorson also ran for a touchdown in the first quarter. Thorson's leading receiver was Ben Bonga with nine catches for 106 yards. Ben Juska caught three passes for 39 yards. Caleb Titherington added three receptions for 35 yards.

Preseason All-American running back Giovanni Weeks ran the ball 22 times for 101 yards with one touchdown run. Weeks also caught three passes for 48 yards. Cristian Carstens carried the ball 19 times for 99 yards, with two touchdown runs.

Cornerback Max Wilson recorded two interceptions for the Thunder defense. His first INT stopped a Titans' drive at the guests' 39-yard line midway through the second quarter and setup a Thunder field goal later in the quarter to give Wheaton a 17-9 lead. Wilson's second pick of the day came with 2:42 remaining in the game, on a Titans' fourth-and-16, and was returned to the Thunder 30-yard line. The interception gave the hosts the ball with 2:42 remaining in the game and a 30-21 lead that the offense ran out for the remainder of the contest.

Safety Clay Campbell (PICTURED RIGHT) led the Thunder defense with eight total tackles, and a pass breakup today. Linebacker Lawson Haigler tallied seven total tackles, breaking up two passes Peter Johanik had five total tackles, including a half tackle for loss (-1 yards). Lineman Christian Bonacquisti recorded a key six-yard sack in the fourth quarter, three plays before Wilson's interception. Bonacquisti had three total tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for loss, including the key quarterback sack.

Wheaton took the opening kickoff and Wheaton was held to a three-and-out, punting to conclude the opening drive. The UW-Oshkosh offense marched down the field on a seven-play drive of 56 yards that concluded with a 15-yard touchdown pass that gave the Titans a 6-0 lead after the PAT attempt failed. Seth Kortenhoven, a transfer into Wheaton took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 30 yards as the Thunder offense started its drive at its own 37-yard line. Thorson connected with Bonga on passes of 23 and 17 yards on back-to-back plays to move the ball quickly down the field. The 63-yard drive concluded with a one-yard touchdown scamper for Thorson. Wheaton converted the PAT attempt to take a 7-6 lead with 7:16 remaining in the first quarter. UW-Oshkosh again marched the ball down the field, moving deep into the red zone. However, the Wheaton defense held firm with three plays that began at the hosts' five-yard line as this key stand forced the Titans to kick a 22-yard field goal that gave the guests a 9-7 lead with 4:17 remaining in the first quarter.

On the drive that followed the Titans' field goal, Wheaton put together an impressive 11-play drive of 73 yards. Carstens scored on a five-yard touchdown run to cap off the drive and the PAT kick was converted to give the hosts a 14-9 lead with 14:18 remaining in the second quarter. The two teams exchanged drives and then Oshkosh had its second drive after the Thunder touchdown end with Wilson's interception at the Thunder 47-yard line with 6:23 remaining in the first half. Wheaton put together a 10-play drive of 44 yards after the interception, culminating in a 26-yard field goal by transfer Mateo Jesch. Jesch's field goal extended Wheaton's lead to 17-9 with 2:03 left in the first half. Wheaton maintained its 17-9 advantage at the halftime intermission.

The Titans received the kickoff to open the second half and put together a 10-play drive of 79 yards that culminated with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Kobe Berghammer to Clayton Schwalbe. The Titans' two-point conversion attempt failed as Wheaton led 17-15 with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter. Wheaton punted to conclude its next drive. Oshkosh started its next drive on its own 40-yard line. The guests went for it on fourth-and-three at the Wheaton 36-yard line and the Wheaton defense once again stood firm as it forced an incompletion with a quarterback hurry by Johnny Eller.

The Wheaton offense impressed on its next drive as the hosts composed an 18-play drive, over 64 yards that consumed 8:22 in time of possession. A key play in the drive was on third-and-11 at the Oshkosh 42-yard line when Thorson connected with Bonga on a 21-yard completion to give Wheaton a much-needed first down at the Titans' 21-yard line. Eight plays after Bonga's reception, Carstens scored on a two-yard run that extended the hosts' lead to 23-15 with 11:44 remaining in the game, following a failed PAT kick.

UW-Oshkosh responded on its next drive, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run with 9:28 remaining in the game. The Titans' two-point conversion failed as Wheaton held a 23-21 lead. The Thunder offensive line and rushing game played a key role in Wheaton's 12-play drive that followed. The 64-yard drive had 43 of those yards come on the ground, including the four-yard touchdown run by weeks that capped the drive. Jesch converted the ensuing PAT attempt to increase Wheaton's lead to 30-21 with 4:03 remaining in the game. Weeks' touchdown was the 46th of his Wheaton career, tying the school record for total career touchdowns as he matches the 46 career TD's for Mark Loeffler (1993-96).

UW-Oshkosh kick returner Londyn Little took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 51 yards to the Thunder 49-yard line. Berghammer threw an 11-yard completion to open the Titans' drive and put the guests at the Wheaton 38-yard line. Bonacquisti rolled through the Titans' offensive line for a crucial six-yard sack on the next play to create a second-and-16 at the Wheaton 44-yard line. Berghammer's next pass attempt was broken up by Campbell, and his third down pass was incomplete. the incompletion setup a crucial fourth-and-16 at the Wheaton 44-yard line as Wilson intercepted the pass at the Thunder 22-yard line and he returned it eight yards to the 30. Wilson's interception gave Wheaton the ball at its own 30 with 2:42 remaining in the game. Carstens (PICTURED LEFT) ran for 26 yards on five carries, picking up two crucial first downs as the Wheaton offense chewed up the clock to earn the win.

Wheaton travels to Bloomington, Illinois next Saturday to open conference play against Illinois Wesleyan. The kickoff against the Titans is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.