The Thunder football team tops Elmhurst 65-17 at home
Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder football team, ranked 23rd in this week's D3football.com Top-25 rankings, returned home to McCully Stadium on Saturday to host Elmhurst University (2-6, 2-5). The Thunder defeated the Bluejays 65-17 as Wheaton improves to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in CCIW play.
Wheaton amassed 548 yards of offense this afternoon, with 268 passing yards and 280 rushing yards. The Thunder offense was efficient and productive today as Wheaton ran 54 plays in averaging 10.1 yards per play. The Bluejays tallied 284 yards of total offense with 134 passing yards, and 150 rushing yards.
Wheaton was productive rushing the ball today as the Thunder averaged 10.4 yards per carry on 27 rushing attempts. All-American Giovanni Weeks carried the ball 10 times for 120 rushing yards, with one touchdown run. Quarterback Xaviere Jones had a 54-yard touchdown run as he ran for 60 yards in the game on just two attempts. Andrew Partyka ran the ball three time for 49 yards, and Deuce Scott had three carries for 36 yards that included a 27-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Starting quarterback Mark Forcucci (PICTURED LEFT) completed 16 of his 18 passing attempts for an 88.9% completion percentage that was just shy of Sean Norris' single-game school record for completion percentage (94.4% on 17-of-18 passing vs. North Park on October 4, 2008). Forcucci threw for 236 yards, with three touchdown passes. Jones replaced Forcucci under center in the second half as he was 3-for-4 passing for 17 yards with a touchdown pass, added in with his success on the ground. Seamus O'Connell was also 3-for-4 passing as he tossed for 15 yards through the air.
Ben Bonga continued his impressive play with seven receptions for 163 receiving yards, including 66 yards after the catch. Bonga had the first touchdown of the game. Davis Reeves added four catches for 25 yards, and Ryan Kenyon had a touchdown reception for the hosts.
Defensive back Nate Tofilon led the Thunder defense with eight total tackles, including five solo stops, two forced fumbles, and pass break-up. Defensive end Peter Johanik (PICTURED RIGHT) had two tackles for loss (-11 yards), including one quarterback sack (-3 yards). Johanik registered five total tackles in the game. Linebacker Luca Torti made seven total tackles, including 1-1/2 tackles for loss (-7 yards). Defensive lineman Rex Kroger had five total tackles, including four solo hits, adding an assisted tackle for loss.
Wheaton's Eli Reeves returned the opening kickoff of the game 25 yards and six plays later Forcucci connected with Bonga for a 19-yard touchdown pass for the hosts. Mateo Jesch kicked the PAT attempt that followed as Wheaton gained the 7-0 advantage with 12:29 remaining in the first quarter. The two teams traded offensive drives as Wheaton's second drive of the game ended with a fumble. The Bluejays took advantage of the field possession gained on the fumble and four plays later the guests kicked a 29-yard field goal as the Thunder lead was trimmed to 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. The hosts responded on the very next drive, culminating with a 26-yard touchdown run by Weeks that gave Wheaton a 14-3 lead with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Elmhurst's drive that followed Weeks' touchdown was an 11-play drive of 80 yards that concluded with a four-yard touchdown run as the Bluejays cut Wheaton's lead to 14-10 with 10:35 remaining in the second quarter following the made PAT kick. Wheaton's offense scored 44-unanswered points following the Bluejays' second quarter touchdown. Breck Peacock caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Forcucci in the second quarter and Riley Howard scored a two-yard touchdown run as well. Jesch kicked a 29-yard field goal to end the first half as Wheaton led 31-10 at the halftime intermission.
The Thunder offense rolled in the second half as Wheaton scored touchdowns on its first four offensive possessions of the half and added a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. The Wheaton defense forced an Elmhurst three-and-out on the Bluejays' first drive of the second half. Peacock returned the Elmhurst punt 31 yards to the Elmhurst 34-yard line. Wheaton extended its lead to 37-10 with 11:16 remaining in the third quarter when Forcucci threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Whit Jewett, however the ensuing PAT kick failed. Wheaton's next drive concluded with a 27-yard touchdown run by Scott to increase the hosts' advantage to 44-10 with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter. On the second play of the Bluejays' next offensive drive, Tofilon (PICTURED LEFT) forced a fumble that was recovered by Chase Smith who returned it for a 32-yard touchdown return that gave Wheaton a 51-10 lead with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Wheaton next offensive drive concluded with Jones' one-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon as the score increased Wheaton's lead top 58-10 with 13:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Bluejays returned to the scoreboard with an eight-yard touchdown pass as Wheaton led 58-17 with 7:41 left in the contest. On the fourth play of Wheaton's next drive, Jones broke through the Elmhurst defense and sped into the endzone on a 54-yard touchdown run that increased Wheaton's lead to 65-17 with 6:11 left in the game.
Wheaton heads to Millikin for its final road game of the 2024 regular season. The contest between the Thunder and the Big Blue will kickoff at 1:00 p.m. (please note the start time) in Decatur, Illinois next Saturday. The Thunder football program will honor its seniors in the regular season finale against North Park on November 16 at McCully Stadium. Kickoff for the contest against North Park is schedule for noon, with "Senior Day" ceremonies scheduled to begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.
