Furious fourth-quarter rally falls just short for No. 17 Thunder football team at No. 2 Mount Union, 37-29

Alliance, Ohio – The No. 17 ranked Wheaton football team opened up the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon at No. 2 ranked University of Mount Union. The Purple Raiders defeated the Thunder 37-29 in the first-ever regular season meeting between the two Division III powers. Today's contest was the seventh overall meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. The six previous meetings were NCAA Division III Playoff contests at Mount Union (1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008).

Mount Union jumped out to a 13-0 lead today as the hosts scored on their first two offensive possessions. Wheaton capitalized on a well-executed second offensive drive to cut the UMU lead to 13-7 with 5:49 left in the first quarter. The Thunder scoring drive began with a 38-yard kickoff return by Eli Reeves as Wheaton began the drive at its own 49-yard line. Quarterback Mark Forcucci connected with Seth Kortenhoeven on a 14-yard pass, the moved the guests to the Mount Union 37-yard line. The next play was a 17-yard pass from Forcucci (PICTURED LEFT) to Titherington who went out of bounds at the UMU 20-yard line. Forcucci again connected with Kortenhoeven, this time on a 10-yard completion that brought the ball to the Purple Raiders' three-yard line. Transfer running back Matt Crider reached the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run to cut the hosts' lead to 13-7, and Mateo Jesch added the PAT kick to make it 14-7 in favor of UMU with 5:49 left in the first quarter.

Mount Union scored a third first-quarter touchdown, this time on a 42-yard pass to extend the hosts' lead to 20-7. The lone score of the second quarter was an 81-yard touchdown pass for Mount Union with 11:00 left in the first half as the hosts held a 27-7 lead at halftime.

The Purple Raiders converted a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter and added a one-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 37-7.

The fourth quarter belonged to the rallying Thunder. The Thunder defense forced a UMU punt as Wheaton began a drive with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter. The guests marched the ball down field on an 11-play drive of 65 yards. Forcucci connected with running back Malachi Jones on a 17-yard pass on third-and 11 to end the third quarter and move the ball into Mount Union territory at the 49-yard line. On the next play, Forcucci connected with tight end Ben Juska for an 18-yard pass to move the ball to the UMU 31-yard line. The Thunder again came up big on third-and-11, this time at the Mount Union 21-yard line as Forcucci ran for 21 yards into the end zone. Jesch followed with a PAT kick that trimmed the hosts' lead to 37-14 with 10:57 remaining.

The Thunder defense again forced a Mount Union punt on the following drive. Wheaton began its next drive at its own eight-yard line. Wheaton put together a nine-play drive of 92 yards that concluded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Forcucci to Kortenhoeven. Jesch converted the PAT kick as Wheaton cut the UMU lead to 37-21 with 3:47 remaining in the game. Wheaton recovered the ensuing onside kick to begin a drive with 3:35 left in the game at its own 47-yard line. A Mount Union penalty on the first play of the drive moved the ball to the UMU 38-yard line and the Forcucci threw a 10-yard pass to Whit Jewett that moved the ball to the hosts' 28-yard line. On second-and-10, Forcucci again connected with Kortenhoeven on a 13-yard pass, followed by a 15-yard touchdown connection for the duo that cut the UMU lead to 37-27 with 2:40 left in regulation. Wheaton followed the TD with a two-point conversion pass from Forcucci to Juska to trim the Purple Raiders' lead to 37-29. The hosts returned the kickoff that followed and managed to wind down the clock to hold on for the 37-29 victory.

Wheaton had 383 yards of total offense today, as the guests passed for 273 yards and ran for 110. Mount Union recorded 462 yards, with 307 yards through the air and 155 yards on the ground. He ran for 32 yards on nine carries with one touchdown run.

Forcucci completed 23 of his 42 passing attempts for 273 yards, with two touchdowns. In his return from injury, Kortenhoven led the receiving corps with 107 yards on 11 catches, including the two touchdowns. Titherington caught five passes for 73 yards and Jones caught three passes for 55 yards.

Crider led the Thunder rushing game in his Wheaton debut as he gained 38 yards on five carries with one touchdown run. Crider averaged 7.6 yards per carry on the day.

Thunder All-American defensive end Peter Johanik (PICTURED LEFT) led the Wheaton defense with 12 total tackles, including seven solo stops. He recorded one eight-yard sack. Linebacker Zeke Harris tallied 10 total tackles, including 1-1/2 tackles for lost yardage of three yards. Colin Moore registered eight total tackles. Defensive lineman Maxton Leathers added seven total tackles, including five solos. Leathers also had a quarterback sack of eight yards.

Wheaton is off next week and will open CCIW play at Augustana on September 20th at 6:00 p.m.