Football returns to win column with 42-21 victory over Illinois Wesleyan
Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder football team bounced back from last week's defeat to top-ranked North Central with a convincing 42-21 victory over Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday at McCully Stadium. The victory is Wheaton's fifth-straight win over the Titans marking Wheaton's longest win streak in the series between the two teams. With the win, Wheaton improves to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in CCIW play. Illinois Wesleyan falls to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Wheaton will be back in action on Saturday, October 19, when the Thunder travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin for a 1 pm kickoff at Carthage.
Wheaton scored in all four quarters on Saturday, outgaining the Titans 404-258. Wheaton rushed the ball 24 times for 132 yards, led by Giovanni Weeks who tallied 108 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. Deuce Scott ran for 39 yards on five carries and also foudn the end zone. Mark Forcucci completed 26-of-34 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. Ben Bonga was Forcucci's go-to target on the day, catching eight passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns.
An 11-play, 85-yard drive led the Thunder to their first score of the game, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Forcucci to Bonga (VIDEO). After Colin Moore, ended the ensuing Titan drive with a fumble recovery, Forcucci found Bonga again, connecting for a 13-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter to put Wheaton ahead 14-0 (VIDEO). Illinois Wesleyan answered with a short touchdown drive to pull within 14-7 before the defenses stood tall to take that score into the locker room.
Giovanni Weeks set the tone for Wheaton on its first drive of the second half as the All-American broke free for a 41-yard rush to set the Thunder up at the Titan 30-yard line. Five plays later, Weeks plunged into the end zone from seven yards out to put Wheaton ahead 21-7 (VIDEO). Peter Johanik (PICTURED LEFT) stalled an Illinois Wesleyan drive with an interception late in the second quarter (VIDEO).
A 57-yard return on the ensuing kickoff gave the visitors a short field that once again turned into a touchdown to pull them back 21-13 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown tandem of Forcucci and Bonga answered with a quick score, capping a three-play touchdown drive with a 51-yard connection pushing the lead back out to 28-14 (VIDEO).
A pair of ill-timed penalties on the next Titan drive allowed Illinois Wesleyan to convert a third-and-20 and also reversed a Wheaton interception. The Titans took full advantage, punching the ball into the end zone and converting the two-point conversion to pull back within a touchdown at 28-21 with 12:03 to play. Wheaton answered with some deja vu as Forcucci again found Bonga from 51-yards out for their fourth touchdown connection with 9:37 remaining (VIDEO). Defensive back Colin Moore picked off an IWU pass thanks to a Chase Smith deflection (VIDEO). Deuce Scott put the finishing touches on the victory with 1:42 remaining with a 26-yard touchdown rumble to account for the final 42-21 score (VIDEO).
Johnny Eller led the Thunder defense with 13 tackles including two tackles for loss and a pass break-up. Peter Johnanik stuffed the stat sheet with nine tackles including two for loss, one sack (VIDEO), and one interception. Colin Moore recorded an interception and a fumble recovery to go with four tackles. Print Friendly Version
Players Mentioned
#15
Ben Bonga
WR
6' 2"
Senior
#34
Johnny Eller
LB
5' 11"
Senior
#54
Peter Johanik
DL
6' 1"
Junior
#24
Colin Moore
DB
6' 0"
Sophomore
#22
Chase Smith
DB
6' 3"
Senior
#30
Giovanni Weeks
RB
6' 1"
Graduate Student
#5
Mark Forcucci
QB
6' 0"
Junior
#39
Deuce Scott
RB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Players Mentioned
#15
Ben Bonga
6' 2"
Senior
WR
#34
Johnny Eller
5' 11"
Senior
LB
#54
Peter Johanik
6' 1"
Junior
DL
#24
Colin Moore
6' 0"
Sophomore
DB
#22
Chase Smith
6' 3"
Senior
DB
#30
Giovanni Weeks
6' 1"
Graduate Student
RB
#5
Mark Forcucci
6' 0"
Junior
QB
#39
Deuce Scott
6' 0"
Sophomore
RB
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Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2024/10/12/football-returns-to-win-column-with-42-21-victory-over-illinois-wesleyan.aspx