Wheaton gets homecoming win with 30-14 win over Carthage

Wheaton, Ill. (10/9) - The Wheaton College (Ill.)

football team won its homecoming game this afternoon at McCully Field in a

30-14 decision over Carthage College. The Wheaton special teams played a key

role in the game directly contributing 16 points. Wheaton blocked a field

goal and returned it for a touchdown and put three field goals on the board

for those 16 points. The special teams put Wheaton in position for another

touchdown when it blocked its second field goal of the day that resulted in

a Crusader touchdown four plays later. Wheaton, ranked 20th in this week's

American Football Coaches Association Poll, improves to 4-0 on the season

and 2-0 in CCIW play. Carthage falls to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the CCIW.

Wheaton made it 7-0 at 7:26 in the first quarter when Wheaton

defensive back John Peays (Austin, Texas/Westlake) blocked a field

goal attempt that was returned for a 70-yard touchdown return by sophomore

defensive back Bryan Ittersagen (Wheaton, Ill./North). Wheaton again

blocked a Carthage field goal attempt with 5:52 left in the second quarter

when senior Mitch Clement (Garden City, Kan./Garden City) blocked a

field goal that was recovered by Ittersagen. Four plays later Wheaton turned

that block into another touchdown to give the Crusaders a 14-0 advantage.

Wheaton placekicker Chris Baughman (Fort Morgan, Colo./Fort Morgan)

kicked a 35-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the second quarter for a 17-0

Wheaton advantage. Baughman made it 20-0 with 00:14 left in the first half

with a 40-yard field goal. Baughman opened up the second half scoring with

a career-high 43-yard field goal. Carthage put points on the scoreboard with

00:43 left in the third quarter when quarterback Luke Sievers (Lockport,

Ill./Lockport Township) connected with Joe McFadden (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook

South) for a 26-yard touchdown pass to cap an eight-play drive of 42-yards.

The Redmen failed to complete the two-point conversion to give Wheaton a 23-6

advantage entering the fourth quarter. Carthage made it 23-14 with 9:25 left

in the game when Siever threw a 45-yard pass to Rob Garnes (Rolling

Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) to cap an eight-play 80-yard drive. With 2:10

left in the game Wheaton was making a touchdown drive, however fumbled the

ball with a recovery coming at the Carthage one-yard line. On their first-play

of the new drive Carthage fumbled the ball and Wheaton defensive back David

Tofilon (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) recovered it in the endzone for a Crusader

touchdown, giving Wheaton the final outcome of 30-14.

Wheaton posted 303 yards of total offense, with 85 rushing yards

and 218 passing yards. Individually Mitch Slater (McHenry, Ill./McHenry)

was 15-31 passing with an interception for 162 yards. Junior Jeremy Amos

(Austin, Texas/Westlake) had six catches for 93 yards, while senior Ben

Peays (Austin, Texas/Westlake) had four catches for 58 yards. Fullback

Jeff Ford (St. Charles, Mo./West) ran for 54 yards on eight carries.

Junior halfback Brian Pastermack (Merritt, Island, Fla./Merritt Island)

ran for 38 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown for the Crusaders. Baughman

connected on three field goal attempts by hitting 35, 40 and 43-yard field

goals. It is this second consecutive game that he has posted a career-best

3-3 field goal effort.

Junior linebacker Greg McMillin (Nampa, Idaho/Nampa Senior)

led the Wheaton defense with 12 total tackles, including three behind the

line of scrimmage (-7 yards) with a sack (-5 yards). Senior defensive back

Ben Wilson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) had 11 total tackles (seven

solos) with two sacks (-16 yards). Mitch Clement had nine total tackles

with two tackles for lost yards (-10 yards). Senior John Peays had

seven total tackles (four solo) with the blocked field goal and two interceptions,

including an interception in the Wheaton end zone in the fourth quarter while

the hosts were holding the 23-14 lead.

Offensively Carthage posted 274 yards of total offense, with

225 passing yards and 49 rushing yards. Runningback Kevin Burris (Round

Lake, Ill./Mundelein Carmel) had 19 carries for 46 yards. Sievers was 9-16

passing for the Redmen with three interceptions and two touchdown passes.

Garnes had six catches for 85 yards with one touchdown, while Joe McFadden

had three catches for 62 yards, including the 26-yard touchdown reception.

Wheaton will host CCIW foe North Park University next Saturday

afternoon at 1:00 PM. North Park (1-3/0-2 CCIW) lost a 36-6 decision today

at home to conference co-leader Millikin University. Carthage will host Illinois

Wesleyan next Saturday in Kenosha. Illinois Wesleyan (3-1/1-1 CCIW) lost a

41-0 decision today at Augustana College.

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