Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore rushed for 212 yards and scored three touchdowns and the Augustana offense found the going rough Saturday, as Illinois Wesleyan handed the Vikings a 42-6 defeat at Tucci Stadium. Augustana dropped to 2-4 on the year and 1-3 in the CCIW, while the Titans improved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
 
The first score of the game was set up by a Viking miscue. On the opening possession, IWU's Brinton Wilkey intercepted a Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) pass and returned it to the Augustana 24-yard line. Six plays later, Brandon Bauer hit Shoemaker-Gilmore with a six-yard scoring pass for a 6-0 Titan lead.  Andrew Iwaszkiewicz added the PAT.
 
A John Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) interception at the Augustana one-yard line just before the two-minute mark helped keep the Vikings just a touchdown back after one quarter.
 
Another Augustana turnover in its own territory led to IWU's second touchdown. Reese Sobol recovered a Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) fumble at the Viking 44 and seven plays later, Bauer hit Austin Wagner from 14 yards out. Iwaszkiewicz's point after made it 14-0 Titans with 10:12 left in the half.
 
After an Augustana three-and-out, Wesleyan drove 58 yards in eight plays for another score. Shoemaker-Gilmore finished it off, catching a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Pfeiffer.
 
The Vikings got on the board with 45 seconds left in the half, when junior Jacob Stytz (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) booted a career-long 46-yard field goal. The teams went to the locker room with IWU on top 21-3.
 
The Titans put the contest away with three third-quarter touchdowns. Trevor Staley returned an interception 48 yards for a score and after Stytz kicked a 35-yard field goal, Shoemaker-Gilmore capped his day with a 58-yard touchdown run. The final score came with 1:24 left in the third. Bauer connected with Austin Harrell from 38 yards out and Iwaszkiewicz's extra point accounted for the final.
 
Sophomore quarterback Luke Bleyer (Williamsville HS, Springfield, Ill.) relieved Fuller in the third quarter and saw his first extensive action of the year. He completed 10 of 19 passes for 107 yards and was intercepted once. Sophomore receiver Ryan Hennessy (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) made nine receptions on the day for 81 yards. Pitra was the Vikings' leading rusher, with 23 yards on 10 carries.
 
Augustana, which had turned the ball over just five times in its first five contests, lost three interceptions and a fumble on Saturday.
 
In addition to his interception, John Asquini was credited with a game-high 11 tackles, including 1½ for loss. He also shared the Vikings' lone sack with junior linebacker Danny Giffels (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.).
 
Stytz's two field goals make him seven of eight on the year.
 
Augustana is back on the road next week, traveling to Decatur, Illinois to face the Millikin Big Blue in a 6:00 p.m. contest at Frank Lindsay Field on Saturday, October 15.