Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Morgan Alexander rushed for 142 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday as 12th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan defeated Augustana 28-10 at Lindberg Stadium. The Vikings fell to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the CCIW, while the Titans improved to 5-1 on the year and 3-1 in the league.
 
For the third straight game, Augustana scored a touchdown on its first possession. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and went 65 yards in 10 plays for the score. Senior Austin Chausse (Nokomis HS, Nokomis, Ill.) carried it in from the one on third and goal and classmate Jacob Stytz (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) added the point after. Freshman quarterback Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) rushed six times for 38 yards on the march.
 
IWU answered right back with a 14-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. The key play was a 16-yard Bauer-to-Zach Walsh completion on third-and-11 that got the Titans to the Augustana three-yard line. Three plays later, Brandon Bauer connected with Dennis Bresingham for a one-yard touchdown pass and Patrick Tata's kick tied it at 7-7.
 
The Vikings' next possession stalled at the Augustana 48-yard line. On fourth-and-eight, freshman punter Alex Bryan (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee, Ill.) was able to corral a high snap from center, but couldn't get his kick away and was dragged down at the Viking 37. With a short field, it took Wesleyan just four plays to reach the end zone. Alexander took it in from 18 yards out and Tata's point after gave the Titans a 14-7 lead with 11:43 left in the second quarter.
 
After the teams traded punts, Augustana went on the move, eventually reaching the IWU 34-yard line. However, on a key third-and-two, Jordan Hassan sacked Jacobs for a five-yard loss, forcing the Vikings to punt. Wesleyan answered by going 80 yards in 13 plays for another touchdown. Alexander carried on five of the first six plays, gaining 26 yards, and covered the last 25 yards of the drive with two pass receptions. He took a swing pass from Bauer in from two yards out with 31 seconds left in the half. Tata added the kick and the Titans took a 21-10 lead into the locker room.
 
A fair catch interference call against IWU gave the Vikings the first scoring opportunity of the second half midway through the third quarter. After the Titan defense stiffened, Stytz lined up for a 47-yard field goal attempt. His kick had plenty of leg but went wide right for his first miss in eight tries this year.
 
After forcing a punt on Wesleyan's next possession, Augustana went 60 yards in 12 plays, reaching the Titan 10 before the drive stalled. Stytz came on again and this time his kick from 27 yards was true to cut the deficit to 21-10 with 1:12 left in the third.
 
The Vikings reached IWU territory again with their next drive, but on fourth-and-four from the Titan 43, Chance Hilliard stopped Chausse a yard short of a first down and the Titans took over on downs.
 
The final touchdown of the afternoon came after a short Bryan punt into a stiff west wind.  Taking over at the Augustana 36, it took the visitors four plays to reach the end zone. Bauer connected with Jack Healy for a 13-yard score in the left corner of the end zone and Tata's point after accounted for the final score.
 
On the day, Jacobs carried 22 times for 74 net yards and completed 10 of 21 passes for 77 yards. Junior Ryan Hennessy (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) had three catches for 30 yards. Freshman safety John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) again led the Viking defense with 12 tackles.
 
Alexander finished with 142 rushing yards on 27 carries. Bauer completed 12 of 26 pass attempts for 137 yards and three scores. Hassan had a big day defensively, with 13 tackles, including three and a half for loss and two sacks.
 
Augustana is back at home next week, hosting Millikin for Homecoming on Saturday October 14. Kickoff at Lindberg Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.