BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Returning to action for the first time in two weeks, the Illinois Wesleyan University football team raced past North Park University, 59-20, Saturday, Nov. 7, on Salute to Service Day at Tucci Stadium. The Titans jumped to 7-2 on the season (5-2 CCIW), marking their best season since 2018. The Vikings slipped to 2-7 (2-5 CCIW).
Illinois Wesleyan rolled out to a 35-0 lead behind three rushing scores by senior quarterback Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist), alongside touchdown passes to senior Jimmy Deacy (Chicago, Ill.-Mount Carmel) and junior Will Nazha (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) from sophomore Kyle Beaty (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) and never looked back.
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North Park broke up the shutout with an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive to crack the scoreboard, 35-7, with 33 seconds left in the opening half.
In the third, IWU came out of the intermission with a short scoring drive. North Park attempted an onside kick, but the Titans were all over it, setting up a short field. The drive came to a close with Beaty's third TD throw of the day as the sophomore heaved a 23-yard pass to Deacy along the Illinois Wesleyan sideline.
North Park responded with a touchdown of its own, but sophomore Lach Sullivan (Rochester, Ill.-Rochester) hit from 33 yards out to close the quarter with a 45-14 lead.
The Vikings appeared to have the Green and White stopped on its first drive of the fourth quarter, but on fourth-and-six the Titans pulled a fake. Sold with an award-winning effort from junior punter Matt Worthington (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich), senior Nathan Frank (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Hoffman Estates) took the snap and sped down the middle of the field for a score. Frank was far from untouched on his way to the end zone, shaking off a few Viking defenders en route to his first career touchdown.
Smyth finished the Titans' scoring with a three-play, 13-yard drive. IWU was given prime field position after a near-pick six from Frank and took full advantage. Rolling to his right, Smyth floated a pass to senior Malik Gray (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) to up the lead to 59-20.
North Park scored once more, but Illinois Wesleyan blocked the PAT to close the 59-20 triumph.
Overall, the Titans finished with 462 yards of total offense, 251 passing and 211 rushing. IWU completed 18-of-22 passes and went 5-for-7 on third down. Beaty threw for 229 yards with three scores, with Nazha hauling in team highs of seven receptions and 92 yards. Deacy snagged two TDs with three catches for 51 yards.
Smyth led the ground game, running for 63 yards and three scores on 12 carries. Gray followed with 54 yards on 10 attempts.
Illinois Wesleyan's defense was led by its seniors. John Gavin (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) totaled a team-leading eight stops, while Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont) added six tackles alongside a forced fumble. Marcheon Griffin (Elmhurst, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) posted two tackles for loss, including a nine-yard sack, as part of a three-stop day.
The Titans wrap up the regular season against No. 5 North Central College Saturday, Nov. 14, in Naperville, Ill. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
