No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan football blanks North Park

Posted on September 23, 2017
John Akin and Morgan Alexander
Josh Akin (left) recorded nine tackles and Morgan Alexander rushed for 142 yards in Illinois Wesleyan’s 18-0 win over North Park on Saturday. (Photo courtesy iwusports.com)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Wesleyan football coach Norm Eash would likely give his defense a perfect 100 score for their performance against North Park.

The No.-20 ranked Titans limited the Vikings to 100 yards of total offense in a 18-0 win at Tucci Stadium Saturday for IWU’s first shutout since Sept. 2011.

PODCAST: Listen to the postgame interview on WJBC with IWU coach Norm Eash and linebacker Josh Akin. 

Wesleyan limited the VIkings to 20 rushing yards on 27 carries while Anthony DiNardo completed 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards after starting quarterback Frank Mauigoa was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury on the game’s first snap.

Josh Akin led the Titans’ defense with nine tackles, including one for a loss, while Nico Gubenko intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards to set up IWU’s second score, a 4-yard run by Brandon Bauer in the second quarter.

Morgan Alexander scored the Titans’ first touchdown on a 34-yard pass over the middle from Bauer. Alexander finished with 142 rushing yards on 29 carries and 50 receiving yards on four catches. Bauer completed 21 of 30 passes for 267 yards and that one score with one interception.

Patrick Tata connected on two field goals after Anthony Sciarini missed two extra points and a 25-yard field goal attempt.

The Titans (3-1, 1-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, visit Wheaton next Saturday.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected]. 

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