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| SportsThursday, October 18, 2007 2:30 AM CDT |
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Titans turn tables on opposition
BLOOMINGTON — Brandon Patrick blocks a punt, and Bret McWherter returns the loose ball 10 yards for a touchdown. Alex Holmberg intercepts a pass and laterals to Nick Nikolich, who scampers the remaining 18 yards for another stunning score. The Illinois Wesleyan football team used to be the victim of those kinds of game-changing plays. That wasn’t the case in IWU’s 24-7 win over Millikin last Saturday as the surprising Titans kept pace with No. 5-ranked Wheaton atop the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin standings. “There were times when I stood on the sidelines the last three years and said, ‘Wow. I can’t believe this stuff is happening to us,’ ” IWU coach Norm Eash said Tuesday. “But you make those breaks. Where before our football team might have been waiting for something bad to happen, now there’s so much hope and confidence on our team. “It’s our whole mental attitude. We’re making things happen, and that’s the key to our success right now along with the confidence level we have with our players.” The Titans (4-2 overall, 3-0 CCIW), enjoying their first three-game winning streak since 2003, will try to make it four straight Saturday when they host Elmhurst (4-2, 1-2) in a 1:30 p.m. homecoming contest at Wesleyan Stadium. IWU’s league-leading defense fueled the play-making frenzy against Millikin by forcing six turnovers. Senior cornerback Andrew Dulaney had two of the Titans’ five interceptions, and junior middle linebacker Dan Souder recorded 11 tackles and two of IWU’s five sacks. “We played with optimism,” Souder said. “All week we stressed turnovers because we hadn’t forced many turnovers all year. When we went out there we were looking to score ourselves. Not avoid the big play, but make the big play.” While the defense dominated, IWU’s sluggish offense came to life in the fourth quarter and put the Big Blue away behind a 36-yard field goal by Joe Duffy and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kraig Ladd to Martin Ceisel. “At the very end we started to get some things going, and that’s the makings of a good team,” Eash said. “We’d like to get to the point where we’re making plays on both sides of the ball at the same time. We’re going to have to do that as we get down the road. That’s when we’re going to become a really good football team.” The Titans’ young offensive line has been a key component of IWU’s turnaround. Center Eric Van Hise, the lone senior up front, is flanked by sophomores Keely Flood, Keenan Clifford and Travis Boothe and freshman Ray Krishock. “The first couple of game we were rotating guys in and getting the group together,” Flood said. “Since the start of conference play, we’ve really stuck with the same offensive line and I think we’re really starting to work well together. We’ve all got over our jitters and we’ve adjusted to varsity game speed. We’re ready to play with anybody.” Eash credits much of the line’s development to the leadership of three-year starter Van Hise. “He’s the elder statesman as we call him,” Eash said. “He’s been in a lot of battles. He gives direction and he knows the little things and he tries to educate the guys next to him.” With a large homecoming crowd expected Saturday, Eash wants the Titans to remain focused and block out the distractions. “Homecoming is homecoming and there are a lot of festivities,” Eash said. “Because of our success and being in the conference race, there is new interest in our team. People are starting to talk about us, and our players know that. We want to play well, but the big thing is we want to get that fourth CCIW win. “It’s just a step closer to our goal, and Elmhurst stands in the way. That’s all we’re thinking about right now.” Elmhurst vs. Illinois WesleyanWhen: 1:30 p.m., Saturday Where: Wesleyan Stadium, Bloomington Records: Elmhurst 4-2, 1-2; IWU 4-2, 3-0 Radio: WESN-FM (88.1) Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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