BLOOMINGTON - Thanks to two fourth-quarter meltdowns in the last three weeks, the Illinois Wesleyan football team is looking at a .500 season at best. Junior defensive end Tim Wilkins plans to make the most of the unglamorous situation as the Titans begin their three-game stretch run today against North Park.

"It's disappointing and it's frustrating but everybody on our team loves to play football and we look forward to getting another chance to get out there, especially playing at home," Wilkins said. "That's why we work hard during the week because we can't wait for Saturday to roll around.

"Our captains are doing a great job keeping us positive. You can't dwell on what happened last week. Then you let doubt creep in and things like that."

The Titans enter the 1 p.m. College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin battle against North Park at Wesleyan Stadium with a 2-5 overall record and 1-3 CCIW mark after Elmhurst scored twice in the final 32 seconds to pull out a 25-13 victory last week.

North Park (1-6, 0-4), which has lost 20 straight to IWU, is coming off a 73-26 loss to nationally ranked Wheaton.

IWU coach Norm Eash continued to praise his players' attitude despite the disappointing results.

"They came here to win. They didn't come to lose, and they feel bad we don't have the record we all want," Eash said. "But they're still motivated because they're competitors. We haven't had any problems getting them ready to play.

"We just have to respond to situations in ballgames better. You just keep working at it, correct the correctable errors and try to get better."

The Titans will try to muzzle North Park senior wide receiver Brandon Watts, who shredded Wheaton for 309 all-purpose yards including a 95-yard kickoff return. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Watts leads the CCIW in receptions per game (6.7), receiving yards per game (93.1) and all-purpose yards (178.0).

"I don't think Brandon Watts can beat us single-handedly but we have to know where he's at," Eash said. "He's very talented. We'll probably do a little doubling on him because statistics show he's their go-to man. If you take that out of their offense and force them to do something else that's a good strategy."

North Park features an all-freshmen offensive backfield directed by quarterback Shelby Wood, who has thrown for 1,086 yards and seven TDs with 14 interceptions.

"We're looking to put on a lot of pressure and get into the quarterback's face," Wilkins said. "He's pretty talented and we can't let him sit back there. We have to try and make him make mistakes. If we take Watts away, (Wood) won't have anywhere to turn. We want to fly around a lot, hit hard and get them on their heels a little bit."

The Titans also want to strike early.

"All games are momentum games but especially when you're dealing with an up-and-coming, young team," Eash said. "You can't let them have life. If we come out and set a tone and get some points on them, I think we'll control the game the whole way through. If we don't, then it could be a dogfight."

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Illinois Wesleyan

vs. North Park

Site: Wesleyan Stadium, Bloomington

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: IWU 2-5 overall, 1-3 CCIW; North Park 1-6, 0-4

Coaches: IWU's Norm Eash has a 118-68-1 record in 20 seasons at his alma mater. Scott Pethel is in his first season at North Park.

Illinois Wesleyan leaders: Rushing: Marcus Dunlop (436 yards, 2 touchdowns); Passing: Nick Panno (35-68, 497 yards, 5 touchdowns); Receiving: Martin Ceisel (37 catches, 510 yards, 6 touchdowns); Scoring: Martin Ceisel (6 touchdowns, 36 points); Tackles: Bo Osburn (58)

North Park leaders: Rushing: Kelvyn West (176 yards, 2 touchdowns); Passing: Shelby Wood (99-206, 1,086 yards, 7 touchdowns); Receiving: Brandon Watts (47 catches, 652 yards, 3 touchdowns); Scoring: Brandon Watts (4 touchdowns, 24 points); Tackles: Joe Culotta (53)

Illinois Wesleyan injuries: Tight end Brock Klein (shoulder) is doubtful. Backup tight end Rick Podkowa (shoulder) is probable.

North Park injuries: Unavailable.

What to watch for

- IWU wasted a fourth-quarter lead for the second time in three games last week when Elmhurst scored twice in the final 32 seconds to pull out a 25-13 home victory.

- North Park senior wide receiver Brandon Watts is the reigning CCIW special teams player of the week and d3football.com national kick returner of the week after racking up 309 all-purpose yards in the Vikings' 73-26 loss to Wheaton.

- Wheaton piled up 602 yards of total offense against North Park, which ranks last in the CCIW in total defense.

- The Titans blocked two extra-point kicks against Elmhurst, running their season total including field goal tries to seven.

Points of interest

- IWU owns a 20-game winning streak over North Park and leads the all-time series 43-3.

Brandon Watts leads the CCIW in receptions (47), receiving yards (93.1 per game), all-purpose yards (178.0) and kickoff returns (24.4).

- Marcus Dunlop ranks 11th on IWU's career rushing list with 1,701 yards, just behind Nate Hilding (1,728, 1992-95).

- North Park's lone victory came against Eureka College (34-6) in the second week of the season.

Sounding off

- "I think we have more experience and are more talented than North Park, but we have to be careful. There's a difference between being confident and overconfident. We have to play each quarter and control the tempo and control the momentum. We have to take care of business." - IWU coach Norm Eash

- "I think we're pretty positive about coming back home and getting things going again. We've been playing better every week but we have to stop the big drives and finish games. We have to make the plays that need to be made at the end." - IWU junior defensive end Tim Wilkins

Compiled by Douglas Hamm