MOUNT PLEASANT – William Penn University rushed for 397 yards and took advantage of three Iowa Wesleyan College turnovers in defeating the Tigers 35-13 on Senior Day for IWC.
The Statesmen did all of their offensive work on the ground, not completing a single pass in the game but improving to 7-3 overall, 5-1 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. The Tigers again got several individual standout games and played well in spells but dropped to 3-7 overall, 1-5 in the MSFA Midwest with one game remaining in the season.
The Tigers dug themselves too big a hole in the first half, falling behind 28-0 at halftime, and were unable to complete a rally despite forcing and recovering two fumbles in the second half that led to scores. IWC gained 412 yards and drove inside William Penn territory on nine of its 10 drives in the game, but had four drives inside the WPU 26-yard line that ended in interceptions or on downs.
Penn’s methodical running of the ball resulted in 306 yards rushing in the first half on the way to building the big halftime lead. Statesmen quarterback Ryan Van Dalen ran for 165 yards and three touchdowns on the triple option in the first half alone as the visitors scored touchdowns on their first four drives of the game.
The Tiger defense gave the offense a kick-start in the second half by getting its first stop of the game to force a punt and then following that up by forcing fumbles on back-to-back drives. Alex Holmes (Fr.-San Diego, Calif.) stripped and recovered a WPU fumble late in the third quarter, setting IWC up at the Statesmen’s 23-yard line. Bryan Abihider (Sr.-Hemet, Calif.) capped a six-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run to get the Tigers on the board with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
After a long kickoff return put Penn in Wesleyan territory, the Statesmen fumbled again as Kris Fleming (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) stripped Van Dalen and Scott Baldwin (Jr.-Penn Valley, Calif.) recovered at the Tigers’ 42-yard line. IWC then went 58 yards in six plays, with Jaren Maybin (Jr.-Baltimore, Md.) going the final three yards for the score.
The Statesmen then wrapped up the game on their next drive, going 60 yards in four plays with Lincoln Cavanagh running it in for the touchdown. IWC drove the ball down twice more, including a long 23-play, 79-yard drive in the final minutes, but could not score again.
Maybin had another big rushing day with 27 carries for 128 yards, and now needs 72 yards in the season finale to reach 1,000 yards for the season. Lawrence Moore (So.-Country Club Hills, Ill.) also had another huge day, catching nine passes for 147 yards. Moore needs 36 yards receiving in the finale to become just the fourth receiver in IWC history with 1,000 yards in a season, and the first since Bruce Carter in 1991.
Abihider completed 22 of 36 passes for 240 yards but was intercepted three times, while Greg Fields (So.-St. Louis, Mo.) also had seven catches for 37 yards. The Tigers put up 254 yards of offense in the second half and held a 36:46-23:14 advantage in time of possession.
Scott Knipfer (Sr.-Cottage Grove, Wis.) led the IWC defense with eight tackles, while fellow senior Kyle DeRossett (Dupo, Ill.) added seven tackles. The Tigers held Penn to 91 yards of offense in the second half, forcing two punts as well as the two turnovers. The game was the final at home for ten Iowa Wesleyan seniors: DeRossett, Knipfer, Abihider, Deleon Bolds (Chicago, Ill.), Clint Hunold (Donnellson, Iowa), Quentin Lang (Bellwood, Ill.), Lonzell Maddock (Seattle, Wash.), Tyler McGuire (Mount Pleasant, Iowa), Mervin Shaw (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jerry Wimes (Mount Dora, Fla.).
Cavanagh finished with 206 yards rushing on 18 carries for the Statesmen, who defeated IWC for the tenth straight time. Jake Jenkins had a pair of interceptions for William Penn.
The Tigers conclude their season next Saturday at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. Game time is 1 p.m.
For more information regarding the IWC football program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
