MOUNT PLEASANT – The University of St. Francis (Ill.) scored 34 first half points and put up over 500 yards of total offense to defeat Iowa Wesleyan College 51-6 Saturday night at Mapleleaf Stadium.
The Tigers dropped their fourth straight game, falling to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Mid-States Football Association. USF got its first win of the season and is now 1-4, 1-1 in the MSFA Midwest.
Little went right for the Tigers, who fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter and had just two first downs on offense in the game. IWC gained 18 yards of total offense and was 0 for 12 on third downs. The Fighting Saints also had their way with the Wesleyan defense with 502 yards, including 315 yards rushing, and held the ball for more than 36 minutes in the game.
The Tigers got their lone score in the second quarter after freshman cornerback Deevonte Browning (Deland, Fla.) intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards to the USF one-yard line. Two plays later, Jaren Maybin (Sr.-Baltimore, Md.) carried it in from one yard out to make the score 31-6.
With the IWC offense struggling and the Tigers down to their third-string punter by the second half, the Saints took advantage of terrific field position throughout the night. USF started six drives in IWC territory and its average starting field position for a drive was its own 42-yard line.
Maybin ran for 26 yards on 14 carries to lead the offense, while quarterback Kevin McConnell (Fr.-Kansas City, Mo.) completed seven of 14 passes for a total of 23 yards. Defensively, Chris Owens (Jr.-Greer, S.C.) and Kris Fleming (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) had eight tackles each, Darious Watson (Jr.-Bellwood, Ill.) and Nate Washington (Fr.-Stone Mountain, Ga.) had seven tackles, and Eduardo Garcia (Fr.-San Diego, Calif.) had five tackles.
Connor Krisch ran for 211 yards for the Fighting Saints, while reserve running back Mychal Jackson gained 101 yards and had three touchdowns.
The Tigers now go on the road next week to face Waldorf College in another MSFA Midwest League matchup. Game time in Forest City is 2 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.
Box score USF 51 IWC 6
