CHICAGO, Ill. --
The North Park University football team finalized their season with a 13-40 loss to the #17 Illinois Wesleyan University Titans on Saturday afternoon.
Illinois Wesleyan's defense was prevalent early in the game. Sophomore linebacker Keenan Scott picked off a pass from sophomore quarterback Grant Borsch in the Vikings' first drive, spearheading a scoring opportunity for the Titans. Utilizing just 7 plays, the Titans marched downfield to score on a 6 yard run by running back Morgan Alexander. However, senior defensive back David Simmons, Jr. would stifle the would-be PAT, marking his first of 3 blocks in the game.Â
The Titans would score another touchdown in the first quarter on a long 73-yard pass from Brandon Bauer to Jack Healy, capturing a 13-0 lead.
Tacking on another 13 points in the second quarter, the Titans led 26-0 at halftime.
In their most effective quarter of the game, the Vikings would tally 6 points while holding their opponent scoreless. North Park's defense opened up the third quarter by immediately regaining possession. Junior defensive end Uati Pati stripped Illinois Wesleyan's Alexander while sophomore defensive back Tyrell Smith picked up the Titan fumble.
For the offense, Borsch connected with three consecutive passes to freshman running back Michael Soracco; the first went for 10 yards, the next for 17, and the final pass, resulting in a touchdown, arrived on a 7-yard short route pass.
Moving into the final quarter, the Vikings trailed 6-26.
Unfortunately, the Titans wasted no time scoring in the fourth quarter. Starting on the North Park 26, the Titans tossed a 19-yard pass to Healy and a 7-yard pass to Alexander to extend their lead to 32-6.Â
After one more Titan touchdown, the Vikings would mark in the closing minutes of the game. Marching downfield on rushes from Soracco and freshman running back Jaykob Naka'Ahiki-Young, Borsch would finalize the final North Park scoring drive of the season with an 18-yard pass to junior quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Jujuan King.
FINAL SCORE: Illinois Wesleyan 40, North Park 13
Quick Hits:
With the win, the 17th-ranked Titans secured a share of the 2018 CCIW football title with North Central College.
Many North Park seniors, honored this afternoon in pregame festivities, had high performing games:
A Wrap for 2018:
The North Park football team finalizes the 2018 season with an overall record of 2-8 and 1-8 in CCIW play. North Park athletics would like to recognize and thank the following senior student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to North Park University: #85 Josh Casey, #2 Victor Cerda, #54 Pedro Colome, $64 George Corey, #6 Travis Dworzynski, #28 Sidney Francois-Friis, #89 Christian Garza, #84 Hunter Hinkel, #39 Nick Ingalls, #9 Uluao Letuli, #71 Zach Sandlin, #1 David Simmons, Jr. #53 Quentin Voce, and #33 Andy Yonan.
