Heartbreaking loss for Iowa Wesleyan football

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A valiant effort by the Iowa Wesleyan football team came up two points short in a thrilling road contest at Missouri Baptist University on Saturday night.

The Tigers battled for four quarters then four overtimes in one of the tightest games in Iowa Wesleyan football history, but in the end it was the hosting Spartans who got to celebrate a 25-23 victory.

For the second-straight week, the Tigers found themselves locked in a defensive struggle early on. The game was scoreless through the first quarter, and each team found the end zone just twice in regulation.

Both teams scored in the final two minutes of the first half. Missouri Baptist broke the deadlock on a 47-yard touchdown pass with just 1:50 remaining in the second period, but new Iowa Wesleyan quarterback Zach Chevalier led the Tigers 80 yards in 50 seconds and Parker Heidt scored on a 2-yard rushing touchdown to make it 7-7 right before halftime.

Missouri Baptist took back the lead in the third quarter as tight end Courtney Cox was there for the Spartans on a 10-yard touchdown reception to make it 14-7 early in the third quarter.

Iowa Wesleyan came up with a clutch score late in the fourth quarter as Chevalier capped off an 80-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jamarion Fergus with just 1:21 showing on the game clock. Lucas Mosqueda’s second extra point of the night sailed through and it was 23-23 at the end of regulation.

After allowing a Spartan score in the first overtime, Iowa Wesleyan tied the game again on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Chevalier to Tanelus. The Tigers, however, fumbled away the ball on fourth and goal in the second overtime, and that gave the Spartans a chance to win it on their turn with the ball.

It was an impressively bad day for the Missouri Baptist kicking game. After going 0-for-6 on field goal attempts in regulation, the Spartans lined up a potential game-winner on third down, but it sailed left, leaving the teams knotted up at 21-21.

In all overtimes after the second, the teams must trade two-point attempts. Iowa Wesleyan’s Asaivien McWilliams gave the Tigers a 23-21 lead on the first 2-point attempt in the third overtime, but the Spartans struck back on a quarterback run that sneaked just over the goal line, and the two teams were knotted back up at 23-23 heading into the fourth OT.

In the fourth overtime, Iowa Wesleyan’s play broke down and an incomplete pass gave the Spartans a chance to win it. Missouri Baptist’s Gavin Claud caught the game-winning pass in the back of the end zone, and the Tigers lost their second-straight nail-biter to begin the season.

Chevalier finished the game 20-for-45 for two touchdowns. McWilliams led the receiving group with five catches for 98 yards. Jordan Beban rushed for 126.

Iowa Wesleyan’s defense was paced by a 13-tackle day for Gavin DePedro. Kallan Topliff led the team in pass breakups, with three.

The Tigers will take an 0-2 record into Westminster College next Saturday. The Blue Jays are 0-1 after falling 26-0 in their opener. It will be the first game between the two teams since a 35-14 thumping by the Tigers in the spring of 2021.