IW aims to continue dominance over Crown

ST. BONIFACIOUS, Minn. - In recent years, Iowa Wesleyan hasn't had more success against anyone than it has had against Crown College.

IW will come into Saturday's game having won three straigth over the Storm and four of the last five. IW has scored 40 or more points in each of the last two years, including a 44-7 shelling last season.

The Tigers, who are reeling from key injuries and a tough loss in a homecoming thriller, are set to face off with the Storm in search of their first win of the year. IW comes into the match up 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, and Crown comes in 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

The Tigers have seen two completely different games in their two UMAC contests. IW gave up 35-straight points to Westminster College in a 35-7 loss in the home opener, and then watched a 21-7 lead disappear in a 28-21 loss against Minnesota-Morris.

Crown dropped a thriller against St. Scholastica. The Storm scored 14-straight point in the fourth quarter but a potential game-winning drive was stuffed, resulting in a 35-32 loss.

One week later, the Crown offense was stifled by Northwestern. The Storm scored the first six points, but Northwestern closed the game out with 23 straight, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to upend Crown 23-6 and drop them to 0-2 in the conference.

IW comes into the game as bottom scoring offense in the conference and with the eighth-best defense. Crown's defense ranks second, giving up just 27.3 points per game, but their offense is sixth, giving up 18.8.

Running back Avory Caruthers leads the Storm offense, averaging over 135 yards rushing a game. He's went for 562 yards this season and four touchdowns. Quarterback Jared Gilmore has thrown for 530 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Receiver Cole Mistretta leads the team with 191 receiving yards, but he has yet to find the end zone. All of Gilmore's touchdown passes have went to Janaire Smith, who averages 16.3 yards per catch.

IW quarterback Leo Alvarez has thrown for 364 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Santos leads the team with 155 receiving yards and one score. Ben Thomas has went for 109 yards, and Austin McBeth has 92 yards and a touchdown through the air.

The Tigers have had a rough time running the ball. Jacquez Hall, who still leads the team with 111 net yards rushing, is out with a lower-body injury. The second-leading rusher is Akenyon Bagley, who stepped up to run for 41 yards last week.

The game will feature the only two 0-2 teams in the UMAC. Crown will host its homecoming this week, giving the Storm a little extra motivation to snap a three-game skid against the Tigers and avoid losing their third game in a row this year.

After the Crown game, IW will hit the on Saturday, Oct. 12 to play Martin Luther College. That game will lead up to the Tigers' bye week.