IW comeback bid falls short

MT. PLEASANT - Iowa Wesleyan showed improvement on Saturday in a home game against the top scoring team in the UMAC. After allowing three scores in the first 18 minutes, the Tigers shut down MacMurray in the second half, but couldn't generate enough offense in a 21-12 loss.

MacMurray's high-flying offense looked good early on. Running back Ethan Downs scored on a five-yard touchdown run and star quarterback Bobby Tedesco hit Demetrius Curry on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Highlanders went for two on the second touchdown and converted, running the score to 15-0 after one period.

Tedesco hit Demetrius Curry on a 31-yard touchdown pass with 12:51 left in the second quarter, seemingly putting the Highlanders in complete control of the game. From that point on, however, momentum started to slowly shift towards IW.

The Tigers got on the board with the biggest offensive play of the day. Leo ALvarez hit Shomari Wilson on a short pass, and Wilson turned it up field for a 73-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was no good but that cut the score to 21-6 before halftime.

In the second half, IW switched their offense to a wishbone style and started to move the ball better. The defense also began to push MacMurray's offense back, shutting the Highlanders out in the second half and forcing two turnovers, both fumbles.

'The defense did a phenomenal job,” said Tiger head coach Michael Richtman. 'They rolled up about 600 yards of offense last week, and they had quite a few in the first half, but we certainly answered to that.”

IW had a costly turnover early in the fourth quarter, giving the ball away inside the MacMurray 15-yard line. After getting the ball back on MacMurray's second fumble, though, they finally cashed in.

Gulon Moore was the recipient of the Tigers' only rushing touchdown of the day. He finished off a 40-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, however, and the Tigers were still down nine points.

IW got the ball back with 4:21 on the clock, having to score twice. The Tigers got to their own 46-yard line but Alvarez's pass was intercepted by MacMurray's Ahmad Washington, and the Highlanders were able to run out the clock.

'We seem to have a stretch in every game, maybe five minutes, where things just go haywire for us,” Coach Richtman said. 'If we can eliminate that, we're going to be right in every game. Shoot, we were right in this one even though we had that bad first quarter.”

Alvarez finished the game 15-19 for 164 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Wilson was his top target, catching four balls for 97 yards and a score.

Andy Wilson ran for 53 yards to lead the running backs. Akenyon Bagley had 51 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving. Alvarez ran for 32 yards, and Moore had 18 yards and a touchdown.

The Tiger defense was led by Dalton Hanson, who had seven tackles and a forced fumble. Raul Arteaga and Comal Phillips each had seven tackles as well. Dimitriee Duncan had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

IW is now 0-7 overall and 0-5 in conference play. They'll take on College of Saint Scholastica on the road on Saturday, Nov. 2.