Tiger attack grounded by weather, Westminster

BURLINGTON — In Game 1 of its 2021 spring campaign, the Iowa Wesleyan football team threw for 434 yards. On Saturday at Bracewell Stadium, the skies above decided there would be no repeat performance.

A rainy day in Burlington led to a grounded Tiger passing attack, and the Iowa Wesleyan offense was stuck all day in a 20-13 loss to Westminster College.

“The weather conditions didn’t help us at all,” said Tiger head coach MD Daniels. “But I think our young guys fought extremely hard.”

It was a particularly wet opening half. The first quarter was a scoreless punt fest, and nobody scored until there was 12:41 left in the second quarter, when Westminster’s Wyatt Ellis scampered to the outside for a 37-yard rushing touchdown.

Trailing 7-0 with less than two minutes remaining until halftime, the turnover bug bit the Tigers. A fake punt attempt was foiled when the snap was bobbled, and Westminster took over at the Tiger 30 with 1:36 on the clock.

The Blue Jays would cash in on that turnover with a field goal to end the half, and it was 10-0 Westminster at the break.

Westminster scored again in the third quarter, making it 17-0 on a six-yard run by Kalyn Davis, but the skies began to open up, and the Tigers would slowly chip back.

With three minutes left in the third quarter, Iowa Wesleyan’s special teams got one back. The Tigers rushed a punt attempt, and Dimitriee Duncan blocked it from inside the Blue Jays’ 20-yard line. Westminster recovered it at its own 8-yard line, giving the Iowa Wesleyan offense a short field.

Three plays later, Hezekiah Hunter gave the Tigers their first points of the ballgame. Hunter found the end zone from 4-yards out, and despite a blocked point after attempt, the Tigers were within 11, at 17-6.

The Blue Jays led 20-10 after an early fourth-quarter field goal, and then took the ball back after forcing the Tigers to punt. The Blue Jays were at midfield threatening to score the dagger when the biggest play of Iowa Wesleyan’s season thus far took place, courtesy of the Tiger defense.

The Blue Jays completed a short pass to the 50-yard line, but Austin McBeth blasted the ball carrier and forced it loose. Jaheem Hampton, an All-Conference defensive back from last season, was Johnny-on-the-spot, scooping it up and running 50 yards to the end zone with 4:16 on the clock.

“When I was on the sidelines, I told them we needed to make a play,” said Daniels. “When you can lean on your captains and play makers to make plays, you know you’re headed in the right direction.”

Unfortunately for the Tiger fans in attendance, Westminster settled itself and ran the clock down to 30 seconds in its next possession. The ensuing punt was muffed, and the Tiger offense never got to see the field again.

“Running the ball is just not our forte, but you have to do what it takes to do to win the game,” Daniels said. “Today, Westminster was just a little bit better at running the football than we were.”

Indeed, the Blue Jays had more than double Iowa Wesleyan’s total offense, outgaining the Tigers 320-152, thanks in part to 251 yards on the ground.

Hunter finished the night with 28 yards and a score on 10 rushing attempts to lead the Tiger running game. Kam Cole had 26 yards on just four attempts.

Tiger quarterback Gavin Esquivel threw for 102 yards and two interceptions. Shomari Wilson was his favorite receiver, catching four balls for 34 yards.

Jarion Carter led the Tiger defense with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. McBeth and Joseph Pace each forced one fumble. Hampton finished with one fumble recovery, and Joseph Pace had one interception.

The Tigers are now 0-2 on the year, but they’ve got plenty to get excited about in their next two games. Namely, a chance at revenge against the two teams that have handed them losses.

Iowa Wesleyan will host Greenville University Saturday at Bracewell Stadium. Two weeks later, they get another shot at Westminster.

“I’m excited to see us grow as a team, but more so I’m excited to play Westminster again,” Daniels said. “If you can’t get these guys jacked up to play these two teams again, they can’t get jacked up.”