Washington Evening Journal
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Tigers, Cougars in for another barnburner
Andy Krutsinger
Sep. 27, 2019 1:00 am
MT. PLEASANT - Something has got to give on Saturday afternoon when Iowa Wesleyan and Minnesota-Morris meet up at the Tigers' homecoming game. Both teams come into the game 0-3 overall and 0-1 in conference, meaning somebody is going to get their first 'W” of the year.
The Tigers and Cougars have played in each of the last six years. IW is 2-4. The Tigers fell 13-7 up north last season, and last defeated Minnesota-Morris in 2017, out-dueling them 24-17 at home.
The last five games between the two teams have all been decided by eight points or less. The other IW win came in 2014, when the Tigers won 13-7 on the road.
Defense dominated the day the last time these two teams met up. Minnesota-Morris led 6-0 after three quarters and IW held a 7-6 lead after a Stafford Lewis one-yard rushing touchdown midway through the fourth. The Cougars drove down and scored on the very next drive to steal back the lead.
The Tiger defense will need to play well on Saturday if their offense can't get things going. IW has scored just 13 points this season in three games. Leading rusher Jacquez Hall also went down with an injury last week after scoring the Tigers' lone touchdown in a 35-7 loss.
Through three games, the Tigers have thrown for 321 yards. Carter Colby has thrown for 157 yards and two interceptions, and Leo Alvarez has slung it for 136 yards and three picks.
Passes have been caught by 10 different players. Jacob Santos leads the squad with eight catches for 98 yards. Ryan Hampton has the team's only receiving touchdown.
IW will look to jump start the offense against a Cougar defense that has struggled mightely. Minnesota-Morris has given up 45, 67 and 38 points respectively.
The good news for the Tiger defense, is that Minnesota-Morris' offense hasn't done much either. In their three losses, the Cougars have scored just 28 points total. Half of those came in a 38-14 loss to MacMurray College at their own homecoming last week.
Blake Johnson leads the Cougar running attack with 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Quarterback Justin Masloski has ran for 60 yards and a score of his own, but he didn't see any action in the Cougar's loss last week.
The Cougars' leading receiver is Nathan Sheridan. He has caught 15 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.
IW hopes a homecoming win can turn the season around. The Tigers could move to .500 in conference play with a win, and set themselves up nicely for their first game in October, which comes against a Crown College team the Tigers blew out last season.
The game time is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, pending weather delays.
Union file photo Iowa Wesleyan's Ben Thomas goes up for a pass on the Westminster sideline during Saturday's loss in the Tigers' home opener.