IWU Football Falls in First Game vs. Ranked Opponent
ADRIAN, Mich. – Indiana Wesleyan University football took their five game win streak into Saturday’s game at No. 23 Siena Heights (Mich.). The once-beaten Saints scored the first 24 points en route to a 31-10 final score in Adrian, Michigan.
NO QUIT
Siena Heights dominated first half play and built a 24-0 halftime lead. Indiana Wesleyan came out of the break and scored the only 10 points of the third quarter to make it a two-possession game at 24-10. But an interception deep in Wildcat territory led to a Siena Heights touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
Saturday’s game marked the first ranked opponent for Indiana Wesleyan in program history. Siena Heights is ranked No. 23 in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll with a 6-1 record, the lone blemish coming in OT last week to two-time defending national champion Saint Francis (Ind.). Next year, Indiana Wesleyan joins the Mid-State Football Association and will play in the Mideast division which currently features four ranked teams.
WIN STREAK SNAPPED
Indiana Wesleyan had won five straight games and now stands 5-2 in the first season of play. IWU had not lost in seven weeks since falling 43-31 to Taylor (Ind.) on September 1 in the first game of the season.
LANGS SAYS…
“Extremely proud of the way our players fought today. A lot of teams would fold down 24-0 at half versus a ranked team. It was a benchmark for the development of our culture and for love these players have for one another.”
NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS
The four game road trip continues next Saturday as Indiana Wesleyan travels to Bourbonnais, Illinois to play Olivet Nazarene (Ill.). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.