Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton football team returned home on Saturday evening for a CCIW matchup against Carthage at McCully Stadium. The Thunder scored in every quarter tonight in earning a 50-13 victory against the Firebirds (5-1, 4-1).
Tonight's win improves Wheaton to 5-1 this season, including a 4-1 record in CCIW play. Tonight's effort marks Wheaton's 13th-consecutive victory against Carthage, a win streak that dates back to 2010.
The Wheaton offense put up 524 total yards tonight, with 355 passing yards and 166 rushing yards. The Thunder defense held Carthage to 229 yards of total offense with 213 passing yards and a mere 16 yards on the ground.
Thunder quarterback Ben Thorson completed 24 of his 37 passing attempts tonight for 339 yards, with four touchdown runs. Receiver Ben Bonga caught eight of Thorson's passes for 116 receiving yards, with one touchdown catch. Tight end Ben Juska caught seven passes for 82 yards, with one touchdown reception.
All-American running back Giovanni Weeks carried the ball 22 times for 114 yards, as he averaged 5.2 yards per carry with one touchdown run. Weeks also caught both passes thrown his way for 55 receiving yards, with one touchdown reception.
Thunder defensive lineman Peter Johanik recorded eight total tackles, including one tackle for loss (-5 yards), with a pass broken up. Linebacker Johnny Eller and defensive lineman Isaac Parrish each had five total tackles. Chase Smith, Max Wilson, and Virgil Cannon each recorded four total tackles. Eller had two tackles for loss (-4 yards), and Wilson had one tackle for loss (-4 yards).
Both teams scored on their respective opening drive of the game. The Thunder concluded a game-opening eight-play drive of 75 yards with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Thorson to tight end Griffin Cropp. The nine-yard touchdown catch was the freshman's first career reception. Thunder kicker Mateo Jesch converted the PAT kick to give Wheaton a 7-0 lead with 11:57 left in the first quarter. Carthage responded with an 11-play drive of 77 yards that concluded with a three-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:54 remaining in the second quarter.
Wheaton concluded a drive in the opening minutes of the second quarter turning the ball over on downs at the Carthage seven-yard line. The Firebirds' first play on the ensuing drive was mishandled and went out of the back of the end zone for a Wheaton safety as Wheaton regained the lead with a 9-7 edge with 12:27 left in the second quarter.
Carthage's free kick that followed the safety went out of bounds for a penalty as Wheaton started its drive at the 50-yard line. Jesch booted a 29-yard field goal conclude the drive to extend Wheaton's lead to 12-7 with 10:17 left in the second quarter. The Wheaton defense forced the Firebirds' offense into a three-and-out on their next drive as the drive ended with a five-yard QB sack by Johanik. The Thunder quickly made it downfield with a five-play drive of 45 yards that culminated with a 21-yard touchdown run by Weeks. Jesch made the PAT to increase the hosts' lead to 19-7 with 6:36 left in the first half. The Thunder held a 19-7 lead at halftime.
The Wheaton defense forced the Carthage offense into a three-and-out on the guests' opening offensive drive of the third quarter. The Wheaton drive that followed ended with a 35-yard field goal by Jesch that increased the hosts' lead to 22-7. Carthage muffed the kickoff that followed Jesch's field goal and Virgil Cannon recovered the fumble for the Thunder at the Firebirds' 22-yard line. Three plays later, Thorson connected with Bonga on a 16-yard touchdown pass as Wheaton extended the lead to 29-7 with 8:09 left in the third quarter. Wheaton scored on its next offensive drive as Thorson connected with Juska on two-consecutive passes to conclude a six-play drive of 40 yards. The duo had a 19-yard pass that was just short of the end zone and the next play was a one-yard touchdown pass from Thorson to Juska as the Wheaton advantage improved to 36-7 with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
Wheaton started its second drive of the fourth quarter with 9:41 left in the game. The first play of the drive was a seven-yard run by Weeks and on the second play of the drive, Thorson connected with Weeks on a pass and the All-American running back scampered into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown pass. Weeks' touchdown catch and the Jesch PAT that followed increased Wheaton's edge to 43-7 with 9:18 left in the fourth quarter. The Firebirds scored on a three-yard touchdown pass with 2:49 left in the game to cut Wheaton's lead to 43-13. On Wheaton's final offensive drive, quarterback Xaviere Jones scrambled for a 23-yard touchdown run to account for the 50-13 final score.
Wheaton takes to the road next Saturday for the first of two conference tests away from McCully Stadium. The Thunder will face the Pioneers of Carroll University in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff in Waukesha, Wisconsin.