Eash Wins 200th as Titans Top Millikin 31-6

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Head coach Norm Eash won his 200th career game at Illinois Wesleyan as the Titans tied for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship with a 31-6 win over Millikin at Tucci Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11.

The "dean" of league coaches and winningest coach in school history, Eash has a career overall record of 200-102-1 and a career CCIW mark of 142-81-1. The CCIW win ties Eash for the most in league history, tied with his former head coach Don "Swede" Larson, who was 142-89-6 in 33 seasons.

In tying North Central for the CCIW title, it is IWU's 15th league title and first since 2009. Other conference championships have come in 1948, 1951, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2009.

The NCAA postseason tournament field will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Central time on Sunday, Nov. 12 via NCAA.com or D3football.com.

Two touchdowns in 46 seconds at the end of the first half boosted the IWU lead from 10-0 to 24-0 at intermission. After a 56-yard interception return by Trevor Staley, IWU scored on a 5 yard TD pass from sophomore Brandon Bauer to Zach Walsh with 56 seconds left in the half. Then a Millikin fumble game IWU the ball back and junior Morgan Alexander scored on a 2-yard run with 11 seconds left in the half.

Bauer threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, completing 22 of 30 passes. Walsh made six catches for 112 yards and two TDs while Jack Healy had five receptions for 67 yards.
Alexander rushed for 74 yards on 24 carries and had a touchdown.

Jordan Hassan led IWU with seven total tackles with a quarterback sack of 9 yards while Brinton Wilkey had a quarterback sack of nine yards and four total tackles.

The Titans amassed 371 yards of total offense (244 passing, 127 rushing) compared to 304 for the Big Blue with only 7 of those yards coming on the run. Nico Stepina threw for 297 yards, completed 26 of 42 passes with one fourth quarter TD.

SENIORS' DAY: The Illinois Wesleyan community honors 21 senior football players and their families in this final regular season home game. The seniors on the 2017 team are Josh Akin, Andrew Apel, Dennis Bresingham, James Burnell, Chris Collins, James Edmond, Jeremy Giderof, Hassan, Brian Johnson, Justin Krzeczkowski, Erich Lieser, Connor Melvin, Nicholas Monferdini, Mike Mulcrone, John Nolan, Rodney Quansah, Jake Robbins, Anthony Sciarini, Kieron Swain, Jack Warner and Wilkey.