Wheaton College gains ground on Illinois Wesleyan

Mike Swider's Wheaton College football teams have always been able to throw the football out of their spread offense, but it was the Thunder running game that got Swider excited Saturday.

The Thunder ran for 202 yards and looked to blow out defending CCIW champion Illinois Wesleyan before the Titans cut the margin to the 29-19 final score late in the game at Wheaton's McCully Stadium.

"If you can run the football, special things happen," the veteran coach said. "That's the bottom line."

Peter Jarrett (Wheaton Warrenville South) led the way for the 22nd-ranked Thunder (4-0 1-0) with 89 tough yards, taking over for Rocky Gingg after Gingg got banged up.

"We were going to play Peter anyhow," Swider said. "He's a tough kid. That kid can play, I'm telling you. He runs hard. He runs really, really hard. Our ability to run the football, I thought, was a critical part of this football game."

The Thunder took a 19-0 lead into halftime. Jordan Roberts (Aurora Christian) started the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Justin Zeller in the first quarter. In the second quarter Gingg scored on a 1-yard plunge, and Garrett Meador threw a 6-yard pass to Freddy Ellis.

Meanwhile, the Thunder defense stifled the No. 21 Titans (3-1, 0-1), holding them to minus-9 yards passing for the first half.

Roberts threw another TD pass in the third quarter, this one 25 yards to Austin Zoerhof. The sophomore QB finished 12-of-19 passing for 151 yards and 37 yards rushing despite continuing to split time with Meador.

"Jordan really is starting to play," Swider said. "We're really excited about Jordan. The thing he's starting to do is he's starting to be creative. He's buying some time back there and he's being creative and it's really exciting to see. He's starting to come around, he really is. He's starting to learn the offense and get comfortable with it."

The Titans cut the lead late, pulling within 10 points on a 58-yard pass from Brien Rooney to Joey Driver.

"We made a few mistakes, a few missed tackles, stuff we need to fix for next week," said Thunder linebacker Cory Hart (WW South). "But we just need to do our job, focus on what we can do and be ready next week."

"The last touchdown we miss a tackle," Swider added. "We miss a tackle for a 4-yard gain and all of a sudden it's a scary deal. Their other touchdown, the quarterback is running around and breaks contain. It happens, but it wasn't in the design of the offense. I'm telling you, the quarterback is a great player."

The Thunder plays at Elmhurst College in CCIW play next Saturday, hoping to stay perfect in the conference and set up a showdown with North Central for the league title when the teams meet Nov. 6.