Decatur, Ill. – The 12th-ranked Wheaton football team (7-1, 6-1) shut out Millikin 75-0 on Saturday afternoon. The 75-point effort by Wheaton is the most for the Thunder football program since a 79-0 victory at home against Elmhurst on November 10, 2018 (a span of 43 games). Today's 75-point margin of victory is the largest in the 68-game history of the Wheaton-Millikin series.
Giovanni Weeks ran for four touchdowns today to increase his school records for touchdowns (61) and rushing touchdowns (52). Weeks has now scored 366 career points and his 12.2 career points per game average is tied for the 14th-highest scoring average in NCAA Division III history.
Weeks reached the end zone three times in the first quarter with touchdown runs of 18 yards, four yards, and one yard. Wheaton's first touchdown of the game was a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Thorson to Seth Kortenhoeven. Wheaton led the Big Blue 27-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Kortenhoeven scored on a 10-yard touchdown run and he reached the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Thorson. Weeks scored on an impressive 85-yard touchdown run, and kicker Mateo Jesch converted a 21-yard field goal. The Thunder led the hosts 51-0 at halftime.
On the third play of the second half, Virgil Cannon registered a quarterback sack of 20 yards, and forced a fumble. The ball was recovered by Peter Johanik who scampered into the end zone for a 10-yard fumble recovery for a TD. Running back Trent Gabriele reached the end zone on a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and receiver Thomas Greupner caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. The Thunder led 75-0 at the conclusion of the third quarter.
Kicker Josh Winnett scored Wheaton's final points of the day. He converted a 36-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to account for the 75-0 final score.
Weeks averaged 15.5 yards per carry today as he ran for 155 yards on 10 carries with the four touchdown runs. Gabriele ran for 124 yards, on 16 carries with one touchdown run.
Thorson completed 15 of his 19 passing attempts for 211 yards, with two touchdown passes. Xaviere Jones completed three of his six passing attempts for 49 yards, with one touchdown pass. Seamus O'Connell was 3-for-3 passing for 22 yards.
Kortenhoeven caught all eight passes thrown his way for 106 yards, with the two touchdown catches. Kortenhoeven also had the one touchdown run to his credit. Ben Bonga caught four passes for 99 yards, and Greupner caught two passes for 11 yards, with one touchdown.
Linebacker Johnny Eller made six total tackles, with 1-1/2 tackles for loss (-4 yards). Isaac Parrish made five tackles, including 1-1/2 tackles for loss (-5 yards). Cannon, Caleb McClung, and Clayton Reeves each had four total tackles. Wheaton recorded four sacks with one sack apiece for Cannon (-20 yards), Johanik (-28 yards), Jaden Ferlita (-3 yards), and Lawson Haigler (-7 yards).
Wheaton returns to McCully Stadium next Saturday for the regular season home finale as the Thunder host WashU. The Thunder and the Bears will kick off at 1:00 p.m. next Saturday, with a special "Senior Day" ceremony scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m. as the team honors the program's seniors.