LINCOLN, Neb. – Illinois Wesleyan outscored Nebraska Wesleyan 14-0 in the second half as the Titans rallied back to defeat the Prairie Wolves 17-13 in NCAA III football action on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 10) at Abel Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.  IWU is 1-0 on the year, while NWU falls to 1-1.
 
The Prairie Wolves led 13-3 at halftime, but the offense was limited in the second half.  NWU had only 42 total yards in the 2^nd half after piling up 218 in the first half.  A big reason for the slowdown of offensive production was an injury to quarterback Ben Green right before halftime.  Green returned in the 2^nd half, but the offense was never got back into rhythm.
 
NWU got off to a great start in the first meeting between the two schools.  The Prairie Wolves took the opening kick and marched 84 yards on 12 plays to get on the board first.  Ben Green found tight end Caleb Conway wide open in the end zone for a 6-yard TD as the Prairie Wolves used 7:17 on the clock.
 
IWU took advantage of an NWU fumble late in the first quarter as they got on the board early in the second.  Adam Muellers made a 21-yard field goal on the third play of the quarter to make the score 7-3.
 
A pair of Kramer Rath field goals gave Nebraska Wesleyan a 13-3 lead as they looked to be in control of the game.
 
The third quarter was a whole new game as the Titans were in control.  The IWU limited Nebraska Wesleyan to only five yards on seven plays in the quarter, while the Titans put up 140 yards on 18 plays.  On the first drive of the half, Jack Donegan found Austin Wagner for a 8-yard TD pass.
 
Illinois Wesleyan took the lead on the first play of the 4^th quarter when Donegan hit Hustin Harrell for a 12-yard TD pass to give the Titans a 17-13 lead.
 
NWU got a big kickoff return by Jack Cobb to the 50-yardline as the Prairie Wolves look poised to answer.  After one first down, NWU running back Joel Wiedel fumbled for the second time in the game to end the threat.  Illinois Wesleyan marched down the field but a field goal attempt was blocked to keep the Prairie Wolves alive.
 
A pair of first downs got the Prairie Wolves close to midfield but an intentional grounding call end the threat forcing NWU to punt.  The Prairie Wolves defense could not stop IWU on a 3^rd & 7 play as the Titans sealed the win.
 
The Prairie Wolves finished with 264 yards of total offense, compared to 343 for the Titans.  NWU rushed for only 87 yards on 33 carries after going over 200 yards one week ago.  The passing game was much improved with Ben Green hitting 14-19 for 177 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
 
Ryan Schneider had a huge game for NWU with five catches for 113 yards.  Wiedel was the top rusher with 73 yards on 22 carries but was plagued by the two turnovers.
 
Illinois Wesleyan quarterback Jack Donegan was 19-28 for 218 yards, with running back Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore going over 100 yards with 120 on 25 carries.
 
Preston Franzen led the NWU defense for the second straight week with 12 tackles, while teammate Jacob VanLiew had nine stops.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan will now regroup and prepare for their first Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game next Saturday when they take on Wartburg College.