JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Shaka Taylor ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass with Jonathan Curtil throwing three TD passes to lead Nebraska Wesleyan to a 31-12 victory on the road at Illinois College on Saturday (Sept. 8) in Jacksonville, Ill.
 
The Prairie Wolves (1-1) more than doubled their offensive production from week one as they finished with 430 total yards on the afternoon to earn the first victory of the season. 
 
Neither team was able to score in the first quarter, then 23 total points were scored in the second quarter.  NWU got on the board first and scored their initial touchdown of the season as Jonathan Curti found Derrick Curtis in the back corner of the end zone for a 8-yard connection.
 
NWU extended their lead to 10-0 with a 39-yard field goal from Jacob Romsa at the 2:04 mark of the second quarter.  Romsa continues to impress as he is 2-2 on field goal attempts this year. 
 
Illinois College needed only one play when they got the ball back as Glen Gibbons Jr caught a slip screen and took it 69 yards for a TD.  The 2-point conversion failed making the score 10-6 with 1:49 left in the half.
 
The Prairie Wolves mounted a quick drive of their own right before the break.  NWU marched 58 yards in six plays using just one minute of time as Shaka Taylor caught a pass along the sideline and scored from 21 yards out.  The Prairie Wolves took a 17-6 lead into the halftime locker room.
 
In the second half, the team teams were held scoreless in the third quarter.  NWU made it a three score lead early in the 4^th quarter as Caleb Conway was wide open in the end zone on a play action pass and caught a 5-yard pass from Curti.  It capped a 99-yard drive from the Prairie Wolves on 16 plays.  NWU started on their own 1-yard line after the Prairie Wolves defense stopped the Blueboys on 4^th down at the one.
 
Once again the Blueboys (0-2) responded and Gibbons scored again, this time on a 5-yard catch.  The 2-point conversion failed again making the score 24-12.
 
NWU sealed the victory on their next drive going 70 yards with Taylor scoring on a 1-yard TD run.  The big play was a 64-yard catch by Bradley Pelkey.
 
Taylor finished the game with 103 yards rushing on 24 carries with a TD.  He caught five passes for 56 yards with another TD. 
 
Curti was 24-38 through the air for 298 yards with three TDs.  Pelkey made five receptions for 111 yards with Caleb Conway also catching five passes with a touchdown.
 
Alex Kruse led the Prairie Wolves defense with 15 tackles.  Micah Dexter made 14 tackles with a sack and Jacob Garnas had 10 tackles and a late interception that helped seal the victory.