Storm fall to Illinois Wesleyan

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Artie Checchin caught a pair of TD passes, Jack Warner threw for 256 yards and Illinois Wesleyan used a fast start to beat the Simpson football team 49-7 on Saturday afternoon.

Checchin caught a 54-yard TD from Warner and hauled in a 36-yarder on a halfback pass to help the Titans (3-0) score 28 unanswered in the first half. Warner added a 4-yard TD pass to Austin Wagner at the end of the first half.

Caleb Frye threw a 33-yard TD pass to Devin Norman in the third quarter, the only score of the game for the Storm (1-1). Simpson couldn't get into a rythym on offense, punting on six of its first seven possessions. 

Austin Harrell ran for 56 yards and Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore, Anfernee Roberts and Warner all scored rushing TDs for the Titans. Illinois Wesleyan ran for 196 yards as a team and out-gained Simpson 537-205 on the day.

Frye finished 5-for-9 for 55 yards passing and Sammy Sasso went 2-for-7 for 16 yards and an INT. Norman made two catches for 38 yards and Jordan Beem carried 19 times for 43 yards.

Justin Shepherd led the defense with seven tackles and Isaac Frazier had a sack and forced a fumble.

NOTES
Illinois Wesleyan snapped a four-game losing streak in the series, earning its first win since the series began in 1994 ... Simpson is now 8-3 against non-conference opponents since 2012 ... kicker Drew Jensen remained perfect on PAT attempts in his career and is now 24-for-24 ... Simpson's 205 yards of total offense are the fewest since managing just 109 in the season opener against Bethel on Sept. 3, 2011, a stretch of 49 games.

UP NEXT
Simpson hosts Elmhurst next Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.