Wesley Defeats Division I FCS Iona
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Eddie Donisi returned a fumbled two point conversion that would have tied the game to lead No. 11 Wesley to its first win over a Division I FCS opponent in a 23-12 win at Iona.
Aaron Jackson rushed for 100 yards on just 15 carries in the game, becoming just the seventh Wesley rusher with 2,000 career yards.
Wesley (3-1) forced an Iona three and out on the game's first drive and then marched 64 yards in six plays ending with the first of Mike Pennewell's two touchdowns on the afternoon for a 7-0 lead.
The Gaels (3-3) took their next possession into Wolverine territory before Chet Turner intercepted Nick Rosetti at the Welsey four to get the ball back. It was the third consecutive game in which Turner had a pick.
The Wolverines could not capitalize on the turnover, however, and after a 56-yard punt by Sean McAndrew, Iona started a 13-play drive.
Rosetti connected with Nick Groth for an eight yard touchdown, but the extra point failed to keep the Wolverines ahead by one.
Wesley wasted no time at the start of the second half. Senior Larry Beavers returned the opening kick 37 yards to the Iona 47 and the offense needed just five plays and 1:22 to cover the remainder of the field. Shane McSweeny hit Steve Scanlon on a 36-yard pass to move to the Gael one and then kept the ball on the sneak for a one-yard touchdown and a 14-6 lead.
On Wesley's next drive the Wolverines moved to the two yardline behind a 49-yard run from Jackson, but a Collin Blugis 19-yard field goal attempt was wide.
Rosetti and the Iona offense took the momentum swing and used it in their favor. The quarterback completed 5-of-7 passes on the next drive including a one-yard touchdown to Justin O'Brien. Down 14-12, the Gaels elected to go for two with 4:31 left in the third quarter. Joe Muraglia fumbled on his rush attempt and Donisi scooped it up and ran the distance for a defensive point after touchdown and a 16-12 Wesley lead.
McSweeny started the second Wesley possession of the fourth quarter with a 28-yard pass to Jon Lanouette followed by eight straight run plays ending with Pennewell's second score of the afternoon to stetch the lead to 23-12 with 8:31 remaining.
The Gaels moved inside the Wesley red zone on the next possession as they looked to stay in the game, but backup quarterback Warren Smith was picked off sophomore Dakevis Howard at the Wesley two yardline to end Iona's hopes.
Welsey ran out the remaining 5:46 with 10 run plays to end the game.
McSweeny missed giving the Wolverines a pair of 100 yard rushers in the contest by just one yard with 99 yards on 15 runs and completed 16-of-22 passes for 200 yards in the game.
Wesley continued its dominance in the ground game rushing for over 200 yards as a team for the fourth straight game with 262 against the Gaels.
After totalling just 141 yards in the first half, the Wolverines piled up 321 in the second half to finish with 462 yards of offense.
Despite not having a single player rush for more than Muraglia's 36 yards, Iona became the first team to top 100 yards rushing against the Wesley defense in 2008, albeit with just 104 yards.
The Wolverine pass defense stayed tough, however, limiting the Gaels to just 172 pass yards on 36 attempts.
Sean Matthews led the unit with nine tackles.
Three Gaels made double digit stops, led by Jacob French's game-high 15.
The win was Wesley's first in four tries against teams from the Divison I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). The Wolverines had fallen to Davidson in 2002 and were winless against Butler in 1998 and 1999.
Wesley returns to Dr. Scott D. Miller Stadium for homecoming on Saturday, October 18 when the Apprentice School visits for a 1:15 PM kick off in Atlantic Central Football Conference play.
Notes: Jon Lanouette caught three passes for 56 yards. While he remained in third place all-time at Wesley with 130 catches, he moved with one of tying Marques Cosby's second place total of 131 and within two of catching Duane Martin's school record of 132 ... Larry Beavers passed Joe Able for fifth place in the Wolverine record book with 2,028 receiving yards ... Aaron Jackson moved into sixth place at Wesley with 2,084 rush yards ... Chet Turner's interception captured the senior sole possession of seventh on the Wesley charts with 11 career picks ... Mike Pennewell tied Jackson for 10th on the career list with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Jackson photo courtesy of Ron Mohr/ICGaels.com
