WAUKESHA, Wis. - Illinois Wesleyan scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon to hand Carroll a 24-21 loss, with the final touchdown coming with 20 seconds on the clock. The Titans also out-gained the Pios 330-184 in total offense, while gaining 11 more first downs than the Pios (21-10).

After each team began the game with an empty possession, Illinois Wesleyan (5-4, 5-3 CCIW) struck first on a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dermot Smyth, which capped a 16-play, 77-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes of the clock. Carroll (4-5, 3-5 CCIW) tied things up in the opening minute of the second quarter when Reed Breckheimer caught a pass from Charlie King and rumbled 68 yards for the score. The Titans would take the lead once more in the final minute of the second half when Smyth found the end zone on a one-yard plunge to put IWU up by seven with 28 seconds remaining in the half. The Pioneers answered with a 54-yard return by Nick Legnaioli on the ensuing kickoff, which allowed King to run for a 16-yard TD on the very next play, tying the game at 14 as the teams entered halftime.

The Pioneers would score on the opening possession of the second half, taking their first lead of the day on a 22-yard touchdown run by Breckheimer. Illinois Wesleyan began to close the gap early in the fourth and final quarter when Kaden Junge connected on a 36-yard field goal to cut the Pios' lead to four. Carroll would remain in front until the final minute when the Titans capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard TD run by Danny Kent.

King completed 7-of-13 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown. Breckheimer served as both the Pios' top rusher and receiver, catching three passes for 71 yards and rushing for 40 additional yards on seven carries (5.7 ypc). The Carroll defense was led by Jagger Vine's 10 tackles. They also recorded two sacks, with one coming from Riley Stobb and Clayton Huber and Logan Sarkkinen each recording a half sack.

Illinois Wesleyan was led by Jahari Scott's 94 yards on 15 carries (6.3 ypc). Smyth completed 20-of-27 passes for 164 yards, while also rushing for 21 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries (1.4 ypc). Myles Kee recorded a game-high eight receptions, which he turned into 71 yards. Defensively, the Titans entered the contest ranking first in the CCIW in sacks, but recorded just one Saturday afternoon.

Carroll will close out their 2024 season next weekend when they'll host Carthage College on Senior Day in the annual "Battle For the Old Musket". That game will begin at Noon at Schneider Stadium in Waukesha, Wis.