RIVER FALLS, Wis. --- The Wheaton football team concluded its 2025 season on Saturday in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. UW-River Falls (12-1) topped the Thunder 46-21 as Wheaton concludes the season with an 11-3 record.

The Falcons took the opening kickoff. The hosts got off to a quick start with a 27-yard pass by quarterback Kaleb Blaha. The quick strike by the hosts started a nine-play drive of 68 yards that culminated with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Blaha to Blake Rohrer. The PAT kick that followed gave UWRF a 7-0 lead with 11:58 remaining in the first quarter.

Mateo Jesch attempted a 46-yard field goal with 7:39 left in the first quarter that went wide left. The Falcons' next offensive drive was stopped on fourth-and-one at the Wheaton 27-yard line when the Thunder defense forced a turnover on downs as Rex Kroger tackled Blaha for a one-yard loss. The key tackle by Kroger gave the Thunder offense the ball with 5:37 left in the first quarter.

Wheaton methodically pushed the ball downfield, overcoming some penalties and a fumble. Wheaton was at the Falcons' 13-yard line when Mark Forcucci threw a 12-yard pass to Seth Kortenhoeven at the UWRF one-yard line for a key first down at the one-yard line. Forcucci ran the ball into the end zone on the next play for a one-yard touchdown run. Mateo Jesch converted the PAT kick to tie the game at 7-7 with 13:29 left in the second quarter.

The Falcons responded with their own drive. The nine play drive of 56 yards culminated with an 11- yard touchdown pass from Blaha to Austin Rush. The ensuing PAT kick was good as the hosts gained a 14-7 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first half. Wheaton turned the ball over on downs on the next drive at the Falcons' 30-yard line. The hosts countered with a lengthy 16-play drive of more than five-and-a-half minutes. The Falcons' Trevor Asher reached the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run that extended their lead to 20-7 with 37 seconds left in the game. Wheaton blocked the PAT that followed Asher's touchdown. The ensuing Thunder drive was highlighted by a 25-yard pass from Forcucci to Whit Jewett, followed by a pass interference call against UWRF. However, in the closing seconds of the half Wheaton threw an interception. The first half concluded with UWRF leading the Thunder 20-7.

Wheaton received the opening kickoff of the second half. On the first play of the third quarter, Crider started things with a strong 11-yard run for the guests. Three plays later, Forcucci connected with a wide open Caleb Titherington for a 44-yard touchdown strike along the Falcons' sideline. Jesch followed with a PAT kick that cut the hosts lead to 20-14 with 13:03 left in the third quarter. The Falcons responded with an 11-play drive that ended with Asher running up the middle and through the Thunder defense for a 21-yard touchdown run. UWRF attempted a two-point conversion, and the running play fell just short of the end zone as the hosts maintained a 26-14 lead with 9:48 left in the third quarter.

Wheaton opened the offensive drive that followed with a 20-yard pass from Forcucci to Kortenhoeven. Later in the drive Wheaton continued to move the ball downfield with Forcucci connecting with Caleb Titherington for a 19-yard pass along the Thunder sideline. Four plays later the Thunder had a critical fourth-and-two and the UWRF stymied Crider for a two-yard loss and Wheaton turned the ball over on downs at the Falcons' 20-yard line with 5:12 left in the game. Three plays later, Blaha found a wide open Jake Hilton who sprinted into the endzone for a 71-yard touchdown catch that gave the Falcons a 33-14 lead after the PAT kick went through uprights with 3:53 left in the third quarter. The Wheaton drive that followed concluded with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter as Wheaton turned the ball over on downs  at the UWRF 21-yard following a fourth-and-28.

The Wheaton defense shut down the Falcons' offense on the next drive, forcing UWRF to punt. The Falcons' punter mishandled the snap and attempted to punt but it was blocked and allowed Wheaton to start it next drive at the UWRF one-yard line. Crider reached the end zone on a one-yard touchdown and Jesch followed with the PAT kick as Wheaton trimmed the hosts' lead to 33-21 with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter.

Following the touchdown, Wheaton attempted an onside kick that was recovered by the Falcons at the Wheaton 38-yard line. Five plays later, Asher reached the end zone and the hosts converted the PAT kick to extend the UWRF lead to 40-21. Wheaton turned the ball over on downs on their next two drives and the Falcons turned in a nine-play drive that lasted 5:12 to extend their lead to 46-21z with 2:58 remaining in the game and resulted in the final score.

Wheaton had 429 yards of total offense as the Thunder had 365 passing yards and 64 yards on the ground. The Falcons racked up 507 yards of total offense with 407 passing yards and 100 rushing yards.  

Forcucci completed 50.9% (27-of-53) of his passing attempts today, with 331 yards through the air. He ran for one touchdown and passed for another.Titherington caught a game-high nine passes for 153 yards, with the touchdown reception. Kortenhoeven caught eight passes for 84 yards. Crider ran for 68 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown run.

Linebacker Caleb Coburn recorded a game-high 13 total tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for loss (-3 yards) to his credit. Brett Dieter had nine total tackles and recovered a fumble. Maison Haas and Zeke Harris each had seven total tackles as Harris recorded a tackle for loss (-1 yard).

POSTGAME QUOTES
Head coach Jesse Scott on today's game: "We were excited for an opportunity to compete on this stage, with a trip to the semifinals on the line. We were confident in our team. We have been playing well over the home stretch of the season and been playing well in the postseason. Unfortunately we made too many mistakes today in a variety of different spots. We couldn't convert in some critical third and fourth down opportunities and we had a number of trips to the red zone where we came up completely empty."

Ben Juska on returning to play today after missing last week's game at DePauw with an injury: "I was going to PT everyday. I tore my hamstring against Wartburg, it was a grade one tear and I was doing PT every single day as much as I could. I have a kind of different lifestyle than most of the guys on the team. I work and I have a wife and trying to fit that into my schedule and fit football in – I just had to be really diligent with my time."

Juska on returning to the team this season and using his final semester of eligibility: "I completely destroyed my knee last year, in the fourth game against North Central and I really thought I was done and it was time to move on. I just didn't think it was possible to return to football, but one of our coaches told me that 'every reason I was coming up with to not come back was just a hurdle and it's just – am I willing to jump that hurdle'. I made a commitment to do that. We have a great alumni network that really helped me out and allowed me to play. I seriously did not know if I would return until about two weeks before the season started that I was going to be able to come back. And I am so grateful that I did. I love everything about Wheaton football. It has changed life. I would not be the same person I am today, I would not have the marriage I have today, not the friends without Wheaton football. The friends that I made on this team are going to be my brothers for the rest of my life – and I am so grateful that I came back."

NOTEWORTHY
Wheaton's 11 victories this season are tied for the second-highest win total in program history, just behind a pair of 12-win seasons in 2003 and 2019...three postseason victories this season are tied for the most in team history, joining the 2008 team that also won three postseason games in advancing to the national semifinal for the first time in program history...defensive end Peter Johanik concludes his career as Wheaton's all-time tackles for loss (TFL) leader with 60...Johanik concludes his tenure second on Wheaton's career sacks list with 32...Johanik's 14 sacks this season is tied for fourth with Chase Greenlee's 14 sacks in the 2016 season...Mark Forcucci  ends the season with 36 touchdown passes, tying Ben Thorson's single-season record of 36 in the 2023 season...Forcucci's 68.36% (417-610) career completion percentage is second in Wheaton's career records list...his 65 career touchdown passes ties Sean Norris (2006-09) for third on Wheaton's career touchdown list.