GREENCASTLE, Ind. --- Traveling to DePauw University for the first time since 1969, the Wheaton football team took down the hosting Tigers by a score of 49-24 in today's NCAA Division III Third Round playoff game to seal its place in the quarterfinal round. The Thunder have advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time since 2019 and the fifth occasion in program history. Additionally, Wheaton has won three playoff games in a single season for just the second time after also doing so in 2008 when the Orange and Blue reached the national semifinals. The Thunder will face UW-River Falls in next Saturday's Quarterfinal, with the Falcons hosting the game at 2 PM. What would normally be a noon kickoff time has been pushed back two hours due to the December commencement ceremony at UW-River Falls.

Wheaton now has a season record of 11-2, marking the program's first 11-win season since 2019. The Thunder have won nine consecutive games. DePauw ends its campaign with a 10-2 overall record.

The Tigers won the coin toss and elected to receive to begin the game, but Wheaton stifled the hosts out of the gate, earning a three-and-out highlighted by a two-yard tackle-for-loss by Rex Kroger on third down. Senior quarterback Mark Forcucci found Caleb Titherington for a first down on the Thunder offense's first play from scrimmage, and the visitors marched 80 yards down the field in just three minutes to open the scoring. The first touchdown of the day came from a 39-yard deep ball from Forcucci to Seth Kortenhoeven, who sprinted past the DePauw safeties to gallop into the left side of the end zone.

The two teams exchanged three-and-outs in the following sequence. DePauw pinned Wheaton at its own two-yard line with a 63-yard punt, before the Tigers got the ball back in favorable field position after the guests punted it away themselves. DePauw needed five plays to tie the score at 7-7 and found the equalizing touchdown via a 24-yard pass that was hauled down impressively amidst coverage in the front left corner of the end zone.

Forcucci moved the chains on Wheaton's ensuing possession with a gutsy seven-yard rush on fourth down, but the Tigers intercepted an attempted pass on the very next play and jumped on the loose ball that  was fumbled after the initial turnover. DePauw shook off a holding penalty with a 15-yard out-route on its first offensive play, but the Thunder defense held firm and took the home side off the field after giving up just one first down. The first quarter ended with the scoreline tied at seven points apiece.

Matt Crider earned nine yards on the opening play of the second period, and four plays later, Forcucci found Whit Jewett in space on the left sideline. The senior receiver raced 45 yards down the line to put Wheaton back in front. On the following series, Kroger got in behind the DePauw line again to drop the quarterback and set up a third-and-seven, but an accurate dart over the middle kept the Tigers' offense on the field.

The hosts picked up another first down shortly after, but their drive was abruptly stopped by a huge play from Peter Johanik and Chandler Bryant. The senior defensive end delivered a crunching blow in the back field to the DePauw quarterback, and Bryant was the first to react to the resulting fumble, picking it up and carrying it 51 yards back the other way for a well-timed scoop-and-score.

With the Thunder now leading 21-7, the Tigers began their next drive from their own 31. Two catches for first downs and a pass interference penalty on a deep ball quickly pushed DePauw forward to the verge of the Wheaton red zone. But the visitors forced two incompletions, including a clutch pass break up on third down by Maison Haas, and the Tigers had to settle for a 41-yard field goal.

Forcucci broke off another run for a first down on the opening play of the next possession, but DePauw stopped the Thunder offense in the next series of downs. Josiah Smith then blasted a 62-yard punt to return the favor and pin the Tigers at their own two-yard line to start their final possession of the first half. An 11-yard pass play on third down helped DePauw earn some breathing room in its own territory heading into the two-minute stoppage, and the home side proceeded to move the ball to near midfield. A sack by Caleb Coburn and an incomplete deep ball on third down forced the Tigers to punt the ball away, however, and Wheaton got one more chance to pad its lead with one minute remaining in the half.

Malachi Jones picked up nine on the first play of the drive, and Forcucci moved the chains with another carry before whipping a 42-yard pass to Titherington down the right sideline to set up first and goal for Wheaton. After two unsuccessful pass attempts, the Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist found Riley Howard in the end zone from eight yards out on third down to give the Thunder a comfortable 28-10 halftime advantage.

The Thunder, riding the momentum of their touchdown to close the first half, opened the third quarter with authority. Forcucci connected with Titherington on back-to-back completions for 27 yards, setting up a handoff to Crider. Howard, lined up in the fullback position, bulldozed multiple DePauw defenders, clearing the lane for the sophomore to score his first touchdown of the afternoon on an impressive 31-yard carry.

DePauw sought a quick response and drove down to Wheaton's 23-yard line. But two strong run stops by the visitors set up third-and-six, where linebacker Zeke Harris took over. The junior knifed through the line to disrupt a screen on third down before sacking the Tigers' signal-caller on fourth, giving the Thunder the ball back.

Wheaton quickly turned possession over itself, however, as a lost fumble gave the Tigers prime field position. But Wheaton's defense refused to bend and came up with another clutch stop. Junior Caleb Coburn pushed the Tigers back with a seven-yard sack. A 12-yard gain set up fourth-and-one at the Wheaton three, but Harris delivered again, sacking the quarterback Ballentine for the second straight drive.

Wheaton looked to reset by feeding Crider on the next possession. After a six-yard pickup, DePauw punched the ball out once more, forcing the Thunder defense back onto the field. Even with multiple sudden-change situations, the unit remained composed. A deep shot from the Tigers on third down found only cornerback Colin Moore, who intercepted the pass and ended another red-zone threat. The Thunder had now held DePauw scoreless on several opportunities inside their 20, including coming up with two turnovers.

Determined to swing momentum back in Wheaton's favor, Forcucci found Titherington again, this time for 41 yards to the DePauw 29. A sack and a false start, however, pushed Wheaton out of field goal range and forced a punt.

DePauw took over at their own 26 and quickly moved toward midfield. A combined sack from Kroger and Johanik knocked them back, but a third-and-15 conversion kept the drive alive. Moments later,  Ballentine rolled out on play action, aiming for a deep crosser. Moore undercut the throw for his second interception of the game and his eighth of the season, which currently stands as the most in all of Division III this year.

Up by 25 with 11 minutes remaining, Wheaton shifted into a ground-and-pound attack. Five straight runs of nine or more yards from Crider and Malachi Jones pushed the Thunder into the red zone. Two plays later, in an empty set, Forcucci fired a strike to Whit Jewett up the seam for a 42–10 lead with 5:53 left.

DePauw responded with a quick touchdown to Lleyton Lukowski before attempting an onside kick. The initial recovery was overturned on review for illegal touching, allowing Wheaton to drain more time off the clock.

A pass interference penalty moved the Thunder to the DePauw 13, where Crider eventually scored again after the two-minute warning. DePauw added a final touchdown on a 15-yard run by Ballentine, closing the game at 49–24.

The Thunder offense piled up 483 total yards today—293 through the air and 190 on the ground—averaging 7.7 yards per play. Wheaton is the first team since November of 2023 to rush for more than 100 yards against DePauw, snapping the Tigers' impressive 23-game streak on the defensive end. The Thunder converted six of 11 third down plays and their lone fourth-down attempt while holding DePauw to a 5-15 third down mark and just a 1-4 conversion count on fourth down. Wheaton scored on both of its red zone trips and posted five sacks to the Tigers' one.

The Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist Forcucci racked up four passing touchdowns, finishing with 293 yards on 16-of-27 passing and 21 rush yards. Three Thunder receivers topped 75 yards on Saturday: Seth Kortenhoeven (106), Caleb Titherington (95), and Whit Jewett (76). Titherington recorded six catches, Jewett hauled in two touchdowns, and Kortenhoeven and Riley Howard added one score each.

The ground game powered the attack, as well. Sophomore Matt Crider led with 120 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns as today's leading rusher. Malachi Jones contributed 42 yards on just five attempts.

Wheaton's front seven dominated this afternoon, posting five sacks and nine tackles for loss. Caleb Coburn led all defenders with ten total tackles and made seven solo stops, including two sacks, and Harris matched Coburn on seven individual tackles and a pair of sacks. Rex Kroger posted a game-high 2.5 tackles for loss. Peter Johanik earned 1.5 tackles for loss and forced the fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Bryant. Maison Haas tallied a game-best nine individual tackles and broke up two passes.

All-Conference punter Josiah Smith averaged 46.3 yards on three punts today including a 62-yard bomb, his second-longest of the year. He landed two kicks inside the DePauw 20-yard line, setting up the Thunder defense with a favorable field tilt. Senior kicker Mateo Jesch went a perfect 7-7 on his extra point attempts.

After celebrating the program's first quarterfinal berth for six years, the Thunder team will begin preparations for next Saturday's game against the WIAC champions, UW-River Falls (11-1, 6-1).