By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Senior running back Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore needs just five rushing yards in his final games to break Illinois Wesleyan’s 39-year-old single season record, but the Titans’ offensive line has its sights set on a different benchmark heading into the final game of the season.
Illinois Wesleyan is rushing for 160.5 yards per game, which is 2.5 per game short of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin leader Wheaton as the Titans visit Millikin on Saturday.
Senior right tackle Nick Monferdini said the line has its sights set on the league rushing lead.
“I’ve always felt the o-line doesn’t get much credit for too many things but when you have a good rushing team, the line usually gets a lot of credit as well as the running back,” Monferdini said.
IWU’s Kurt Swearingen rushed for a school record 1,079 yards in 1977.
Coach Norm Eash said his 6-2 team hasn’t lost focus during the bye week.
“I haven’t sensed that at all,” Eash said. “I think they are anxious to play. I think they welcome the preparation.”
Eash believes the Titans are still in contention for a playoff berth, though they appear to face considerable odds.
Linebacker Joe Faso doesn’t want this season to end like last year when the Titans lost at North Park, costing the team any chance at a postseason berth.
“I remember walking off the field and it was just the worst feeling that I’ve ever felt in my entire life and not only then but the whole off-season it was just a sick feeling in our stomach until we came out and won our first game,” Faso said.
WJBC.com will have the game at 12:45 p.m.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
