By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Wesleyan football has reached the halfway point in the season a perfect 5-0, but coach Norm Eash knows the race for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title is just getting started.
“We are going into a very tough part of our schedule,” Eash said. “We are not looking by anyone.”
The No. 16-ranked Titans visit Augustana (2-3) on Saturday. The Vikings feature quarterback Sam Frasco, who ranks second in the country in total offense (389 yards per game).
Eash said there are similarities between Frasco and Titans’ signal caller Jack Warner.
“I think he’s a bigger, stronger kid than Jack,” Eash noted. “He’s a senior and Jack is a sophomore but they are very similar in what they do. They are both threats running the ball and passing the ball.”
Senior defensive lineman Will Hargrove said he expects Augie’s best for their homecoming game, especially after beating the Titans last year.
“The fact this is their homecoming and we are going to their place, we’ll be ready,” Hargrove said. “We know what we need to do to start fast this week. Complacency is not going to creep in this on us. We’re not dead we’re alive (after) a year like last year.”
Wesleyan lost at home to Augie, 7-2, last October to start a four-game losing streak.
This will be the third straight homecoming game for IWU. After narrowly escaping Carthage with a 21-17 win on Oct. 3, the Titans cruised to a 54-13 home win over Millikin.
As part of IWU’s homecoming last week, the football team heard from captains of past CCIW champion football team. Senior offensive lineman Lucas Diller said they offered sage advice.
“I think sometimes you get caught up in it, you forget about the little things,” Diller said. “I think that’s something we’ve done really well this year. When you control the little things, big things can happen.”
WJBC.com will have the play-by-play starting at 12:45 p.m.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
