Wheaton advances to NCAA football quarterfinals after defeating DePauw

Wheaton College's football team secured a 49-24 victory over DePauw University in the NCAA Division III Third Round playoff game, held in Greencastle, Indiana. This win marks Wheaton's first trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals since 2019 and the fifth time in program history. The Thunder have also achieved three playoff wins in a single season for only the second time, matching their 2008 run.

The game saw Wheaton improve its season record to 11-2, which is their best since 2019. The team has now won nine games consecutively. DePauw concluded its season with a 10-2 record.

Wheaton took control early after stopping DePauw on their opening drive and then scoring quickly on an 80-yard march that ended with a touchdown pass from Mark Forcucci to Seth Kortenhoeven. Both teams traded scores before Wheaton pulled ahead with key plays on both offense and defense, including a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Chandler Bryant.

At halftime, Wheaton led 28-10 after Forcucci connected with Riley Howard for another touchdown. In the third quarter, Matt Crider scored on a 31-yard run as Wheaton extended its lead further. Defensive efforts by players such as Zeke Harris and Caleb Coburn kept DePauw from closing the gap.

Forcucci finished the day with four passing touchdowns and totaled 293 yards through the air. Crider led all rushers with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Three receivers—Kortenhoeven (106 yards), Caleb Titherington (95), and Whit Jewett (76)—surpassed 75 receiving yards each.

On defense, Coburn recorded ten tackles including two sacks; Harris added seven tackles and two sacks of his own; Rex Kroger contributed a game-high 2.5 tackles for loss; Peter Johanik forced a fumble that Bryant returned for a score; Maison Haas broke up two passes alongside nine solo tackles.

Special teams also played an important role: Josiah Smith averaged over 46 yards per punt while Mateo Jesch converted all seven extra point attempts.

With this result, Wheaton becomes the first team since November of last year to rush for more than 100 yards against DePauw—a streak that had lasted through 23 games for the Tigers' defense.

The Thunder will face UW-River Falls in next Saturday’s NCAA Quarterfinal at River Falls, Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., delayed from noon due to UW-River Falls’ December commencement ceremony.