Wheaton (Ill.) 45, Franklin 28

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FRANKLIN, Ind. — Wheaton’s big plays and a strong rushing attack proved to be too much for host Franklin today in their NCAA Division III football quarterfinal playoff game on a snowy Franklin Community High School field.

The Thunder (11-2) improved to 11-2 and advanced to the semifinals round while the Grizzlies, making their first quarterfinal appearance, finished 11-2. The game was the first meeting ever between the schools.

Wheaton, ranked 25th and a No. 7 seed in the “North Central Bracket,” scored first when senior cornerback Pete Ittersagen returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown less than three minutes into the contest. In the second half, the Thunder also ripped away Franklin’s momentum with an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD by Ittersagen after the Grizzlies pulled to within 10 points at 31-21 midway in the third quarter.

The Thunder put it out of reach with 3-1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth period.

Wheaton’s ground attack was led by Rocky Guigg, who rushed 26 times for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Thunder totaled 217 yards on the ground in all.
Grizzlies senior quarterback contributed 419 yards of total offense, completing 30 of 58 passes for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushing 22 times for 130 net yards and a score. The senior also threw for a two-point conversion to pull FC to within 10 before Wheaton’s stunning kickoff return by Ittersagen. The Thunder made three interceptions though and converted two of them into touchdowns.

Following Ittersagen’s interception return, Franklin countered with a 24-yard field goal by junior kicker Machy Magdalinos midway in the opening period. The Thunder got that kick back when senior kicker Tim Ellingsen hit a 41-yard field goal before the end of the first quarter.

Franklin, rated 18th and a No. 5 seed, tied the game once when Rupp hit senior wingback Logan Deffner on a 15-yard TD strike less than a minute into the second period. Wheaton scored a pair of touchdowns that quarter – a 7-yard run by Gingg and on a 6-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Sean Norris to junior tight end Mike Berttucci. FC got another field goal from Magdalinos (a 34-yarder) with 17 seconds left in the opening half.

Gingg scored on another 7-yard run and Rupp ran in from 4 yards out before Ittersagen’s kickoff return in the third period. Wheaton put it away with 3:34 left when Norris, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 108 yards on the day, hit junior wide receiver Freddy Ellis with a 5-yard TD pass. Franklin closed out the scoring when Rupp connected with senior split end Tony Gregory on a 20-yard TD pass play with 1:30 remaining.

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Press release submitted by on Dec 06, 2008 at 06:33 PM Eastern