By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Norm Eash knows 3-0.
He also knows you can’t always take a record at face value. But after Illinois Wesleyan football’s seventh perfect non-conference record in eight seasons, the 29-year head coach feels particularly good about his team’s standing heading into Saturday’s College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener at Carthage.
“It’s a good 3-0,” Eash declared. “There’s been years we’ve been 3-0 and it was a struggle, but we have done some really good things against our non-conference opponents.”
The Titans have averaged 44 points per game in dispatching nationally-ranked Franklin, Alma and Simpson, vaulting them into the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches rankings at number 20.
Senior receiver Andrew Javorka, who shares the team lead with 12 receptions, said the Titans offense hasn’t peaked yet.
“As an offense, we have unlimited potential,” Javorka said. “We have been touching a lot of it but there’s so much more we get to as the season goes on. I think we are getting better game-by-game and that’s not going to stop.”
Eash commended Javorka for his run blocking, noting he had five ‘knockdown’ blocks against Simpson.
“He was on a mission,” Eash said. “He just went after those defensive backs. He is a physical player.”
While the Red Men (1-2) were earning their first win of the season against Lakeland last Saturday, Eash took advantage of the bye week to have the first team offense and defense practice against each other.
“When you get ones versus ones, you get some good work in,” Eash said.
The Titans were stunned at home by the Red Men at home last season. Defensive tackle Will James wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“We are going to keep that as motivation,” James said. “We are eager to play. We are eager to send a message to the rest of the conference with this game.”
Jack Warner, who has thrown for 694 yards and seven touchdowns this season, came down with mononucleosis the week of the game last season, leaving defensive back Tyrell Bolden three days to get acclimated to the position.
WJBC.com will have the play-by-play starting at 12:45 p.m.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
