Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw's run in the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Championship came to an end in the third round after Wheaton defeated the Tigers, 49-24, on an overcast and cold day on Nick Mourouzis Field at Blackstock Stadium. The Tigers finished the season with a 10-2 record, while the Thunder improved to 11-2 and face Wis.-River Falls in next Saturday's quarterfinal game.

Wheaton's defense stopped DePauw on the game's first series and the offense set the tone with a seven-play, 80-yard drive culminating in Mark Forcucci's 39-yard scoring pass to Seth Kortenhoeven with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter.

DePauw was stopped with another three-and-out, but punter Buddy Gomez's 63-yard boot pinned the Thunder at their own 2. The Tigers defense forced a Wheaton punt and DePauw took over on its own 47.After an exchange of punts, DePauw got the ball on its own 47 and needed just five plays to cover 53 yards as Scott Ballentine capped it off with a 24-yard pass to Lleyton Lukowski with 5:43 left in the opening stanza.

Wheaton converted a fourth-and-one on its next series, but DePauw's Aaron Wagner picked off his first collegiate pass on the next play and gave the Tigers the ball at the Wheaton 49. The Tigers earned one first down but were forced to punt.

The Thunder struck quickly with Forcucci teaming with Whit Jewett for a for a 60-yard score with 12:58 left in the second.

A key play in the contest came on DePauw's next possession as the Tigers had collected a pair of first downs and were faced with a third-and-seven at the Wheaton 45. Scott Ballentine dropped back to pass but was hit by Peter Johanik and fumbled with Chandler Bryant scooping the ball up at the DePauw 47 and running it in for the score to extend the lead to 21-7 with 9:26 left in the half

DePauw responded with Matthew Berry's 41-yard field goal with 5:41 left to cut the deficit to 21-10. After a Wheaton punt put DePauw on its own 2, the Tigers drove to midfield but were forced to punt. A short kick gave Wheaton the ball on its own 34 with 1:05 left. 

The Thunder took advantage and marched 66 yards in seven plays with Forcucci teaming with Riley Howard for an 8-yard score with eight seconds remaining to make it 28-10.

Wheaton needed just four plays in the opening drive of the second half as Matt Crider reached paydirt on a 31-yard run to push the lead to 35-10.

DePauw's offense came to life with first downs on three straight plays and the Tigers reached the Thunder red zone, but Scott Ballentine was sacked on fourth down.

Toreeq Jimoh-Oyesigi forced a Wheaton fumble on third down of the next possession and Owen Rossell recovered at the Wheaton 32. DePauw drove to the Wheaton 3, but Ballentine again was sacked on fourth down and the Thunder took over.

On the next play, DePauw's Nathan Creed forced a fumble that Joey Roland recovered at the Wheaton 21. The Tigers were faced with a fourth-and-six from the Thunder 17 before Colin Moore picked off Ballentine.

Moore intercepted another pass in the fourth which set up a nine-play, 72-yard drive with Forcucci completing a 12-yard scoring pass to Jewett.

On the next play after the kickoff, Ballentine connected with Lukowski on a 67-yard score to make it 42-17 with 5:35 remaining in the game. Wheaton came right back with Crider scoring on a 1-yard run before DePauw wrapped up the scoring with Scott Ballentine's 15-yard run with 37 seconds left.

Caden Whitehead rushed for 28 yards on seven carries, while Carson Johnson totaled 27 in seven attempts. Scott Ballentine completed 25-of-43 passes for 368 yards. Lukowksi had career highs with 12 catches for 184 yards, while Robby Ballentine finished with four for 52 yards.

Crider rushed for 120 yards on 22 attempts and Forcucci completed 16-of-27 for 293 yards with four touchdowns. Caleb Titherington caught six for 95 yards and Kortenhoeven had four catches for 106 yards.

Harry Pratt and Owen Rossell led DePauw with nine tackles each. Caleb Coburn paced Wheaton with 10 stops and Maison Haas had nine. Wheaton totaled eight sacks with Johanik leading with 2.5 while Coburn and Zeke Harris finished with 2.0 each.

Each team had 23 first downs with Wheaton holding a 484-427 edge in total offense. The Thunder outgained the Tigers on the ground, 191-59.


NOTES

• DePauw's seniors finished with a 40-6 record which set the program record for victories and winning percentage (.869).
• Wheaton was the first team to top the 100-yard rushing plateau against DePauw since Alma totaled 172 in the 2023 NCAA first round.
• Lleyton Lukowski's 12 receptions matched a DePauw postseason record held by Trey Shaw against Wis.-Whitewater (11/27/2021).
• Alex Hoover's 100 kickoff return yards were a postseason record for the Tigers previously held by Taylor Wagner against Trine (11/20/2010).
• Robby Ballentine finished his DePauw career with 253 catches for 3,783 yards. Those numbers rank second in DePauw history behind Alex Koors (255-3850) from 2007-10.
• Robby Ballentine broke the program's single-season reception record with 92. John Stephens (2001) held the previous mark of 88.
• Robby Ballentine's 1,314 receiving yards this season broke the mark of 1,266 by Alex Koors in 2010.