St. Xavier Fell to Indiana Wesleyan in Home Loss
St. Xavier dropped to 0-3 following a 59-17 defeat at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you find personal inspiration in athletes continuing their careers after multiple major surgeries?
St. Xavier lost to Indiana Wesleyan 59-17 in a home football game held at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field. The match marked the first appearance for quarterback Blainey Dowling in Chicago since 2022 following two elbow surgeries.
Why it matters
The result leaves St. Xavier with a winless 0-3 record while Indiana Wesleyan maintains a perfect 4-0 standing this season. For St. Xavier, the game highlighted both the return of a key offensive leader and defensive challenges against a dominant opponent.
Quarterback Blainey Dowling threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while Coen Demack added 81 receiving yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Owen Schickel recorded 14 tackles and forced two fumbles in the 59-17 loss.
The players
Blainey Dowling
He is the St. Xavier quarterback who recently returned to the field after undergoing two elbow surgeries and planning a medical retirement.
Mike Feminis
He serves as the head coach for the St. Xavier football program.
Owen Schickel
He is a St. Xavier player who recorded 14 tackles and forced two fumbles during the game against Indiana Wesleyan.
Arjun Lothe
He is the quarterback for Indiana Wesleyan who threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns.
Ryan Whitwell
He is a running back for Indiana Wesleyan who recorded 243 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The details
Indiana Wesleyan offense proved difficult to stop, with quarterback Arjun Lothe throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns and Ryan Whitwell rushing for 243 yards and two scores. Despite the lopsided loss, St. Xavier coach Mike Feminis stated he expects continued performance improvements from Dowling as the season progresses.
Timeline
2022 marked the last time Dowling played football in Chicago.
September 5, 2026, was when Dowling threw for 449 yards against Taylor.
September 19, 2026, was the date St. Xavier played Indiana Wesleyan.
Season Trajectory
The loss drops St. Xavier to 0-3, forcing the team to find a path forward as they look to build momentum in a difficult early-season schedule. This performance forces a re-evaluation of the team's defensive approach as they attempt to reconcile their current record with their long-term development goals.
St. Xavier falls to 0-3 on the season, placing significant pressure on the team to secure wins in upcoming matchups to avoid an early exit from conference contention. The defensive unit must improve on tackling efficiency following a game where the opponent accumulated over 240 rushing yards.
The takeaway
Blainey Dowling managed to complete 175 passing yards in his return, providing a potential bright spot for the team's offense moving forward. Players and staff will need to address the defensive gaps exposed by Indiana Wesleyan to turn around their winless season start.
Further reading
For more information on local athletic updates, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Tribune.
Live Poll
Do you find personal inspiration in athletes continuing their careers after multiple major surgeries?
