Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team led for much of the contest, but the Bluejays came up short in the end, falling to Millikin University 14-13 in front of a homecoming crowd at Langhorst Field.
Elmhurst (1-6, 0-6 CCIW) got off to a fast start taking a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, capping a five-play 75-yard scoring drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Jake Tahnaey to Jim Robley.
Strong winds, rain and sleet came to Langhorst Field late the first quarter and both teams were forced to battle the tough conditions for the remainder of the game. Millikin pulled even midway through the second quarter after Jazontae Howard capped a 15-play, 93-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.
Elmhurst answered back on its next possession, driving down to the Millikin 11-yard line before settling for a 28-yard field goal from Kaiden Truninger. The field goal gave the Bluejays a 10-7 lead at the break.
After a three-and-out from Millikin to start the third quarter, Elmhurst drove 54 yards to the Millikin four-yard line, extending their lead to 13-7 after a 27-yard field goal from Truninger.
Elmhurst's defense turned away Millikin on the Big Blue's next two possessions. Romain Richards sacked quarterback Cal Pohrte at the Bluejays' 40 yard line on a fourth-down to give Elmhurst the ball back late in the third quarter. After an Elmhurst punt, Millikin drove to the Bluejays' 15 yards line, but Brandon Greer intercepted a Pohrte pass in the end zone to stop Millikin's scoring threat.
The Bluejays were forced to a three-and-out on their next possession, and Millikin took over at midfield following theElmhurst punt. Three plays later, Phorte hooked up with Tyrice Hines for a 33-yard scoring strike to put Millikin in front 14-13 with just over five minutes left to play.
Elmhurst picked up a pair of first downs on their next drive, but the Bluejays turned the ball over on downs at the Millikin 45-yard line with just over a minute remaining, allowing the Big Blue to run out the clock and come away with the win.
Elmhurst finished with 277 yards of total offense in the contest while Millikin finished with 312. The Big Blue held nearly a 10-minute time of possession advantage in the final stats.
Ben Holloway led Elmhurst on the ground, carrying 17 times for 89 yards. Jake Tahaney completed 7-of-11 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown before exiting with an injury. Orlando Hernandez finished 4-of-9 for 20 yards. Jacob Mammosser hauled in six passes for 47 yards to lead all Elmhurst receivers.
Jazontae Howard led Millikin's ground attack, rushing 18 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Richard Cosey added 21 carries for 62 yards. Pohrte finished 5-of-18 for 79 yards through the air.
Brandon Dominski led Elmhurst's defense with 13 tackles while Greer and Jim Phelps totaled 11 apiece. Richards recorded nine tackles, including 4.5 for loss and a sack.
Elmhurst travels to North Central College next Saturday.