Oct 15, 2016
ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team's quest for its third consecutive CCIW victory came up short in a 37-28 loss to Carthage College.
Elmhurst dropped to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the CCIW with the loss while Carthage improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Elmhurst started quickly, building a 14-point cushion less than nine minutes into the contest. The Bluejays took the opening drive 46 yards for a quick 7-0 lead after Ben Halloway plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
The Bluejays' defense then stuffed Carthage on a fourth-and-one from the Red Men 34-yard line, giving Elmhurst the ball back on offense. Nine plays later, Elmhurst made it 14-0 after Orlando Hernandez scored on a four-yard touchdown run.
Carthage answered with consecutive scoring drives, moving 69 yards in seven plays capped by a two-yard run from Jamal Davis to cut the lead in half. After an Elmhurst punt out of their own end zone, Carthage took advantage of the short field, pulling even at 14-all after a 23-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Friberg to London Townsend.
Elmhurst went back in front following a 76-yard, five play scoring drive. Hernandez connected with Kaylon Miller from 10 yards out to cap the drive and vie Elmhurst a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter.
Elmhurst recovered an onside kick at the Carthage 35-yard line, but the Bluejays turned the ball over on downs. Following a Carthage punt, the Bluejays had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty and the drive eventually stalled and gave Carthage the ball back after failing to convert on fourth down.
Carthage came up with a big play just before the half. Ethan Olles hit James Cobbs III for a 44-yard touchdown pass with just 1.5 seconds left to play in the half. The score allowed Carthage to go into the locker room even with Elmhurst at 21-21.
Carthage started with the ball in the second half and promptly went to work, driving 81 yards and taking its first lead of the contest with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Friberg to Javier Rhodes. Following an Elmhurst punt, the Red Men strung together a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 29-yard touchdown run from Lafayette McGary to give Carthage a 35-21 lead late in the third quarter.
Elmhurst tried to rally in the fourth. Following a defensive stop, the Bluejays faced a fourth-and-10 from the Carthage 19-yard line. Hernandez hit Korey Partenheimer over the middle for a 19-yard score to bring Elmhurst to within seven points with 10 minutes remaining.
Carthage took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Elmhurst doorstop, facing a third-and-goal from the one yard line. Elmhurst stuffed the Red Men on third down and again on fourth down, keeping the deficit at just seven points with four minutes remaining. The Red Men's defense came up big on the next play, tackling Connor Brewer in the end zone for a safety, resulting in the game's final points at 37-28.
Elmhurst struggled to move the ball in the second half, finishing with just 51 yards off offense over the final two quarters. Meanwhile, Carthage's offense got rolling, totaling 249 yards in the second half. The Red Men outgained Elmhurst 449-297 for the contest. Carthage rushed for 194 yards while passing for 255. Elmhurst struggled to get its ground game moving, finishing with just 36 yards.
Hernandez paced Elmhurst's offense in the loss, completing 17-of-35 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Brachmann was Hernandez's top target, catching four passes for 48 yards.
Gary led Carthage on the ground with 63 yards on 20 carries. Friberg and Olles combined to complete 17-of-22 pass attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns.
Four Bluejays reached double digits in tackles in the loss. Perode Charles, Sean Wetherell and Alec Datoli totaled 11 tackles apiece while Andy Warsen recorded 10.
Elmhurst is idle next week before traveling to Illinois Wesleyan University on October 29.