BLUEJAY FOOTBALL TEAM 3-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1985
Elmhurst hammers Rockford 55-14

Boxscore      

ELMHURST, Ill. September 27, 2003 -- For the first time since the 1985 season, the Elmhurst College football team remains undefeated after their third game. The Bluejays improved to 3-0 on the year by pounding Rockford College 55-14 in front of over 2,200 fans at Langhorst Field.

"I'm very excited by the way our team played today," said Head Coach Paul Krohn. "We really were able to move the ball on our offense and our defense continued to shine for us."

Elmhurst wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. After Rockford was unable to gain a first down on their opening possession, the Regents attempted a fake punt at their own 25-yard line. Ward Brady (Bartlett-Glenbard North) stuffed the Regents after a two-yard pick-up giving Elmhurst the ball at the Rockford 27-yard line. Six plays later, Dom Demma (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) found Terence Young (Chicago-De La Salle) open in the end zone from 11 yards out to put Elmhurst up 6-0. Dave Molinaro (Villa Park-Willowbrook) hit the extra point to give the Bluejays a 7-0 lead with 11:19 to play in the first quarter.

After a Molinaro field goal attempt was blocked, it was the Bluejay defense that scored a big play to set up the offense. Donnie Snider (Brooksville, Fla.-Hernando) recovered a fumble to give Elmhurst the ball at their own 44-yard line. Eric Luna (Wadsworth-Carmel) struck for several big plays in the next drive. Luna threw a 30-yard halfback pass to Jake Allen (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) to put the ball at the Rockford 8-yard line. On the very first play of the second quarter, Luna scampered in to the end zone from eight yards out. After Molinaro's extra point, the Bluejays led 14-0.

After the Bluejay defense held the Regents to just five yards in the next offensive series, Elmhurst took over at their own 24-yard line. The Bluejays promptly moved down field 76 yards in eight plays. Demma threw a screen pass to John McMillian (Miami, Fla.-South Miami) that McMillian turned into a 23-yard touchdown score. Elmhurst led 21-0 at this point.

Elmhurst tacked on an additional score late in the first half. Demma topped off an eight-play, 57-yard drive by hitting Juan Quesada (Miami, Fla.-Palmetto) from 30 yards out. Molinaro's extra point was blocked and Elmhurst led 27-0 at the intermission.

Elmhurst received the ball to start the second half, and the Bluejays' offense immediately went to work. Elmhurst marched 50 yards in eight plays, capped off by a Luna five-yard touchdown run. The Bluejay defense came up big again in the third quarter as Webster Nelson (River Forest-Oak Park River Forest) picked off a Pat Zimmerly pass at the Rockford 22-yard line. Five plays later, Luna leapt over the defensive line for a one-yard touchdown.

After Rockford was held to a three-and-out by the Bluejay defense, Elmhurst started from their own 27-yard line on offense. The Bluejays would need only four plays to add another touchdown. McMillian ripped off a 16-yard run, followed by a 23-yard carry. Luna scampered for four yards on the next play and then broke free for a 30-yard score to put Elmhurst 48-0 after Molinaro's point after.

Rockford put their first points on the board on the ensuing kickoff. Jake Fulton returned the kick 84 yards to give the Regents their first points of the game.

Rockford would add a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Travis Stocker hit Fulton from 30 yards out to make the score 48-14.

Elmhurst would tack on one last score in the fourth quarter when the Bluejays recovered an on-side kick at the Rockford 43-yard line. Kyle Grimes (Winthrop Harber-Zion Benton) capped an 11-play drive by scoring on a 10-yard bootleg run to make the final score 55-14.

For the day, the Bluejays totaled 477 yards of total offense. Elmhurst rushed for 362 yards and passed for 139 yards. The Bluejay defense held Rockford to just 118 yards of total offense, and the Bluejays' number one ranked rushing defense held the Regents to -35 yards rushing. It was the second consecutive week the Bluejays have held their opponents to negative rushing yards.

Luna led the way for the Bluejays rushing for 160 yards and a record-tying four touchdown runs. McMillian carried 10 times for 95 yards. Demma completed 14-of-20 pass attempts for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Quesada again proved to be the favorite target of Demma, catching three balls for 40 yards.

Defensively, the Bluejays were led by Matt Irps (Bourbonnais/Bradley-Bourbonnais). Irps finished with 10 tackles including one and a half quarterback sacks. Nelson and Chris Rydelski (Chicago-St. Patrick) each finished with seven stops. The Bluejays totaled eight quarterback sacks in the game.

"One of our preseason goals was to win all three of our non-conference games," said Krohn. "We wanted those wins to get us fired-up heading into league play and today we were able to achieve that goal."

The Bluejays will begin College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play next week when Elmhurst hosts the defending CCIW champion, Wheaton College on Saturday, October 4, at 1:00 p.m.