ELMHURST FALLS TO MILLIKIN 47-37 IN OFFENSIVE SHOOTOUT
Bluejays fall to 4-2 overall, 1-2 in the CCIW

Boxscore      

ELMHURST, Ill. October 18, 2003 --The Elmhurst College football team turned on an offensive display, but fell short in a 47-37 shootout loss to Millikin University in Decatur. The Bluejays fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the CCIW.

Both defenses struggled as the two teams combined for 47 first downs and over 900 yards of total offense. Millikin outgained Elmhurst 463 to 445.

Millikin began the game by taking the opening drive and marching to the Elmhurst 10 yard line, but had to settle for an Andy Beals 29-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

After a three-and-out by Elmhurst on its opening offensive possession, Millikin was back on the attack, moving 58 yards in 11 plays but the drive stalled at the Elmhurst seven yard line. A 24-yard field goal from Beals put Millikin up 6-0.

After each team's defense held, the Bluejays took over on offense at their own 42-yard line after a punt. Dom Demma (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) found Justin Teliga (Bradenton, Fla.-Manatee) over the middle for a 46-yard gain that put the ball on the Millikin 1-yard line. A Eric Luna (Wadsworth-Carmel) one yard touchdown plunge put the Bluejays up 7-6 after Dave Molinaro's (Villa Park-Willowbrook) extra point.

The Bluejays' lead was short lived as Millikin marched down field for a score in seven plays, capped off by a Mike Kenders one yard touchdown run. The Big Blue led 13-7.

Elmhurst responded immediately as Demma orchestrated an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Demma used big pass plays to Juan Quesada (Miami, Fla.-Palmetto), Teliga, and John McMillian (Miami, Fla.-South Miami). McMillian plunged into the end zone from two yards out to give Elmhurst a 14-13 lead. It would be the last time the Bluejays would lead in the game.

Millikin would take back the lead on their next possession when Beals booted a 20-yard field goal, his third of the day.

After the Bluejays' offense stalled Millikin took over at the Elmhurst 40-yard line and struck again. Donnell Brown hit Tyler Lux for a two-yard score to Millikin up 23-14.

After an Elmhurst fumble, Millikin started to move the ball on offense again. With time running out in the first half, Brown completed a pass to Nathan Chandler but Chandler fumbled and Travis Rueckert (Hawthorn Woods-Lake Zurich) scooped it up and returned the ball to the Millikin 16-yard line before being chased out of bounds. The officials ruled that time had expired as opposed to giving the Bluejays the chance to run one offensive play.

After the Bluejays stalled on the opening drive of the second half, Beals would boot his fourth field goal, this one from 41 yards away, to put Millikin up 26-14.

Elmhurst's next drive was aided by a pair of pass interference penalties on Millikin. On third-and-goal from the Millikin 7-yard line, Demma hooked up with Teliga to pull the Bluejays to within five at 21-26.

Millikin answered the Bluejays drive by moving 80 yards for a score on the ensuing possession. Brown sparked the drive with a 46-yard pass play to Art Anderson. Nathan Wallick capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Big Blue a 33-21 lead.

The Bluejays tried to answer and drove to the Millikin seven-yard line. Elmhurst moved to the two-yard line but failed to punch the ball into the end zone on fourth down.

After a Big Blue punt, Elmhurst marched down to the Millikin 13-yard line and looked as though a score was forthcoming. Demma was sacked and fumbled the ball which was scooped up by Kyle Hemenover at the Millikin 15-yard line. Hemenover returned the ball 85 yards for a Millikin touchdown to put the game out of reach at 40-21.

Elmhurst pulled to within 11 after Demma moved the Bluejays 90 yards in seven plays and found Terrance Young (Chicago - De La Salle) for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion pass to Quesada was good and Elmhurst trailed 40-29.

The Bluejays attempted an onside kick but Millikin recovered at the Elmhurst 45-yard line. Jamal Sheppard than carried eight consecutive times, hitting the end zone on a six yard score to put Millikin up 47-29.

The Bluejays would get one last score when Demma capped an eight-play 59-yard drive with a four yard touchdown pass to Jake Allen (Carol Stream-Glenbard North). The two-point conversion to Quesada was good and Elmhurst trailed 47-37.

Millikin recovered the onside kick and ran out the final 1:30 to come away with the victory.

Offensively, the Bluejays totaled 445 yards of offense on 77 plays. Demma completed 28 of his 49 pass attempts for 356 yards and three touchdowns. McMillian led the ground attack, rushing 10 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. Young caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown while Quesada hauled in five passes for 52 yards. Teliga finished with four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Millikin was led by Jamal Shepard's 123 rushing yards and a touchdown while Brown passed for 221 yards.

Matt Irps (Bourbonnais/Bradley-Bourbonnais) led the Bluejays' defense with 13 tackles. Rueckert tallied 11 stops in the loss.

The Bluejays will look for their fifth win of the season when they play North Park University on Saturday, October 25. The game was originally scheduled to be at North Park but has been moved to Elmhurst's Langhorst Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.