ELMHURST FALL SHORT AGAINST AUGUSTANA
Five Turnover cost Bluejays in 28-21 loss.

Boxscore      

ELMHURST, Ill. November 1, 2003 --The Elmhurst College football team couldn't overcome five turnovers and fell to Augustana College 28-21 in front of over 800 fans at Langhorst Field.

"This is the type of game that we really feel we should have won," said Head Coach Paul Krohn. "We had them on the ropes but couldn't come up with the win."

The Bluejays outmuscled the Vikings on offense, rolling up 476 yards of total offense on 87 plays, compared to Augustana's 347 yards on 52 plays. Elmhurst also dominated on time of possession, holding the ball for almost 15 minutes longer than Augustana.

The Bluejays took the opening kick and promptly marched deep inside Augustana territory, setting up at a fourth and goal and the Augustana one-yard line. After a delay of game penalty, a Dave Molinaro (Villa Park-Willowbrook) field goal attempt sailed wide right.

Augustana took over on offense and orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped of by a Tuke Ayangbile three-yard touchdown plunge to take a 7-0 lead.

The Bluejay offense responded and again pushed the ball into the red zone starting the second quarter at the Augustana 15-yard line. Dom Demma (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) was sacked by Augustana's Leo LaBrie and the ball was jarred loose. The Vikings' Kelan Thompson scooped up the loose ball and returned it 70-yards for and Augustana score to put the Vikings up 14-0.

The Bluejays were on the move again, but had a drive cut short when Demma was picked off at the Augustana one-yard line after a miscommunication on a route.

After a Viking punt, the Bluejays' offense pushed the ball to the Viking four-yard line. On a fourth down at the Augustana eight-yard line, Demma was picked off in the endzone.

The Bluejay defense would come up big, recovering a Brad Wendell fumble at the Viking 29-yard line. After a 12-yard scramble by Demma, the quarterback hooked up with Michael Cooley (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) from 17 yards out to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime.

After a series of punts to start the third quarter, the Vikings would increase their lead when Wendell capped a six-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

A Bluejay fumble killed another offensive drive, but the Bluejay defense would come up big Benitez Brown (Sparta-H.S.) picked off Wendell at the Elmhurst 20 yard line. Demma led a drive an eight-play 80-yard scoring drive topped off by a yard Eric Luna (Wadsworth-Carmel) touchdown run.

The Bluejays' defense would step up big again as Brown would strip Wendell of the ball and the Bluejays would recover at the Elmhurst 29-yard line.

The offense went to work and Demma guided the offense to the Augustana one-yard line. After Luna was held out of the end zone on first and second down, Demma snuck into the end zone on third down to tie the score at 21-21.

The Vikings took over on offense and pushed the ball to the Elmhurst 33-yard line where they faced a fourth-and-five. Wendell hit his tight end Travis Temple on a 33-yard jump ball to take a 28-21 lead.

Elmhurst's offense was on the move again moving to the the Vikings 27-yard line. On third-and-ten, Demma's pass deflected off a Bluejay receiver and was picked off by Matt Furlong.

Augustana was able to grind out two first downs to eat up the remainder of the clock and escape with the win.

Individually, Demma set a school record for completions in a game with 38. (The former mark was 32). He passed for 390 yards and a touchdown on the day. Terrence Young (Chicago-De La Salle) had an outstanding day, catching 11 passes for 136 yards. Justin Teliga (Bradenton, Fla.-Manatee) hauled in seven passes for 57 yards. In all, eight different Bluejays hauled in receptions. Luna and Demma led the ground game, with each scampering for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Augustana was led by Kyle Zick on the ground. The tailback carried for 109 yards while Wendell rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Matt Irps (Bourbonnais/Bradley-Bourbonnais) led the defense with 12 tackles while Chris Rydelski (Chicago-St. Patrcik) made 10 stops.

The Bluejays (5-3 overall, 2-3 CCIW) will look for their sixth win of the season next Saturday (November 1) when they play host to Illinois Wesleyan University at 1:00 p.m.