Box Score
OLIVET, Mich. - The Elmhurst College football team improved to 2-0 to start the 2008 season by defeating Olivet College 31-14.
Elmhurst led 10-7 at halftime and broke the game open by outscoring Olivet 21-7 in the second half. Mitch Holmer (Champaign/Central) caught two touchdown passes and Matt D'Angelo (McHenry/East) returned a punt to account for the Bluejays' three second-half scores.
Chris Kudyba (Des Plaines/Elk Grove) started the Bluejays' scoring midway through the second quarter when he found the end zone on a three-yard run.
Olivet (0-2) answered right back on its next possession. Facing a forth down in Elmhurst territory, Olivet QB Lukas Linn hit Mike Martin for a 41-yard score to even the score at 7-7.
The Bluejays took advantage of a late Olivet turnover to take the lead right before the half. After an Olivet fumble, Elmhurst grabbed the lead on a 37-yard Tyler Lomnicki (Elmhurst/York) field goal.
Elmhurst started the third quarter deep inside Olivet territory after the Comets failed to convert a fake punt on their opening possession of the second half. The Bluejays took advantage of the short field , moving 20 yards in six plays for a score. Kudyba hit Holmer from three yards out to put the Bluejays up 17-7.
Olivet answered back with another big play. The Comets' Pat Clasgens ripped off a 52-yard touchdown run on Olivet's next possession to cut Elmhurst's lead down to three (17-14).
Holmer found the end zone late in the third quarter to open Elmhurst's lead back up to 10 points. D'Angelo took a hand-off on an end around, but pulled up and tossed a nine-yard touchdown to pass to Holmer.
D'Angelo put the game out of reach midway through the fourth quarter when he returned an Olivet punt 65 yards for a touchdown.
Elmhurst finished the game with 245 yards of total offense, but the Bluejay defense held Olivet to only 182 yards of total offense. The Bluejays rushed for 77 yards and passed for 168, while Olivet totaled 79 yards on the ground and 103 yards through the air.
Kudyba led the Bluejays through the air, finishing 12-of-23 for 159 yards and a score. D'Angelo was the Bluejays' top receiver, catching four passes for 79 yards. Griffin Gibson (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) carried 20 times for 64 yards while Jarred Sherrod (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) rushed 14 times for 25 yards.
Clasgens led Olivet on the ground with 55 yards on eight carries. Linn finished 5-of-12 for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Randy Wright (Belwood/Fenwick) led the Bluejays on defense, totaling 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Wright tied an Elmhurst single-game record by sacking Olivet quarterbacks three times. Eric Puzon (Wheaton/Wheaton Warrenville South) added nine tackles, including two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Elmhurst returns to action on Saturday, September 27, when the Bluejays host the University of Chicago.
