Box Score
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team slipped to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in CCIW competition following a 20-7 loss to Illinois Wesleyan University.
Illinois Wesleyan (5-1, 3-1 CCIW) scored 14 points off three second-half Elmhurst turnovers to come away with the victory.
The first half was a defensive struggle with the Titans scoring the only points on a blocked punt. Elmhurst dominated the clock in the first half, holding the ball for over 22:30 minutes while limiting the Titans to only 7:27 of possession. Illinois Wesleyan totaled just 27 yards in the first half but carried a 6-0 lead in the locker room at halftime. The Titans scored their points after P.J. Cummings blocked a
Tyler Lomnicki punt at the Elmhurst 10-yard line. Mike Kraft scooped up the loose ball and raced into the end zone for the Titans' touchdown. The Bluejays blocked the extra point attempt to keep the Titans' lead at six.
Both teams had first half scoring chances. Illinois Wesleyan missed a 33-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game and Elmhurst missed a 50-yard attempt late in the first quarter. The Bluejays put together a 14-play drive early in the second quarter, marching to the Titans' 13-yard line, but Lomnicki's 30-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Max Brooks.
The Titans took advantage of an Elmhurst turnover early in the third quarter. After Cummings intercepted Elmhurst QB Joe Furco, the Titans drove 62 yards in 13 plays to add points to the scoreboard. Titan QB Brien Rooney capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Rooney hit Travis Brubaker for the two-point conversion to give the Titans a 14-0 lead.
A turnover cost the Bluejays again late in the third quarter. Elmhurst drove to the Titans' 20-yard line, but a botched pitch on a running play resulted in an Elmhurst fumble that the Titans recovered.
After Lomnicki pinned the Titans at their own one-yard line, the Bluejay defense forced the Titans to punt. Elmhurst took advantage of the short field to put its first points of the game on the scoreboard. The Bluejays drove 49 yards in just six plays with Furco hitting Blake Veldhuis from 12 yards out to cut the Titans lead in half.
After the Elmhurst defense killed an IWU drive, Nick Herrera blocked Dennis Zic's punt with the Bluejays recovering the ball at the Titans' 44-yard line.
With 2:46 to play, the Bluejays appeared to be in business. Furco hit Mitch Holmer for 16 yards on the first play of the drive to move to the Titans' 28-yard line. The Bluejays' drive ended on the next play when Furco's pass was intercepted by Roman Hunter.
Rooney sealed the win for the Titans as he broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run to give the Titans the 20-7 victory.
Elmhurst finished with 271 yards of total offense while Illinois Wesleyan recorded 258 yards.
Scottie Williams led Elmhurst on the ground, carrying 17 times for 70 yards. Furco finished 17-of-37 for 164 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Holmer and Veldhuis each caught four passes for the Bluejays. Elmhurst's offense struggled on third down, converting just 3-of-16 attempts.
Rooney totaled 237 of Illinois Wesleyan's 258 yards. The QB completed 15-of-31 passes for 167 yards and also rushed 14 times for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Joseph Driver was the Titans' top receiver, catching seven passes for 64 yards.
Randy Wright led the Elmhurst defense with eight tackles, including a quarterback sack. Dane Paul and Jon Janus finished with seven tackles apiece. The Bluejays sacked Rooney five times.
Cumming and Nick Nikolich totaled eight tackles each to lead the Titans' defense.
Elmhurst travels to Wheaton College on Saturday, October 31.
