Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team closed out its 2009 season with a 49-24 loss at North Central College.

North Central (8-2, 6-1 CCIW) racked up 560 yards of total offense and averaged almost nine yards per play on offense. Leading 14-10 early in the second quarter, the Cardinals scored three straight touchdowns to take a 35-10 lead and never looked back. 

The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards with Aaron Fanthorpe capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Fiedorowicz.

Elmhurst (4-6, 1-6 CCIW) responded with an 18-play, 65-yard scoring drive. The Bluejays drove to the Cardinals' five-yard line, before settling for a 23-yard field goal from Tyler Lomnicki.

The Cardinals' Joe Antonacci returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to the Elmhurst 16-yard line.  On the next play from scrimmage, Phillip Rossberg scored on a 16-yard run to give North Central a 14-3 lead. 

The Bluejays' offense answered back with a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive. Nick Herrera scored on a one-yard touchdown plunge to cut the Cardinals' lead down to four.

North Central extended its lead to 21-10 after Fanthorpe finished a 61-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. 

After a missed field goal by the Bluejays, North Central receiver Hank Johnston pulled up behind the line of scrimmage on an apparent reverse and hit Andy Stuursma for a 78-yard touchdown. The touchdown gave North Central a 28-10 advantage.

After an Elmhurst punt, the Cardinals drove 65 yards in 11 plays to take a 35-10 lead after Fanthorpe connected with Johnston for a 20-yard score. 

The Bluejays did get one last score before the half. With less than a minute to play, the Bluejays drove 75 yards and scored when Joe Furco found Rodney Payton open for a four-yard strike. 

The Cardinals tacked on a pair of additional scores in the second half to take a 49-17 lead. Elmhurst found the end zone one last time in the fourth quarter when Furco hooked up with Payton on a 46-yard scoring play. 

Elmhurst had over a six minute time of possession advantage, but North Central scored on seven of its first 10 possessions to pull away for the victory.  The Cardinals ran a balanced attack, racking up 280 yards through both the air and on the ground. Elmhurst finished with 402 yards of offense with 310 yards coming through the passing attack.

Furco led Elmhurst in the loss, completing 25-of-55 pass attempts for 310 yards. He tossed a pair of touchdowns and was intercepted just once. Jimmy Jenkins was the top rusher for the Bluejays, carrying five times for 35 yards. Mitch Holmer was the Bluejays' top receiver, hauling in 10 passes for 145 yards. Payton also broke the 100-yard mark, catching six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Fanthorpe finished 15-of-22 for 202 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 29 yards and a score. Rossberg carried 10 times for 13 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Pat Malek added 112 yards on 19 carries. 

Wayne Tuckson led the Bluejays' defense with 10 tackles. Brandon Jones added nine stops while Jon Janus and Jim Cullen recorded six tackles apiece.