Olivet Box Score
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team improved to 2-0 on the season by defeating Olivet College 17-9.
Olivet (0-2) took the opening kickoff and drove to the Elmhurst two-yard line, but the Bluejays slammed the door on a fourth-and-goal and took over on their own one-yard line. On its first offensive play of the game, the Bluejays coughed up the ball and the Comets recovered at the Elmhurst 12-yard line. Olivet capitalized on the turnover and took a 3-0 lead after a 22-yard Blake Iobe field goal.
Elmhurst's offense got rolling in the second quarter. Quarterback Phil Pedi led a seven-play, 43-yard drive to the Olivet 25-yard line. The Bluejays got on the scoreboard when Tyler Lomnicki booted a career-long 42-yard field goal.
Jon Janus set up a Bluejay scoring drive by returning a punt 38 yards to the Olivet nine-yard line. Three plays later, Pedi hit Blake Veldhuis with a nine-yard touchdown pass to give Elmhurst a 10-3 lead.
The Bluejays' defense once again came up big early in the fourth quarter. After blocking an Elmhurst punt, the Comets took possession deep in Elmhurst territory and drove to the Bluejays' 10-yard line. The Bluejay defense stuffed Olivet on a fourth-and-three attempt to take over on downs.
Elmhurst's offense drove 91 yards on the ensuing possession to take a 17-3 lead. Pedi capped the scoring drive when he scampered into the end zone on a 26-yard quarterback keeper.
Olivet refused to go away as the Comets forced a turnover late in the fourth quarter and promptly drove 43 yards for a score. Nick McCleary finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ben Sherman. The Bluejays blocked the extra point attempt to keep a 17-9 advantage.
After Elmhurst was forced to punt on its next possession, the Bluejay defense sealed the win when Jamall Lane intercepted McCleary for the second time in the game.
Elmhurst outgained Olivet 353-183 and enjoyed over a 100 yard advantage on the ground. Elmhurst carried 37 times for 165 yards while the Bluejays' defense limited Olivet to only 50 yards on 31 carries.
Freshman running backs Jimmy Jenkins and Scottie Williams combined for 97 yards on 21 carries to lead Elmhurst on the ground. Jenkins rushed 12 times for 52 yards while Williams carried nine times for 45 yards. Pedi carried 12 times for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Pedi completed 14-of-22 pass attempts for 188 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Williams caught five passes for 36 yards while Veldhuis hauled in three balls for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Mike Martin led Olivet on the ground with nine carries for 18 yards. McCleary finished 19-of-31 for 133 yards and a touchdown. He was also picked off three times.
Randy Wright led the Bluejay defense with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss. Brandon Jones added seven tackles, three quarterback hurries, and also blocked an extra point. Lane finished with six tackles and recorded two interceptions in the win.
Elmhurst travels to the University of Chicago on Saturday, September 26.
