Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Elmhurst College football team closed out the 2010 season with a 28-6 loss to Carthage College. 

Six turnovers and costly penalties proved too much for Elmhurst (6-4, 3-4 CCIW) to overcome. 

Carthage (6-4, 3-4 CCIW) grabbed an early 6-0 lead after Evan Jones hit Pete Djurickovic for a 48-yard touchdown pass.

Elmhurst drove down to the Carthage 28-yard line on its next possession, but Joe Furco was picked off by Brian Hipchen, who ran the ball back 63 yards to the Elmhurst 34-yard line. Carthage took advantage of the turnover by putting three points on the scoreboard on a Tyler Funk 32-yard field goal.

Once again, Elmhurst drove inside the Carthage 40-yard line, but the Bluejays failed to convert and fourth down, turning the ball over on downs to the Red Men. Carthage drove inside the Elmhurst 10-yard line and a third-and-goal pass interference penalty on Elmhurst gave the Red Men a first-and-goal from the two-yard line. Two plays later, Jones sneaked into the end zone to put Carthage up 15-0.

The Bluejays took the ensuing kickoff and drove 64 yards in 10 plays to get on the scoreboard. Furco capped the scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Vavlas. A bad snap on the extra point left Carthage in front 15-6.

After a Carthage punt, Elmhurst drove all the way to the Red Men's 10-yard line, but Erik Solis intercepted Furco in the end zone to kill the Bluejays' scoring threat.

Early in the third quarter the Bluejays picked off Jones and drove to the Carthage seven-yard line. A bad snap on a short field goal attempt by Elmhurst kept the score at 15-6 in favor of the Red Men.

The Bluejays recovered a Carthage fumble at the Red Men's 42-yard line, but the Bluejays fumbled the ball back to Carthage just two plays later. Elmhurst's defense forced another turnover as Brian Bonds picked off Jones at the Carthage 25-yard line. Elmhurst was unable to move the ball and turned the ball back over on downs after failing to convert on fourth down.

Elmhurst's defense had Carthage facing a third-and-20 at the Red Men 18-yard line, but a pass interference penalty kept the drive alive. The Red Men took advantage of the penalty, driving 82 yards in 14 plays to take a 21-6 lead on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Jake Smith.

On the next Elmhurst possession, Carthage picked off Furco for the fifth time and the Red Men took advantage of the turnover, moving 57 yards in five plays to take a 28-6 lead when Smith scored on an eight-yard touchdown run. 

Elmhurst outgained Carthage 346-343. Both teams struggled to hang on to the football as the two teams combined for 10 turnovers. The Bluejays finished 0-for-5 on fourth down conversion attempts.

Scottie Williams led Elmhurst on the ground with 112 yards on 20 carries. Williams set a new single-season Elmhurst rushing record, finishing the season with 1,220 yards. Furco finished 26-of-50 through the air with 243 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Payton was Elmhurst's top target, catching seven balls for 67 yards. 

Smith rushed 28 times for 135 yards and a touchdown to lead the Red Men on the ground. Jones finished 12-of-29 for 199 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns. Smith also caught a team-leading five passes for 50 yards.

Jon Janus led Elmhurst's defense with 10 tackles, including a sack. Randy Wright added nine tackles with a sack. Jamall Lane recorded two interceptions for the Bluejays.

Hipchen totaled nine tackles and three interceptions to lead Carthage's defense.