Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team slipped to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after falling 49-21 at 19th-ranked Wheaton College.

Wheaton (4-1, 1-1 CCIW) scored on each of their first six possessions and torched the Elmhurst defense for 553 yards of total offense, including 466 through the air. 

The Thunder took advantage of excellent field position all game long, with only three scoring drives going longer than 60 yards.

Wheaton opened the game with a 56-yard kickoff return from Micah Markley to start at the Bluejays' 30-yard line. Three plays later, Garrett Meador connected with Teddy Watkins for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Thunder up 7-0.

Elmhurst drove to the Wheaton 29-yard line on its opening possession, but the Bluejays were stopped on fourth down with the Thunder taking over on downs. Wheaton then drove 75 yards in 14 plays with Justin Swider capping the scoring drive on a one-yard touchdown plunge. Scott Roche's point after was no good, giving the Thunder a 13-0 lead.

An Elmhurst interception gave Wheaton the ball at the Bluejays' 17-yard line. The Thunder settled for a 25-yard field goal from Roche to open up a 16-0 advantage.

The Bluejays mounted a drive to the Thunder 30-yard line, but Elmhurst was turned away on fourth down giving the ball back to Wheaton. Meador drove the Thunder to the Elmhurst two-yard line before Jesse Geary scored on a two-yard touchdown run to give Wheaton a commanding 23-0 lead.

Elmhurst got rolling on its next possession, driving 74 yards in only five plays to jump on the scoreboard. Joe Furco connected with Griffin Gibson for a 31-yard touchdown pass to cap the scoring drive.

Wheaton answered back with a four-play, 45-yard scoring drive capped by a Meador 28-yard touchdown pass to Mark Hiben. After an Elmhurst punt, Meador hit Watkins for an 18-yard score to cap a seven-play, 45-yard drive to put the Thunder up 36-7.

Elmhurst cut into Wheaton's lead in the third quarter after taking the opening kick and driving 78 yards in just six plays with Furco hitting Rodney Payton for an 18-yard scoring strike.

Wheaton rattled 13 straight points on a a 23-yard touchdown pass from Meador to Justin Zeller and two field goals from Roche to open up a 35-point lead at 49-14 early in the fourth quarter.

The Bluejays added one last score in the fourth quarter, a 28-yard touchdown pass from Furco to Corey Thonn.

Elmhurst totaled 496 yards with 317 coming through the air and 179 rushing yards. Wheaton finished with 553 yards, including 466 from the passing game.

Scottie Williams posted his third straight 100-yard rushing game for Elmhurst, totaling 194 yards on 26 carries. Furco finished 24-of-43 for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Payton was the top receiver for Elmhurst, catching seven passes for 82 yards.

Meador finished 31-of-45 for 422 yards and four touchdowns to lead Wheaton's offense in the win. Three receivers had over 100 yards, with Zeller catching a team-leading nine passes for 124 yards. Watkins hauled in seven passes for 140 yards and Hiben caught six balls for 103 yards.

George DeMaria led Elmhurst's defense in the loss, totaling a game-high 10 tackles (nine solo) and also forcing a fumble. Jon Janus added eight stops (seven solo for the Bluejays)

Jordan Langs led Wheaton's defense with nine tackles. JD East totaled two of Wheaton's six sacks.

Elmhurst hosts Illinois Wesleyan University next Saturday (October 15) as part of the College's annual homecoming weekend.