Box Score DECATUR, Ill. - For the third straight week, the Elmhurst defense bent but didn't break, as the Bluejays forced a game-saving turnover to preserve a 45-42 overtime win over Millikin University. 

Trailing 39-35 midway through the fourth quarter, Elmhurst (6-1) used an eight-play, 71-yard drive to take the lead as Joe Furco hit Vince Gabrys for a 33-yard touchdown over the middle. The extra point gave the Bluejays a 42-39 advantage with just 3:04 left on the clock.

Millikin answered back, driving down to the Elmhurst five-yard line. After a an incomplete pass on second and goal, Wayne Tuckson sacked Millikin QB Matt Holmes for a loss of seven. Millikin sent the game to overtime with an Austin Brettschneider 27-yard field goal.

Elmhurst started on offense in overtime and the Bluejays went nowhere, moving backwards two yards on three plays. David Tomis boomed a 44-yard field goal to give the Bluejays a 45-42 advantage.

Holmes quickly moved Millikin to the Elmhurst 15-yard line on Millikin's overtime possession. A nine-yard run by Holmes on second down brought the Big Blue to the Elmhurst six-yard line where they face a third-and-one. Millikin's Justin Brooks rushed up the middle for the first down and was fighting to get in the end zone when the Bluejays' Marvin Carr jarred the ball loose. Jamall Lane pounced on the loose ball to end Millikin's drive and hand the Bluejays the victory.

Elmhurst's defense had no answer for Holmes as the Big Blue signal caller compiled 475 yards of total offense while accounting for four touchdowns. Holmes finished 28-of-40 through the air for 305 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 27 times for a team-leading 170 yards and a touchdown. Millikin totaled 557 yards of offense with 252 coming on the ground and 305 through the air.

Scottie Williams continued to be the work horse for the Bluejays' offense. Williams carried 32 times for 229 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Bluejays' offense. In addition to shattering the Elmhurst record for longest touchdown run, he also set new Elmhurst career records for rushing touchdowns (43) and points scored (278).

Furco finished 14-of-24 through the air for 164 yards and a score. The Bluejays compiled 452 yards of total offense, including 290 on the ground.

Lane led the Elmhurst defense with 14 tackles (10 solo) while also recovering the fumble to end the contest. Tuckson added 13 stops (10) solo, including three tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Mark Evangelista added 10 tackles and George DeMaria finished with nine stops for the Bluejays.

Despite giving up a high yardage total for the fourth straight contest, turnovers continued to be a key to Elmhurst's success. For the sixth time this season, the Bluejays did not turn the ball over on offense. Elmhurst's defense forced two turnovers in the win, giving Elmhurst a +14 turnover margin for the season.

Elmhurst started strong, taking a 28-20 lead at the half, but Millikin rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to set up the dramatic finish.

Millikin jumped on the scoreboard first as Sean Dunning scored on a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Brettschneider's extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 6-0 in favor of the Big Blue.

After Dunning's touchdown, Millikin's entire squad ran down the sideline and celebrated the score in the corner of the end zone, drawing an excessive celebration penalty and forcing the Big Blue to kick off from their own 20-yard line. Andrew Tubek returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to the Millikin 14-yard line. Three plays later, Josh Williams scored on a three-yard run to put Elmhurst on top 7-6.

Millikin answered right back with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by an 11-yard touchdown run from Dunning.

Elmhurst retook the lead early in the third quarter, capping a 65-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Scottie Williams.

Millikin pinned Elmhurst down at the one-yard line following a punt, but Scottie Williams broke through a hole and ripped off a 99-yard touchdown run to give Elmhurst a 21-13 advantage. Williams' run was the longest-run in Elmhurst history, breaking the previous mark of 90 held by a pair of Bluejays. The run also set a new CCIW record, surpassing the previous mark of 97 yards.

The Big Blue pulled to within a point after a five-yard touchdown run from Holmes with just 4:21 left to play in the first half.

Elmhurst ripped off a 90-yard scoring drive just before the half with Scottie Williams finding the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run. The Bluejays led 28-20 at the half.

Elmhurst took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 75 yards with Scottie Williams scoring his third touchdown of the game on a three-yard run. The touchdown run gave Elmhurst a 35-20 lead early in the third quarter.

Back-to-back scoring drives from Millikin pulled the Big Blue to within two points. Holmes tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jake Palmer and then connected with Erik Tobey on a nine-yard score. The Big Blue's two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 35-33 in favor of the Bluejays.

After both teams struggled to sustain a drive at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth quarter, Millikin grabbed its first lead since the first quarter when Holmes capped a 95-yard scoring drive with a nine-yard strike to Sean Maloney, setting the stage for the game's climactic finish.

Elmhurst will look for its fourth straight victory next Saturday by hosting North Park University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.