Box Score ANGOLA, Ind. - The 21st-ranked Elmhurst football team suffered its first loss of the season after sputtering to a 16-7 defeat at Trine University.

After a strong offensive showing last week against Loras, Elmhurst's offense stalled repeatedly against Trine (2-0). The Bluejays managed 238 yards of total offense and turned the ball over four times to the Thunder.

The Bluejays' offense looked good in the opening quarter as Elmhurst chewed up over 9:30 off the clock on its first two drives. The Bluejays jumped on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter with a nine-play, 79 yard scoring drive. On a second-and-goal play from the Trine five-yard line, Andrew Tubek pushed the ball down to the two but was stripped of the football. Elmhurst's Adam Smith recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the touchdown.

Trine's defense held Elmhurst in check for the remainder of the half as Elmhurst went three-and-out on its next three possessions and threw an interception on their fourth possession of the quarter. The Bluejays did not gain a first down in the second quarter.

While the Bluejays' offense was struggling in the second quarter, Elmhurst's defense kept the Thunder out of the end zone. Trine drove down field three times but settled for three field goal attempts. Tyler Keck missed from 27 yards out on his first attempt but connected from 34 and 24 yards out to cut Elmhurst's lead down to 7-6 at the half.

The Bluejays' struggles to move the ball continued in the second half as the squad managed only one first down and just 27 total yards on three possessions in the third quarter.

Elmhurst's defense was up to the challenge, turning Trine away four times to start the second half. Elmhurst had an interception and also knocked starting QB Anthony Yoder out of the game early in third. Trine drove to the Elmhurst 11-yard line to start the fourth quarter, but Wills Massie forced a fumble and recovered the football to end Trine's scoring threat.

Momentum swung back to Trine as Elmhurst QB Joe Camiliere was picked off on the ensuing drive with Trine taking over at the Elmhurst 34-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bluejays tacked on 15 yards and Trine began its drive inside the red zone. After Richard Gunn rushed the ball down to the Elmhurst two-yard line on four carries, Keck put Trine on top 9-7 with a 20-yard field goal.

Trailing for the first time in the contest, the Bluejays drove across midfield, but an interception killed the drive with Trine taking over with 3:50 left to play.

The Thunder put the game out of reach on its next possession as Gunn carried four times for 65 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown run to make the final score 16-7.

After gaining seven first downs and 115 yards in the opening quarter, the Bluejays managed just six first downs and 123 yards for the final 45 minutes. The Bluejays rushed for 127 yards while passing for 111. Trine finished with 379 yards of offense with 245 coming on the ground.

Tubek led Elmhurst on the ground with 14 carries for 60 yards. Josh Williams added 56 yards on 12 carries. Camiliere finished 11-of-25 for 111 yards and four interceptions.

Gunn paced Trine's ground attack with 129 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. A. J. Shoemaker added 71 yards on 14 carries. Yoder and Andrew Dee combined to finish 14-of-25 for 134 yards with an interception.

George DeMaria and Marvin Carr recorded nine tackles apiece to lead Elmhurst's defense. DeMaria and Massie each recovered fumbles while Stephen Ritter had an interception for the Bluejays.

Trine's Derek Posey totaled 13 tackles while Blaek Combs finished with 11 stops and an interception.

Elmhurst closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule next Saturday (September 21) by traveling to the University of Chicago.