ELMHURST, Ill. - An outstanding performance from senior quarterback Joe Camiliere was not quite enough as the Elmhurst football team ended their season with a heartbreaking 38-31 loss to nineteenth-ranked North Central College. 
 

Camiliere accounted for 387 of the Bluejays' 507 yards, completing 20 of 32 pass attempts for 294 yards and two interceptions, while rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown. 
 

With less than five minutes remaining in regulation and the score deadlocked at 31, Andy Warsen came up with a crucial sack to force the Cardinals into a third and long. But North Central converted on a 42-yard reverse pass that led to a Matt Randolph 13-yard touchdown run with 2:12 remaining in the game.

With 2:05 left on the clock and and three timeouts, Camiliere led Elmhurst down the field. On the first play of the drive Camiliere aired out a 44-yard completion to Adam Bowers. After the Elmhurst quarterback converted a third down on a 15-yard scamper, it set up first and 10 from the North Central 14 yard line. Two incomplete passes forced yet another third down and, on the play, John Skokna of the Cardinals intercepted a pass in the endzone, sealing the North Central win. 

Elmhurst came out strong in the first half, jumping out to a 17-3 lead. 
 

On their first offensive possession, the Bluejays were aided by a freak play. Brett Bayer's punt was blocked into the air by North Central's Brandon Kibby, but the ball ended up in the arms of Garrett Claxon, who ran for 17 yards and an Elmhurst first down. By rule, since the blocked punt did not cross the line of scrimmage, Claxon was able to advance the ball. This play extended the drive that eventually led to a Bayer 35-yard field goal.

North Central answered back with a seven-play 49-yard drive and tacked on a Dom Zavaglia 35-yarder to tie the score. 

Elmhurst scored on their next two offensive possessions to take a 17-3 lead. Camiliere and Josh Williams accounted for all 82 yards on a 13-play drive that lasted almost six and a half minutes. Williams ran for 21 yards on the drive, while Camiliere accounted for the other 61, 19 on the ground and 42 through the air, including a two-yard touchdown run. 

The Elmhurst defense forced a quick three-and-out to bring the offense back onto the field. This time, the Bluejays drove 73 yards in 13 plays and capped it off with a seven-yard Williams touchdown run. 

North Central answered back on their next possession to cut the deficit in half. Dylan Warden accounted for 57 yards on the Cardinals' methodical, seven-minute, 72-yard drive, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Kuhl. 

The Bluejays dominated the first half, outgaining the Cardinals 217-121 and holding the ball for almost 20 minutes of play. 

North Central received the second half kickoff and wasted no time, going down the field in just six plays. Warden broke a 28-yard run before completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Peter Sorenson, tying the game for the first time since the score was 3-3. 
 

Elmhurst took the lead once again with a quick five-play drive. Williams received a screen pass from Camiliere and took it 67 yards to the North Central 11-yard line. Williams then punched it in two plays later for his second touchdown run of the day. 

The Cardinals ended the third quarter with two more touchdown drives to take their first lead. Oshayne Brown rushed for a 23-yard score to tie the game. Then, on the first play of Elmhurst's next drive Brian Wilson deflected a pass at the line that was intercepted by Justin Stuursma. North Central wasted no time, taking a 31-24 lead with Brown's second consecutive rushing touchdown. North Central outscored Elmhurst 21-7 in the third quarter. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Bayer had a chance to bring the Bluejays within four, but his 29-yard field goal ended up just outside the right upright.

After the Bluejay defense forced a key three-and-out, Camiliere once again led the Bluejays down the field for a score. On the first play of the drive, he connected with Claxon for a 24-yard strike. Then, the Elmhurst quarterback scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from 10 yards out to knot the score at 31. 

This sequence set up Randolph's go ahead touchdown with two minutes left. 
 

Williams helped Camiliere pace the Elmhurst offense. He rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries and also added four receptions for 92 yards. Claxon gained an identical 92 yards on 10 catches. Kaylon Miller added three catches for 32 yards. 

Brown led the North Central offense, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdown. Warden completed six of his fourteen attempts for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Peter Sorenson caught three of Warden's passes for 44 yards and a touchdown and also completed the key reverse pass for 42 yards. 

Brian Tucker led all players with eight tackles. John Eliades and Warsen each recorded a sack, while Chris Reid and Eddie Beyer each added a tackle for loss. 

Richard Zirngibl made seven tackles to lead the Cardinals. Wilson was one of six different North Central players to record a tackle for loss, ending the game with two. Stuursma and Skokna both intercepted a pass. 

The Bluejays finish the season with a 5-5 overall record, 4-3 in conference play.