DECATUR, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team slipped to 5-4 on the season following a 21-14 road loss at Millikin University.
 
Elmhurst trailed by as many as 14 points twice in the contest before mounting a rally that came up just  inches short. The Bluejays were stopped on a critical fourth-and-one play deep in Millikin territory late in the fourth quarter.
 
The game was a field position battle for much of the first half as both teams attempted to pin each other deep on punts. Millikin (3-6, 1-5 CCIW) broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter. Taking over at their own 40-yard line following an Elmhurst punt, the Big Blue drove 60 yards in just three plays with Nick Pippin hitting Brady Cufaude on a 32-yard touchdown pass.
 
After an Elmhurst punt, Millikin took advantage of good field position, driving 63 yards in nine plays with Pippin connecting with Kyle Leadlove on a four-yard touchdown reception to give Millikin a 14-0 lead entering the locker room at halftime.
 

Elmhurst (5-4 overall, 4-2 CCIW) sliced into Millikin's lead at the start of the second half. The Bluejays took the kickoff and marched 83 yards in 13 plays with Joe Camiliere capping the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Claxon. Josh Williams did most of the work for the Bluejays on the drive, rushing nine times for 68 yards on the drive.
 
Millikin answered right back, needing just four plays to move 74 yards and extend its lead back to two touchdowns. Pippin hit a 41-yard pass to Cufaude to spark the possession and then sealed the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Avante Meriwether.
 
Elmhurst pulled back to within seven points early in the fourth quarter. After taking over at their own one-yard line following a Millikin punt, the Bluejays needed just five plays to move 99 yards to the end zone. Camiliere connected with Kaylon Miller for a 75-yard score to bring the Bluejays to within seven points with just under 13 minutes left on the clock.
 
After pinning Millikin inside its five-yard line and forcing a punt, the Bluejays' offense took over at the Big Blue 45-yard line with just over seven minutes left on the clock. Elmhurst moved down to the Big Blue's five-yard line where they faced a third-and-one, but Camiliere was stopped short of the first down on a quarterback sneak. Facing a fourth-and-one, the Bluejays went back to the quarterback sneak. Elmhurst players disputed the spot of the ball that left the Bluejays inches short of the first down and gave the ball back to Millikin on downs.

Millikin was able grind out a pair of first downs on the ensuing possession, winding the clock down to just 23 second before punting the ball away. Elmhurst threw two quick passes to the sidelines but the Bluejays were unable to get out of bounds on the last pass, letting the final seconds tick off the clock.
 

Elmhurst finished the contest with 346 yards of total offense and controlled over 36 minutes of the clock. The Bluejays rushed for 205 yards while passing for 141. Millikin totaled 291 yards of offense with 152 coming on the ground and 139 coming through the air.
 
Williams paced Elmhurst's ground attack, carrying 32 times for 146 yards. Camiliere rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries while also completing 12-of-18 passes for 141 yards and two scores. Miller was the Bluejays' top target, hauling in four passes for 104 yards, including a touchdown.
 
Jacoby Sims led Millikin on the ground with 73 yards on 16 carries. Pippin completed 11-of-20 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. Cufaude hauled in five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
 
Brian Tucker led Elmhurst's defense with 10 tackles while Billy Viero and Marvin Carr totaled six stops apiece. Andy Warsen tallied four tackles and an interception for the Bluejays.
 
Mykal Neal and Andy Roth tallied 10 tackles apiece for the Big Blue.
 
Elmhurst closes out the 2014 season by hosting North Central College next Saturday, November 15, at 1:00 p.m.