BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team erased a 10-point halftime deficit, but fell 13-10 in the closing seconds of a heartbreaking loss at Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
Elmhurst fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with the loss. The Bluejays overcame a 10-point deficit at the half, but a blocked Elmhurst field goal and a Titans' field goal in the final seconds proved to be the difference.

Illinois Wesleyan (6-2, 5-2 CCIW) grabbed a 10-0 lead at the half, after outgaining the Bluejays 253-61 after the game's first 30 minutes.

The Titans cashed in on an Elmhurst turnover early in the first quarter to take a quick 3-0 lead. Taking advantage of the short field, the Titans pushed the ball to the Elmhurst 11-yard line before settling for a 19-yard field goal from Andrew Iwaszkiewicz.
 
The Titans extended their lead to 10 in the second quarter thanks to a pair of big plays. A 48-yard run from Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore started a Titans drive. IWU capped the two-play 83-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Bauer to Jack Healy to put the Titans in front 10-0 early in the second quarter.
 
The Bluejays sliced into the Titans lead just seconds in the third quarter. Jawan Gaines fielded opening kickoff from the Elmhurst five-yard line and ripped off a 95-yard return for a touchdown, putting the Bluejays' first points on the scoreboard in the process. The return by Gaines ranks as the third longest kickoff return in Elmhurst history.
 
Following an IWU punt, the Bluejays evened the score at 10-10. Elmhurst drove inside the red zone before settling for a 41-yard field goal from Blake Bailey to knot the score up, less than six minutes into the third quarter.
 
The Bluejays had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter following an IWU punt. Elmhurst marched downfield to the Titans' five yard line with a first-and-goal. The drive stalled out at the three yard line and the Titans blocked Bailey's 20-yard field goal attempt to keep the score tied at 10. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan scored the game's final points with just 11 seconds left to play. The Titans drove 67 yards to the Elmhurst three-yard line setting up a 20-yard field goal from Iwaszkiewicz that proved to be the game-winner.  The drive was keyed by a 16-yard completion from Bauer to Brian Johnson on a third-and-eight.
 
IWU outgained Elmhurst for the contest. The Titans rushed for 199 yards while limiting Elmhurst to just 44 on the ground. The Titans also held a 166-114 edge in passing yardage.
 
Orlando Hernandez led Elmhurst's ground game with 15 carries for 38 yards. The sophomore quarterback also completed 10-of-26 pass attempts for 114 yards. Kaylon Miller was the Bluejays' top receiver, hauling in four passes for 62 yards.
 
Shoemaker-Gilmore powered the Titans' rushing attack, rolling up 170 rushing yards on 24 carries. Bauer paced the Titans through the air, completing 13-of-26 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Brian Johnson hauled in five passes for 70 yards for the Titans.
 
Andy Warsen led Elmhurst's defense with 11 tackles. Alec Datoli and Perode Charles added seven tackles apiece while Datoli added a sack.

Elmhurst hosts Millikin University in its final home game of the 2016 season next Saturday, November 5.