OLIVET, Mich. – The Elmhurst football team slipped to 1-1 on the season following a 27-13 road loss at Olivet College.
 
Elmhurst struggled to get rolling on offense for much of the game, gaining just 11 first downs and 243 total yards for the contest.

The Bluejays gained just one first down on its five offensive possessions, while falling into an early 13-0 hole. Elmhurst responded after Olivet's (1-1) second field goal of the game, mounting an eight-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Orlando Hernandez to Connor Brewer. The Bluejays trailed 13-7 at the half.
 

An Olivet fumble recovered by Andy Warsen gave the Bluejays' the ball at the Olivet 44-yard line early in the third quarter. The Bluejays drove to the Comet's 25-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. The Comets capitalized, turning in an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Braden Black to Travis Lankerd.
 
The Bluejays answered right back on their ensuing possession. Hernandez hooked up with Kaylon Miller for a 65-yard touchdown strike. The extra-point attempt was blocked by the Comets making Olivet's lead 20-13 with 3:36 left to play in the third quarter.

Olivet needed less than two minutes to extend their lead back to two possessions. Black finished off a six-play, 65-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Marshall Ross, putting the Comets in front 27-13.
 
Elmhurst drove down to the Olivet 29-yard line on its next possession. Facing a fourth-and-one, Hernandez rushed for nine yards, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty. Elmhurst punted to pin in the Comets, but a 63-yard punt from the Comets moved Elmhurst back inside their own 20-yard line. The Bluejays crossed midfield just one time over its final three possessions as the Comets ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
 

 Elmhurst totaled 243 yards of offense, but struggled with its ground game, totaling just 54 total yards on 33 attempts. The Comets finished just slightly better than Elmhurst in total offense with 259 yards. The Comets rushed for 106 yards while passing for 153. With the Bluejays struggling to sustain offensive drives, the Comets won the time of possession battle by three minutes.
 
Hernandez was sacked five times in the loss while completing 10-of-25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Hernandez also totaled 52 rushing yards to lead the Bluejays on the ground. Miller hauled in five passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Black passed for three touchdowns and 153 yards (11-of-28) to lead Olivet's air attack.  Damorria Lilly rushed 24 times for 64 yards to lead Olivet on the ground.
 
Warsen led Elmhurst's defense with 11 tackles. Brian Tucker also reached double digits in stops with 10. Sean Wetherell totaled nine tackles and had an interception for the Bluejays.
 
Elmhurst plays its first home game of the 2016 season next Saturday (September 17) when the Bluejays open CCIW play by hosting North Park University at 1:00 p.m.