AURORA, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team erased a sluggish opening quarter and a 13-0 deficit to rally past Aurora 21-20 in the Bluejays' season-opener.
 
Elmhurst (1-0) fell into an early hole after Aurora (0-2) dominated the opening quarter. The Spartans outgained Elmhurst 180-17 and held a 10-0 edge in first downs while racing out to a quick 13-0 lead behind a pair of touchdown runs from Connor Olson. Olson started the scoring midway through the quarter with a 30-yard touchdown run. He put the Spartans up 13-0 after scoring on a one-yard plunge late in the quarter.
 
The Bluejays turned the tables in the second quarter, outscoring Aurora 9-0 and outgaining the Spartans 240-57. The Bluejays jumped on the scoreboard just three minutes into the second as Orlando Hernandez hit Jawan Gaines wide-open past the Spartans secondary. Gaines raced into the end zone from 71 yards out to score Elmhurst's first touchdown of the season.

After having a drive stall out at the Aurora 31-yard line, the Bluejays took the ball back with just over three minutes left to play. Hernandez drove the squad 83 yards down to the Aurora three-yard line before settling for a 20-yard field goal from Blake Bailey.
 
After a slow start, Elmhurst entered the half outgaining Aurora 257-237, yet trailing 13-9.  
 
Aurora quickly extended its lead early in the third quarter after Olsen broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run, his third of the day, giving the Spartans a 20-9 lead after the extra point. Elmhurst responded with the next nine points. The big play capabilities of the Elmhurst offense was on display again, as Hernandez hit Gaines on a 67-yard scoring strike to make the score 20-15. After an Aurora punt, Elmhurst took over at the Aurora 35-yard line following a 34-yard punt return from Gaines. The Bluejays drove to the Spartans' 15-yard line before settling for a 32-yard field goal from Bailey.
 
The Bluejays caught a break on their next possession. Bailey's field goal attempt from 41 yards out was blocked by Aurora but the Spartans were offside on the play. Elmhurst moved up five yards and Bailey's 36-yard attempt bounced off the upright and through to give the Bluejays their first lead of the day at 21-20 with just under 11 minutes to play.
 
After Elmhurst's defense forced Aurora to punt, the Bluejays drove to the Aurora 29-yard line and attempted a 46-yard field goal from Bailey. Bailey split the uprights, but a penalty on Elmhurst wiped out the field goal and resulted in the Bluejays' punting. Aurora quickly drove inside the Elmhurst 20-yard line before attempting a 35-yard field goal from Zac Mirabelli. Mirabelli's kick missed wide left and Elmhurst took over at their own 20-yard line with 1:59 left on the clock.

Elmhurst was unable to get a first down and ran the clock down to 56 seconds before punting the ball back to Aurora. The Spartans, working with no time outs, took over at their own 34-yard line following a booming 51-yard punt from Mateo Casanova. Brandon Greer put the game away for the Bluejays by picking off Aurora QB Gavin Zimbelman.
 
After giving up 10 first downs in the opening quarter, Elmhurst limited Aurora to only six first downs for the remainder of the game. Elmhurst finished with a 17-16 edge in first downs. After totaling 17 yards in the opening quarter, the Bluejays racked up over 400 for the final 45 minutes, finishing with a 420-387 edge in total offense. Elmhurst's defense held Aurora to just 207 yards of offense for the final three quarters.
 
Elmhurst rushed for 148 yards while passing for 272. Hernandez led the way for Elmhurst through the air, finishing 11-of-26 for 272 yards and two touchdowns while not throwing an interception. Gaines made the most of his four receptions, totaling 169 yards and two scores. Brock Bethke led Elmhurst on the ground, carrying 17 times for 74 yards. Ben Holloway added 40 yards on 11 carries while Hernandez rushed for 35 yards on 11 attempts.
 
Defensively, Elmhurst was led by Greer's 10-tackle performance. He finished with eight solo tackles and an interception Brandon Dominski and Sean Kelly added six tackles apiece while Angel Mata totaled five stops and an interception.
 
Zimbelman led Aurora through the air, completing 19-of-35 passes for 235 yards. Olsen led the Spartans on the ground, rushing 29 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Elmhurst begins CCIW play by hosting Augustana College next Saturday, September 15.