ELMHURST, Ill. – Ben Fridrich caught a 14-yard touchdown pass to account for the Elmhurst football team's only points in an 82-7 loss to seventh-ranked North Central College.
 
Elmhurst (1-7, 1-6 CCIW) struggled to contain the highly-ranked Cardinals' offense. North Central (7-1, 6-1 CCIW) raced out to a 54-0 lead at the half after scoring touchdowns on all eight of its first-half possessions.
 
The Cardinals started the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Broc Rutter to Alex Rose in the first quarter. Ethan Greenfield capped a three-play, 45-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to put the Cardinals up 13-0. Rutter found Andrew Kamienski from six yards out late in the first quarter to extend the Cardinals' lead to 20-0.
 
Rutter tossed four more touchdowns in the second quarter and Greenfield added his second three-yard touchdown run of the half to put the Cardinals up 54-0 at the half.

Elmhurst's offense had an impressive drive to start the second half. The Bluejays took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 11 plays, capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jake Tahaney to Fridrich. Elmhurst converted three third downs to keep the drive alive.
 
North Central added three more offensive scores as Jake Johnson ran for two touchdowns and passed for another. The Cardinals also recovered an Elmhurst fumble in the end zone for a score.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest with 136 yards of offense, rushing for 74 and passing for 62. Tahaney led Elmhurst on the ground with 49 yards on five carries. He also passed for 57 yards and a touchdown. Fridrich hauled in four passes for 35 yards and a score.
 
North Central totaled 678 yards f offense, rushing for 296 and passing for 382. Greenfield le the ground attack with 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Rutter completed 23-of-28 passes for 277 yards and six touchdowns.
 
Stefan Postman led Elmhurst's defense with 10 tackles while Tavey Durns finished with nine. Lavor Little, Bryce Gable and Zack Hazelhoff added sacks for the Bluejays' defense.
 
Elmhurst plays its final road game of the season next Saturday, November 9, by traveling to North Park University.