ELMHURST, Ill. – Despite a strong defensive effort for the opening half, the Elmhurst University football team fell to sixth-ranked Wheaton College 44-0 at Langhorst Field.
 
Elmhurst (1-7/1-6 CCIW) limited Wheaton (7-1/6-1 CCIW) to only 20 points in the opening half to keep the game close. Wheaton scored 17 points on offense and added a defensive touchdown in the second half to pull away for the victory. 

Wheaton missed a field goal on it's opening possession before scoring with a quick strike midway through the first quarter. Luke Anthony hit Terrelle Brown on a 55-yard touchdown strike to put the Thunder up 7-0. Elmhurst's Bryce Gable killed a Thunder scoring drive with an interception late in the first quarter to keep Wheaton's lead at seven after the opening 15 minutes.
 
A two-yard touchdown run from Giovanni Weeks gave the Thunder a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Thunder added a two-yard run from Sam Singleton late in the second quarter to lead 20-0 at the half.
 
Elmhurst strung together an eight-play, 51-yard drive to start the second half, but the drive stalled on a fourth-and-two attempt at the Wheaton 39-yard line. Anthony hit Adam Terrini from 38 yards out to put Wheaton up 27-0 on its next possession.
 
Elmhurst was driving on Wheaton midway through the third when Caleb Egbert jumped in front of a Nick Eilers pass and returned the interception 68 yards for a score. The Thunder added a field goal and a fourth quarter touchdown to pull away the victory.
 
Elmhurst totaled 156 yards of offense in the contest, rushing for 26 and passing for 164. Wheaton tallied 475 total yards, running for 194 and passing for 281.
 
Eilers finished 21-of-38 for 164 yards in his first start for the Bluejays. Logan Techentin hauled in five passes for 47 yards while Winston Brown caught five for 33 yards.
 
Weeks led the Thunder on the ground, rushing 15 times for 150 yards and a score. Anthony completed 17-of-25 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Gable and Jeff Bills led the Bluejays' defense with double-digit tackles. Gable finished with 12 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and an interception. Bills tallied 11 stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Jeremy Inning, Jake Masco and Jarius Bowman all finished with a sack apiece for the Bluejays' defense.
 
Elmhurst travels to Augustana College next Saturday, November 6.