ELMHURST, Ill. – The victory bell at Langhorst Field rang loud and clear following the Elmhurst University football team's convincing 28-7 win over Millikin University.
 
Elmhurst (1-4, 1-3 CCIW) stymied a Millikin (2-3/2-2 CCIW) team that entered the game averaging 33 points per game. The Bluejays held the Big Blue to just seven points and 323 yards of offense in the win. The Bluejays ended a three-game slide against Millikin and scored their first win at home since the 2016 season.
 
Neither team put points on the scoreboard in the opening quarter. Millikin drove inside the Bluejays' 20-yard line but were turned away on a fourth-and-15 play. Elmhurst drove inside the Big Blue 20-yard line early in the second quarter but also turned the ball over on fourth down.
 
The Bluejays' special teams unit helped set up the team's opening score of the game. Derrion Turner returned a punt 36 yards to give Elmhurst the ball at the Big Blue 32-yard line with four minutes left in the half. Two plays later, Noah Henkel connected with Winston Brown on a 37-yard strike to put the Bluejays up 7-0 at the half.
 
Elmhurst's defense logged points in the third quarter. Zach Hazelhoff striped Millikin QB Cal Pohrte of the ball. Bryce Gable recovered the fumble and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to give Elmhurst a 14-0 advantage.

Millikin answered back on its ensuing possession. Aidan Lombardo threw deep down the sideline for Antonio Brown. The ball was deflected by the Bluejays but popped into Brown's hands as he went the rest of the way for a 74-yard score to pull the Big Blue to within seven.
 
Elmhurst took advantage of a short field later in the third quarter to pad its lead. Henkel capped a four-play 46-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown strike to Brown to give Elmhurst a 21-7 lead.
 
The Bluejays nearly made it 28-7 before the end of the third quarter as Gable picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone, but an illegal block nullified the return. Elmhurst scored its final points of the game early in the fourth quarter, capping a seven-play, 49-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run from Henkel.
 
Elmhurst finished the day with 201 yards of total offense on 60 plays. The Bluejays rushed for 50 yards while passing for 151. Millikin totaled 323 yards on 68 plays, passing for 276 and rushing for just 47 yards.
 
Henkel led the Bluejays on the ground and in the air, rushing nine times for 25 yards and a touchdown. Henkel completed 16-of-28 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Brown was the Bluejays' top receiver, hauling in eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Marion McGhee led Millikin on the ground with 52 yards on 14 carries. Cal Pohrte finished 12-of-25 for 136 yards and an interception. Lombardo completed 4-of-11 attempts for 140 yards and a touchdown. Brown hauled in three passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.
 
Gable led the Bluejays' defense with 10 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He added an interception and fumble return. Jeff Bills added nine stops while Jake Masco finished with eight. Tanner King and Antonio Carrillo both finished with sacks for the Bluejays.
 
Elmhurst travels to North Central College next Saturday, October 16.