KENOSHA, Wis. - The Elmhurst University football team used a stong defensive performance to down Carthage College, 23-17, Saturday afternoon for their second-straight victory.

Elmhurst (2-2, 2-1 CCIW) moved to above .500 in the CCIW record column in the first three games for the first time since 2016, using a pair of Chris Reaves interceptions and timely passing plays to secure the victory on the road and spoil the Firebirds' homecoming. Carthage moved to 0-4 and 0-3 in CCIW action with the loss.

As mentioned before, Reaves had a pair of interceptions and a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown to go with four tackles in the contest, while Malakai Correa led Elmhurst with nine total tackles. Elmhurst took avantage of their pressure from the defensive line, totaling four tackles-for-loss, half of which came from Etor Agbenya. 

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback John Odom was 6-for-16 with 104 yards and a touchdown throw, while backup Kaleb Garner entered the game for just one throw, completing it for a 45-yard touchdown toss. Both touchdown passes were caught by Jacob Cockrell, who totaled four receptions for 131 yards and the pair of touchdowns. On the ground, Darius Lane carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards, while Taveon Porter totaled the same touches with 40 yards, and Odom tallied 38 yards in the game.

The Bluejays started the game strong, with Reaves coming up with his first interception just two plays into the game, setting up the Elmhurst offense on the Firebird 29-yard line. The Bluejays would get on the board on their ensuing drive with a 27-yard field goal by Marco Davila, putting EU up 3-0. 

After a pair of drives sputtered out for both teams, the Firebirds would find the endzone and fail the two-point attempt to take a 6-3 lead, where the score would stand following one quarter of play.

After the Bluejay drive ended, Carthage would regain the ball, only to toss yet another interception to Reaves, who took it 39-yards to the house to put the Bluejays up, 10-6, early in the second quarter. Two drives later, Elmhurst would put up another seven points after Odom found Cockrell over the middle, who made a move and took the pass 67-yards into the endzone for a 17-6 Elmhurst lead, one that would be maintained heading into the halftime break.

Neither offense would get anything going in the third quarter, with the score standing pat, but the Firebirds would make it a 17-14 game after a 76-yard touchdown run. Elmhurst would respond right away on the next drive, gaining three-straight first downs before Garner found Cockrell down the right sideline for a touchdown, moving the score to 23-14 Elmhurst with 11:27 left.

Both teams would trade the ball, and Carthage would have a couple long drives down the field, but just three points would come from them, as the Bluejays would recover the onside kick attempt and take a knee for a 23-17 victory.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays maintain their road trip next Saturday, October 12, heading to Augustana College for a 1:00 pm kickoff in Rock Island, Ill. 

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