DECATUR, Ill. – The Elmhurst University football team delivered one of its most competitive efforts of the 2025 season on Saturday morning in Decatur, but a late Millikin touchdown pushed the Big Blue ahead as the Bluejays fell 29–22 in the season finale.
Millikin opened the scoring midway through the first quarter, breaking free for a 19-yard rushing touchdown to take a 7–0 lead with 12:00 on the clock. Elmhurst responded quickly. On the Bluejays' next scoring drive, Jeffery Elms burst through the right side for a 39-yard touchdown run at 6:26, and Logan Turney's PAT evened the score at 7–7. Elmhurst struck again before the end of the quarter when Andrey Acosta connected with David Monteilh on a 14-yard touchdown pass at 2:57, giving the Bluejays a 14–7 advantage.
Millikin tied the game early in the second quarter on a 27-yard touchdown pass, and later added a six-yard rushing touchdown followed by a successful two-point conversion to go ahead 22–14 with 3:51 left in the half.
Neither team managed to score in the third quarter, as both defenses forced multiple punts and halted drives before they reached the red zone.
Elmhurst pulled even again early in the fourth. Acosta capped a six-play, 72-yard drive with a 33-yard rushing touchdown, and the Bluejays converted the two-point attempt to tie the game at 22–22 with 4:00 remaining. Millikin answered on its next possession, engineering an eight-play, 75-yard drive and punching in a one-yard rushing score with one minute left to reclaim a 29–22 lead.
The Bluejays quickly moved the ball near midfield on their final possession, but Millikin held on fourth down to close out the game.
Elmhurst totaled 345 yards of offense, finishing with 144 rushing yards and 201 passing yards while earning 18 first downs. Elms powered the ground attack with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Acosta added 34 rushing yards and a touchdown while completing 18 passes for 201 yards and a score. Monteilh led the receiving corps with 54 yards and a touchdown, and A.D. Russell added four catches for 36 yards.
Defensively, Jace Zeffiro paced the Bluejays with 11 total tackles, followed by Mason Allen with 10 and Malakai Correa with eight. Elmhurst's defense produced multiple key stops in the second half to keep the game within reach before the late Millikin drive tipped the outcome.
Elmhurst concludes the 2025 season with a gritty performance that showcased significant fight on both sides of the ball, highlighted by strong rushing production, timely defensive stands, and a fourth-quarter rally that kept the outcome in doubt until the final minute.
