ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst football team rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to score a 15-14 victory over Millikin University on the Bluejays' final home game of the 2015 season.
An Orlando Hernandez 10-yard touchdown pass toGivanni Gonzalez with 59.6 seconds left to play in the contest capped Elmhurst's thrilling second-half comeback. The Bluejays improved to 4-5 on the season with the victory and snapped a five-game skid in the process.
The game was a tale of two halves as the Bluejays struggled on both sides of the ball in the opening half, only to turn things around in the game's final 30 minutes.
Millikin (2-7, 1-5 CCIW) grabbed a quick 7-0 lead as the Big Blue scored on their first possession of the contest, driving 47 yards and going in front of a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nicco Stepina to Brady Cufaude.
The Big Blue made it 14-0 just before halftime, capping a 10-play, 53-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run from Cameron Mammen.
Millikin dominated the opening half, outgaining Elmhurst 191 to 68. The Bluejays converted just 2-of-7 third down attempts in the game's first 30 minutes of action. The Big Blue also owned a three-minute time of possession advantage.
The second half belonged to the Bluejays as Elmhurst's defense forced Millikin into a three-and-out on the opening series of the half. The Bluejays' offense took over and drove 76 yards in seven plays to put points on the scoreboard. A 43-yard pass from Hernandez to Joe Sanfilippo sparked the drive. Josh Williams finished off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. The extra point was missed resulting in the Big Blue leading 14-6.
sElmhurst's defense came up big again on Millikin's next possession. Andy Warsen picked off Stepina just across midfield and returned the ball to the Big Blue 39-yard line. Elmhurst drove to the five yard line before settling for a 21-yard field goal from Brett Bayer to make the score 14-9.
Perode Charles picked off Stepina on Millikin's ensuing series, but the Bluejays were unable to capitalize, giving the ball back to Millikin after a missed field goal attempt.
Millikin was able to run almost six minutes of clock off midway through the fourth quarter with a pair of first downs, but the Bluejays' defense allowed just 20 yards total over nine plays before Millikin was forced to punt.
Taking over at their own 33-yard line with just 3:32 left to play, the Bluejays' offense quickly went to work. After 19 rushing yards on two carries from Williams, Hernandez sold a play fake and connected with Adam Bowers on a 34-yard completion down to the Millikin 14-yard line. Facing a third-and-six from the Millikin 10-yard line, Hernandez hit Gonzalez on a slant for the game-winning touchdown.
Elmhurst's defense forced Millikin to turn the ball over on downs to seal the victory for Elmhurst.
After struggling in the opening half, the Bluejays turned the tables on the Big Blue in the second, outgaining Millikin 221-58 in the game's final 30 minutes. Elmhurst's defense allowed just three first downs in the second half.
Elmhurst finished the contest with 289 yard of offense to Millikin's 249 yards. The Bluejays also won the time of possession battle 31:43 to 28:17, including a six-minute advantage in the second half.
Williams returned to the field for the first time since the fifth game of the season and tallied 100 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Hernandez finished 8-of-16 through the air for 120 yards and a touchdown. Bowers was the Bluejays' top target, catching three passes for 49 yards.
Andre Colvin led Millikin's ground game, finishing with 80 yards on 20 carries. Stepina finished 12-of-27 through the air for 135 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown. Caufaude was the Big Blue's top receiver, hauling in five passes for 57 yards and a score.
Perode Charles led Elmhurst's defense with 11 tackles and an interception. Tyler Hosmanfinished with eight tackles while Alec Datoli added six stops for the Bluejays.
Elmhurst closes out the 2015 season by traveling to North Central College next Saturday, November 14.