Nov 05, 2016
ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst football team scored the seventh-highest point total in school history en route to a 56-14 win over Millikin University.
With 30 Elmhurst seniors playing their final game at Langhorst Field, the Bluejays wasted little time to put the game out of reach, scoring 28 points in just over 16 minutes. Elmhurst improved to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the CCIW with the victory while Millikin slipped to 4-5 and 3-4 in league play.
Elmhurst wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, taking the opening kickoff and driving 66 yards in just over three minutes. Orlando Hernandez hit Kaylon Miller on a 47-yard touchdown pass to give the Bluejays a quick 7-0 lead.
Following a Millikin punt, Hernandez gave Elmhurst a 14-0 lead by capping a 42-yard scoring drive with a 29-yard touchdown run.
The first of two interceptions by Tristan Bolas helped set up the Bluejays' third score of the game late in the first quarter. Hernandez gave the Bluejays a three-touchdown cushion by scoring on his second 29-yard touchdown run of the game.
A second interception by Bolas gave the Bluejays the ball back late in the first quarter. Hernandez finished off a 54-yard drive with a one-yard run up the middle for his third rushing touchdown of the game. The score gave Elmhurst a 28-0 lead with 13:24 left to play in the second quarter. The Bluejays totaled 200 yards of offense in the opening quarter.
The Bluejays came away with their third interception of the half midway through the second as Tyler Hosman picked off Millikin QB Nicco Stepina at the Millikin 23-yard line. The Bluejays took advantage of the short field, driving to the goal line before Hernandez scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the game on a one-yard keeper.
Millikni got on the scoreboard in the opening half, driving 75-yards in eight plays. Stepina ended the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to make the score 35-7 at the half.
Elmhurst's offense sputtered a bit in the third and Millikin took advantage, capitalizing on an Elmhurst turnover to score a touchdown on a 42-yard pass from Stepina to Jordan Smith.
The Bluejays' added points on special teams early in the fourth quarter. Millikin snapped the ball over punter Wyatt Fox's head. Fox scooped up the ball and attempted to kick it away, but Joe Nixon blocked the punt for the Bluejays. Brandon Dominski recovered the ball at the Big Blue two-yard line and scampered into the end zone to give Elmhurst a 42-14 advantage.
Logan Stelzriede hit Korey Partenheimer on a 33-yard touchdown pass and Drew Domino added an eight-yard touchdown pass to Partenheimer in the game's final minutes to make the final score 56-14.
The 56 points scored by the Bluejays is the seventh-highest offensive output by Elmhurst in school history. It's the most points scored since the 2011 squad scored 64 in a win over Olivet. Elmhurst took advantage of five Millikin turnovers, scoring 28 points off the Big Blue's mistakes.
Elmhurst finished the game with 283 yards of offense, doing most of its damage on the ground with 160 yards coming on 43 carries. The Bluejays added 123 yards through the air in the win.
Connor Brewer led Elmhurst on the ground, rushing 16 times for 60 yards. Hernandez carried 13 times for 54 yards and four touchdowns while also completing 7-of-15 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Stelzriede and Domino also tossed touchdown passes in the victory. Miller was the Bluejays' top receiver, hauling in five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Millikin held a slight edge in total offense, finishing with 287 yards. The Big Blue rushed for 121 yards while passing for 166. Stepina led the Big Blue on the ground with 74 yards on 11 carries. He completed 12-of-24 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury.
Andy Warsen led Elmhurst's defense with eight tackles while Brian Tucker, Perode Charles, Alec Datoli and Sean Wetherell added six tackles apiece. Wetherell and Hosman each had an interception while Bolas picked off a pair of passes in the victory.
Elmhurst closes out its 2016 season by traveling to North Central College next Saturday, November 12.