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Bluejay Football Team Falls to Wheaton 48-7
Box Score
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team dropped to 4-4 on the season, after falling 48-7 to Wheaton College. The loss moved the Bluejays to 1-4 in the CCIW.
After starting the year 4-0, the Bluejays have dropped four straight contests to level out at .500 for the season.
Wheaton ran its record to 8-0 on the season (5-0 CCIW) with the win. The Thunder, ranked fifth in the nation, dominated the game from start to finish, rolling 476 yards of total offense, a season-high allowed by the Bluejays.
Elmhurst's offense was held in check for the majority of the game, as the Bluejays managed just 126 yards of offense for the contest.
Wheaton took the opening kickoff and drove 71 yards in seven plays, taking a 7-0 lead on an Andrew Heshey 3-yard run.
Early in the second quarter, the Thunder capped a 14-play, 61-yard drive with a Dan Newman 1-yard TD plunge to take a 14-0 lead.
The Thunder pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Bluejays 34-7.
After a Tim Ellingson 31-yard field goal early in the third quarter, the Bluejays got on the scoreboard when Chris Kudyba (Des Plaines/Elk Grove) hit Blake Veldhuis (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) for a 44-yard touchdown pass.
The Thunder responded immediately, driving 63 yards in seven plays with Brett Jackson scoring on a 2-yard run to take a 24-7 lead.
After the Bluejays turned the ball over on downs, Wheaton tacked on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Bradley to Alex Pokorny.
Grant Roszkowiak put the Thunder up 38-7 after he picked off a Kudyba pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown.
The Thunder added a 32-yard field goal from Ellingson and a 5-yard touchdown run from Rocky Gringg in the fourth quarter to earn the 48-7 win.
Wheaton controlled the clock, holding the ball for 36 minutes, and enjoyed almost a 13-minute time of possession advantage.
Elmhurst finished the contest with a season-low 126 yards of total offense. The rushing woes continued for the Bluejays, as Elmhurst totaled -10 rushing yards on 27 attempts. The Bluejays passed for 136 yards.
Wheaton rolled up 219 rushing yards on 58 carries and threw for 257 yards on only 26 attempts.
David Wilharm (Elgin/Lake Park) was Elmhurst's top runner, carrying 12 times for 30 yards. Kudyba finished 10-of-22 for 130 yards and a touchdown. Mitch Holmer (Champaign/Central) hauled in five passed for 42 yards, while Veldhuis caught four balls for 81 yards.
Jackson and Hershey had huge games on the ground for the Thunder. Jackson carried 20 times for 94 yards and a score while Hershey rushed 15 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Brady finished 15-of-26 for 257 yards and a touchdown through the air. Nine different Thunder players had receptions, led by Noah Dreyer's four catches for 42 yards.
Jake Brashares (Peotone/H.S.) led the Elmhurst defense with 13 tackles while Joe Anfuso (Medinah/Lake Park) added 11 stops.
Elmhurst travels to Millikin University on Saturday, November 3.
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