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Bluejay Football Team Pounds Benedictine 52-3 in Opener
Box Score
LISLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team kicked off the 2007 season by hammering Benedictine University 52-3.
Elmhurst amassed 426 yards of total offense on 21 first downs while limiting Benedictine to only 101 yards of total offense and six first downs.
Bluejay quarterback Chris Kudyba (Des Plaines/Elk Grove) showed no rust after missing the 2006 season with a knee injury. Kudyba directed touchdown scoring drives on each of the five series that he played in.
Elmhurst opened the game by moving 63 yards in only 2:37, with Kudyba keying the drive by hitting Matt D'Angelo (McHenry/McHenry East) for a 36-yard strike right down the middle of the field. Kudyba capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Gierke (Elburn/Kaneland).
After a Benedictine three-and-out, Kudyba led an eight-play, 55-yard scoring drive, culminating in a four-yard touchdown pass to Blake Veldhuis (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./H.S.)
After the Bluejay defense again held Benedictine to no yards, the Elmhurst offense drove 63 yards in 10 plays, with John Scardullo (Monee/Peotone) powering his way into the end zone for a one-yard score.
Mike LaFleur (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./H.S.) also showed off his arm as he started the second quarter for the Bluejays at quarterback. After a 14-yard pass to Gierke, LaFleur hit Veldhuis over the middle for a 50-yard touchdown pass to give Elmhurst a 28-0 lead at the break.
Benedictine's offense generated only one two first downs in the opening half, with one coming by way of an Elmhurst penalty.
Kudyba came back out on the field in the third quarter and promptly led a five-play, 59-yard scoring drive, hitting Veldhuis from 13 yards out to give Elmhurst a 35-0 lead.
After a Benedictine fumble in its own red-zone, the Bluejays needed only two plays to score with Mark Gones (St. Joseph/St. Joseph-Ogden) capping the drive with a one-yard TD plunge.
Tyler Lomnicki (Elmhurst/York) tacked on a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Bluejays a 45-0 edge. On the ensuing Benedictine possession, Andrew Ramus was picked off by the Bluejays' Kyle Maple (Kaneville/Kaneland) who returned the ball 39 yards for a score.
Benedictine's only points of the game came late in the fourth quarter when a botched snap on a punt gave the Eagles the ball at the Elmhurst 19-yard line. The Bluejay defense turned the Eagles away from the end zone and Benedictine settled for a Brian Goff 25-yard field goal.
In total, Elmhurst rolled up 426 yards of offense, with 183 coming on the ground and 243 yards coming by way of the passing game.
Benedictine finished with 101 yards of total offense with 23 rushing yards and 78 passing yards. The Bluejays' defense was solid on third down, allowing the Eagles to convert only 2-of-16 third down attempts.
Kudyba finished the game an efficient 10-of-14 for 157 yards and three touchdowns. LaFleur added 83 yards through the air.
On the ground, the Bluejays were led by Ryan Sonntag's (Green Lake, Wis./H.S.) 70 rushing yards on 10 carries. Freshman quarterback Phil Pedi (Addison/Driscoll Catholic) carried nine times for 53 yards and Gones rushed 12 times for 52 yards and a score.
Veldhuis had a big day for the Bluejay offense, hauling in five passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns. Gierke caught five balls for 53 yards and a score, while D'Angelo had three receptions for 59 yards.
Benedictine was led by Eric Ritter's 36 rushing yards on five carries. Ramus finished the game 15-of-25 for 59 yards and three interceptions.
Maple led the Bluejay defense with eight tackles and the interception return for a score. Eric Puzon (Wheaton/Wheaton-Warrenville South) and Patrick Ambriz (Wausau, Wis./Wausau East) each finished with seven tackles.
The Bluejays remained unbeaten on opening day under Tom Journell, and Journell ran his record in September games to 11-0 with the win.
Elmhurst will take a week off before returning to the field on Saturday, September 15, at the University of Chicago. Kickoff against the Maroons is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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