By Rick Schneider
November 3, 2009
Once again turnovers plague the Elmhurst College football team as they fell to 1-4 in CCIW play after losing to Illinois Wesleyan University on Oct. 24 and then Wheaton College on Oct. 31. The ‘Jays are now 4-4 overall after starting the season 3-0.
The Bluejays got caught in the whirlwind of 14th ranked Wheaton College’s running game, allowing 324 yards on 55 rushing attempts.
“We got outplayed,” said head coach Tim Lester. “They beat us in almost every facet of the game. It comes down to the turnover battle and we have been losing it all year.”
The ‘Jays defense allowed Wheaton 38 points and 400 total yards of offense. Wheaton improved to 7-1 overall, 4-1 in conference.
“They didn’t do a very good job tackling today,” said Lester. “We were tackling high.”
The score was tied going into the second quarter until Wheaton put together a nine-minute drive, taking the ball 85 yards on 22 plays.
However, the ‘Jays defense kept Wheaton out of the end zone and Wheaton settled for a field goal.
It was a special team collapse that allowed Wheaton to run away with the game.
A blocked punt and recovery set up a 10-yard Wheaton score.
“Our punter just held on to the ball too long,” said Lester. “The blocking was OK. But obviously it is an issue, something that we have to get fixed.”
Then early in the third quarter another ‘Jays special team miscue, a muffed punt, was recovered by Wheaton at the ‘Jays 39-yard line. Wheaton would take the ball down the field for the score.
Freshman Scottie Williams set up what would be the Bluejays ‘only score of the game by blocking Wheaton’s punt. After recovering it at Wheaton’s 11-yard line, freshman Joe Furco found sophomore Alex Hammond for an EC touchdown.
The ‘Jays did not do much the remainder of the game. Furco’s interception in the fourth quarter was returned all the way for a touchdown.
Wheaton took advantage of three Bluejays turnovers and converted them into 14 points.
“Just make better decisions,” Furco said about fixing their turnover issue.
“Whether it’s taking more time to read coverages and study film with the interceptions or hold the ball tight with two hands with the fumbles.”
The week leading up to Illinois Wesleyan, Bluejays running back Scottie Williams was named the CCIW’s Offensive Player of the Week. Williams was rewarded the honors for his 200-yard and three-touchdown performance against North Park on Oct. 17. He averaged 11.1 yards per carry and caught three passes for 45 yards.
“Having a solid running back is a key in every good football team,” said senior Randy Wright. “We have the luxury of having three very good running backs and it is especially important to us because we are playing with a young quarterback.”
Williams has proven to be the ‘Jays leading rusher, carrying the ball 70 times for 404 yards with an average of 5.8 yards per carry.
The ‘Jays needed Williams to have another breakout game against Illinois Wesleyan, but that was not the case.
It seems as if the ‘Jays’ loss to Illinois Wesleyan was a blueprint to how they would lose to Wheaton College.
Illinois Wesleyan converted 14 points off of three ‘Jays turnovers in the second half. Those proved to be the determinate scores in the ‘Jays’ 20-7 loss.
“We made a couple big mistakes and that really was the difference of the game,” said Lester.
Illinois Wesleyan also blocked a Lomnicki punt in the first half that they recovered and ran in for a score. That would be the only score of the half, as Lomnicki was again blocked on a 30-yard field goal attempt.
“We just took the number one defense in the league and doubled the amount of yards that anyone else has put on them but didn’t finish drives,” Lester said. “That shows our immaturity, we don’t have a lot of upperclassman to lean on in those situations.”
Despite dominating the clock in the first half, 22:30 compared to 7:27, and limiting Illinois Wesleyan to just 27 yards of total of offense, the ‘Jays found themselves down by six points after blocking the extra point.
Furco was intercepted in the third quarter. Illinois Wesleyan would take the ball 62 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown converting the two-point conversion to extend their lead to 14-0.
The ‘Jays looked to answer later in the third quarter, driving to Illinois Wesleyan’s 20-yard line but again a turnover ended their drive.
“That is the most important time not to make mistakes,” Lester said. “I don’t only think we got beat I think we beat ourselves.”
After gaining the ball in good field position, the ‘Jays were able to score for the first time. A 49- yard drive was capped off when Furco hit senior Blake Veldhuis on a 12-yard strike in the end zone.
The momentum seemed to be swinging in favor of the ‘Jays when senior Nick Herrera blocked a punt and was recovered on Illinois Wesleyan’s 44-yard line.
“[Herrera] has been a huge special team guy for us all season,” said Furco.
“He is a real impact player for us, so every time he makes a play it sparks the momentum of our team.”
A quick pass to senior Mitch Holmer moved the ‘Jays to the 28-yard line.
But another Furco interception ended the ‘Jays’ hopes of scoring.
“At that point we had all the momentum and I truly thought we would just march down and score,” said Velhuis. “However, I made a crucial mistake a receiver can never make and that was the end of that drive and the game.”
The ‘Jays finished with 271 yards of total offense compared to Illinois Wesleyan’s 258. Williams tallied 70 yards on 17 carries. Furco finished with 17-37 for 164 yards. The key statistic was the ‘Jays struggle to convert on third down, converting only three times on 16 attempts.
Wright racked up eight tackles, with a quarterback sack while junior Dane Paul and sophomore Jon Janus each ended with seven tackles.
With a 1-4 record in conference, the Bluejays currently sit in seventh place out of eight teams, just in front of the winless North Park team.
The Bluejays have two conference games remaining. They will face the 2-3 in conference Millikin University team at home on Nov. 7.