ELMHURST, Ill. – Josh Williams rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns while helping the Elmhurst football team surge past Loras College for a 31-17 season-opening victory at Langhorst Field.
Williams ignited the Bluejays' offense in the second half, running for 132 yards and three scores on 13 carries in the game's final 30 minutes.
Elmhurst took advantage of big plays throughout the contest. With the score knotted 3-3 late in the first quarter, Trent Howard sacked Loras quarterback Bob Kelly and knocked the ball loose in the process. Andy Warsen scooped up the fumble and returned it 18 yards to put Elmhurst in front 10-3.
Loras pulled even with just under four minutes to play in the half. The Duhawks capped a 73-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Baumhover to Nate Even.
Elmhurst struggled to move the ball in the opening half, totaling 102 yards on 31 plays. Loras, using a hurry-up offense for the entire game, gained 201 yards on 37 plays in the first half.
Williams and Elmhurst's offense got rolling late in the third quarter. With the score deadlocked at 10 and with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, Williams burst through a seem and raced 47 yards to the end zone to put Elmhurst in front 17-10.
Loras answered back quickly, marching 71 yards in just six plays as Zach Minch capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown plunge.
Elmhurst's special teams came up with a big play midway through the fourth quarter. With Loras pinned deep inside its own territory, Jacob Mazzenga blocked a Duhawks punt, giving the ball back to the Bluejays at the Loras 10-yard line. Williams needed just one play to find the end zone, putting the Bluejays up 24-17 with his second touchdown run of the game.
Elmhurst's defense forced its second turnover of the game on Loras' next possession. Eddie Beyer sacked Baumhover resulting in a fumble. Mazzenga fell on the loose ball giving Elmhurst possession at the Loras 47-yard line. Once again, Williams needed just one play to score, bouncing through a hole and sprinting to the end zone from 47 yards out to give Elmhurst the 31-7 victory.
Williams finished the contest with 184 yards on 22 carries, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 25 yards in the win. Tyler Smith rushed four times for 55 yards while Garrett Claxon hauled in four passes for the Bluejays. Logan Stelzriede completed 12-of-23 passes for 71 yards before leaving the game with an injury. Zach Campbell completed 2-of-5 attempts for 22 yards.
Elmhurst had a hard time stopping Minch. The Duhawks running back rushed 31 times for 203 yards and a touchdown. Baumhover completed 14-of-32 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown after coming on in relief of Kelly. Mikey Castoro led the Duhawks with six receptions for 72 yards.
Elmhurst finished the contest 320 yards of offense, including 218 in the second half. The Bluejays rushed for 227 yards and passed for 93. Elmhurst also controlled the clock, owning a nine minute advantage in time of possession. The Duhawks finished the game with 400 yards of total offense, rushing for 181 yards and passing for 219.
Elmhurst finished with three takeaways while not turning the ball over. Andy Warsen led the Bluejays' defense with 12 tackles while also recovering a fumble.Sean Wetherell, Howard and Myles Carroll totaled nine tackles apiece. The Bluejays totaled six sacks in the victory, matching their total from the entire 2013 season. Carroll totaled two sacks for the Bluejays. Valdez Honorable added six tackles and an interception for the Bluejays.
Elmhurst hosts Hope College next Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m.