Williams and Bluejays Run Past North Park 59-6
ELMHURST, Ill. - Scottie Williams turned in the second-highest single-game rushing output in school history, running for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Elmhurst College football team to a 59-6 victory over North Park University.
Elmhurst (3-1, 1-0 CCIW) jumped out to a 35-0 lead and never looked back, piling up 56 points through the first three quarters. The Bluejays totaled 540 yards of total offense, the ninth-highest single-game total in school history, and rushed for 417 yards, the third-highest single-game total in school history.
Elmhurst's defense bottled up North Park's (3-1, 0-1 CCIW) option running game for the majority of the contest, allowing the Vikings only 11 first downs (four on Elmhurst penalties) and just 178 total yards (170 rushing). The Bluejays also forced three turnovers and scored two touchdowns on fumble returns.
The Bluejays jumped on the scoreboard on their second offensive possession of the game. Starting at their own 12-yard line, Elmhurst drove 88 yards in just five plays, with Williams keying the drive with a 61 yard run. Andrew Tubek capped the drive with a two-yard scoring run to give Elmhurst a 7-0 lead.
After a North Park punt, the Bluejays took over at the Vikings' 49-yard line and needed just four plays to find the end zone. Williams finished the drive with a two-yard plunge to stake Elmhurst to a 14-0 lead.
The Bluejays went up 21-0 early in the second quarter, driving 77 yards in nine plays to the end zone. Williams ripped off a 32-yard touchdown run to put the Bluejays up by three touchdowns.
Elmhurst's defense came up with back-to-back scores off of North Park turnovers. Jamall Lane recovered a North Park fumble and raced 58 yards for a score to give Elmhurst a 28-0 lead. On North Park's next possession, John Gruchot stripped the ball from Tyler Krebs and Dan Vicari scooped up the loose ball and raced 55 yards to the end zone to put Elmhurst on top 35-0.
North Park scored its only points of the game late in the second quarter. The Vikings drove 66 yards in just seven plays and scored on a Sam Cochiaro 39-yard touchdown run on a reverse.
Elmhurst tacked on three touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 56-6 lead. Joe Furco connected with Vince Gabrys from 10-yards out and then hit Chase Hamby for a three-yard score. After having a long touchdown run called back due to a penalty, Williams scored his third touchdown of the game on a nine-yard run late in the third quarter.
Elmhurst added a 21-yard field goal from Trevor Spaulding in the fourth quarter for its final points of the game.
Williams rushed for 235 yards on just 19 carries, averaging 12.4 yards per carry. Tubek added 95 yards on just 14 carries for Elmhurst. Furco completed 10-of-15 passes for 123 yard and two touchdowns.
Matt Hassan led North Park on the ground with 15 carries for 72 yards. Krebs and Evan Rhoads combined to finish 2-of-14 for only eight yards.
Charlie Roberts led Elmhurst's defense with 12 tackles, including a team-leading three tackles for loss. Dan Vicari added an interception to go with his fumble return for a touchdown. Gruchot and George DeMaria finished with nine tackles apiece for the Bluejays.
Elmhurst travels to Wheaton College next Saturday (October 8).
