For Immediate Release

galesburg, illinois

September 2, 2006

Red Devils extinguished by Prairie Fire in opener

The Eureka College football team first traveled to Galesburg to take on Knox College in 1893 only to lose a 22-0 decision. To open their 103rd season of play, the Red Devils suffered a similar fate nearly 113 years later with a 23-0 setback in non-conference play Saturday afternoon. The Prairie Fire rushed for 314 yards and scored once in every quarter.

The season began very inauspiciously for the Maroon and Gold. On the second play from scrimmage, Knox (1-0) quarterback Logan Schroeder raced down the sideline on an option play for a touchdown leading to a 7-0 advantage.

Both teams traded punts, but EC (0-1) was then able recover a fumble to gain good field position for a late first quarter drive. Eureka senior signal caller Shaun Manning (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) scrambled 12 yards to convert on third and 10 — one of only two third down conversions for either team in the contest. Then, on a third and eight from the Knox 34, Manning connected with freshman wide-out Dellanio Tibbs (Country Club Hills, Ill./Brother Rice) for what looked to be a first down, but the officials did not give EC forward progress setting up a fourth down and one. The right side of the Knox defensive line stuffed Eureka's ensuing rush attempt to thwart the Red Devils best chance to score in the first half.

"We were 2-for-14 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down," noted Eureka second-year head coach Dan Sullivan. "We need to be more efficient when it's time to move the chains."

The hosts continued their clutch play during a 10-play, 42-yard drive in the second quarter culminating in a Kevin Megli 13-yard run to paydirt. Knox was successful on two fourth down plays. The most controversial of which came when Schroeder squeezed through the line for the two yards he needed.

Down 14-0, the Eureka attack was held to four first downs in the first half, but came out of the locker rooms looking like a different outfit altogether. Running backs Justin Dempsey (Fairbury, Ill./Chenoa) and Damon Mehlberg (Bloomington, Ill./HS) alternated runs of over 10 yards each helping to move the pigskin down to the Knox 14. However, the Prairie Fire soon proved the notion that it would be their day a fact when an EC receiver fell down on a pass play leaving Knox's Wes Roodhouse alone in the end zone to make a diving interception. Megli scampered 80 yards for his second touchdown of the day on the next play. The extra point was wide right making the score 20-0. Knox's Kevin Malone booted a 26-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining to top off the scoring.

The Red Devils gained 122 yards on the ground despite losses on four sacks. Dempsey led the way with 58 yards on 10 carries followed by Mehlberg's 45 yards. The 122 rushing yards is more than Eureka had in any game last season even though Knox led its conference in rush defense last year. Manning (8-for-28, 82 yards) struggled to find his rhythm after sitting out several practices due to injury leading up to the game. Half of his completions were to senior Chris Carr (El Paso, Ill./HS) for a total of 50 yards.

"I was pleased with the way we ran the ball," said Sullivan. "We had 122 yards and, without sacks, closer to 170. We need better pass protection, to deliver the ball on time and the receivers need to get better at avoiding contact down the field."

Despite being on the field for over 17 minutes in the first half, the Eureka defense conceded just five first downs in the final 30 minutes of play. Linebacker Tommy Butler (Arrowsmith, Ill./Ridgeview) totaled 7.5 tackles and a forced fumble to led the defensive effort. Sophomore Raul Mendoza was next with seven tackles.

Megli led all runners with 127 yards on nine carries. Aaron Willets added 121 and Schroeder, who was 4-for-14 passing for 39 yards, had 63 on the ground as well.

"I am disappointed to be (-3) in turnovers; our goal is to be (+2)" added Sullivan. "I'm not going to get down...I really like this team. They have the best attitude for any team I've coached. Today, a bunch of freshmen became sophomores. Now we have two weeks to turn them into juniors."

The Red Devils have next Saturday off to prepare for their next non-conference road tilt on Sept. 23 at 1:00 pm versus North Park University.

###

For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan

Sports Information Director

Eureka College

300 E. College Avenue

Eureka, Illinois 61530

309-467-6456

bsullivan@eureka.edu