For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

October 14, 2006

Revved up Carr, EC nearly upset Panthers on Homecoming

A near interception turned into a 46-yard touchdown pass as the Greenville College Panthers (4-2, 3-1 IBFC) turned back a spirited effort by Eureka College (0-6, 0-4 IBFC) on Homecoming. The final score was Greenville 26, Eureka 20.

Greenville led 19-14 in the middle stages of the fourth quarter and took over possession on Eureka's 46 yard line. On first down, Panther quarterback Dominic Kegel lofted a deep pass toward the sideline. Eureka cornerback Cody Troutman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) had excellent position and jumped up to try to intercept the pass. After he was unable to get both hands firmly on the ball, Troutman's foot flied up, kicking the ball nearly 10 feet in the air. It fell into the waiting hands of Greenville receiver Bryson Taylor for a touchdown that put GC ahead 26-14 with 6:56 remaining.

EC struck back with 2:12 to go on a 67-yard bomb from freshman quarterback Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage) to senior Chris Carr (El Paso, Ill./HS). The extra point was blocked, keeping the count at 26-20. The Red Devils attempted an onside kick, but it bounced untouched out of bounds. The Panthers picked up one first down and were able to run out the clock.

Greenville jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Kegel capped a 8-play, 79-yard drive on the Panthers' first possession with a one-yard plunge, and Kyle Sanniec booted a 34-yard field goal with 6:06 left in the first half. Eureka fullback Damon Mehlberg (Bloomington, Ill./HS) began a frantic final three minutes of the half with a brilliant spin-o-rama move as he raced 43 yards for a touchdown. Freshman Matt Knake (Freeburg, Ill./HS) kicked Eureka's first extra point of the season to make the score 10-7.

Three plays later, Tommy Butler (Arrowsmith, Ill./Ridgeview) intercepted a Kegel aerial, giving EC the ball at the Greenville 46. Eureka drove down to the GC 13 with under a minute to play and appeared to have taken the lead when Lindsey found Carr on fourth down in the end zone for an apparent touchdown, but Carr was flagged for pass interference and the score was wiped out. The Red Devils had still another chance to score in the half when J.P. Ramirez (Hennepin, Ill./Putnam Co.) forced a fumble that was recovered by EC, but another pass to Carr fell incomplete.

Sanniec added a field goal of 32 yards doubling the Panthers' lead to six at 13-7 only to see the Red Devils fight back to take their first lead of the season when they put together a 13-play, 81-yard drive finished off by a one-yard run by Lindsey. Knake made the extra point, putting Eureka in front 14-13.

The Eureka lead was short-lived, however, as Greenville went 67 yards in 1:09 led by several nice plays by Kegel. He rushed for 35 yards and passed for 30 more before running into the end zone from two yards out. Kegel was stopped short on the two-point attempt by Tim Dombrowski (Lansing, Ill./T.F. South) keeping the score 19-14.

Eureka turned the ball over on downs with 3:43 to play and all hope seemed to be lost. Still, The Red Devils never gave up and the ball bounced their way on an errant pitch by Kegel. Mike Pohlman (Bloomington, Ill./U-High) fell on the loose pigskin on the EC 28 with 2:33 on the clock. Lindsey then hit Carr for a touchdown on the next play, which turned out to be the final scoring in the game.

"This was the best effort since I've been here," said second-year EC head coach Dan Sullivan. "We played well enough to have a shot at winning...just not well enough to win. I believe there are no moral victories. A loss is a loss, but we did have a better effort today."

The Red Devils rushed for 173 yards on the day led by Mehlberg's 99 and a touchdown. Zach McDade (Savoy, Ill./Arcola) added 39 yards on six carries. Lindsey connected on 11 of 22 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown to go with his one score rushing. Carr caught three passes for 105 yards. The Eureka defense forced a season-high three turnovers. Troutman recorded a team and season-high 12 tackles, while Pohlman and Dombrowski each had eight.

"This was the healthiest we have been since our first game," Sullivan added. "Of course, as soon as that happens, here comes another bunch of injuries today. We will be a little thin, but we need to bounce back because we have some very good teams left on our schedule."

Kegel was 9-of-16 passing for 173 yards, accounting for one touchdown through the air and two on the ground. Taylor had five catches for 122 yards. J.R. Harriel led all players with 13 tackles in addition to a forced fumble.

At halftime, The Eureka's stadium was officially dedicated in honor of the late Pete FioRito. FioRito played football for the Red Devils in the late 1970s and the majority of the money raised for stadium improvements was in his memory. He was inducted into the EC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. Many family members and friends were be present for the event. Eureka's football facility will now be called FioRito Stadium at McKinzie Field.

The Red Devils will be on the road the next two weeks against conference opponents. They next play Benedictine University in Lisle on October 21 at 1:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan

Sports Information Director

Eureka College

300 E. College Avenue

Eureka, Illinois 61530

309-467-6456

bsullivan@eureka.edu