For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

November 4, 2006

Highlanders top Red Devils in 48-30 shootout

Three fourth quarter touchdown runs proved to be too little, too late for the EC Red Devils (0-9, 0-7 IBFC) as they dropped their Illinois-Badger Football Conference finale to the MacMurray College Highlanders (2-7, 2-5 IBFC) in a 48-30 shootout at FioRito Stadium at McKinzie Field.

Eureka set several season-highs offensively, including most points (30), most yards (341) and highest yards per rush (5.8). But MacMurray held the ball for 34 minutes through the first three quarters compared to 11 minutes for EC, forced four turnovers and had Peter Ereg gain 357 yards rushing on 44 carries to keep the Red Devils at bay.

Ereg put the Highlanders out front to stay with first quarter touchdowns runs of seven and 17 yards. The second capped a 10-play, 99 yard drive that started after Eureka punter Kyle Edger (Arcola, Ill./HS) pinned MacMurray inside the one yard line with a 56-yard punt. MacMurray converted on both two-point conversions to go up 16-0.

The Red Devils got on the board on the next drive as freshman quarterback Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage) scrambled 27 yards to the MacMurray one setting up Damon Mehlberg (Bloomington, Ill./HS) for a touchdown run on the next play. The Red Devils could not get any closer than 16-6, however, as they failed all on all five two-point tries in the game.

The Eureka defense had MacMurray backed up to a fourth-and-12 on the Highlander 42, but Mike Schmidtke dumped a screen pass into the hands of Ereg for an 18-yard gain and a first down, which extended the ensuing drive long enough for Schmidtke to find the end zone on a six-yard scamper to make the score 22-6.

The two sides then alternated scoring the next eight touchdowns starting when Schmidtke found Steve Larson with a pass from 12 yards out to put MacMurray on top 28-6. Previously, MacMurray's Jordan Missey had recovered a fumble on the kickoff to keep the ball in the visitors' control.

Still trailing by 22 closing in on two minutes to play in the half, Eureka Coach Dan Sullivan made a good call to get his team within two scores at intermission. Eureka faced a fourth-and-four on the EC 39. Sullivan called on Edger for a punt, which was downed after 47 yards. The Red Devils held MacMurray to a three-and-out before a poor snap was mishandled by MC punter James Rollon, who was stopped for a three-yard loss with 46 seconds left in the half.

Lindsey lofted a 12-yard pass to Samuel Hendricks (Danvers, Ill./U-High) in the back of the end zone on the next play to make the halftime score 28-12. Lindsey has now thrown a touchdown pass in six consecutive games, while Hendricks was Eureka's leading receiver on the day, hauling in four passes for 41 yards.

"I was pleased with how we ended the first half," said Sullivan. "We need to learn how to start the game defensively. We seem really excited and pumped up for the opening kickoff and then after that we struggle to perform for the next five or six minutes."

Ereg scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter with a three-yard run. Chris Baker ran in the two-point conversion try to give MacMurray a 36-12 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

The most surprising play of the game came early in the closing quarter from Lindsey. The Red Devils were facing a third-and-one on their 31. Most fans were expecting the quarterback to plunge into the line in an attempt to get the first down, but Lindsey had other ideas. He took the snap and bolted through the line and down the middle of the field for a 69-yard touchdown run. The longest rush of the season for EC cut the MC lead to 36-18.

Later, Lindsey had a hand in the longest pass play of the season for EC as he found Mehlberg for a 69-yard screen pass that took the ball down to the Highlander four. After two penalties, Lindsey bulled his way in from one yard out for Eureka's final score of the game. Earlier, Mehlberg hit pay dirt from a yard out for his second touchdown of the day. Justin Dempsey (Fairbury, Ill./Chenoa) contributed the key play of the drive with a 48-yard gallop. Eureka recovered two out of three onside kicks during their comeback attempt.

"Cody Troutman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Comm.) made a heck of a play on the second onside kick turning his back and hanging on," said Sullivan. "We made a nice hit on the third one to force the ball loose."

"Our offense fought hard all day and scored 30 on a day they could have scored 50," he added. "We had some injuries to our offensive line, so that will give some kids a chance to step up next week."

MacMurray's final two scores came on a 31-yard pass from Schmidtke to Nate Robinson and an eight-yard run by Ereg, his fourth of the game.

Lindsey completed nine of 23 passes for 155 yards and also ran 13 times for 84 yards. Dempsey gained 68 yards on six carries. The Red Devils had scored four touchdowns on their 15 red zone possessions coming into play Saturday, but found the end zone on all four red zone trips against MacMurray. Defensively, senior Luke Hermes (Heyworth, Ill./Central Catholic) lead all players with 12 tackles, while Mike Pohlmann (Bloomington, Ill./U-High) added nine.

Schmidtke connected on 14-of-24 passes for 220 yards. His top target was Robinson, who caught six aerials for 125 yards. The Highlanders scored touchdowns on their first four possessions.

Eureka's final game of the season will be against University of Chicago Saturday, November 11. Senior Day festivities will take place prior to the Noon kickoff.

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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