For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Spartans topple Red Devils in EC Homecoming game

October 27, 2007

EUREKA, Ill. — Every football coach worries about distractions during Homecoming week. The same could be said about Senior Day as well. Eureka found out that the combination of the two added to a solid Aurora University Spartans squad as an opponent, did not exactly concoct a winning recipe as Aurora ran past Eureka College by the count of 30-3 Saturday afternoon.

Ryne Reder of Aurora (4-4, 4-2 IBFC) showed why he is the Illini-Badger Football Conference leading rusher against the Red Devils (1-7, 1-5 IBFC), accounting for 160 yards on the ground on 26 carries. He scored twice on the ground and added a touchdown pass on a halfback option play.

The contest was ominous from the start for the home team as Eureka fumbled away the opening kickoff. But as they did often throughout the day, the EC defense held tough in the red zone, forcing a missed field goal from 36 yards.

Aurora again had superb field position for its next drive following a 23 yard punt return, but was again forced into a field goal try after gaining just one yard in three plays. This time, Andrew Price was good from 32 yards, making the score 3-0.

The Red Devils came back to tie the game on their next possession. Sophomore Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage) connected on pass plays of 22 and 14 yards to Dillon Reed (Illiopolis, Ill./Sangamon Valley) and Chris Wakid (Danvers, Ill./Eureka) respectively befor scrambling for 15 yards himself as Eureka eventually reached the Spartans' nine yard line. Playing his final home game, senior Jacob Wall (Cresent City, Ill./Cresent-Iroquois) put EC on the board with a 28 yard field goal that tied the game at 3-3.

It did not stay that way for long, however. Five plays later, Spartans quarterback Spenser Adams hooked up with Jon Wuest on a 39 yard bomb. The extra point was wide left, keeping the score 9-3 in favor of Aurora after the opening frame.

The Eureka defense kept the game close initially by turning the Spartans away empty-handed after a first-and-goal at the EC four. After losses of two yards on back-to-back rushing plays, Luke Whitaker (Eureka, Ill./HS) pushed the ball back 12 yards with a sack on third down. Price's 37 yard field goal sailed too far left again.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, Reder took over the rest of the half. He led Aurora out to a 23-3 halftime margin with scoring runs of nine and 10 yards. He gained 96 yards in the first half on 16 carries.

Both teams were able to establish their rushing attacks in a swiftly played second half, but the only points came through the air from an unlikely source. Reder, who had not thrown a pass all season, sprinted to the right and lobbed up a 12 yard touchdown pass to Brent Harner in the third quarter. The extra point was the final tally of the contest, making it 30-3.

Both sides failed in goal-to-go situations later in the game. Eureka's Jered Ewing (Bloomington, Ill./Tri-Valley) recovered a fumbled pitch on the Red Devils' 12 to short-circuit an Aurora scoring opportunity, while Lindsey was stopped inches shy of the end zone stripe twice early in the fourth quarter leading to a turnover on downs inside the Spartans' one.

Michael Moseley (Lubbock, Texas/Monterey), who had 15 tackles last week, again led EC with 13 this week, including three tackles for loss. Tim Dombrowksi (Lansing, Ill./T.F. South) recorded 12 tackles, with two for loss. Tony Martin (Lexington, Ill./HS) and Cody Troutman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Comm.) each had 10. The Red Devils held the Spartans scoreless on five of their nine red zone chances.

Justin Dempsey (Fairbury, Ill./Chenoa) ran well in his final home effort. He averaged 4.8 yards on 16 carries for 76 yards rushing and was also the team's leading receiver with three catches for 30 yards. Lindsey completed eight out of 14 passes for 83 yards.

Adams misfired on just one of his 11 pass attempts in the first half and finished the game 13-for-20 for 184 yards. Wuest hauled in seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

In addition to Dempsey Wall, Saturday was the final home game for EC seniors Tommy Butler (Arrowsmith, Ill./Ridgeview), Brian Carver (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier), Jacob Foor (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) and Wayne O'Harrow (Crete, Ill./Bloom Trail).

The Red Devils' final two games of the season are on the road. They close conference play next Saturday at MacMurray College with a 1:00 pm kickoff. Their final game is at the University of Chicago on November 10.

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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