For Immediate Release
carlinville, illinois
October 4, 2008
EC scores on offense, defense, special teams for 1st ever sLIAC win
Boxscore
Eureka College won for the first time in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday, doubling up Blackburn College 26-13 in the teams' first meeting since 1997. The Red Devils scored on offense, defense and special teams to improve to 9-0 all-time against the Beavers.
Although Eureka (2-2, 1-1 SLIAC) kicked off to begin the game, EC wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Sean Smith (Mendota, Ill./HS) picked off a Blackburn (1-4, 0-2 SLIAC) pitch and rumbled 32 yards for a touchdown. Dan Askew (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge) added the extra point, giving the Maroon and Gold a 7-0 lead just 47 seconds into the game.
The teams then traded turnovers, with Blackburn taking over on the Eureka eight after an interception. Three plays later, BC was on the board with a three yard scoring run. The point after kick was no good, keeping Eureka ahead, 7-6.
The Red Devils responded by marching down the field 80 yards in 13 plays while chewing up 5:33 off the clock. Eureka quarterback Chris Dalberg (Washington, Ill./HS) completed key third down passes to Zach McDade (Savoy, Ill./Arcola) and Brandon Ards (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Philips) for 16 and six yards respectively to extend the drive. Josiah Rosenberger (Morton, Ill./HS) cashed in with a six yard TD run to lift EC to a 13-6 lead.
Eureka extended its lead at the 6:23 mark of the second quarter with a key special teams play. Travis Davis (Arcola, Ill./HS) broke through the line to block a Blackburn punt, which was recovered by Eureka's Cody Troutman (Normal, Ill./HS) for a touchdown. It is his third different kind of special teams touchdown of his career, going with a kickoff and punt return.
The third quarter ended with the same count as the halftime score, 19-6 in favor of Eureka. The Red Devils rush defense was dominant in the third period, limiting Blackburn to a single yard on 13 carries.
Eureka padded its lead early in the fourth quarter with a one-yard quarterback keeper by Dalberg. The big play of the drive was again an aerial connection from Dalberg to McDade, this time for 46 yards.
Trailing 26-6, Blackburn mounted one last attempt to get back into the game, but Rosney Beverly (Normal, Ill./Normal West) intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback, ending the march with 8:10 to play. Blackburn would later score on a 29 yard pass play with 3:59 to go, but it would only serve as a cosmetic score as Dillon Reed (Illiopolis, Ill./Sangamon Valley) fell on the ensuing onside kick.
Chris Wakid (Danvers, Ill./Eureka) was the leading ground gainer in the game with 66 yards on 16 attempts. Rosenberger finished with 40, while Ards had 39 giving EC three runners with more than Blackburn's leading rusher, who had 37 yards. Dalberg passed for 94 yards, including 62 to McDade, who led all receivers in yardage on the day.
The Red Devils defense forced four turnovers, and held Blackburn to an average of 2.3 yards per carry. Matt Knake (Freeburg, Ill./HS) totaled 14 tackles, with 3.5 going for losses. Beverly recorded nine tackles to go with his second interception of the season.
Eureka will play at home for the first time in almost one month Saturday, October 11. The kickoff for the game is set for Noon against Huntingdon College, which currently sits in a three-way tie atop the SLIAC standings.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu
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