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For Immediate Release
Oct. 24, 2009
Eureka Ends Skid With 63-44 Win at MacMurray
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore wide receiver Wes Schmidgall (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) pulled down nine catches and set career-highs with 211 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, leading the Eureka offense to its highest scoring effort in more than a decade and helping end a four-game losing streak in a 63-44 UMAC South Division win over MacMurray, Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, Ill.
The 63 points scored was the highest total by a Eureka team since current head coach Kurt Barth was a freshman wide receiver in a 68-7 win over Dubuque on Oct. 22, 1994. The 107 combined points scored is a new all-time Eureka record, breaking the previous mark of 103 set in a 53-50 loss to Lawrence (Wis.) on Sept. 16, 1995.
The Red Devils (3-5, 1-2 UMAC South) jumped in front 2-0 less than three minutes into the game when MacMurray (0-7, 0-2 UMAC South) running back James Rollon was tackled in the end zone by the EC defense for a safety with 12:19 remaining.
Eureka worked with a short field on the ensuing possession after the free kick thanks to a 25-yard return by sophomore Murad Abbed (Danville, Ill./Bismarck-Henning H.S.) down to the MacMurray 40-yard line. Senior quarterback Nick Lindsey (Homer, Ill./Heritage H.S.) completed five passes on the drive, including a 5-yard touchdown toss to senior tight end Dillon Reed (Illiopolis, Ill./Sangamon Valley H.S.) to cap an eight-play drive that put EC in front 9-0.
The Eureka defense scored points for the second time on the afternoon when junior cornerback Rosney Beverly (Los Angeles, Calif./Normal West H.S.) returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter. The interception was Beverly’s third of the season.
MacMurray got on the board early in the second quarter thanks to a 10-yard touchdown throw from Garrett Starkey to Brian Clay, but Eureka scored two more touchdowns before the break on an 8-yard run from Lindsey and a 55-yard touchdown throw from Lindsey to Schmidgall. The Red Devils took a 29-8 lead into halftime.
Rollon ran for a 66-yard score on the fourth play from scrimmage in the third quarter, but Lindsey scored on a 2-yard run less than three minutes later to answer. Freshman quarterback Sam Durley (Roanoke, Ill./Roanoke-Benson H.S.) later completed a 24-yard pass to Reed for his second touchdown of the day.
Schmidgall made his second and third touchdown catches of the game in the fourth quarter, catching the first from Lindsey and the next from Durley. The Highlanders ultimately outscored Eureka 36-34 in the second half, but trailed by as many as 35 points after freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson (Normal, Ill./Normal West H.S.) scored his first career touchdown on a 5-yard run late in the game to put the Red Devils in front 63-28.
Eureka compiled 506 yards of total offense, the most since racking up 606 yards in a 41-34 win over Martin Luther on Sept. 19. Lindsey finished the day 21-of-31 for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground to go along with a team-high 41 rushing yards. Durley completed only three passes, but two of the completions went for scores. Reed matched Schmidgall with a game-high nine catches and had a career-high 101 receiving yards.
The Red Devils will participate in the 10th annual UMAC Dome Day next Friday, playing St. Scholastica at
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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