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For Immediate Release
Nov. 6, 2010
Greenville Too Much For Eureka Football, 62-27
GREENVILLE, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore quarterback Sam Durley (Roanoke, Ill./Roanoke-Benson H.S.) threw for a career-high 358 yards, but Greenville senior running back Anthony Ambers ran for 385 yards, the highest rushing total by a Division III player this season and the ninth-highest total in Division III single-game history, leading the Panthers to a 62-27 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory over the Red Devils, Saturday afternoon at Francis Field in Greenville, Ill.
The Panthers, who had already locked up the UMAC regular season championship with their victory last week, controlled the game from start to finish and took the lead for good on the very first play of the game. Freshman Immanuel Gamble took the opening kickoff from the Red Devils and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Greenville lead. The Red Devils were able to bounce back on the ensuing possession when sophomore kicker Travis Huber (Morton, Ill./Morton H.S.) drilled a 24-yard field goal, his 10th consecutive successful attempt to begin his collegiate career.
Greenville proceeded to score touchdowns on four of its five first-quarter possessions, racing to a 31-3 lead after 15 minutes. The Panthers added three more touchdowns in the second quarter and carried a 52-13 advantage into intermission. The Red Devils got their first touchdown of the contest midway through the second quarter when Durley hooked up with junior receiver Wes Schmidgall (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S./Culver-Stockton) for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Huber added another field goal late in the second quarter, but his streak of successful attempts ended when his 42-yard try was blocked with 12:56 left before halftime.
The Red Devils began the second half on a high note, needing just five plays to march 62 yards for their second touchdown of the day. Durley hit senior wideout Keifer McComas (Allerton, Ill./Heritage H.S.) with a 36-yard score, the second career touchdown reception for McComas. Eureka continued to outplay the hosts throughout the third quarter, stopping Greenville on back-to-back series. Sophomore defensive back Darin Meierhofer (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest H.S.) intercepted Greenville quarterback Joel Lira in the end zone to end a 14-play drive that took seven minutes, his third career interception. A 36-yard field goal try from Luis Diaz sailed wide on the Panthers’ next trip, leaving the score 52-20 at the end of three quarters.
Ambers broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Durley found Schmidgall again on the ensuing Eureka possession with a 62-yard touchdown completion to make the score 59-27 in favor of Greenville. Diaz closed the scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 7:51 left in the contest.
Durley finished the day 19-for-44 for 358 yards and three scores. He found Schmidgall six times for 146 yards, while junior tight end Alex Hess (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) made a career-high seven receptions for 61 yards. Sophomore Matt Dawson (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) made his first career reception and ended the day with four catches for 60 yards. Mike Minehan (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./McKendree), Jake Carls (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley H.S.) and Dan Bolsen (Lovington, Ill./Lovington H.S.) shared the team lead with seven tackles apiece.
Ambers carried 30 times for 385 yards, headlining a group of six players to combine for 533 rushing yards. The effort missed Greenville’s team season-high by a single yard. Junior Brendan Chambers completed seven passes for 185 yards.
The Red Devils will close the regular season one week from today at McKinzie Field, hosting MacMurray for Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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