Covenant News

Elmhurst Win Dampens North Park Homecoming

CHICAGO, IL (October 6, 2001) - Jason Helms scored on a six-yard run in overtime as Elmhurst College spoiled North Park University's Homecoming with a 34-31 win at Hedstrand Field Saturday.

North Park opened the scoring in overtime on a Jason Reynolds 30 yard field goal. The Bluejays then took eight plays for their winning points. Elmhurst is now 2-3 overall, 1-1 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. North Park fell to 2-3, 0-2 in the CCIW.

Elmhurst quarterback Juan Quesada scored four touchdowns and had 188 yards rushing on 36 carries while passing for another 68 yards. He scored on his team's opening drive, a three-yard run, to put Elmhurst in front 7-0 with 8:25 left in the first period.

North Park tied the game with 6:46 remaining in the opening quarter on a 23-yard run by George Balentine, who finished with 52 yards rushing on 10 carries.

With 12:44 left in the half, Alfredo Cruz blocked an Elmhurst punt and picked up the loose ball and ran 17 yards for a score putting the Vikings up 14-7. On the final play of the half, North Park quarterback Phil Dewald scrambled 31 yards for a touchdown as the Vikings entered halftime leading 21-7.

After Quesada's second scoring run narrowed the North Park lead to 21-14, Dewald tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Chris Oquendo, giving the home team a 28-14 edge with 14:13 left in regulation time. Elmhurst fought back, however, putting together drives of 80 and 70 yards respectively. Quesada scoring runs ended both drives, the last with 1:17 left in regulation, to force the game into overtime.

Dewald ran for 52 yards and passed for 160 yards on 6-of-15 passing. Oquendo caught four passes for 94 yards. Defensively, Tim Wisnar had eight solo tackles and assisted on six others for North Park.

Printable version of this page.