Covenant News

Elmhurst Edges Vikings in Homecoming Contest

ELMHURST, IL (October 26, 2003) - Benitez Brown returned an interception for a touchdown with 3:52 remaining in the game as Elmhurst College edged North Park University (NPU) 30-23 in the Vikings' Homecoming football game Saturday.

North Park fell to 2-5 overall, 0-4 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Elmhurst (5-2, 2-2) was the home team Saturday due to delays in the construction of the Holmgren Athletic Complex near North Park's campus.

With 9:43 left, NPU had tied the game at 23-23 on a 6-yard run by quarterback Mike Haehn. The Vikings had held Elmhurst on two successive drives before Brown's interception return. NPU got the ball back and drove to its own 43-yard line before the Bluejays stopped the Vikings on downs and ran out the clock.

Brown had scored on an 80-yard fumble return to tie the game 16-16 in the third period, taking a lateral from Donnie Snider after NPU fumbled on the Elmhurst 10-yard line. Eric Luna's 2-yard run put the Bluejays ahead 23-16 before Haehn's bootleg scrambled tied the game for the final time.

NPU turned the ball over on four of its final seven offensive possessions. In the first period, Elmhurst fumbled the ball away twice as the Vikings took advantage to score four times in the opening quarter.

A fumbled snap on a punt after Elmhurst's first offensive series led to a 35-yard field goal by Christian Thomsen. Thomsen made two more field goals in the first period (the second after another botched Elmhurst punt snap) and Haehn passed 24 yards to Sherman Gant for a touchdown as NPU led 16-0 with 2:43 left in the first period.

Elmhurst drove 80 yards on 17 plays as Luna's 6-yard scoring run narrowed the Elmhurst deficit to 16-8 midway through the second period. The Bluejays fumbled a snap on a field goal attempt later in the quarter and Brad Leshinske intercepted a pass by the field goal holder to thwart another scoring attempt by Elmhurst.

Elmhurst's Dom Demma threw for 198 yards and Luna led all rushers with 156 yards on 36 carries. Dante Britten had 120 yards on 21 runs to pace NPU's running attack. Haehn threw for 121 yards, 62 going to converted quarterback Phil DeWald, who caught six passes.

NPU will host Millikin University at 1 p.m. Saturday at Benedictine University in Lisle before playing conference opponents Wheaton College (November 8) and Carthage College (November 15) on the road to end its season.

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