Football team falls to Elmhurst, 37-7, in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College football team fell to Elmhurst (Ill.) College, 37-7, this afternoon in its home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Bluejays (2-0) led 20-0 behind three touchdowns in the first quarter. As the first half clock expired, Elmhurst added a 36-yard field goal to take a 23-0 lead into the locker rooms. The Bluejays scored on their first two possessions of the second half for their final points of the game. Olivet put its seven points on the scoreboard at the 8:30 mark of the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by sophomore Edric Miller (Battle Creek/Central). Sophomore Blake Iobe (Marshall) converted the PAT kick.

For the game, Elmhurst had 421 total yards of offense, including 296 on the ground. Olivet was held to 115 yards. Freshman De'Marko Reed (Battle Creek/Central) topped the ground game with four carries for 21 yards. Junior quarterback C.J. Gregory (Canton/Plymouth) completed nine passes for 35 yards. Junior Nick McCleary (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) threw for 23 yards. Eight different players caught a pass, and freshman tight end Fred Brown (Flint/Beecher) was the leader with three receptions for 21 yards. Junior James Williams (Battle Creek/Central) had 107 all-purpose yards. Senior Nick Glass (Flint/Powers) recorded a team-leading eight total tackles.

For the Bluejays, Scottie Williams rushed 16 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Furco was 13-of-22 for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Williams and Rodney Payton had 32 receiving yards apiece. Defensively, Wayne Tuckson and Randy Wright were each credited with seven tackles.

Olivet hosts North Central (Ill.) College next Saturday at 1 p.m.