Box Score ELMHURST, Ill. - It was
unfamiliar territory for the Trine University football team as
their non-conference regular season win streak was snapped at 10
games, falling to Elmhurst College 31-13. The Thunder's
record now stands at 1-1 on the year.
The Thunder looked impressive on their opening
drive as they marched down the field 75 yards eating up 8:46 off
the clock. It took Trine 17 plays but senior quarterback Ryan
Hargraves (Taylor, Mich./Truman) found sophomore tight end Zach
Hess (Eagle, Mich./Grand Ledge) in the end zone from 10 yards out
for Hess' first career score.
The Blue Jays would match the Thunder, also going
75 yards in 7:17 and using 17 plays to tie the game.
After Trine went three-and-out on their next
possession, the Thunder defense was able to hold the line on a
fourth and one. Trine would be unable to use the short field to
their advantage and had to punt. Elmhurst would drive down the
field in just nine plays to tack on a 36-yard field goal and would
never relinquish the lead.
Hargraves would throw in interception with under
two minutes to go in the half giving the Blue Jays the ball at
their own 40. Elmhurst would recover their own fumble in the end
zone for the touchdown with just 14 seconds left in the half to
lead 17-7 at the break.
The second half would start just like the first
half with Elmhurst driving down the field first, scoring on a
15-yard run. Trine would answer back driving 75 yards, capped off
by senior Mike Inge (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern)
from three yards out for the score.
The Trine momentum couldn't be held as the
Blue Jays would answer right back, this time driving 75 yards on 11
plays, scoring on a 15-yard pass from Joe Furco to Ryan
Maguire.
Trine would have their opportunity to close the
gap as they were driving into the Elmhurst red-zone early in the
fourth. With the ball at the Blue Jays three yard line, Hargraves
would be knocked down and stripped of the ball, allowing Elmhurst
to recover. Trine's final chance to score would come
late in the quarter, but Hargraves would throw his second
interception of the game with the ball at their own 38. Trine would
not get another opportunity as the Blue Jays were able to run out
the clock.
Hargraves has a solid all-around game, completing
16-22 passes for 165 yards. Hargraves also led the Thunder on the
ground rushing for 90 yards on 12 attempts. Sophomore Jared Barton
(Middleton, Mich./Fulton) finished the afternoon with 81 yards on
20 carries. Senior JaVontae Hence (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) was the
only Trine receiver to catch more than one pass, going for 82 yards
on nine catches.
Sophomore Tyler Guzy (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater)
led the Thunder defense with 13 tackles (10 solo) and
recorded one of Trine's two sacks.
Elmhurst's Scottie Williams finished with
229 rushing yards, while the Blue Jays compiled 319 total yards on
the ground. It was the most rushing yard the Trine defense has
allowed in a game since November 27, 2010 when Wisconsin-Whitewater
ran for 324 during a playoff game and the most in a regular season
game since MacMurray also rushed for 319 yards on September 17,
2005.
Trine's last regular season non-conference
loss also came on the road on September 26, 2009 to Franklin
College.
Trine will look to get back to their winning ways
when they travel to Concordia (WI) on September 15 for a 2:00 p.m.
(est) game as a part of the MIAA/NAC Challenge.