For Immediate Release
September 17, 2005

Maroons Fall to Elmhurst 21-17 in Home Opener

Chicago -- Elmhurst College tailback Eric Luna rushed for 81 yards and the go-ahead touchdown as the Bluejays defeated the University of Chicago football team 21-17 in the Maroons' home debut Saturday at Stagg Field.

Trailing 17-15 late in the third quarter, Elmhurst (3-0) took possession on the Chicago 30-yard line following a 23-yard punt return by Ryan Keeton. A 26-yard completion from quarterback Ryan Freund to wideout Blake Veldhuis and a Maroon penalty moved the ball to the Chicago 2-yard line. Luna then ran in for the touchdown on the following play.

Chicago (0-2) rallied from a 15-7 deficit to take the halftime lead. A 7-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Matt Rinklin (New York, N.Y./ Fordham Prep) to senior receiver Colin Carrier (Glen Ellyn, Ill./ Benet Academy) midway through the second quarter cut the Elmhurst lead to 15-14.

Senior kicker Mike Morzenti (Safety Harbor, Fla./ Palm Harbor) put the Maroons ahead 17-14 with a 39-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half.

Elmhurst, which entered the game ranked fourth in the NCAA Division III in scoring offense (53.5), got on the board first on a 17-yard scamper by sophomore signal caller Chris Kudyba at the 6:40 mark of the opening stanza.

Chicago answered with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Rinklin to junior wideout Micah Dawson (Grand Junction, Colo./ Central) early in the second quarter.

The Bluejays regained the lead 15-7 when Freund connected with receiver Terence Young from 70 yards out with 12:07 to go in the first half.

Freund and Kudyba combined to throw for 217 yards. Kudyba also rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries. Young caught four passes for 116 yards.

Making his first career start for the Maroons, Rinklin was successful on 18 of 37 attempts for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He was picked off three times and sacked on six occasions. Dawson accumulated 119 yards on five receptions.

Elmhurst held the advantage in total offense 355-263, but was flagged 16 times for 111 yards.

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