November 11, 2006

Maroons Defeat Eureka in Season Finale

EUREKA, Ill. -- Senior quarterback Matt Rinklin (New York, N.Y./ Fordham Prep) passed for two touchdowns and ran for two others as the University of Chicago football team concluded its season with a 44-12 win at Eureka College Saturday at McKinzie Field.

After Eureka's Cody Troutman returned the opening kickoff 84 yards for the score, Chicago (4-5) scored the game's next four touchdowns.

Rinklin put the Maroons on the board with an 11-yard run late in the first quarter. Freshman kicker Ryan Verissimo's (Skokie, Ill./ Niles West) extra point gave Chicago the lead for good 7-6.

Chicago scored in the first and last minute of the second quarter en route to taking a 17-6 lead at halftime. Sophomore tailback Chuck Little (Plano, Texas/ St. Mark's) scored on a 2-yard run at the 14:51 mark. Verissimo then booted a 24-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half.

Rinklin scored his second touchdown of the day on a 3-yard run early in the third stanza. He then connected with junior wideout Mike Albian (Darien, Ill./ Montini) on a 6-yard scoring strike at the 5:47 mark to give the Maroons a 31-6 advantage.

Nick Lindsey's 2-yard run as time expired in the third quarter gave Eureka (0-10) its final points of the game. Lindsey completed 10 of 17 passes for 111 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Chicago added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, first on a 3-yard run by Little with 12:15 remaining, then on a 30-yard pass from Rinklin to Albian at the 9:56 mark.

Rinklin was 14-for-27 for 187 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also gained 70 yards on 11 carries, including two TD runs. Albian caught nine passes for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Junior tailback Mike Serio (Antioch, Ill./ Carmel) rushed for a game-high 80 yards on 13 attempts as Chicago amassed 196 yards on the ground.

Chicago, which ended the season with a two-game winning streak, outgained Eureka 383-207 and held the ball for 32:40.

Junior linebacker Gaby Fernandez (Miami, Fla./ Columbus) collected 11 tackles, while freshman defensive end John Emerson (Okemos, Mich./ Okemos) had 3.5 sacks.

Box Score