St. Scholastica Scores in Final Minute to Edge Eureka
EUREKA, Ill. -- Eureka College Conrad Schumann (Rodgau, Germany/Claus-von-Stauffenberg) set career-highs with 221 yards passing and 42 yards rushing, but the visiting St. Scholastica scored the go-ahead with under 10 seconds left in the game, lifting the Saints to a 21-14 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory over Eureka, Saturday afternoon at McKinzie Field.
The Red Devils wasted no time putting points on the board, scoring on the fifth play of the opening drive on a 53-yard reception from sophomore Dominique Parks (East Moline, Ill./United Township). The touchdown was Park's first collegiate touchdown catch and longest career reception.
Saints' quarterback Dakota Paulson rushed 59 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage for the visitors, but the score was nullified due to a holding call on the offense. A 26-yard pass from Paulson to fullback Mitch O'Neil moved the ball deep into EC territory, but the Saints would fail to convert on fourth down, giving the Red Devils the ball back.
Eureka put together a 14-play, 74-yard drive on the next series, moving the ball all the way to the Saints' 14-yard line. The Red Devils would settle for a 31-yard field goal attempt, but the kick by Tyler Winders (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) sailed left of the goal post.
Pass completions of 12 and 28 yards paired with two rushes for 23 yards by Paulson put the Saints in the redzone for the second consecutive drive as the first quarter clock ran down. On the first play of the second quarter, Paulson found wide receiver Nick Murphy for a 17-yard touchdown. After the successful point-after-attempt, the visitors held on to a 7-6 lead.
Neither team was able to put points on the board over the next six series that saw the Saints fail two more fourth down tries. St. Scholastica carried a 7-6 lead into intermission.
On the Red Devils second series of the second half, Schumann found Parks again down the middle for a 52-yard gain, positioning the Red Devils at the visitors' 20-yard line. Eureka was unable to move the chains and Winders' field goal attempt clanked off the left goal post, ending the Eureka's chances of taking the lead.
On the ensuing drive for the Saints, Paulson would scamper six-yards and be met sophomore defensive end Trever Zeibert (Monee, Ill./Peotone) who jarred the ball loose. Paulson would emerge from underneath the pile with the ball, but the referee's ruled the Red Devils recovered the loose ball.
Eureka would go three-and-out after the turnover and give the Saints the ball back early on in the fourth quarter. Sophomore defensive end Ray Vogel (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone) chased down Paulson on a roll out on the second play from scrimmage, causing a second Paulson fumble. Senior nose guard Austin Blair (Newton, Ill./Newton) came away with the fumble, giving Eureka the ball back.
On the second play of the Eureka's possession, Saints' defender John Mike jumped on an underthrown pass attempt by Schumann, picking the pass off at EC 48. Strapped with short field position, St. Scholastica used a face mask penalty and key fourth down conversion to push their lead to 14-6 with 9:19 remaining the contest.
The Red Devils turned the ball over again on their next series, giving the ball back to the Saints on the first play after Schumann's pass attempt to Demarcus Heglar (Chicago, Ill./Taft) was tipped and intercepted by Brady Fish.
After exchanging punts over their next series, Eureka would force another Saints turnover on a overthrown ball by Paulson that fell into the hands of junior defensive back Garrett Anderson (Onarga, Ill./Iroquois West) at the EC 45 and returned for eight yards to the CSS 47. Eureka utilized the run game, handing the ball off four times to freshman running back LeAnthony Reasnover (Momence, Ill./Momence) on the drive, including a 19-yard rush for a score on the final carry of the possession. Reasnover bulldozed his way into the endzone to complete the two-point conversion and tie the contest at 14-14 with 2:18 left.
Paulson completed nine passes on their final drive of the contest, capped by a 7-yard strike to Shane Finnegan for the go-ahead touchdown and game winner.
Schumann went 9-for-19 for 221 yards and a touchdown. Parks tallied 3 receptions for a career-high 124 yards.
Reasnover ran for 99 yards on 24 touches, while Schumann carried eight times for 54 yards.
Defensively, Zeibert led the charge with a career-high 12 tackles, eight of which were unassisted. Sophomore linebacker Chris Friend (Washington, Ill./Washington) was next with nine stops and a sack. The Red Devils combined to make 8.0 tackles for loss as a team.
The Red Devils will return to the road next Saturday to face off against the MacMurray Highlanders. Eureka's shortest road trip of the season is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Jacksonville, Ill.