Red Devils Cruise Past Martin Luther in UMAC Opener
NEW ULM, Minn. – Eureka College freshman running back LeAnthony Reasnover (Momence, Ill./Momence) ran for a 129 yards and junior quarterback Conrad Schumann (Rodgau, Germany/Claus-von-Stauffenberg) threw three touchdowns, leading the Red Devils to a 55-21 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory at Martin Luther, Saturday afternoon at the MLC Bowl in New Ulm, Minn.
Eureka set the tone early with a dominating first half. The Red Devils found the endzone on their first four series, while the EC defense recovered two fumbles, picked off a pass and forced three punts and two turnover on downs to race to a 27-7 lead at intermission.
The Red Devils needed only five plays from scrimmage on their first possession to snag a 7-0 lead. Reasnover rushed four times on the drive, including a 1-yard gain for his third touchdown of the season with 11:11 left in the frame. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Vance (Havana, Ill./Havana) also hauled in a career-long 42-yard reception on the opening drive. After the hosts went three-and-out on the ensuing series, Schumann found sophomore wide receiver Austin Zirkle (Gilman, Ill./Iroquois West) on the third play of the drive for a 52-yard strike to push the EC lead to 14-0 with 7:06 to play in the first.
After the Knights picked up a first down, sophomore linebacker Chris Friend (Washington, Ill./Washington) knocked the ball loose from running back Tim Keller at the Knights' 46 yard line and the ball was recovered by fellow sophomore Antonio Greenwood (Momence, Ill./Momence). Five plays later, Reasnover found pay dirt with a 26-yard rush for the score. The touchdown was Reasnover's second on the day, and second consecutive contest with multiple lt touchdowns.
On the ensuing kickoff, Martin Luther's Josh Rathje fielded the kick at the 25 yard line and raced the distance to put the host on the board, 21-7.
Later in the second quarter, Schumann would underthrow his intended receiver, leading to a Knight interception by Jacob Brohn. Senior defensive lineman Austin Blair (Newton, Ill./Newton) would swing the momentum back in Eureka's favor on the next play, forcing a fumble at the Martin Luther 7-yard line with senior linebacker Ty Cowin(Astoria, Ill./Astoria) falling on the ball.
Freshman tight end Tristan Rose (Herscher, Ill./Herscher) scored on a 5-yard toss from Schumann, the first reception and touchdown of his career. The score would be the only points of the second quarter, and the Red Devils would take a comfortable 20-point lead into intermission.
Eureka would engineer a 10-play, 64-yard drive to start the second half, capped by Schumann's third touchdown pass of the day to Jeremiah Vance to stretch Eureka's lead to 34-7. Vance finished the day with three receptions for 79 yards.
Martin Luther would strike again midway through the third quarter. After blocking a field goal attempt by Eureka, the host would need just one play to cut the deficit. Knights' quarterback Matt Olsen hit receiver Joshua Arndt in stride, and Arndt would take the reception 82 yards for the score.
Reasnover would find the endzone once more on the Red Devils' next series, capping a 7-play, 63-yard drive with a 2-yard rumble into the endzone. Reasnover's touchdown gave him his third on the day and five on the season. Eureka took a 41-14 lead into the final quarter of play.
The Knights would grind out their next series, taking 7-minutes, 12-seconds off the clock manufacturing a 16-play, 90-yard drive finished off by a 13-yard run from Olsen. Any momentum the touchdown generated for the host quickly evaporated as sophomore Antonio Greenwood (Momence, Ill./Momence) returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to put Eureka well ahead, 48-21.
Sophomore running back Collin Aimone (Spring Valley, Ill./Hall) delivered Eureka's final score of the day with his first career touchdown on a 12-yard run with 1:35 left in the game.
Schumann went 12-for-21 for 207 yards and three touchdown, he also 20 yards on the ground. Sophomores Jed Vance (Havana, Ill./Havana) and Colton Johnson (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) also saw time at quarterback, combining for four completions for 110 yards.
Sophomore running backs Colton Senders (Bradford, Ill./Stark Count) five carries, 35 yards, Matt Johnson (Seneca, Ill./Seneca) nine carries, 26 yards and Aimone two carries, 22 yards all saw action in the contest.
Zirkle led all receivers with two catches for 90 yards and sophomore Dominique Parks (East Moline, Ill./United Township) added four receptions for 72 yards.
The Red Devils poured on 530 yards of offense, the highest yardage total since Sept. 1, 2012 at Knox.
Friend led the Eureka defense with six solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Junior defensive back Garrett Anderson (Onarga, Ill./Iroquois West) added five stops and one pass break up. Senior Jordan Blair (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) intercepted his first pass of the season in the contest.
Eureka (2-0, 1-0 UMAC) will host four-time defending UMAC champion St. Scholastica next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at McKinzie Field.