Eureka Football Falls to Olivet in Home Opener, 42-23
EUREKA – The Eureka football team weathered a slow start against Olivet on Saturday, but the Red Devils couldn't close the gap and fell 42-23 at McKinzie Field.
After conceding the first 21 points of the game in the first quarter, Eureka outscored the Comets 23-21 in the next three quarters. The team just allowed too many big plays and couldn't get it going offensively early.
Eureka wide receiver Pierce Bradford (Decatur, Ill./Argenta-Oreana) racked up 89 receiving yards on five receptions and one score. The senior made two outstanding plays that sent the McKinizie Field faithful into a frenzy.
The first was a 46-yard catch on a deep throw downfield by Nathan Garard (Gibson City, Ill./Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) near the end of the first quarter when the Red Devils were driving for their first score. The ball hit Bradford in the chest as a defender dove into him and he managed to hang on it after a bobble.
Then, early in the second quarter, with the Red Devils at 3rd and 14 just inside the red zone. Garard aimed for the end zone and Bradford ripped it out of the defensive back's hands and came down with it for the score.
Fellow receiver Malek Folston (Cocoa, Fla./Vera) and Cedric Hopkins (Longview, Texas/Longview) both recorded their first touchdown receptions as Red Devils.
Folston, a senior who was a defensive back last year, scored on a 25-yard catch over his early in the third quarter and finished with 40 yards on two catches. Hopkins, a freshman, scored on diving catch into the end zone on a 25-yard pass by Garard on 4th and 3 early in the fourth. He finished with two catches for 42 yards.
Another receiver, Kobe Newman (Tonica, Ill./St. Bede Academy) recorded three catches for 24.
Garard threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-34 passing with one interception, recording his second 200-yard throwing game of the season.
On the other side of the ball, the Red Devils defense started to get going in the second quarter.
The team forced two punts, then a turnover on downs following a fourth-down stand that ended with a quarterback hurry by Eureka's Alexander Brittain (Eureka, Ill./Eureka).
Eureka quickly lost the momentum gained after losing possession on a fumble following a sack on the first play of the next drive. Olivet quickly scored again to make it 28-6.
The next time the EC defense was on the field, though, Austin Hopkins (Arcola, Ill./Arcola) picked off a pass on Olivet's first play to give the Red Devils offense good field position.
The team's ensuing drive before halftime ended with a 30-yard field goal by Steven Bartkus (Seneca, Ill./Seneca). The Red Devils freshman kicker had a standout day. In addition to making his first career field goal, he racked up 235 kickoff yards on four kicks and had two touchbacks.
Punter Sam Bartels (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville Community) was outstanding as well, recording 386 punting yards on nine punts with two touchbacks and a long that sailed and rolled 79 yards, nearly settling before it reached the end zone.
Bartkus' field made it 28-9 at halftime. Olivet scored on the first play of the third quarter to make it 35-9, but Eureka answered with the drive that ended with Folston's score and the EC defense stopped the Comets on their next possession. Colton Waslberg (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) and Jon Jackson's (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) sack forced the visitors to punt.
Walsberg racked up a team-high nine total tackles for the Red Devils. Amari Smith (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest) was right there with eight. Hopkins recorded six to go with his interception, while Jackson and Jack Arnett (Princeville, Ill./Princeville) each had five
Olivet delivered its last score of the game to make it a 26-point game at the end of the quarter. Hopkins' score on the next Eureka drive was the last of the game.
Olivet's Cortaveon Barnett rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns on carries and had one receiving touchdown. Nick Pagano and Jalen Broussard each had a receiving touchdown as well. Freshman quarterback Evan Ormsby threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut.
Next week, Eureka will vie for its first win as it begins Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play at Rockford on Saturday at 1 p.m.
