Eureka Unable to Play Homecoming Spoiler in 49-29 Loss at Benedictine
LISLE, Ill. – The Benedictine football team pulled away from Eureka in the second half to secure a 49-29 Homecoming win over the Red Devils on Saturday.
The Red Devils led by six after the first quarter and held a two-point edge over the Eagles at halftime, but the home team outscored them 28-13 in the second half to clinch the win in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action.
Eureka senior Pierce Bradford (Decatur, Ill./Argenta-Oreana) hauled in 10 receptions for 122 yards and a score for the Red Devils. Freshman Sebastian Hill (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) tallied 10 receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
Sophomore Lukas Tinkham (Abingdon, Ill./Abindon-Avon) threw for 202 passing yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-41 passing after making his first start at quarterback in lieu of the injured Nathan Garard (Gibson City, Ill./Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley).
Running back Lamont Hill Jr. (East Moline, Ill./United Township) rushed for 68 yards and a score on 26 carries.
The Red Devils conceded a touchdown on Benedictine's first drive of the game to go down 7-0. Eureka answered on its next possession. After nearly going three-and-out, EC went for it on fourth down and Tinkham connected with Bradford on a seven-yard reception for a first down. Six plays later, Tinkham found Sebastian Hill in the end zone to put the team on the board. It was the first career touchdown for both the quarterback and receiver.
Steven Bartkus (Seneca, Ill./Seneca) hit the post on the extra point attempt, which kept Benedictine ahead.
The Red Devils defense forced Benedictine to go three-and-out, leading to a punt and the Red Devils taking over at the 50. The team then put together another solid drive, marching 50 yards in six plays over the next 3 1/2 minutes. Tinkham connected with Hill for another 10-yard touchdown. Bartkus' extra point attempt made it 13-7.
Benedictine went back ahead early in the second quarter with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Jarnagin to Anthony Senerchia.
Then, late in the second quarter, Jack Arnett (Princeville, Ill./Princeville) picked off Jarnagin to give Eureka a chance to go ahead before halftime. Bartkus' 37-yard field goal at the end of the half did exactly that and gave the freshman kicker a new career long.
The Red Devils led 16-14 at halftime, but the team didn't have many highlights after the break.
Jarnagin threw three touchdown passes in the third quarter, while the Eureka offense came up empty.
Lamont Hill Jr. scored on a two-yard plunge to break the scoring drought early in the fourth and Bradford scored on a six-yard toss from Tinkham with 2:25 left to play. The Eagles were already out of reach by then, though.
Jarnagin finished with 352 passing yards and six touchdowns on 23-of-34 passing to lead the way. His top target was freshman Sami Ayash, who racked up 169 receiving yards on eight catches and scored three times.
Defensive back Joe Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) led the maroon and gold in tackles with eight. Linebacker Colton Walsberg (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) and defensive ends Jon Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) and Bryson Smith (Cisco, Ill./Monticello) all had five. Smith notched 1 1/2 tackles for loss, and Brendan Durr (Washington, Ill./Washington) contributed 1/2 tackle for loss.
Next Saturday at 4 p.m., Eureka (1-3, 1-1 NACC) will look to earn its own Homecoming victory against Concordia Chicago (2-2, 0-2 NACC) in front of the McKinzie Field faithful.
