Eureka Unable to Knock Off CUW, 35-21
EUREKA – The Eureka football team couldn't push past Concordia Wisconsin in the second half of the Red Devils' Senior Day game on Saturday.
Tied 14-14 at halftime, EC fell behind the Falcons in the third quarter and then scored twice in the fourth to put it out of reach late. Eureka's Ben Bernabei (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) punched in the last touchdown of the day with 24 seconds left to make it a final score of 35-21. The Falcons improved to 6-2 on the season and 5-1 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.
Eureka wide receiver Sebastian Hill (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) recorded a season-high 136 receiving yards on seven catches and put the Red Devils on the board with a 50-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
Quarterback Kaeden Frazier (Clarkston, Wash./Clarkston/Presentation) heaved it 42 yards and found Hill in stride to tie the game at 7-7 with 13:33 left in the second quarter.
The Falcons answered with a quick three-minute drive in which they drove 78 yards in eight plays to take a 14-7 lead.
The CUW defense held the Red Devils to a three-and-out on the next EC possession. Then, Eureka senior cornerback David Hill (Elgin, Ill./St. Edwards Catholic) delivered his second interception of the half.
His first was a pick in the end zone late in the first quarter that kept the game scoreless. His second gave the Red Devils a chance to answer in the second frame, but it didn't come to pass.
Later, after a 52-yard punt return by Billy Nelson (Portland, Ore./Evergreen/Presentation) put Eureka on the 7, Bernabei rushed three times, crossing the plane on his third attempt and tie the game at 14-14 with 1:34 until halftime.
In the second half, the Red Devils had their chances to stay with CUW. They just couldn't sustain and complete drives.
The Falcons struck with a seven-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown run by Ashar Thomas with 2:15 left in the third quarter. They made it a two-score game with 3:13 left.
CUW's Justice Kaneta picked off Frazier for a 55-yard touchdown return with 2:21 remaining. Eureka scored on its next drive, but it was unable to recover the onside kick that followed.
Frazier threw for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 19-for-34 passing. Bernabei rushed for 101 yards on 25 carries and scored twice. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season.
It was Sebastian Hill's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and his touchdown was his ninth of the season and the 21st of his career.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Brendan Durr (Washington, Ill./Washington) tallied a team-high eight total tackles in the loss, while fellow seniors Garrett Wayne (Clinton, Ill./Clinton), Jack Arnett (Princeville, Ill./Princeville), Christian Miller (Pekin, Ill./Pekin), David Hill and Donovan Hathaway (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) had six, five, five, four and four, respectively.
David Hill also had two pass breakups to go with his pair of interceptions and four tackles. Miller had 1 1/2 tackles for loss and Arnett had 1/2.
Saturday was the last home game for 19 seniors who have made significant contributions to the program over the one-to-five years and become its next group of leaders. Among them were: Arnett, Andrew Payne (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial), Wayne, Bernabei, David Hill, Kobe Newman (Tonica, Ill./St. Bede Academy), Nelson, Austin Hopkins (Arcola, Ill./Arcola), Gabe Townsend (Winamac, Ind./Winamac), Durr, Edgar Reyes (Seneca, Ill./Seneca), Robert Castellano (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg/Lincoln), Hugo Garza (Arcola, Ill./Arcola), Carson Gregory (Pekin, Ill./Pekin), Jake Benninger (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community), Steven Bartkus (Seneca, Ill./Seneca), Hathaway, Miller and Sam Bartels (Jerseyville, Ill./Jersey Community).
Eureka (4-4, 2-4 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference) will next face Benedictine (4-3, 4-2 NACC) on the road on Saturday at 1 p.m.
