Battle of the birds at Homecoming game

Photo by- Ryan Windle

The Bluejays could not find their way home on Oct. 1, falling to the Carthage Firebirds’ balanced offense and defense with a final score of 57-21 at Langhorst Field.

Elmhurst started off the game with an 11-play, 64-yard drive that would result with a one-yard touchdown run from running back Aidan Pollock. 

Their initial success did not last long as the Firebirds answered back with a long drive of their own. In eight plays and 44-yards, Firebird’s running back Rey Guajardo ran a one-yard touchdown, tying up the score.

The Bluejays’ lack of ball security started to hurt them when the Firebirds intercepted the Bluejay’s next drive resulting in a 60-yard touchdown by Carthage defensive back Garrett Warner at the end of the first quarter. 

The Firebirds’ gained momentum from this touchdown for an offensive explosion in the second quarter. Scoring mostly through the air, the Firebirds outscored the Bluejays 28-7 in the second quarter. 

Although the Firebirds started the first quarter with a 34-yard pass from Carthage quarterback Cristian Beltran to wide receiver Sylvere Campbell, Elmhurst came back for a touchdown by wide receiver Gabe Holtke. Holtke received the 22-yard pass from quarterback Conner Buyck after a 5-play, 46-yard drive.

However, that was not enough to get Elmhurst into a momentum as Carthage’s next touchdown resulted from a fumble in Elmhurst’s territory. 

This gave the Firebirds great field position as they scored in three plays with a 26-yard pass from Firebirds’ Beltran to wide receiver Jordan Wiles, followed by two more passing touchdowns to Alex Jarvis and Kyle Williamson.

Even though the first half got away from the Bluejays going into the second half losing 41-14, they fired back at Carthage with a long 10-play drive ending with a five-yard touchdown pass to Holtke.

However, in an attempt to make up ground on the Firebirds, the Bluejays threw two more interceptions that would result in touchdowns for the Firebirds during the third quarter.

Elmhurst’s defense came together for the rest of the game though, only letting through a field goal from Carthage early in the fourth quarter. 

There were a number of leaders for the Bluejays. Buyck threw two touchdowns and passed for 207 yards. Receiving those two touchdowns was Holtke with a total of 112-yards receiving.

Pollock got the first touchdown of the game and had a total of 76-yards rushing. Running back Julian Cavallo followed Pollock with 60-yards rushing.

Linebacker Jake Masco, who ended the game with eight tackles, and defensive back Gino Cerrone with seven tackles, led the defense against Carthage.

Even with the improvement in Elmhurst’s defense at the end of the game, it was a sad ending for the Bluejay Homecoming game with a final score of 57-21.

Masco held his head high after the game, looking at this upcoming week as another opportunity to get better.

“The positives that we can carry into this week is that we have another week to fix these mistakes and get to go up against a great team in Wheaton where last year we felt we played them well,” said Masco.