Bluejay’s quarterback sits out during St. Louis Bears game due to leg injury

Photo by- David Castañeda

Elmhurst University freshman Andrey Acosta, the quarterback for the EU football team, had to leave the home game on Oct. 29 against the Washington University in St. Louis Bears.

According to Head Coach Jeff McDonald, Acosta left early in the game with a left leg injury. He initially injured his leg two weeks prior against Carroll, and it, “got beat up against Milkin,” the week after. Acosta attempted to play through the pain against the Bears, but he could not manage it.

Since then Acosta has been working with the EU athletic trainers every day to ice, stretch his ankles, and work on ankle mobility, as well as using a stim machine after stretches.

A reason for the offensive struggles the Bluejays faced against the Bears could have been from Acosta’s injury and early leave of the game. They failed to get anything going on offense as they went scoreless through the first 24 minutes of the game, and punted  their first six possessions. 

The Bears, on the other hand, could not be stopped as they scored three touchdowns before the Bluejays could get more than one first down. 

All three of these touchdowns came through the air and were set up by blown coverages from the Bluejays’ secondary. The air raid continued throughout the first half as the Bears tagged on a late passing touchdown to wide receiver Collin Hoyhtya, giving the bears a 28-7 lead going into halftime.

The Bears quarterback Matt Rush finished the first half with four passing touchdowns, and Hoyhtya finished the first half with two receiving touchdowns.

Although the score may show a blowout there were several positives for the Elmhurst Bluejays, like the success of their special teams unit. 

They had two blocked field goals and a blocked punt that set up their only score for the game at the end of the second quarter, a one-play 30-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Matt Xiques to running back Jacob Cockrell. 

The game plan going into Saturday’s game was to get to the Bears’ quarterback, according to McDonald, and to do that they wanted to allow their defensive stars to make a play.

“We sat here designing things to get Bryce and Jamon involved and have one on one’s. It makes all the difference,” said McDonald. 

Linebacker Bryce Gable led the team with 17 total tackles and one sack, and defensive end Jamon Gooden had six total tackles and two sacks. The Bluejays’ defense had a total of five sacks and did not allow any passing touchdowns in the second half.

The Bluejays were not the only ones to make halftime adjustments as the Bears focused on establishing their run game in the second half, running for three rushing touchdowns. Two of them came from their powerback, Kenvorris Campbell, and the other from the more elusive running back, Kenneth Hamilton.

McDonald and Acosta were adamant about the importance of a “next play mentality” and the attitude the Bluejays need to have going into future games.

 “Staying positive as much as possible, and when something bad happens, you don’t have to let it affect what happens next,” said McDonald.

“Football is all about having a short memory,” said Acosta.

Even though Acosta is not sure what caused his injury back in the game against Carroll, he was given the okay and played in the game at North Park on Saturday, which resulted in a close 23-20 loss.

With one game left in the 2022 season, the Bluejays currently have a season record of 0-9, and 0-8 conference record. Their last game will be Nov. 12 against Illinois Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. on Langhorst Field.