PICTURED: Frank Mauigoa
Elmhurst spoiled an otherwise solid North Park performance on Homecoming Saturday as the Bluejays eked out a 23-20 win in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener for both teams.
North Park overcame an early deficit to race out to a 14-6 advantage, but Elmhurst put together two second half scoring drives that led to a 34-yard field goal and an eight-yard touchdown pass as they snapped a two-game losing streak to start the season.
The visitors opened with a 72-yard scoring drive, but a key block on EC's PAT attempt from KJ Joseph put the Bluejays in front 6-0. It didn't last though as freshman quarterback Frank Mauigoa engineered 77-yard drive that culminated in an eight-yard run for the speedy Samoan and put NPU in front 7-6 on Alexis Santillan's PAT.
Senior Enrique Menendez then wowed the crowd when he caught a short pass from Mauigoa and deeked a defender to burst for 52-yard TD scamper down the left sideline putting the Vikes ahead 14-6 after the 71-yard drive with 8:44 left in the second.
Elmhurst trimmed the lead to 14-13 just before halftime on a quick eight-yard drive and took the lead at 16-14 on a 34-yard field goal, but the Vikes responded – this time in the form of Mauigoa again on a 44-yard charge up through the teeth of the defense to put NP back in front 20-16. It wasn't until Elmhurst's six-play, 43-yard drive that led to eight-yard touchdown pass that the visitors took the lead for good.
In all, North Park garnered 253 yards of total offense with Mauigoa completing 9 of his 19 passes for 129 yards. Defensively Chaun Maiava finished with his third double-digit tackle performance to start the season as he had 16 along with 1.5 sacks for a loss of seven yards. Â Wilson Ray added 11 tackles and Dalton McKay had an interception. Maiava, Uluao Letuli, Joseph, David Simmons, Jr., Andrew Mihulet and McKay each had a pass breakup.
North Park looks to rebound when it resumes action next Saturday night in Bloomington for a 6 p.m. contest with Illinois Wesleyan.
