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North Park University Athletics

EckThrowcarr23
31
Winner North Park NPU 5-4 , 4-4
8
Elmhurst ELM 2-7 , 1-7
Winner
North Park NPU
5-4 , 4-4
31
Final
8
Elmhurst ELM
2-7 , 1-7
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NPU North Park 0 24 7 0 31
ELM Elmhurst 0 0 8 0 8

Game Recap: Football | | Craig Shelton

Vikings Dominate Bluejays, Move to 5-4

NPU Football rounds out the season at home next Saturday against Wheaton

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park Vikings Football Team was firing on all cylinders in today's matchup against the Elmhurst University Bluejays, as they handily won, 31-8. The five wins for NPU Football represent the most since the 1968 season.

Junior linebacker Egan Bender returned his interception for a touchdown, starting things the right way for the first score of the game.  Junior kicker Michael Messersmith added the extra point to make it 7-0, and he would be perfect throughout the first half of play, including a 35-yarder to end the half. 

Junior quarterback Matt Eck connected with sophomore receiver Wesley McCloud for the Vikings' second score on a 7-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.  Two minutes later junior running back Marcel Love broke loose and scored a 44-yard receiving touchdown.  The defense pitched a shutout in the first half led by senior defensive backs Jeff Fisher and Juan Nieves, as well as junior defensive end Eric Wozny and sophomore defensive end Jonathan Thomas, who both recorded a sack. The Vikings went into halftime leading the Bluejays 24-0. 

The third quarter started with Elmhurst kicking off to North Park who kept the momentum going as they marched down the field on their opening drive as senior receiver AJ Harris punched in a 1-yard run for a touchdown.  Following Messersmith's extra point, the score was 31-0.  The defense gave the ball right back to the offense after Harris' score, forcing Elmhurst to punt it away. However, on the following drive, the Bluejays picked off a pass around the 50 yard line, and put together a nice drive that led to a touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion, making it 31-8. 

From there, the Viking defense took over, not allowing another score the rest of the game.

Top Performers: 

  • Matt Eck – 19/28 passing, 187 yards, 2 TD 
  • AJ Harris – 8 receptions, 12 rushes, 133 total yards, 1 rushing TD 
  • Marcel Love – 4 receptions, 8 rushes, 78 total yards, 1 receiving TD 
  • Wesley McCloud – 5 receptions, 42 yards, 1 TD 
  • Jeff Fisher – 5 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles 
  • Eric Wozny – 4 solo tackles, 2 sacks 
  • Egan Bender – 1 QB hurry, INT/TD 

What's Next?

The Vikings (5-4, 4-4 CCIW) close out the season with a home game against #12 Wheaton College and are looking to move to 6-4 on the season with an upset against the Thunder. 

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