Eureka Drops First Home NACC Test to Aurora

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka football team was overpowered by six-time defending NACC champion Aurora on Saturday night, falling 66-0 in their conference home opener.

Aurora wasted no time setting the tone. TJ Ramsey broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run on the Spartans' opening drive, and five minutes later added a 6-yard score to make it 14-0. On the ensuing series, Lucious Dones scooped up a fumble and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown, and senior Trey Urwiler followed with a 47-yard punt return for another score. By the end of the first quarter, Aurora had built a commanding 28-0 lead.

The Spartans continued to roll in the second quarter. Quarterback Liam Mickle connected with Connor Bright on a 4-yard touchdown pass, Brett Money hit a 33-yard field goal, and Mickle added a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Dones capped the half with his second touchdown of the night, a 16-yard reception from Mickle, just six seconds later. The two quick scores to end the half gave Aurora a 52-0 advantage heading into the locker room.

In the third quarter, Ramsey broke free again for a 59-yard touchdown run, and in the fourth, Sterling Williams Jr. punched in a 1-yard score to cap off the scoring.

Eureka's offense was stymied throughout the night by Aurora's relentless defense, which racked up 10 sacks and forced five fumbles. The Red Devils finished with 94 total yards, 71 on the ground and 23 through the air. Freshman Aaron Locus (Hopewell, Va./Thomas Dale) led the rushing attack with 33 yards on seven carries, while sophomore Jeremiah Washington (Chicago, Ill./Richards) hauled in the team's longest reception of the night at 17 yards.

Defensively, freshman Jovon Gibson (Statesboro, Ga./Statesboro) paced the Red Devils with 11 total tackles, including two tackles for loss. Quivone Mitchell (Chicago, Ill./CICS Longwood) added seven tackles and a pass breakup, while Beverson Noel (Lake Worth, Fla./Santaluces) contributed six tackles. Freshman Simor Price (Dania, Fla./South Broward) also made his first career interception in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, ending a threatening Aurora drive.

UP NEXT

Eureka (2-2, 1-1 NACC) will travel to face Concordia Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.