ELMHURST, Ill. - Senior quarterback Colton Bahling (Belvidere, Ill.) connected with senior wide receiver Parker Zitzke (Waukesha, Wis.) on a 13-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining as the Carroll University football team defeated Elmhurst College 16-14 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Langhorst Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first conference victory of the season for Carroll, which improved to 1-1 in the league standings and 2-1 overall.
The victory took on added significance as it snapped an eight-game conference losing streak dating back to Sept. 30, 2017 and was the Pioneers' first CCIW road victory since rejoining the league in 2016.
The dramatic, game-winning play capped an impressive 17-play, 73-yard scoring drive for Carroll, which overcame a 14-10 fourth-quarter deficit.
Bahling completed 14 of 29 passes for 131 yards and rushed 17 times for 60 yards in leading the determined Pioneers, who amassed 27 first downs and 395 yards of total offense - including 264 yards via its bruising ground attack.
Senior running back J.J. Keels (Melbourne, Fla.) rushed 17 times for a team-high 109 yards and Zitzke contributed a team-best five catches for 69 yards. Freshman running back Preston Bell (Scottlandville, La.) had eight carries for 71 yards. 
Elmhurst, which dropped to 0-2 in conference and 1-2 overall, collected the first points of the contest as junior wide receiver back Jawan Gaines scored on a 5-yard run with 54 seconds left in the first half - capping a 10-play, 85-yard drive for the Bluejays.
Trailing 7-0 late in the third quarter, Carroll showcased its composure and determination by answering to tie the game as Bahling scored on a 5-yard run with 18 seconds remaining - finishing off a critical nine-play, 80-yard drive.
The Pioneers claimed their first lead of the game on a 28-yard field goal by senior kicker Griffin Idelman (Wood Dale, Ill.) with 11:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Elmhurst answered a final time as sophomore backup quarterback Ryan Summers scored on a 3-yard run to regain a 14-10 lead with 4:22 left - ultimately setting the stage for Carroll's fourth-quarter comeback.
Senior defensive back Linzy Hudson (Milwaukee, Wis.) registered a team-high nine tackles to spark the Carroll defense, which yielded 14 first downs and 264 total yards. Senior defensive back Billy Krawczyk (Lockport, Ill.) followed with seven tackles and an interception. 
Senior free safety Cameron Cassaro (Caledonia, Ill.) collected six tackles for the Pioneers. Senior linebacker Andrew Danculovich (Cudahy, Wis.), senior linebacker Luke Wood (Potterville, Mich.) and sophomore defensive end Holden Whybark (Racine, Wis.) each added five tackles.