ELMHURST, Ill. – The Carroll University Pioneers celebrated the end of the 2021 season and the 1,000^th game in Carroll football history with a comeback, last-minute win over the Elmhurst Bluejays on Saturday afternoon. Keon Miller scored a 54-yard touchdown pass with 48 seconds remaining to give Carroll the 30-28 win. Miller had a career day as a receiver, catching six passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Gaulke recorded a tied for team-high six tackles with 1 sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass break up.
 
The Pioneers (6-4, 5-4 CCIW) finish 6-4 overall for the first time since 2015, and finish fourth in the CCIW with five wins for the first time since 1990. The Pioneers passed for 387 yards, led by John Taylor's career-high 305 yards on 22 completions. The Pioneers broke the single-season team record for passing yards in a season, a record that stood since 2001. Johnson came into the ball game to fill in for an injured Taylor, and the senior finished with 82 yards, an interception, and the game-winning touchdown on the last throw of his career. Carroll's 460 total yards were the most this season by the team and held Elmhurst to just 202 total yards. Carroll held the ball for 34 minutes in the ball game and converted 9-17 third downs.
 
The Pioneers' day didn't start the way they wanted, going three and out on their first possession, and giving up a 48-yard touchdown on the Bluejay's second play from scrimmage. Taylor led Carroll down the field on the next possession, going 60 yards with seven plays, including Miller's first touchdown reception of the day for 25 yards.
 
On 3rd and 12, Taylor kept a drive alive with a 26-yard connection with Miller for a first down. The catch would turn into three points as Jacob Laurent knocked in a 27-yard field goal with 13:00 minutes left in the second quarter. With under seven to play in the half, Taylor connected with Austin Eichstaedt three straight plays for a total of 41 yards, including the 11-yard score to take a 17-7 lead with 1:51 to play. After forcing another Elmhurst 3-and-out, Taylor hit Nick Legnaioli for a 56-yard touchdown just 12 seconds after getting the ball back from the Bluejays. Carroll would take a 24-7 lead into halftime after a 182-yard second quarter.
 
Elmhurst responded their first drive of the second half after Laurent's failed onside kick attempt led to a Bluejays touchdown seven plays later. Elmhurst brought the game to 21-24 with 1:09 left in the third quarter, as a result of a strip-sack fumble by Taylor. Johnson entered the game after Taylor's second strip sack-fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Bluejays had the ball on the Carroll nine-yard line, but the defense held strong as the Bluejays kicker missed a 26-yard attempt.
 
In Johnson's first drive back at quarterback, he was intercepted for a 41-yard touchdown return with 9:39 left in the game as Elmhurst took the lead 28-24.
 
Both teams went back and forth trading punts and turnovers on downs until the Pios got the ball back with 2:10 remaining on the clock. Johnson completed a pass to Eichstaedt for a first down on 3^rd and three at the Carroll 25-yard to keep the comeback alive. On the Carroll 46-yard line, Miller caught his 54-yard touchdown pass by making defenders miss and sprinting to the end zone.
 
Elmhurst got the ball back with 46 seconds remaining in the game. Gaulke made a stop on second and 20 to force a third and 21. On fourth and 21, a failed lateral attempt ended the game and gave Carroll the victory.
 
Head Coach Mike Budziszewski is just the third coach in Carroll football history since joining the NCAA in 1976 to finish with at least six wins in their first season as head coach.