Millikin Overpowers Hope College

          The Millikin football team went to 2-0 on the season with a 49-20 win over Hope College on Sept. 8 at Frank M. Lindsay Field.

          Millikin jumped on Hope early building a 21-0 lead by early in the second quarter.

          Millikin's first score came after Hope had a high snap on their first punt attempt of the day resulting in punter Dean DeVries getting tackled at his own five yard line.  On the Big Blue's first play Millikin went to its trick play bag with running back Tyler Roush hitting quarterback Matt Holmes on a five yard touchdown pass.

          Millikin scored on its next possession on a one yard run by Sean Dunning to make it 14-0. 

          Millikin's Marquette Moore then intercepted Hope quarterback Michael Atwell on their next possession setting up the Big Blue for a seven play scoring driving covering 60 yards that ended on a Holmes two yard run.

          Hope answered with a five yard run by Shawn Jackson to make it 21-6. 

          Dunning then scored the first play of the Millikin possession finding the end zone on a 75 yard run.

          A Christian Silva interception set up another Millikin score with Holmes going in on a one yard run to make it 35-6 at the half.

          Millikin converted on its first possession of the third quarter when Dunning scored on an 18 yard run.  It was 42-6 Millikin after three quarters.

          Backup quarterback Nick Pippin hit on his first career touchdown pass to Avery Aina from nine yards out to make it 49-6 early in the fourth quarter.

          Hope rallied for two fourth quarter scores.  Atwell connected with Timothy Atieri from nine yards out and Reggie Duncan scored on a two yard run.

          Dunning rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns on the day to lead the Millikin attack.  Holmes was 10-14 passing for 168 yards and rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns.     

Jake Palmer was Millikin's top receiver with three catches for 61 yards.  Sophomore Justin Brooks rushed for 78 yards.

          In addition to his interception, Moore lead the Big Blue defense with 14 tackles.  Darrell Mitchell and Jacob Alvis each had eight.  Andy Roth and Laterell Moore also had interceptions for the Big Blue.

          Atwell led hope with 24-39 passing with three interceptions for and 212 yards.  Jackson had 84 yards rushing.

          Tim Klaus was Hope's top tackler with nine followed by Cody Lindemulder with eight.

          Millikin is off next week and will host Aurora University on Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.