Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The Millikin University Big Blue football team used a 28 point third quarter outburst to defeat Greenville College 34-16 on Sept. 5 at Frank M. Lindsay Field in Decatur, Illinois.
Both teams had sluggish first half with the defenses dominating play. Greenville took a 3-0 lead at halftime thanks to a Michael Carie 32 yard field goal.
Millikin scored on its first possession on a two yard run by freshman quarterback Nicco Stepina. After a stop by the Big Blue defense, Millikin scored on the first play of its next possession. Stepina connected with freshman wide Rion Tutt on a 49 yard touchdown play.
On Greenville's next possession, Treyvon Hawkins intercepted Greenville Jacob Tibbetts on the first play of the drive to set up the Big Blue at the Millikin 48 yard line.
The Big Blue scored on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Stepina to senior Taylor Sanders. Stepina would connect with Tutt again on Millikin's next possession from 78 yards out to make it 28-3 Big Blue with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
Millikin's final score of the game came in the fourth quarter on a Stepina touchdown pass from 18 yards to Cameron Mammen.
Greenville got a third quarter score on a 26 yard pass from Sonnyboy Orfiano to Cody Moore. The Panthers scored with 18 seconds left in the game on when Orfiano hit Chase Stamis on a 37 yard pass.
Stepina was 9-15 passing for 256 yard and four touchdowns. Stepina rushed for 30 yards and one touchdown. Tutt had four catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Patrick Ganley led the Big Blue rushing attack with 70 yards on 12 carries.
Linebackers Alex Tater and Nikia Averitte led the Big Blue defense each with 11 tackles. Hawkins had six stops and two interceptions. Jake Gates had seven tackles and Isaiah Blumenshine had six tackles with two tackles for a loss.
Robert Deering had 11 tackles to lead Greenville.
Millikin will host Kalamazoo College on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.