Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The Millikin football team improved to 3-1 on the season with a 30-15 win at North Park University in Chicago on September 30. The Big Blue are now 1-1 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play and 2-0 on the road in 2017. North Park goes to 1-4, 0-3.
Both defenses dominated early with neither offense able to move the football. Things turned in the Big Blue's favor late in the first quarter when Demetreeus Loper picked off a North Park's pass at the Viking 35 yard line and returned to five. North Park held the Millikin offense on downs, but the field position would play in key role in Millikin's first two scores.
The Big Blue would take a 2-0 lead when the Millikin special teams pressured the North Park punter who dropped the football and it went out of the end zone for a safety.
After the North Park kick, the Millikin offense would mount a scoring drive resulting in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Nicco Stepina to Jordan Smith to make it 9-0 Big Blue.
A Millikin fumble on a punt return would set up the Vikings for a score with Anthony DiNardo connecting with Woodrow Corey on a 18 yard pass play to make it a 9-7 game.
In the third quarter, North Park would take advantage of another Millikin miscue to take a 13-9 led on a DiNardo to Denton Delgado seven yard touchdown play.
Jazontae Howard would score from two yards out late in the third quarter to put Millikin put on top 16-13. After a defensive stand by the Big Blue that included back-to-back sacks, Millikin's George Jimerson, Jr. scored on a 31 yard touchdown run to make it 23-13.
After a Lashon Johnson interception, Millikin's final points would come on another Stepina to Smith connection this time from 25 yards out as Smith leaped over the North Park defender to make the catch.
Stepina ended the day 17-27-1 for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Smith had six catches for 123 yards with two scores.
Matt Brown led the Millikin defense with 12 tackles including two tackles for a loss. Quintaz Wright had six tackles including four tackles for a loss. Davion Jefferson had four tackles for a loss including 2.5 sacks.
Millikin had 289 yards of total offense while holding North Park to 159 including limited the Vikings to negative eight yards rushing.