Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The Millikin football team opened the 2018 season with a come from behind 25-21 victory at Hope College in Holland, Michigan on August 31.
The Big Blue scored the go ahead touchdown with 8:40 left in the game on a 16-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Nicco Stepina to senior wide receiver Gerald Perry to pull ahead 25-21. The Big Blue drive was kept alive by clutch 35 yard and 16 yard completions from Stepina to Jordan Smith.
The Big Blue defense, which held the Flying Dutchman scoreless in the second half made the plays down the stretch to stop three Hope scoring opportunities.
The big plays by the defense started early in the fourth quarter when sophomore David Jones recovered a Hope fumble at the Millikin 14 yard line. After the Millikin go ahead score, Hope again drove to the Big Blue 20 yard line. Facing a fourth and seven, Jones pressured Hope quarterback Mason Opple forcing an incompletion and ending the drive. Millikin linebackers Nikia Averitte and Matt Brown had back-to-back sacks on Hopes last drive to secure the Big Blue victory.
Hope scored on its opening drive scoring on a two-yard run from quarterback Opple.
The Big Blue answered on a 21-yard run from Stepina. Millikin had the extra point blocked to make a 7-6 Flying Dutchman lead.
Hope took advantage of a Big Blue fumble to go up 14-6 when Opple connected with Jake Kozlowski on a 21-yard pass play early in the second quarter.
Millikin answered once again scoring on a 45-yard run by sophomore running back Jazontae Howard.
Leading 14-13, Hope scored on a 25-yard pass play from Opple to Emari Hardy to make it 21-13 with three minutes left in the first half.
Millikin then went 65 yards in 10 plays cover just over two minutes to pull to within two. Stepina connect with Tyrice Hines from 11 yards out for the score. The Big Blue fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt make it a 21-19 Hope advantage at halftime.
Millikin had 422 yards of total offense gaining 261 passing and 161 yards rushing.
Hope had 335 yards of total offense.
Stepina extended his Millikin career passing records going 19-38 for 261 yards passing and two touchdowns. Smith had six catches for 101 yards and Perry had six catches for 68 yards. Howard was Millikin's rusher gaining 133 yards on 23 carries.
Kyle Ramos led Millikin tacklers with 17 stops. Averitte added 12 tackles.
Opple lead the Hope offense 15-23 for 139 yards. Opple had 62 yards rushing.
Millikin will have its bye next weekend and the open College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play on September 15 when they host North Park University at 1 p.m.