gomez, sylas
John Gaynor
17
North Park NPU 1-1 , 0-1
22
Winner Millikin MIL 2-0 , 1-0
North Park NPU
1-1 , 0-1
17
Final
22
Millikin MIL
2-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NPU North Park 0 9 0 8 17
MIL Millikin 6 6 10 0 22

Game Recap: Football | | Morgan Vogels

Football Sinks Vikings in Saturday Night Showdown

The Millikin football team met their first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opponent at Frank M. Lindsay Field on Saturday, September 20. The Big Blue's home opener saw Millikin move to 2-0 on the young 2025 season, sinking the Vikings of North Park in a 22-17 game. The back-to-back wins mark the first occasion since 2019 the Big Blue have gone 2-0 to start their campaign.

The return of the night game in Decatur got off to a later start than anticipated, thanks to a lightning delay postponing the start of the game.

The Big Blue struck first, scoring on a 39-yard touchdown run by Re'John Zeno with 2:08 left to tick in the first. The Vikings answered with a score of their own, taking a 6-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Aidan Delisi.

Zech Miller recovered a Justen Green fumble at the Millikin 35, returning the fumble for 46 yards to North Park's 19 yard line, setting up a one play drive ending in a 19-yard touchdown connection from Sylas Gomez to Kevin Louis. The Vikings blocked the extra point attempt, running it back for a conversion to push the score to 12-9 in favor of the Big Blue.

After the halftime break, the Big Blue put up three points on a Bryson Newport 28 yard field goal to extend the lead to 15-9.

Zeno found himself in the end zone once again with 2:28 to go in the third, scoring on a three yard touchdown run to cap off a 75 yard drive. Gomez's 47 yard completion to Xavier Thomas at the four yard line set up the Big Blue's touchdown run, putting Millikin up 22-9. 

The Vikings answered with a touchdown of their own, failing to convert for two, but the Big Blue's clock management sealed the 22-17 victory in the 2025 home opener.

Gomez went 17-for-27, tossing for 266 yards and one touchdown. Zeno was the leading rusher for Millikin, netting 96 yards.

Louis was the leading receiver with 80 yards on seven receptions.

Ryan Baskerville led the squad defensively with nine total tackles, including a tackle for loss. Ixavion Moore chipped in six tackles and a tackle for loss.

The Big Blue will hit the road next weekend to meet another set of Vikings, meeting Augustana in Rock Island, Ill with kickoff set for 1:00 PM.
Print Friendly Version