Decatur, IL – Millikin University Football was in action on Saturday, concluding their 2026 season against No. 5 North Central College. Millikin was defeated by 2025's national runners up, the final score 62-12.
North Central opened with a strong rushing attack, establishing the line of scrimmage early. The Cardinals scored on the opening drive of the game, tacking on another touchdown and a field goal before the end of the first quarter. NCC led 17-0 after one.
The visitors extended the lead to 24-0 before Millikin got on the board with 6:53 to play. It was a big play through the air as Sylas Gomez found Amir Nixon from 30 yards out to cap a seven play, 75-yard scoring drive. After a touchdown answer from the Cardinals, another big passing play saw Millikin find the endzone with 42 seconds left. This time it was Justin White on the receiving end of a 20-yard Gomez strike to make it 31-12. An NCC field goal made it 34-12 at halftime.
Millikin's offense was shutout in the second half by a Cardinal defense that ranks as one of the best units in the country in many statistics. The Big Blue did collect 339 passing yards, over 100 yards above the average they have allowed this season. NCC's offense poured in another 28 points to bring the final score to 62-12.
Sylas Gomez completed 22 of 38 passes for 339 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception to lead the Millikin aerial attack. AJ Lee recorded 28 rushing yards to become Millikin's first single season 1,000 yard rusher since Sean Dunning in 2013. Amir Nixon had another career day, catching 8 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown to lead Big Blue receivers.
Defensively, Bransen Peters was the lead tackler with 10 stops on the day. Keith Thompson, Lonnie Griffin, and Johnathan Saul Jr. all recorded tackles for loss. Thompson and Tyreon Key both recorded a pass breakup in the loss.
Millikin wraps up their 2026 season at 4-6, going 3-5 in CCIW play. The Big Blue look forward to more improvement in the 2027 season.
