Decatur, IL - Millikin University Football was in action on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Norse of Luther College. The Big Blue were dominant, defeating Luther by a score of 37-14.
Millikin got the scoring started when
Giovanni Natale connected on a 25-yard field goal with 7:33 to play in the opening quarter. The Big Blue extended their lead minutes later, when a
Sylas Gomez 11-yard touchdown pass to
Amir Nixon capped a seven play, 47 yard drive with 1:10 to go in the opening period. Millikin led 10-0 after one.
Opening the second quarter, Natale hit again from 29 yards out to make it a 13-0 Big Blue lead. Scoring in quick succession,
AJ Lee plunged in from six yards out with 7:26 to play in the half. Another Natale field goal made it 23-0 in favor of the good guys heading into the break.
Out of the halftime break,
Joshua Ware capped a dominant six-play, 75-yard drive with a 10 yard rushing score. Leading 30-0, Luther scored on a 4th down deep pass to get on the board with 5:07 to play. Millikin led 30-7 heading into the final period.
Opening the fourth quarter, it was Millikin who struck decisively, with
Julian Keith rumbling 58 yards to the house, with the rushing score capping a 99-yard scoring drive at the 12:41 mark. Luther would score on more touchdown with under seven minutes to play, bringing the score to its final of 37-14.
The Big Blue outgained the Norse 399 to 181, and rushed for 255 yards in the win. Millikin also won the turnover battle, recovering two Luther fumbles and gaining an interception.
Sylas Gomez completed 16 of 20 passing attempts for 144 yards and one touchdown. Joshua Wre was the leading rusher in the game, with 68 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Julian Keith and
AJ Lee were also over 60 yard rushing, and notched a touchdown each in the win.
Kevin Louis was the leading receiver for Millikin, with 44 yards on four catches.
Defensively,
Keith Thompson and
Bransen Peters led all Millikin tacklers, with five total.
Latrell Hannon had a game to remember, with four tackles, a fumble forced, and an interception.
Darrion Lumpkins forced the other fumble, and
Otis Banks III and
Gavin Kohl recovered the fumbles in the win.
"I'm extremely oroud of the way our coahces and players prepared and performed today." said Head Football Coach
Billy Riebock. "From the opening kick we played with great energy, physicality, and focus. A huge thank you to all who came out and supported us, and a massive thanks to the awesome addition of the Big Blue Pep Band. Their energy helped create an incredible atmosphere. We'll enjoy this one, but we know the work continues. Go Blue!"
The Big Blue move to 1-1 on the season with the win, and are back in action next week at Wheaton College. The Thunder are currently the second ranked team in the country, with kickoff set for 6 PM next week.
