Big Blue Football Falls at Illinois Wesleyan

            The Millikin football team dropped a hard fought battle at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington 24-14 on Oct. 30.

            The game was a close contest throughout with two lost Millikin fumbles deep in its own territory providing the Titans the difference in the game.

            After a missed Millikin field goal late in the first quarter, Illinois Wesleyan marched down the field driving deep into Millikin territory. The Titans went for it on fourth and goal from the one yard line, but Millikin's Marquette Moore stuffed Titan running back Eli Williams giving Millikin the ball on downs.

            A few plays later, Millikin's Dion Wilson fumbled at the Millikin six yard line.

The Millikin defense stiffened forcing the Titans to settle for a 22 yard field goal by Tim Hallowed to make it a 3-0 game.

            Millikin then drove down the field converting on two crucial plays during the drive.  The Big Blue kept the drive alive on a 4-5 on a pass 11 yard pass from Matt Holmes to Derrick Morgan giving Millikin a first down at the Titan 15 yard line.  Three plays later Millikin converted on a third and 13 when Holmes hit Wilson on a swing pass that Wilson ran to the Titan one yard line.  A one yard touchdown run by Holmes would put Millikin up 7-3.

            Illinois Wesleyan then answered back on its next possession finishing the drive on a 15 yard run by Bo Lanter to make it 10-7 Titans.

            In the third quarter, Millikin's Sully Edwards recovered a Titan fumble setting up the Big Blue at the Titan 44 yard line.  Two plays later Holmes hit Christ Hampton on a 40 yard touchdown pass to put Millikin up 14-10.

            After a failed onside kick by Millikin, the Titans drove 50 yards for a touchdown finishing the drive on a two yard run by Eli Williams to put Illinois Wesleyan on top 17-14 with 2:32 left in the third quarter.

            With just over eight minutes left to play in the game Illinois Wesleyan recovered a Millikin fumble at the Big Blue 24 yard line.  The fumble resulted when Erik Tobey failed to cover up a loose ball on a play ruled a backward pass.  Wesleyan then scored on another Williams run to go up 24-14 with six minutes left in the game.

            Wilson rushed 21 times for 60 yards.  Holmes was 15-28-1 passing for 226 yards and one touchdown.  Hampton was the Big Blue's top receiver with two catches for 78 yards and one touchdown.

            Titan quarterback Brien Rooney had a big day rushing for 105 yards and passing for 120 on 14-24-1 passing.  Williams had 78 yards rushing.

            Illinois Wesleyan had 359 yards in total offense (120 passing and 239 rushing) compared to Millikin's 334 yards of total offense (70 rushing and 264 yards passing).

            Nick Kronmiller had 16 tackles for Millikin.  Michael Whittington had eight tackles to lead the Titans.  Cody Acree had an interception for Millikin.

            Millikin falls to 3-5, 0-5 while Illinois Wesleyan improves to 6-2, 3-2.  The Big Blue travel to North Park on Nov. 6 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.