#11 Cardinals Top Big Blue
The Millikin University football team lost to #11 North Central College 42-22 on Oct. 6 at Frank M. Lindsay Field in front of a sold out Homecoming crowd. The Cardinals improve to 4-1, 2-0 while Millikin goes to 3-2, 0-2.
North Central opened the game with an 87 yard kickoff return by Patrick Mitchell to start its first series at the Millikin four yard line. On its first offensive play running back Jordan Tassio scored on a four yard run to make it 7-0.
Millikin answered back on its first possession driving 66 yards on 13 plays to score on a seven yard pass from quarterback Matt Holmes to Erik Tobey to tie the game at 7-7.
North Central went up 14-7 on a Tassio 11 yard touchdown run, but Millikin would again answer this time with a 36 yard Austin Brettschneider field goal to make it a 14-10 ball game midway through the second quarter.
North Central then took control scoring two more touchdowns before halftime to build a 28-10 advantage at the half.
Millikin fought its way back in the fourth quarter with two scores to make it a 42-22 final. Holmes and Tobey connected again from 24 yards for one score and Sean Dunning scored from two-yards out on the game's final play.
Dunning had 98 yards rushing on 17 carries. Holmes was 19-31-1 passing for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Tobey was the Big Blue's top receiver with eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Nick Kukoc rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns for North Central. Tassio had 46 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Spencer Stanek was 19-28 passing for 237 yards and one touchdown.
Jacob Alvis, Marquette Moore and Christian Silva led Millikin with 11 tackles. Andy Roth had 10 stops including two tackles for a loss. Jake Hazelton and Jake Weston also had two tackles for a loss.
Joey Michales led the Cardinals defense with eight tackles.
North Central had 429 yards in total offense while Millikin gained 360 yards. Mililkin was hurt by nine penalties for 87 yards.
After falling to Top 15 teams two straight weeks, Millikin will try to regroup on Oct. 13 when they travel to Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Augustana lost at Elmhurst 31-27 in action today.
