FRANKLIN, Ind. — Millikin got off on the right foot Saturday afternoon as it defeated Franklin 54-21.
Millikin scored 22 points in the opening quarter including points on its first four offensive drives. John Bell scored on a 26-yard run, Donnell Brown threw two TD passes (a 5-yard pass to Ryan Corley and a 12-yard pass to Mike Gardiner) while Andy Beals drilled a 36-yard field goal all in the first quarter. In the second quarter, a 32-yard field goal by Beals and a 3-yard run by Corley gave Millikin a 22-0 halftime lead.
Franklin struck less than three minutes into second half, driving 79 yards for its first points of the game. The Big Blue's opened its third quarter scoring with a 63-yard drive and Brown's third TD pass of the day, connecting with Ryan Miller from 18-yards out. Taking to the air in the second half, the Grizzlies scored three touchdowns, including two in the third quarter.
Millikin's offense livened up again late in the third quarter when Brown connected with Miller on a 93-yard score to put the Big Blue up 47-13 heading into the final quarter. Millikin scored it's final points of the day on Mike Kenders' 3-yard run with 6:49 remaining.
The Big Blue piled up 570 total yards on the afternoon. The rushing attack gained 316 yards on 55 carries with eight players recording positive rushing yards. Bell led the ground attack compiling 124 yards on 19 carries. Brown threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns, completing 50% (12 of 24) of his passes. On the receiving end, Miller led the team with 163 yards on five receptions. Defensively, Nate Carden had two sacks moving the Grizzlies back 15 total yards. Jason Lynch led the Big Blue with eight tackles.
Game Story
