Football falls short in homecoming matchup against Carroll

Decatur, IL – Millikin University football was in action on Saturday afternoon, taking on the Pioneers of Carroll University in CCIW conference play. In a heartbreaker, a Big Blue field goal missed in the final minutes, and Millikin fell 31-28.

Carroll started the scoring in the first quarter, when their first play from scrimmage connected for a 65-yard passing touchdown. Leading 7-0, Carroll doubled their advantage with a rushing score with 4:47 to go in the opening period. Millikin trailed 14-0 after one quarter. Things went quiet until the 9:03 mark in the second quarter, when a blocked Millikin punt was returned for a touchdown to push the lead to 21-0 in favor of Carroll. The Big Blue offense finally sparked to life, putting together a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in an AJ Lee rushing touchdown from two yards out. Trailing by 14, Millikin picked off the Pioneer quarterback, but an MU field goal was no good, and Millikin trailed 21-7 at halftime.

Out of the break, momentum walked across the field and took a seat on the Millikin bench. After forcing a quick stop, the Big Blue took advantage of a short field. Sylas Gomez completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Amir Nixon, and the Big Blue pulled back within one score. After the ensuing Carroll drive stalled, Millikin marched 82 yards in seven plays, scoring the game-tying touchdown when Lee scored from 14 yards out. With the game tied at 21-21, the home team forced another turnover, as a Carroll pass was intercepted by Tejuan Smith and returned 45 yards into Pio territory. Joshua Ware rumbled in from 11 yards out to give Millikin the lead at 28-21 with 14:54 to play in the game. The Pioneers connected on a field goal and a long touchdown late in the game and took the lead back at 31-28. Millikin drove 81 yards in 13 plays, but a game-tying field goal from 27 yards out was wide left, and the Big Blue fell short, 31-28 the final.

Sylas Gomez completed 20 of 29 passing attempts for 177 yards and one touchdown. AJ Lee led Millikin rushers with 116 yards on 16 carries, along with a touchdown. Amir Nixon hauled in seven passes for a team-high 77 yards and a touchdown.

Keith Thompson totaled a team-leading seven tackles in the loss, and Millikin gained interceptions from Jaymeson Connell and Tejuan Smith.

The Big Blue fall to 2-3, 1-2 in CCIW play. Millikin is back in action on October 10, when they take on Augustana College on the road.