Box Score

Saturday's final score of North Park's final home football game of the season was not nearly indicative of how close the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin clash with Millikin University really was.

The Big Blue went on to win the contest 37-10 for their first CCIW victory of the season, but up until the midway point of the third quarter, it was a one possession contest.

After Millikin turned the ball over on downs on its first possession of the third quarter, North Park took over at its own 46-yard line. The Vikings then marched to the Millikin 26 after junior quarterback Tyler Krebs ran for a gain of 11 yards giving NP a fresh set of downs. Senior running back Matt Hassan was able to drive the ball to MU's 19-yard line on a two-yard run, but two pass attempts on NP's ensuing plays fell incomplete.

Millikin took advantage of the situation as it would push its lead to 22-10 on its third possession of the quarter. The Big Blue then put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter as they went on to tally two more touchdowns and force a North Park safety for the final verdict.

In all, the Vikings garnered 216 yards rushing to Millikin's 169, with quarterback Jon Williams rushing for 87 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. His TD, which brought the Vikings within five at the time, came at the 4:39 mark of the second quarter after an 87-yard drive. Senior placekicker Tony Kebede also booted a 41-yard field goal, a FG which ranks sixth all-time in NPU history, tying the distance of Bryn Nottoli's field goal in Week 1 against Carroll University in 2009.

Prior to the contest, the North Park football family paid tribute to its 20 senior classmen for the hard work and dedication they've given to the program over the last four years. That group included Jefferey Stafford, Douglas Ivy, Willie Akerson, Tyler Sullivan, Andrew Saltzman, Talaave Meyers, Cicero Porter, Matt Hassan, Aaron Piasecki Jake Chvatal, Canmu Dennis, Jordan Bevilacqua, Charlie Fuentes, Deandre Fry Ryan Davies, Josh Willis, Mike Soderlund, Tony Kebede, Paul Brown and Christopher Mullen .

North Park (1-8, 0-6) closes out the 2012 season next Saturday when it travels to Wheaton College for a 1 p.m. contest with the Thunder.