PICTURED: Anthony DiNardo

Saturday's final score – a 30-15 setback to visiting Millikin University in CCIW action – wasn't nearly indicative of how the game was decided.

North Park displayed true grit throughout the contest and a held a 13-9 lead in the second half, but Millikin put together a few late scoring drives the Vikings unfortunately couldn't overcome as the Big Blue earned their third win of the season and their first conference victory.

Despite falling behind early on a safety and an MU touchdown, NPU responded in a big way as they tacked on 13 unanswered points. A quick two-play, 18-yard drive that ended on Anthony DiNardo's 18-yard strike to Woodrow Corey with 2:49 left in the second and DiNardo's seven-yard touchdown pass to Denton Delgado – ending a four-play drive at the 10:55 mark of the third period – put the Vikings ahead 13-9. However Millikin countered with a seven-play 83-yard scoring drive and never looked back.

DiNardo posted his best passing performance of the season as he completed 23 of his 35 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Norm Cupicciotti had five catches for 37 yards while Delgado caught four passes for 33 yards. Hunter Hinkel also added three catches for 33 yards.

Defensively, Chaun Maiava was solid once again as he collected nine tackles, two sacks and two tackles for a loss of 13 yards. He also had one interception return for 17 yards. Matt DiFecchio, Uluao Letuli, Gary Anish, Austin Regel and Mark Mamola all had six tackles each. Quenton Voce also forced one fumble and had one punt block while KJ Joseph had two tackles for a loss of 12 yards, including a safety on a sack of Millikin's quarterback for an 11-yard loss with 4:46 left in the contest.

North Park (1-4, 0-3) looks to rebound when it resumes action next Saturday at North Central College in Naperville for a 1 p.m. contest.