DECATUR, Ill. – Two 90-yard returns nearly gave the North Park football team a win over Millikin University on Saturday afternoon. However, the Big Blue scampered away with a 23-21 win.
Millikin scored in its first drive of the game, highlighted by an opening 44-yard rush. After the long gain on the ground, the Big Blue marched down the field with six more rushes, grabbing an early 7-0 lead after the first quarter.
The Vikings cracked the zero in a unique way, in the second quarter. After punting, a group of Big Blue players waited for the punt to stop rolling. Taking advantage of this, Juan Nieves grabbed the ball with some momentum, juked a few defenders, and returned it 90 yards for the Vikings' first touchdown of the game.
Millikin added a touchdown on a 24-yard pass in the second quarter and a 54-yard run in the third quarter, but the Vikings were not out of it yet.
Following that third-quarter touchdown, NPU special teams stepped up once more. Receiving a kick off on the NPU 11, AJ Harris bolted 89 yards back towards the Big Blue, closing the gap to 20-14.
A 23-yard field goal extended the Millikin lead before Matt Eck's 67-yard pass to Wesley McCloud put the Vikings within two points, 23-21 Millikin.
However, after gaining momentum by forcing a Millikin three-and-out, the Vikings failed to get the would-be game-winning field goal off and lost, 23-21.
Quick Hits:
- 90-yard TD returns for Harris, Nieves
- McCloud led all receivers with 83 yards and a touchdown
- Three pass breakups for AJ Henry
- Two sacks and as many tackles for loss for Jaydin Miller, who also totaled 11 tackles
- Miller also added a blocked kick
What's Next?
North Park (0-3, 0-2 CCIW) returns home to face WashU this coming Saturday, October 1. Kickoff is set for 1pm at Holmgren.
