DECATUR, Ill. -- North Park turned two interceptions into touchdowns and carried a 10-point advantage into the second half, but Millikin scored twice in the final 4:37 to escape with a 31-27 win Saturday night at Frank M. Lindsay Field.
The Vikings trailed 14-0 early before scoring 27 of the game's next 30 points. North Park led for nearly the entire second half, but Millikin put together touchdown drives of 99 and 56 yards in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
Millikin capitalized on a fumble during the opening kickoff and needed five plays to grab the early lead. MU quarterback Sylas Gomez connected with Kevin Louis for 51 yards to reach the North Park four before throwing a six-yard touchdown pass two plays later.
The Big Blue added to their advantage with a methodical 17-play, 77-yard drive that stretched across the first and second quarters. Gomez converted multiple third and fourth downs before Joshua Ware scored from two yards out, giving Millikin a 14-0 lead with 11:34 remaining in the half.
Freshman running back Jamaal Jones sparked North Park's response with a 51-yard kickoff return to the Millikin 45. The Vikings converted a fourth down through a three-yard reception by junior quarterback Cailix Dillon, and junior running back Aidan Delisi broke off runs of nine and 13 yards before scoring from a yard out. The 12-play drive cut the deficit to 14-7.
North Park's defense then changed the game with takeaways on consecutive Millikin possessions.
Junior linebacker Armando Martinez intercepted Gomez at the Millikin 40 and returned the ball 20 yards. Sophomore quarterback Paul Palmer followed with a 14-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Kendale Cade before throwing a two-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Vikings within one.
Junior defensive lineman Elijah Chandler delivered another turnover less than two minutes later. Chandler intercepted Gomez and returned the ball 39 yards to the Millikin one, allowing Palmer to score on a quarterback keeper with 30 seconds left in the half. North Park entered the locker room with a 20-14 lead after scoring 20 unanswered points in the second quarter.
Millikin opened the second half with a nine-play, 76-yard drive highlighted by AJ Lee's 34-yard run. North Park kept the Big Blue out of the end zone, forcing Giovanni Natale to settle for a 26-yard field goal that made the score 20-17.
The Vikings answered with one of their sharpest possessions of the night. Palmer found Jones for 28 yards and Cade for six before Delisi converted a third-and-two. Palmer then connected with junior wide receiver Niko Armstead-Lehti III for a 15-yard touchdown, restoring a two-score lead at 27-17 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.
Millikin threatened again with a 13-play drive that carried into the fourth, but Natale missed a 42-yard field goal. North Park was unable to capitalize, however, as each of its next two possessions ended in a punt.
Senior punter Hugo Backing pinned Millikin at its own one-yard line with 9:24 remaining, but the Big Blue responded with a 14-play, 99-yard touchdown drive. Gomez completed eight passes on the possession, including a fourth-down conversion to Amir Nixon. Gomez and Nixon later connected for a 34-yard touchdown that cut North Park's lead to 27-24 with 4:37 to play.
Millikin regained possession at its own 44 and continued its comeback. Gomez completed a 14-yard pass to Nixon, ran for gains of six and 12 yards and found Lee for 19 yards to set up first-and-goal. Martinez dropped Ware for a three-yard loss on the next play, but Ware responded with a seven-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds remaining to put the Big Blue ahead.
North Park had one final opportunity. Palmer connected with Cade for 15 yards to reach midfield, but Latrell Hannon intercepted the next series with eight seconds left to secure the 31-27 Millikin victory.
Palmer completed 12 of 20 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Delisi carried 14 times for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Cade led the Vikings with four receptions for 39 yards. Jones totaled 94 all-purpose yards with 51 on a kickoff return, 28 receiving and 15 rushing.
Martinez and freshman defensive back Isaiah Bernadel led North Park with nine tackles apiece. Martinez added a tackle for loss and a 20-yard interception return, while Chandler supplied the Vikings' other interception with a 39-yard return. Junior linebacker DJ Johnson contributed eight tackles and two pass breakups.
Gomez finished with 304 passing yards and two touchdowns for Millikin. Nixon caught 12 passes for 130 yards and a score, while Louis added six receptions for 90 yards. Lee led the Big Blue on the ground with 71 yards and added 33 receiving yards.
Millikin totaled 461 yards and controlled possession for 40:47, including 11:28 in the fourth quarter. North Park finished with 184 yards but converted all four of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns and scored 13 points off turnovers.
What's Next?
Things certainly don't let up for North Park (0-4, 0-2 CCIW), who will travel to play at #3 Wheaton College (4-0, 2-0 CCIW) on Saturday, October 3. Kickoff at McCully Stadium is set for 1:00 PM CT.
