From the Star Quarterback’s Perspective:

Season Preview

Gerald+Perry+%28MU+%237%29+soaring+past+the+Flying+Dutchman+%28Hope+College%29+

Millikin Stock Photos

Gerald Perry (MU #7) soaring past the Flying Dutchman (Hope College)

Friday, August 31, the Millikin Big Blue football team opens their season against Hope College. The game was be held in Holland, Michigan with the kickoff time set for 7PM E.T.

Hope looks to be an intriguing opening matchup for the Big Blue, finishing the 2017 season with a record of 8-2. Millikin also had a successful season last year, competing for a playoff spot and boasting a 7-3 record. Their best overall record in 15 years.  

Key players are returning on the offensive side of the ball for Millikin this season, including a receiving core lead by two of division three’s finest players.

Junior Jordan Smith lead the Big Blue and CCIW conference in the 2017 season with 13 touchdown receptions and 818 receiving yards. The astounding touchdown reception total marks as the greatest in Millikin history.

Senior receiver Gerald Perry also returns for his final season. Perry boasted incredible numbers last season, catching 6 touchdowns and hauling in 712 yards through the air in just seven games.

“Receivers are only good if they have a quarterback to get them the ball,” Head Coach Dan Gritti said. Senior quarterback Nicco Stepina will also be returning for his final season with the Big Blue this fall. Stepina lead the CCIW in almost every quarterback category a season ago, throwing for a school record 2,785 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also added 7 more touchdowns on the ground in 2017. “Our team will go as far as our quarterback can carry us,” Gritti said.

Other key players returning for the offense include running back Jazontae Howard who started a year ago as a freshman for Millikin, racking up 541 yards rushing. Sophomore receivers Patrick Cooper and Tryece Hines also come back with more experience after their 2017 freshmen seasons.

Aside from the skill positions, Millikin also returns tight end Blake Patchett and four offensive linemen who started just one season ago, which will be a crucial component in the Big Blue’s future success.

On the defensive side of the football, Millikin also finds their team returning more athletes in Defensive Coordinator David Szentesy’s scheme from the previous season.

Linebackers and captains Nikia Averitte and Matt Brown return after numerous years of play. “Nikia is a freak athlete at the linebacker position and Matt Brown is the quarterback of the whole defense,” Gritti said.

Along with the two linebackers, Big Blue returns two key defensive ends in Quintaz Wright and Gabe Xayathone who recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and 10 tackles for loss in 2017, respectively. Including the return of multiple athletes, “significant staff changes have been made to the defense,” according to Gritti.

Coach Gritti has taken on responsibility of both the defensive line and defensive back positions, looking to help improve the schemes and mental awareness of the entire defense.

When it comes to the three-year turnaround of the Millikin football program, Gritti believes the change started with a cultural focus. “In year one, you’re not expecting to win much.”

For the first year, Gritti focused on changing the culture of the team, emphasizing aspects such as team reliability, academics and the process of improvement. Gritti is a strong believer that academic success has a correlation with success on the football field.

“There needs to be a sense of focus and energy in the classroom that mimics that on the football field, or struggling students won’t be athletes as well,” Gritti said.

Year 2 is when the progress on the field is apparent, as it was for the Big Blue’s 7-3 season in Gritti’s second bout. “The team begins to realize what winning is and what it takes to win.”

Year 3 is when depth and experience is added to the team, creating a chance for a conference championship and playoff spot.

Gritti’s coaching philosophy is player-minded. “Football is a players game and my job is to get the players to a level they wouldn’t be able to get to by themselves.”

It was all up to the players on a Friday evening when Millikin traveled to Holland, Michigan to take on the dangerous Hope College football team.

However, the boys in blue are no ordinary players. They are experienced athletes that have found the keys to success under Gritti’s coaching era. They have the opportunity in 2018 to make a turnaround this university has never seen before, which motivates them even more.