Capping off a great homecoming week, the Big Blue football team went head-to-head against rival Illinois Wesleyan. Both teams came into the game 0-3, looking for their first wins of the young season.
The fans and alumni showed up, filling nearly every row of bleachers.
Millikin kicked off the scoring early in the game with a field goal. Wesleyan then followed up with a near kick-return, leading to a two-play drive resulting in six points.
A blocked punt in the second half set up the Titans in great field position, but an interception by Wesleyan quarterback Dermot Smyth prevented any momentum that the Titans could’ve grabbed.
Millikin struggled on offense throughout the first half, and although the defense played well, it could not make up the difference. Wesleyan scored again, leaving the score at 13-3 with 13 minutes left in the first half.
Wesleyan’s special teams posed a problem for Millikin, as several of the returns were for over 20 yards, including a punt return for a touchdown late in the second quarter to blow the game open.
Millikin nearly jumped on the scoreboard late in the second half but was stopped on 4th down, preventing any momentum going into the second half.
Wesleyan kept their foot on the pedal, adding two more scores in the third quarter, essentially putting the game out of reach.
However, Millikin showed resilience through the adversity, adding two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Although the game was out of reach at this point, the Big Blue showed a hunger and a will to win regardless of the circumstances.
Andy Niebrugge, assistant athletic trainer, notes this.
“I get to spend a lot of time around the team when I help at practices twice a week,” he said. “This team doesn’t quit, regardless of the circumstances. Today was no different.”
The loss puts Millikin at 0-4 on the season, and resilience will be key for a team that has struggled on both sides of the ball.
Sophomore linebacker Braylen Kean recognizes the importance of sticking together as a team through struggles and adversity.
“It has been tough during the start of the season,” he said. “However, it has been great to see how we always have each other’s backs. We very well could have stayed defeated where we were, but we put up a couple of scores instead. I am proud to play with these guys who didn’t give up when the game seemed like it was over.”
