Millikin Football prepares to play Illinois Wesleyan, their rival since 1904, this Saturday.
This game will feature two new head coaches hired by their respective universities, introducing a potential new rivalry among the head coaches.
“I don’t look at it like that; I think it’s more Millikin versus Wesleyan,” Head Coach Billy Riebock said. “It’s a top 10 college football rivalry in all of America at all levels.”
The Big Blue are currently on a three-game losing streak heading into this game. Coming off a blowout loss to number-one-ranked North Central 10-59. The team looks to rebound from that going into this game.
“I was out there more than I anticipated,” punter Joe Brummer said. “As the punter, you don’t really want to be out there; it means the offense is struggling.”
Millikin has had players perform well this year and looks for those same players to beat Wesleyan. Additionally, emerging talents this year, Alex Araiza and Ryan Baskerville, have become an inseparable duo on the field.
“I mean, he’s a dog; he’s been a dog,” Araiza said. “I knew he was a dog, so it’s only now coming to light.”
The Big Blue linebacker duo, Baskerville and Araiza, has been playing well this year, leading the CCIW in the top 25 total tackles, and Araiza is leading the CCIW in tackles for loss.
However, the CCIW stats haven’t favored some of the Big Blue, with the CCIW ranking quarterback Sylas Gomez as the fifth QB in the conference quarterback rankings based on statistics and performance.
“The fifth? How is that?” Gomez said. “Of course, I think I’m 1st in the CCIW, but if that’s what they want to say, they can say it.”
Gomez is set to play Wesleyan for the first time. He is approaching this game with confidence and little fear of what they have to offer when asked about whether he is concerned about the game
“They are a well-coached team, but not really,” Gomez said. “We played against the best last week and showed that we could do it. Of course, we have stuff to fix. But, there’s really no worry; I’ll take my guys over theirs any day.”
This game means a lot to the university, but also to Araiza, who has yet to beat Illinois Wesleyan during his Millikin career, as he looks to face them for the last time.
“This is the most important game for me; I’ve never beaten the team up north, so it is the most important to me,” he said. “My goal is to stop the run. My goal is to stop number two in the backfield. That’s my role.”
Confidence is at an all-time high, even with Wesleyan’s defense playing at an elite level. Wesleyan as a team leads the CCIW in fumbles, is tied for 2nd in interceptions, and is 4th in sacks this season. These are stats that don’t scare the Big Blue offense.
“I know my game, I know what I put in the offseason, I know how I’m going to come in that game,” Wide Receiver Kevin Louis said. “We’re coming; that’s all it is—we’re coming.”
The team is seeking all the support they can from family and friends for this game, as they will need all the help they can get to secure a win.
“For our fans, it will be a fun one; it’s been a while since we beat them,” Gomez said. “After 5 years, I’m looking to bring that win back to Millikin and Decatur. It will mean a great deal to this university and to this program in particular to get back on track. You’re going to see a hard-fought ball game, and everybody’s going to be playing lights out.”
Riebock, as usual, stays confident with a signature send-off score prediction for the game.
“As long as it’s Millikin by one, we’re happy,” Riebock said.
Millikin’s Big Blue faces off against Illinois Wesleyan this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The Big Blue looks forward to all the family and friends coming to show out and support their team.
Be sure to check out the Dec’s Tik Tok to watch all player interviews.
