Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – In a game that lasted more than six hours and included three lightning delays, Ben Spelman's first career field goal was the difference, as Millikin defeated Augustana 28-27 on Homecoming Saturday at Lindberg Stadium. The Big Blue improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the CCIW, while the Vikings fell to 1-6 on the year and 1-4 in the league.
 
Augustana scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the fourth consecutive contest and led from the 9:07 mark of the first quarter until 1:01 remained in the game. That's when Spelman, a soccer player from Sligo, Ireland, booted a 27-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 67-yard drive that had actually started nearly an hour earlier, before the final lightning delay. Spelman's kick put Millikin up 28-27.
 
The Vikings weren't done though. Taking over at his own 27-yard line with 54 seconds remaining, junior Luke Bleyer (Williamsville HS, Springfield, Ill.) completed four straight passes, including connections of 31 yards to freshman Max Uranich (La Salle-Peru HS, La Salle, Ill.) and 22 yards to senior Riley Donald (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.). Donald's reception gave Augustana the ball at the Big Blue five-yard line.
 
On the ensuing play, Bleyer spiked the ball to stop the clock with 14 seconds left and set up senior kicker Jacob Stytz (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) for what would have been a chip shot game winner. However, after the spike, the Vikings were called for a personal foul, pushing the ball back to the Millikin 20. Bleyer was dropped for a three-yard loss on the next play, making Stytz's attempt come from 40 yards. His kick was wide and after taking a celebration penalty, the Big Blue took a knee to seal the win.
 
After forcing a three-and-out on Millikin's first possession of the game, Augustana went 62 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead. Bleyer had a 20-yard rush and hit junior Ryan Hennessy (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) from seven yards out for the score. Stytz added the point after.
 
Stytz's 26-yard field put the hosts up 10-0 early in the second quarter.
 
The Big Blue got on the board with 54 seconds left before halftime. Quarterback Nicco Stepina's one-yard touchdown run capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive. The key play was a third-and-four pass interference call on the Vikings. Spelman's point after sent the teams to halftime with Augustana on top 10-7.
 
Augustana took the second half kickoff and drove to the Millikin 11 before Stytz came on for a 28-yard field goal that put the Vikings up 13-7. On the next possession--which was interrupted by the first delay--sophomore Luke Phelan (Joliet Catholic HS, Shorewood, Ill.) blocked a Wyatt Fox punt and Austin Chausse (Nokomis HS, Nokomis, Ill.) collected the ball and raced 27 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown that put the hosts up 20-7 with Stytz's point after.
 
The Big Blue answered with two third-quarter touchdowns. Antoine Scott scored on a one-yard run and Tyrice Hines caught a 22-yard scoring strike from Stepina. However, bad snaps from center caused both points after to be missed and Augustana led 20-19 after three quarters.
 
A Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) five-yard touchdown run put Coach Steve Bell's club up 27-19 with 9:43 left in the game. However, just before the eight-minute mark, lightning struck again and this time it would be two hours before the next snap was taken. On the second play after action resumed, Stepina connected with Jordan Smith on a 27-yard touchdown pass. A two-point conversion attempt that would've tied the game failed, leaving the score 27-25 with 7:33 left in the game.
 
The Vikings had a chance to extend the lead on their next possession. On Fourth-and-one from the Millikin 23, they eschewed a field goal attempt and Bleyer's pass fell incomplete. The Big Blue responded with the game-winning drive, which was interrupted by the third lightning delay, lasting about 40 minutes.
 
Bleyer completed 17 of 29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. Hennessy snared six passes for 72 yards and a score and Pitra led the ground game with 72 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
 
Next Saturday, October 21, Augustana travels to Naperville, Illinois to face fourth-ranked North Central with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 p.m.