Augustana Edges Big Blue in Football 28-24

            The Millikin football team lost a heartbreaker to Augustana College 28-24 in front of a large Homecoming crowd at Frank M. Lindsay Field.

            Millikin rallied in the fourth quarter to take a 24-21 lead with just over seven minutes left to play, but the Vikings answered back scoring the go ahead touchdown with one minute left in the game to pull out the four point victory.

            The game was a back and forth contest the entire way.  After a scoreless first quarter, the Big Blue took the early 3-0 lead in the second quarter on a 26 yard Chris Hunt field goal.

            Augustana answered right back with a touchdown on a 10 yard pass from David Lee to tight end Jack Gilleland. 

            On its next drive, Millikin scored on a four yard run by Dion Wilson to regain the advantage at 10-7.

            Millikin then regained the lead in the third quarter on a 13 yard touchdown run by Robert Wood.  At the end of three quarters of play it was Augustana 14 Millikin 10.

            The action packed fourth quarter started on the first play when Wilson scored from three yards out to give Millikin the 17-14 lead.  The drive was set up by an interception at the Augustana 35 yard line by Keith Burczak with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

            On its next possession the Vikings drove 66 yards on eight plays to take a 21-17 lead on a Wood five yard run.

            With nine minutes left in the game, Millikin's Darrell Mitchell blocked the Alex Schroeder punt with the Big Blue gaining possession at the Viking 11 yard line.  Three plays later Luke Hockaday hit Kody Smith for an eight yard touchdown to put Millikin up 24-21. 

            Millikin looked to take control of the game with six minutes to play when Nick Kronmiller recovered a fumble by Alex Hembrey at the Augustana 39 yard line.  The Vikings held the Big Blue on three plays forcing a Millikin punt.

            After a short punt went out of bounds at the Augustana 22 yard line, the Vikings offense went to work.  Augustana drove 78 yards on 11 plays in just two minutes and 48 seconds to take the lead on a six yard pass from Lee to Keith Abby. 

            Augustana had a balanced offensive attack rushing for 196 yards while passing for 213.  Millikin rushed for 179 yards, but struggled in the passing game only gaining 46 yards.

            Penalties were an issue for both teams with Millikin getting flagged eight times for 62 yards and the Vikings getting called for seven penalties for 73 yards.

            Wilson was Millikin's top offensive performer with 164 yards rushing on 35 carries and two touchdowns.  Luke Hockaday was 5-19 passing for 46 yards.

            Augustana's top rusher was Wood with 93 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.  Lee had 91 yards rushing and was 19-30-1 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

            Kronmiller and Burczak were the Big Blue's top tacklers with nine.

            John Mago and Brandon Holl had nine tackles each for Augustana.

            Millikin will travel to Carthage College on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.