DECATUR, Ill. — In a rivalry game that featured 77 combined points, five fourth-quarter touchdowns and three scores in the final two minutes, Millikin University delivered a thrilling 42-35 victory over Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday night at Frank M. Lindsay Field.
Big Blue running back AJ Lee stole the show, rushing for 148 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning 64-yard touchdown run with just 1:11 remaining.
The victory snapped Millikin’s five-game losing streak against its longtime rival, giving the Big Blue their first win over the Titans since the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021.
Millikin entered Saturday’s contest with a 2-4 record, while Illinois Wesleyan arrived in Decatur at 5-1.
The Titans struck first when Alex Pavelka scored on an 11-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter. Millikin answered with a 20-yard rushing touchdown from Lee, evening the score at seven.
Lee struck again early in the second quarter, scoring from four yards out to give Millikin its first lead of the evening.
The Big Blue extended their advantage just before halftime with some trickery. Wide receiver Justin White connected with quarterback Sylas Gomez on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds remaining, sending Millikin into the locker room with a 21-7 lead.
Illinois Wesleyan began its comeback in the third quarter when quarterback Kyle Beaty capped a 76-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to seven.
Millikin responded with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Gomez to Quintin Loquasto, restoring its two-touchdown advantage at 28-14.
But the Titans were far from finished.
Beaty scored his second rushing touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter, trimming the Millikin lead to 28-20.
Illinois Wesleyan then completed its comeback with 8:09 remaining when Beaty found Dylan Hodges for a 14-yard touchdown, eventually tying the game at 28.
With momentum seemingly shifting toward the visitors, Millikin put together one of its most important possessions of the season.
The Big Blue marched 73 yards in 12 plays, consuming 6:11 off the clock before Lee powered into the end zone from one yard out. The touchdown gave Millikin a 35-28 lead with exactly two minutes remaining.
That was only the beginning of a remarkable finish.
On Illinois Wesleyan’s very next offensive play, Beaty connected with Cade Danko for a 64-yard touchdown. The Titans needed just 11 seconds to erase Millikin’s advantage, tying the game at 35 with 1:49 left.
The Big Blue, however, had one final answer.
Just 38 seconds of game clock later, Lee broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run, sending Millikin back in front 42-35 with 1:11 remaining.
It was Lee’s fourth rushing touchdown of the evening and ultimately the decisive score in a back-and-forth rivalry battle.
Millikin held on over the final 71 seconds to secure the seven-point victory.
Lee finished with 148 rushing yards on 20 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per attempt. He also contributed four receptions for 69 yards, giving him 217 total yards from scrimmage.
Gomez completed 18 of his 24 passing attempts for 236 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also caught the nine-yard touchdown pass from White.
For Illinois Wesleyan, Beaty completed 17 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing scores.
Danko led the Titans’ receiving attack with five catches for 177 yards and a touchdown, while Pavelka rushed for 94 yards and a score.
The two offenses combined for 896 yards, with Illinois Wesleyan accounting for 480 and Millikin finishing with 416.
The fourth quarter alone featured 35 points, including 21 points in the final two minutes as the rivals traded three touchdowns in a span of just 49 seconds.
With the victory, Millikin improves to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Illinois Wesleyan falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
The Big Blue will look to build on their dramatic victory next Saturday, October 24, when they travel to Carthage College. Illinois Wesleyan returns home to face Elmhurst University.
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