The fourth-ranked Thunder remains undefeated with a 41-7 victory at Millikin

Decatur, Ill. - The fourth-ranked Wheaton Thunder football team, remained undefeated on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a 41-7 victory at Millikin University. Wheaton is now 6-0 overall, with a 3-0 record in CCIW action, while Millikin falls to 4- 2 overall and 1-2 in CCIW play. The Thunder will remain on the road next Saturday with a 2 PM kickoff at nationally-ranked North Central in the annual battle for the Little Brass Bell trophy that is on the line when the two teams battle on the gridiron.

Wheaton used strong play in all facets of the game to earn the commanding victory against the Big Blue. The Thunder offense tallied 507 yards of total offense, with 304 passing yards and 203 yards on the ground. Millikin tallied 289 yards of offense, with 223 passing yards and 66 rushing defense.

Thunder quarterback Sean Norris completed 21 of his 34 passing attempts, for 284 yards. Sophomore Justin Zeller caught a game-high seven passes for 91 yards and Danny Hindman caught six passes for 99 yards. Sophomore tailback Charlie Velling carried the ball 31 times for 128, with two touchdown runs.

Steven Lutes, Brian McBroom and Brian McMullen each registered six total tackles, as McMullen recorded an interception in the game to lead the Wheaton defense. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Langs made five tackles, with a quarterback sack of six yards and two passes broken-up. Linebacker Ryan Hoyt made four tackles, including a quarterback sack of 16 yards.

Millikin quarterback Luke Hockaday completed 18 of his 45 passing attempts for 213 yards, with one touchdown pass. Receiver Chris Hampton caught five passes for 77 yards, with a touchdown catch. Dion Wilson carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards. Devi Greer led the Millikin defense with 17 total tackles.

On Millikin's second drive of the game, Hoyt sacked Hockaday for a 16-yard loss as the Thunder defense force a three-and-out on the drive. The ensuing Big Blue punt went for 27 yards to the Millikin 34 yard-line, as the Thunder defense helped give the Wheaton offense a short field to work on. Eight plays later, Wheaton reached the end zone as Velling scored on a one-yard run to give the Thunder a 7-0 lead with 5:20 left in the first quarter. The ensuing Millikin drive ended with Wheaton linebacker Jordan Chapman intercepting a pass to give the Thunder the ball at the hosts' 15-yard line. Three plays later, junior tailback Brady Wright scored on a four-yard touchdown run to extend Wheaton's lead to 14-0 with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter. Wheaton led 17-0 at halftime, as result of a 20-yard field goal by sophomore Scott Roche, with 7:13 remaining in the first half.

Roche kicked a 42-yard field goal to conclude Wheaton's opening drive of the second half, as he extended Wheaton's lead to 20-0 with 12:52 left in the third quarter. Junior Charlie Antal scored on a four-yard run on an end around with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter as Wheaton extended its lead to 27-0. Millikin scored its lone touchdown of the game with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass.

Velling's second touchdown of the game was a three-yard scamper into the end zone with 13:19 remaining in the game to give the guests a 34-7 advantage. Wheaton's final trip to the end zone was an 11-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Jordan Roberts, with 8:20 remaining in the game to account for the 41-7 final score.