Thomas Skokna
Steve Woltmann
10
Millikin MIL 2-3 , 1-3
59
Winner North Central (IL) NCC 5-0 , 4-0
Millikin MIL
2-3 , 1-3
10
Final
59
North Central (IL) NCC
5-0 , 4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MIL Millikin 0 10 0 0 10
NCC North Central (IL) 10 21 28 0 59

Game Recap: Football |

Skokna’s 5 TD Catches Propel Football Past Big Blue, 59-10

Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Oct. 11, 2025 — Catching five of Garret Wilson's six touchdown passes, North Central College wide receiver Thomas Skokna hauled in a program-record five scores as the Cardinals rolled past Millikin University, 59–10, Saturday night at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

North Central struck quickly on its opening drive, as Skokna caught the second play of the game for a 53-yard touchdown from Wilson to put the Cardinals ahead 7–0 less than two minutes in.

Following a Big Blue punt, North Central's ground game pushed into Millikin territory. Running backs Sean Allen and Donovan McNeal combined for 45 rushing yards before kicker Aidan Ellison drilled a 50-yard field goal, tying the fourth-longest in program history.

A muffed punt gave Millikin possession at the North Central 48-yard line. Eight plays and 31 yards later, Bryson Newport converted a 38-yard field goal to put the Big Blue on the board early in the second quarter.

North Central responded with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Skokna, extending the lead to 17–3 with 13:50 left in the half. The Cardinal defense forced a three-and-out, highlighted by a Maverick Ohle sack. Another two-play drive ended the same way as the first two—with a Wilson-to-Skokna touchdown, this time from 34 yards out to make it 24–3.

Millikin capitalized on a roughing-the-kicker penalty on 4th-and-7, scoring on a Sylas Gomez pass to Darion Suber.

The Cardinals answered after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball into Millikin territory. Wilson found Skokna for a 35-yard gain to the 2-yard line, then connected with Grant McAtee for a touchdown to take a 31–10 lead into halftime.
North Central's defense forced another three-and-out to open the second half. The ground game, led by McNeal and Demir Ashiru, drove to the 4-yard line before Wilson hit Skokna in the back of the end zone for his fourth touchdown catch.

A botched snap on Millikin's next possession gave the Cardinals the ball at the 2-yard line. Skokna broke the program record with his fifth touchdown catch on a shuttle pass from Wilson, pushing the lead to 45–10.

On the next drive, Ashiru broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run—his longest of the season—to extend the lead to 52–10. After another defensive stop, Zeb Rashid capped the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run. The Cardinal defense held Millikin scoreless in the fourth quarter to seal the 59–10 victory.

Wilson finished 15 of 20 for 277 yards and six touchdowns, tying the school record for passing scores. Skokna totaled 206 receiving yards—the fifth-most in program history—along with five touchdowns and 30 points, tying a single-game record. Ashiru led the rushing attack with 92 yards on three carries, while McNeal added 86 yards on eight attempts.

John Sullivan, Eli Renick and Ohle each recorded a sack, and Matt Janiak led the defense with 11 tackles. Ellison and Sean Ryniec each converted four extra points.

North Central travels to North Park University next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago. The Cardinals are 52-10-2 all-time against the Vikings and carry a 28-game winning streak into the matchup.
 
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