Steve Woltmann

Football Week 6 Preview: Millikin

10/9/2025 2:00:00 PM

Setting the Scene: Following its 45th consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) victory, the North Central College football team continues league play Saturday by hosting Millikin University at Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium in the final night game of the regular season.

Series History: Saturday marks the 79th meeting between North Central College and Millikin University, with the Cardinals holding a 40-37-1 advantage in the all-time series. North Central extended its dominance last weekend with a 77-14 victory, its 19th straight win over the Big Blue dating back to 2005 and seventh consecutive game scoring at least 50 points in the matchup.

The Cardinals (5-0, 4-0 CCIW) led 56-0 at halftime, piling up 393 yards while limiting Millikin to just 91. Quarterback Luke Lehnen threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and added two rushing scores—all in the first half. Thomas Skokna led the receiving corps with 116 yards and two touchdowns.

North Central’s defense forced multiple turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Drew Harp and a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown by Rahmareon Roby. Millikin (0-5, 0-4) ended its scoring drought against the Cardinals with two second-half touchdowns from quarterback Aidan Lombardo.

North Central finished with 617 total yards, including a season-high 350 passing. Ten players caught passes and nine carried the ball. Cortez Jones, Bobby Medina, Theo Millas and John Sullivan each recorded four tackles.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 1 nationally in the latest NCAA Division III Top 25 polls released by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

The defending national champion Cardinals earned 22 of 25 first-place votes in the D3football.com poll and swept all 52 first-place votes in the AFCA rankings. North Central has now held the top spot in 39 consecutive AFCA polls and 47 of the last 50 D3football.com polls.

Scouting the Big Blue: Millikin enters Saturday’s matchup with a 2-2 record, earning wins over Luther (33-3) and North Park (22-17). The Big Blue average 19.5 points per game while allowing 20.3. Offensively, they generate 333 yards per contest, including 200 through the air.

Quarterback Sylas Gomez has thrown for 801 yards and four touchdowns with just two interceptions. He’s also added 132 rushing yards on 40 carries. Running back Re’John Zeno leads the ground game with 246 yards and six touchdowns. Kevin Louis has been Gomez’s top target, recording 18 catches for 229 yards and two scores.

On defense, Zyon Turner leads Millikin with 26 tackles, followed closely by Ryan Baskerville with 25. Alex Araiza and Ixavion Moore have each registered one sack, while Turner also has an interception.

This Week in the CCIW: North Central has won the last four CCIW titles, going 9-0 in conference play each season. The Cardinals are the league’s only unbeaten team entering Saturday, with Augustana, WashU, Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan all at 2-1.

This week’s schedule includes three afternoon games: WashU at Carthage, Wheaton at Illinois Wesleyan, and North Park at Carroll. Augustana visits Elmhurst and Millikin travels to North Central for 6 p.m. kickoffs.

1958 vs Augustana - North Central edged Augustana 26–19 last Saturday at Naperville High School, earning their second CCI win in three games. Though the offense showed marked improvement, the defense struggled, nearly costing them the game. Augustana led early and threatened late, pulling within one point before failing a two-point conversion. A final touchdown pass from Horsky to Brink sealed the win. Guard Frank Trossen called it an offensive battle, highlighting newcomers George Twar, Frank Shigut, Dick Lambrecht, and George Pichotta. Turpin’s 198 rushing yards and Horsky’s 71 passing yards were key. Strong line play from Van Mill, Van Barriger, and Dean also contributed. NCC scored on runs by Shigut, Twar, and Turpin, plus Horsky’s pass to Brink. NCC led in rushing; Augustana in passing.

CCIW/National Recognition: North Central College defensive end Bobby Medina has earned both CCIW Defensive Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week honors following a dominant performance in the Cardinals’ 35–0 shutout of No. 14/15 Wheaton College. Medina led a historic defensive effort, recording three sacks—most in a CCIW game this season—alongside 3.5 tackles for loss and five total tackles. His sack total ties for third-most in a single game in program history and ranks 10th nationally in Division III this season. The Cardinals held Wheaton to minus-2 rushing yards and just 148 total yards, marking the fewest rushing yards in the rivalry’s history and sixth-fewest in North Central history. The shutout was the first against Wheaton since 1964, and the win secured the Little Brass Bell for a fifth straight year. Medina joins kicker Aidan Ellison as the second Cardinal named to the national Team of the Week this season and becomes the seventh defensive end in program history to receive the honor, reinforcing North Central’s defensive dominance.

A Look Backe: North Central College head football coach Brad Spencer, defensive back Rahmareon Roby, linebacker Danny Nuccio and running back Sean Allen respond to questions following the Cardinals' 35-0 victory over Wheaton at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.

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