DECATUR, Ill. - Junior quarterback Colton Bahling (Belvidere, Ill.) completed 25 of 41 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn't enough as the Carroll University football team lost to Millikin University 56-35 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Lindsay Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was a season-high point total for Carroll, which dropped to 1-4 in the conference standings and 1-6 overall.
The Pioneers, who trailed 28-21 at halftime, were outscored 28-14 in the second half - including 14 unanswered points over the course of the final five minutes.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 42-35 in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by junior running back/wide receiver Drake Pusateri (Lombard, Ill.) with 8:42 remaining but couldn't get any closer.
Despite the frustrating final outcome following the back-and-forth shootout, it was arguably the Pioneers' most productive offensive performance of the season and demonstrated the young team's steady progress.
Bahling, making his sixth collegiate start, had a breakthrough day - showcasing his poise and versatility by utilizing seven different receivers and connecting on touchdown passes of 6, 35 and 37 yards. He also rushed for a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter to complete a season-high 21-point first half for Carroll.
The Pioneers, who averaged 5.3 yards per play and converted 3 of 4 times in the red zone, found their rhythm early on and continued to execute for the majority of the contest, scoring on long, time-consuming drives of 39, 50, 65, 75, 78 yards.
Senior wide receiver Brandon Ehrke (Deerfield, Wis.), who earned CCIW all-conference honors last year, contributed five receptions for a team-high 106 yards and two touchdowns for Carroll, which generated 24 first downs and 411 yards of total offense. Junior wide receiver Parker Zitzke (Waukesha, Wis.) hauled in a team-best eight catches for 62 yards and junior tight end David Meza (Berlin, Wis.) had four catches for 62 yards for the Pioneers. Senior tight end Jarrett Fintel (Waukesha, Wis.) added three catches and a touchdown.
Junior quarterback Nicco Stepina completed 22 of 32 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns for Millikin, which improved to 4-1 in conference and 6-1 overall. Freshman running back Jazontae Howard rushed 20 times for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Big Blue, who amassed 24 first downs and 503 total yards.
Stepina connected with freshman wide receiver Tyrice Hines on a 6-yard pass with 5:15 remaining in regulation for the Big Blue. Freshman defensive back Israel Smith added a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown to ensure a victory.
Junior defensive back Linzy Hudson (Milwaukee, Wis.) had a team-high eight tackles to lead the Carroll defense. Junior safety Cameron Cassaro (Caledonia, Ill.) followed with seven tackles and recovered a fumble for the Pioneers. Junior defensive back Colin Shepley (Northfield, Minn.) had six tackles with senior defensive tackle Ethan Molisee (Brookfield, Wis.) and freshman defensive end Niko Perez (Franklin, Wis.) each contributing a sack.