DECATUR, Ill. - The Carroll University football team lost to Millikin University 55-10 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Lindsay Field on Saturday night.
It was the second consecutive conference loss for Carroll, which dropped to 1-3 in the league standings and 2-3 overall.
Millikin, which improved to 3-1 in conference and 4-1 overall with its homecoming victory, outscored the Pioneers 35-10 in the first half - including 28 points in what proved to be a decisive opening quarter.
Senior quarterback Nicco Stepina completed 28 of 44 passes for 380 yards and a career-best seven touchdowns to lead the Big Blue, who amassed 35 first downs and 662 yards of total offense.
Carroll generated all of its points in the second quarter, outscoring Millikin by a confidence-building 10-7 margin.
Senior quarterback Colton Bahling (Belvidere, Ill.) connected with senior wide receiver Bailey Brown (McHenry, Ill.) on a 24-yard touchdown pass to cap an eight-play, 62-yard drive with 10:17 remaining in the second quarter.
Senior kicker Griffin Idelman (Wood Dale, Ill.) made a 20-yard field with 47 seconds left in the first half to finish off a 14-play, 62-yard drive and round out the scoring for the Pioneers, who had 18 first downs and 282 total yards.
It was a tough outing for Bahling, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 82 yards and was sacked four times in the contest.
The Pioneers converted only 4 of 14 third-down opportunities.
Freshman running back Preston Bell (Scottlandville, La.) rushed 13 times for a team-high 98 yards for Carroll, which finished with 200 yards via its ground attack. Senior running back J.J. Keels (Melbourne, Fla.) followed with 12 carries for 57 yards.
Senior free safety Cameron Cassaro (Caledonia, Ill.) recorded a team-best eight tackles for the Pioneers. Senior defensive back Billy Krawczyk (Lockport, Ill.) contributed seven tackles and an interception. Senior linebacker Andrew Danculovich (Cudahy, Wis.) collected seven tackles, sophomore defensive back Sean Schmidt (Manteno, Ill.) had five tackles, senior defensive back Linzy Hudson (Milwaukee, Wis.) broke up three passes and senior linebacker Luke Wood (Potterville, Mich.) added a sack.