GAME NOTES

WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University football team plays its final CCIW road contest of the season on Saturday, November 5 against the Millikin Big Blue in Decatur, Illinois. The Pioneers are hoping to avenge a loss to the Big Blue from a season ago, and secure back-to-back winning seasons in the CCIW since 1989 and 1990.
 
TEAM DETAILS: Carroll bounced back in a big way with a strong 59-14 victory over Carthage last weekend to move to 4-3 in the CCIW. Records were set last weekend by Josh Raby, as he set the mark for the most touchdowns responsible for in a game with seven, and became the single-game leader in total yards with 420. With his 337 yards through the air, it led to the resurgence of Austin Eichstaedt, who caught a season-high nine passes for 142 yards and two scores. Carroll reset its season-high offensive yards in a game with 515 yards.
 
Defensively the Pios were sound against the Firebirds. Carroll held Carthage to just 203 total yards, and only 65 yards rushing. Jake Binkowski tied the season record for the most interception returns for touchdowns with three after his 99-yard pick-six against the Firebirds at the end of the first half. The Firebirds only had seven first downs and converted just 3 of 13 third downs. Tim Nelson picked up two tackles for a loss of five yards in the win.
 
PREVIEWING THE BIG BLUE: Saturday marks the 46^th  meeting of the two programs, dating back to the first contest back in 1942. The Pioneers have struggled to beat the Big Blue since re-entering the CCIW back in 2016, as Millikn has won the last five contests. The Pioneers had their best chance to get back in the win column last season, but the fourth-quarter comeback fell short as the Pios fell 25-32. Damon Loker recorded 12 tackles in the loss, while Austin Eichstaedt, JR Muth, and Josh Hill all caught TD passes.
 
The Big Blue come into their final home game of the season with a 2-5 CCIW record, with their two victories coming against North Park and Elmhurst. Millikin is struggling on offense this season, only putting up 196.4 yards per game on offense, with just 55.9 yards per game on the ground. Despite the Big Blue defense allowing over 41 points per game, the team is holding opponents to 33% third down conversions and has forced nine interceptions. Alexander Perkins leads the team and the CCIW with 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE:  
Josh Raby and Jake Binkowski were both recognized fairly heavily for their amazing performances against Carthage last week. Raby, who broke the school record for total offensive yards in a game with 420 was named the CCIW Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week. Raby has been named the CCIW athlete of the week twice so far this season. Raby's seven touchdowns responsible for (three passing, four rushing) landed him in the record books as well, and onto gopios.com as the Pioneer Athlete of the Week.
 
Binkowski made his first-ever appearance as the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after his 99-yard pick-six against the Firebirds last week. 99-yards on an interception return is the second-longest return in Carroll's history. Binkowski made his second appearance on the D3football.com Team of the Week as well. Binkowski is the first Pioneer since Kevin Jennings in 2015 to be named to the National team of the week twice in the same season. Carroll's four appearances on the D3football.com list is a school record for the most in a season.
 
 
APPROACHING RECORDS:  As the Pioneers enter the final two weeks of the regular season, here are a few records to keep an eye on this season:

• Interceptions returned for a touchdown (3): Jake Binkowski added to his total in this category against the Firebirds. He ties Mike Sikma with three pick-sixes. Four would be the school record for the most in a season. The career record held by Mike Sikma is currently five. Binkowski is also 32 interception return yards away from the single-season record of 172 interception return yards in a season, also set by Sikma.
• Touchdowns in a season (27): Josh Raby currently sits tied for the fourth most passing touchdowns in a season with 18 so far through eight games. With two more passing TD's he would be just the fourth Pioneer ever to have 20 passing touchdowns in a season.
• Career Kick Return Yards (1,632): Keon Miller became just the fourth Pioneer in history to have over 1000 kickoff return yards in a career against Wheaton, and he has moved into sole possession of third all-time with 1,082 yards. Miller has a chance over these next few games to move into sole possession of second-place all-time, which Brad Guettel currently holds with 1,107 yards. Miller will have to take advantage of his final season to have a chance to catch R.J Hoppe's record of 1,632 yards.
• PATs Made in a season (42): Jacob Laurent's 30 made PATs this season sits just outside the top five in a single season in Carroll history. He'll need to make six more to pass Brian Jachimek's top-five record of 35 set in 2004.

 
HOW TO WATCH: The Pioneers and Big Blue will kick off at 1 PM. Live statistics and video will be available on gopios.com courtesy of Millikin Athletics.