The Auora University Spartan football team took an early lead at Millikin University but could not hold off the Big Blue in the first night game ever played in Decatur, Illinois. AU lost to Millikin 30-9.

After the opening kickoff, both teams traded two possessions each with the Spartan defense forcing on Big Blue turnover on the first Millikin drive. Spartan Ben Olson forced the fumble with Anthony Doory jumping on the loose ball but the Spartans did not capitalize on the potential momentum change.

On the third drive of the game, the Spartan offense went on the move. On the seventh play, quarterback Curtis Townsend hit Camerhon Guyton with a 27 yard pass completion and touchdown as time expired in the first quarter. After a two point pass attempt failed, AU led 6-0.

Unfortunately the lead was short lived as Millikin returned the ensueing kickoff 97 yards to take a 7-6 lead. After the AU offense had a three and out. Spartan punter Krystian Chudoba had his punt blocked with the ball going out of bounds at the AU six yard line. The Spartan defense came up strong though, forcing Millikin to a field goal and a 10-6 deficit.

After the next AU offensive possession, Chudoba was forced to punt again but the Spartan special teams unit and Zach Laud pounced on a fumble setting up the offense at the Millikin 26 yard line. AU went 24 yards in eight plays with a Chudoba field goal capping off the drive. With 3:45 to play in the first half, AU trailed 10-9 and that would be the score going into halftime.

The third quarter was not kind to the Spartans. Forced to punt after the Spartans first drive of the second half, Chudoba had his punt blocked and the loose ball was recovered for a touchdown by Millikin. Millikin scored again on their next drive to give the hosts a 24-9 lead.

Chudoba later downed a punt at the two yard line and the AU defense forced a turnover on downs at the Spartan 24 yard line late in the third quarter. But turnovers came back to bite the Spartans again. On the first play after the turnover on downs, AU quarterback Curtis Townsend was hit and fumbled, the loose ball was scopped up by a Millikin defender and returned 15 yards for a touchdown. AU blocked the extra point but trailed 30-9.

The fourth quarter was uneventful setting up the 30-9 AU loss as the final horn sounded.

On the day, AU had 363 total yards to Millikins 263 but the Spartans lost the turnover battle 3-2 with a blocked punt, kick return and defensive score being the ultimate difference maker.

Jake Apple led AU with 139 yards on 27 carries, Doory had eight tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss, Cody Patchett had seven tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss and Darren Harms had seven tackles.

With the loss, AU is now 0-3 overall. Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, October 4 when they travel to Rockford University in the 2014 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Rockford, Illinois.