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GREENCASTLE -
A mention of Millsaps around the defensive players wearing the black Saturday afternoon brought some cringes, and a little motivation.
"The defense got beat pretty bad," recalled DePauw defensive back Thomas Wrona when recalling the 55-13 thrashing at the hands of the Majors last season in Jackson, Mississippi. "This year we knew we had to get off to a fast start and make a statement."
That, and some timely defense too, for it was Wrona's stop on a two point conversion attempt with just under four minutes left in the game that preserved the strong beginning, giving DePauw the 29-27 win in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tussle.
Read: See How Other Central Indiana College Teams Fared Saturday
Its the first win over Millsaps since 2005 following three straight losses to a team that has won at least a share of the conference title the last three seasons.
"They've given us a pretty tough run the last three years," said DePauw head coach Robbie Long, whose team improved to 3-1 on the season. "It's good to prepare the way we've prepared and come out and get the win."
It wasn't without drama, however, as Millsaps made a big rally over the final 25 minutes to almost win their fourth in a row over the Tigers. When Majors quarterback Chris Graves hit Michael Galatas for his third long touchdown of the second half with 3:37 to go, a once 16 point DePauw lead was cut down to two.
Read: Former DePauw Coach Bill Lynch and IU Fall to No.9 Ohio State
"Their the most talented team in the conference, and we knew it was a matter of time before they started throwing those posts and streaks," said Long of Millsaps' passing game, which gained 223 yards in the second half.
Wrona then came up with the play of the day on the ensuing two point conversion attempt, pulling down Shane Bowser on a quick screen and dragging him down by the feet for no gain.
"We ran our redzone defense and I had to stay in the flats, and as soon as I saw No. 24 run out there I knew that it was either me or him, one was gonna win, and there was no way I was letting him go," said Wrona of the stop
Its likely the defense had their minds on the game a year ago in the first 35 minutes, when the normally high powered Millsaps offense was held in check. On the Majors' first five drives the defense only allowed one touchdown, forcing four punts and allowing just 90 total yards.
"We knew we had to step up as a defense and prove ourselves," said Wrona of the early defense.
Quarterback Spud Dick and the offense, meanwhile, had no problem moving the ball, scoring on five of their first six possessions. Alex Koors caught two touchdown passes from Dick in the first half and when Bryan Mulligan caught a 10 yard scoring toss early in the third, DePauw built a 23-7 lead. That was Dick's 57 touchdown pass in his career at DePauw, breaking current Butler head coach Jeff Voris' record, and was a part of his 372 yard passing day.
"That opening drive was crucial," said Dick of the 16 play, 55 yard drive that led to Jordan Havercamp field goal. "That really set the tone for the day."
See: More College Football Coverage From IndySportsNation.com
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with a minute left, when DePauw gambled on third-and-11 with a pass to Koors, who cut across the middle and picked up 23 yards to ice the game for the Tigers.
"Me and Spud trust each other," said Koors, who led the Tigers with eight receptions and 212 yards. "We worked hard in the offseason and the summer maybe two times a week we'd get out on the football field and work together to work on our timing, and that's all it was, the entire game that's what it was."
"The defense got beat pretty bad," recalled DePauw defensive back Thomas Wrona when recalling the 55-13 thrashing at the hands of the Majors last season in Jackson, Mississippi. "This year we knew we had to get off to a fast start and make a statement."
That, and some timely defense too, for it was Wrona's stop on a two point conversion attempt with just under four minutes left in the game that preserved the strong beginning, giving DePauw the 29-27 win in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tussle.
Read: See How Other Central Indiana College Teams Fared Saturday
Its the first win over Millsaps since 2005 following three straight losses to a team that has won at least a share of the conference title the last three seasons.
"They've given us a pretty tough run the last three years," said DePauw head coach Robbie Long, whose team improved to 3-1 on the season. "It's good to prepare the way we've prepared and come out and get the win."
It wasn't without drama, however, as Millsaps made a big rally over the final 25 minutes to almost win their fourth in a row over the Tigers. When Majors quarterback Chris Graves hit Michael Galatas for his third long touchdown of the second half with 3:37 to go, a once 16 point DePauw lead was cut down to two.
Read: Former DePauw Coach Bill Lynch and IU Fall to No.9 Ohio State
"Their the most talented team in the conference, and we knew it was a matter of time before they started throwing those posts and streaks," said Long of Millsaps' passing game, which gained 223 yards in the second half.
Wrona then came up with the play of the day on the ensuing two point conversion attempt, pulling down Shane Bowser on a quick screen and dragging him down by the feet for no gain.
"We ran our redzone defense and I had to stay in the flats, and as soon as I saw No. 24 run out there I knew that it was either me or him, one was gonna win, and there was no way I was letting him go," said Wrona of the stop
Its likely the defense had their minds on the game a year ago in the first 35 minutes, when the normally high powered Millsaps offense was held in check. On the Majors' first five drives the defense only allowed one touchdown, forcing four punts and allowing just 90 total yards.
"We knew we had to step up as a defense and prove ourselves," said Wrona of the early defense.
Quarterback Spud Dick and the offense, meanwhile, had no problem moving the ball, scoring on five of their first six possessions. Alex Koors caught two touchdown passes from Dick in the first half and when Bryan Mulligan caught a 10 yard scoring toss early in the third, DePauw built a 23-7 lead. That was Dick's 57 touchdown pass in his career at DePauw, breaking current Butler head coach Jeff Voris' record, and was a part of his 372 yard passing day.
"That opening drive was crucial," said Dick of the 16 play, 55 yard drive that led to Jordan Havercamp field goal. "That really set the tone for the day."
See: More College Football Coverage From IndySportsNation.com
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with a minute left, when DePauw gambled on third-and-11 with a pass to Koors, who cut across the middle and picked up 23 yards to ice the game for the Tigers.
"Me and Spud trust each other," said Koors, who led the Tigers with eight receptions and 212 yards. "We worked hard in the offseason and the summer maybe two times a week we'd get out on the football field and work together to work on our timing, and that's all it was, the entire game that's what it was."
