A powerful pass rush was Millikan’s undoing on Friday night in a 21-10 home opening loss to Aquinas. Rams quarterback Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell was sacked nine times in their first defeat of the season while the offense gained less than 150 total net yards.
Aquinas (2-1) rushed for over 300 yards on 46 carries, and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half to break a 7-7 halftime tie.
“You have got to give it up to Aquinas,” Millikan coach Justin Utupo said. “We knew coming in they were going to be tough defensively. But at the end of the day the scoreboard doesn’t matter to me. How are we going to respond and bounce back? That’s what matters. The preseason is over, and we know what we have in front of us.”
Millikan (2-1) was ranked No. 2 in Division 7 this week, and has a bye next week before facing Long Beach Poly on Sept. 14. Aquinas came into the week ranked No. 7 in Division 5.
After converting the first of three fourth down conversions on the night, Millikan scored on its opening drive when Campbell-Caldwell found Jayden Davis over the top for a 27-yard touchdown. The senior celebrated by honoring the late Dave Radford.
After the offenses traded miscues, penalties and punts, Aquinas running back Andrew Kellstrom busted through the line for a 66-yard touchdown just before halftime that tied the game. Kellstrom finished with 150 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Millikan tried to answer through the air to receiver Malik Bradford, who had missed the last two weeks due to injury, but the Cal commit only had four catches for 29 yards. Meanwhile, Campbell-Caldwell was taken down in the backfield five times in the second half, and the only points the Rams put up after halftime was a 37-yard field goal from Zach Martin that put Millikan up 10-7 with less than eight minutes to play in the third quarter.
Aquinas answered with a 13-play, 71-yard drive that Kellstrom finished off with his second touchdown from four yards out on third down. The Falcons capped the scoring when they converted one of two Campbell-Caldwell interceptions into a Gary Ganson touchdown run with a few minutes left to play.
STATISTICS
Millikan
QB Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell: 13/26, 145 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 29 carries, 50 yards
WR Dylan Davis: 6 catches, 73 yards
WR Malik Bradford: 4 catches, 29 yards
LB Nik Lombardi: 5 solo tackles
