BLOOMINGTON - Last week's stunning 31-28 homecoming loss to Carthage was another blow for the Illinois Wesleyan football team.

The Titans aren't counting themselves out, though, entering today's 1 p.m. College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game against archrival Millikin at Frank Lindsay Field.

"We can still go 5-2 in the conference. It's not over," said IWU junior linebacker Charlie Welke. "We have some big games coming up and we can really shake some things up.

"From a bigger outlook, a 6-4 season would be an improvement from what we've done the last two years (3-7), so we're looking to turn it around and build for next year."

IWU dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW after Carthage scored 22 points in a six-minute span of the fourth quarter to overcome a 28-9 deficit. It was the Titans' third straight defeat.

"The Carthage game was a very heartbreaking, very disappointing game," said IWU coach Norm Eash. "We have to get over that, put it behind us and move forward. We just have to keep playing and correct the things that are keeping us from winning."

Millikin (2-3, 1-1) is coming off a 36-6 road win over North Park that snapped a three-game skid. All of the Big Blue's losses have come against ranked teams, and Millikin coach Doug Neibuhr expects a test from the Titans.

"This is always a tough game," Neibuhr said. "They're a talented team as they always are, and they're well-coached. I think they just went through some tough games for some tough losses."

Millikin is led by workhorse senior running back Nathan Wallick, who has rushed for 514 yards. Wallick shredded the Titans for 217 yards and three touchdowns in the Big Blue's 29-27 win at Wesleyan Stadium last season. Quarterback Joe Albin has thrown for 848 yards and six TDs.

"I think he's the premier running back in the conference," Eash said. "When they get on a roll they like to feed him the ball 30 times a game. They have a big offensive line and they're going to try and run at you.

"They're a good football team. They've kind of had the same type of season we have. They've played some really good people and we have, too."

Neibuhr confirmed the Titans will see plenty of Wallick.

"I thought his fire and desire really carried over to the whole unit last week," Neibuhr said. "He's really stepped it up a notch from his intensity, if that was possible."

The Titans received a big lift last week from sophomore quarterback Nick Panno, who ran for a 51-yard TD and threw for two other scores against Carthage. Panno will again start in place of Brandon Cotter, who is still out with an ankle injury.

"I thought he did a great job in his first start," Eash said. "He gives us a big-play type of option back there at quarterback. His speed and quickness were very obvious."

Panno, who transferred to IWU last spring after focusing on academics for 1½ years at Illinois, saw his first game action since playing at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School.

"I felt at home out there," Panno said. "It was nice to get back there and make some plays."

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Titan essentials

Site: Frank Lindsay Field, Decatur

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: IWU 1-4 overall, 0-2 CCIW; Millikin 2-3, 1-1

Coaches: IWU's Norm Eash has a 117-67-1 record in 20 seasons at his alma mater. Doug Neibuhr has an 11-year record of 65-38 at his alma mater and a 115-56-1 mark in 18 seasons overall.

Illinois Wesleyan leaders: Rushing - Marcus Dunlop (306 yards, 2 touchdowns); Passing - Brandon Cotter (60-114, 599 yards, 4 touchdowns); Receiving - Martin Ceisel (27 catches, 385 yards, 4 touchdowns); Scoring - Martin Ceisel (4 touchdowns, 24 points); Tackles - Bo Osburn (42)

Millikin leaders: Rushing - Nathan Wallick (514 yards, 3 touchdowns); Passing - Joe Albin (73-135, 848 yards, 6 touchdowns); Receiving - Matt Kormelink (16 catches, 238 yards, 3 touchdowns); Scoring - Nathan Wallick (4 touchdowns, 24 points), Jake Polich (4 touchdowns, 24 points; Tackles - Stefen Edwards (35)

Illinois Wesleyan injuries: Quarterback Brandon Cotter is out with a high ankle sprain.

Augustana injuries: None

What to watch for

- IWU needs to rebound after watching Carthage erupt for 22 points in a six-minute span of the fourth quarter to hand the Titans a stunning 31-28 homecoming loss last week.

- Millikin is coming off a 36-6 road win over North Park that snapped a three-game losing streak, all against ranked opponents.

- Sophomore Nick Panno ran 51 yards for a touchdown and threw for 193 yards and two scores while making his first start at quarterback last week for the Titans.

- Nathan Wallick carried 40 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns in Millikin's 29-27 win over IWU last season in Bloomington.

Points of interest

- Millikin holds a 53-38-7 lead over IWU in a series dating to 1904. The teams have split their last six meetings.

- After padding his school records for carries (847) and rushing yards (4,167) last week, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Wallick needs five touchdowns and 47 points to tie Millikin's records in those categories.

- Despite nursing a shoulder injury, IWU junior defensive back Bo Osburn leads the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with an average of 10.5 tackles per game.

- Millikin punter Aaron McLean leads Division III with an average of 44.4 yards per kick.

Sounding off

- "We need to get that good feeling back we had after the Olivet game (21-6 win). We came close last week. We've just got to finish it, and we will. Our players have great attitudes and I believe in them. They believe in themselves and their teammates and that's all you can do at this time." - IWU coach Norm Eash

- "(Wallick) is real big with the cut-back lane and reading where the holes are in the defense. We have to make sure we have two or three guys tackling him because he's a truck. He's a lot of guy to bring down." - IWU linebacker Charlie Welke

- "Nothing in our locker room has changed. We're a 1-4 football team, but we know we're a lot better than that. We're looking to run the table. We still have a lot of good things to do this year." - IWU quarterback Nick Panno

- "The nicest thing about (snapping a three-game losing streak) was seeing the smiles on the kids faces because they had worked hard. Our hope is this win will kick start us into a good stretch in October." - Millikin coach Doug Neibuhr

Compiled by Douglas Hamm