By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Brinton Wilkey Jr. remembers his first senior day at Illinois Wesleyan.

The defensive back-turned linebacker wrapped up his freshman season as a starter on a 4-6 team. One one of several current senior who played on that 2014 team, he can appreciate more than most the Titans will be playing for a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title on Saturday when Millikin comes to Tucci Stadium.

“We know we are playing to have one more football game in our lives, so that’s also an added, I wouldn’t say pressure, but an exciting moment for us,” Wilkey said.

The Titans (8-1, 6-1 in the CCIW) would be assured at least a share of the title with North Central and a near-certain Division III playoff berth if IWU can hold off the Big Blue (7-2, 5-2) who believe they could also play themselves into the playoffs with a win.

“Our legacy is to bring back the dominance of Titan football,” Wilkey said. “Obviously, we’ve had a really successful program for 126 years and then had a little dip maybe our freshman year.”

IWU coach Norm Eash said his team took advantage of the bye week in part to prepare for Millikin’s multiple defense fronts.

“It’s been the best bye week I’ve been around,” Eash said. “Our kids are pretty focus, but there’s a lot of play for.”

The extra week helped senior tight end Andrew Apel return from a torn ACL. He wasn’t going to miss the game with everything at stake.

“This is a championship week, not a senior day, Apel said. “We are looking at it more as a team thing not about our class for our last guaranteed home game. It’s about wining a championship and getting into the NCAA playoffs.”

WJBC.com will have the play-by-play at 12:45 p.m.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].