FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
WHEATON, Ill. (Oct. 25, 2008) - Putting together its most poised and precise effort of the season, the North Central College football team proved it belonged among the NCAA Division III football elite on Saturday, as the seventh-ranked Cardinals went to fourth-ranked Wheaton College's home field and overwhelmed the hosts, 44-21.
With the win, North Central (7-0, 4-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) assumes sole possession of first place in the CCIW and reclaims the Little Brass Bell for just the second time in the last 11 seasons. The Cardinals took control of the contest early and never relented, owning a 23-0 halftime lead and pulling ahead by as many as 30 points in the second half.
After being forced to punt away their first possession of the evening, the Cardinals got a bonus opportunity to post the first score, courtesy of a huge defensive play by Matt Wenger (Jr., Davis, Ill./Dakota). The reigning CCIW Defensive Player of the Week sacked Wheaton quarterback Sean Norris near midfield, forcing a fumble. David Treglown (Sr., Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) pounced on the ball at the Thunder 30-yard line, instantly putting the guests in striking distance. Eight plays later, Andrew Barciszewski (Fr., Troy, Ill./Triad) nudged North Central in front, 3-0, sending a 19-yard field goal attempt through the uprights with 8:54 remaining in the opening period.
The Cardinals' next trip into Wheaton territory came after a Thunder punt late in the first period. Taking over at his own 28-yard line, Aaron Fanthorpe (Jr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) fired a 23-yard pass to Kyle Fiedorowicz (Fr., Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) to move North Central to the Wheaton 49, and a 17-yard run by Dominic Sulo (Jr., Oak Forest, Ill./Mt. Carmel) was followed by a penalty on the hosts, leaving the Cardinals 17 yards from the end zone. Once again, however, the Wheaton defense stiffened, forcing another field goal attempt. Barciszewski nailed a 28-yard kick with 13:21 left in the second period, doubling North Central's lead to 6-0.
The Cardinals' defense forced its second turnover of the night on the ensuing drive, as defensive end Tim Janecek (Jr., Bridgeview, Ill./Argo) intercepted a pass by Norris at the line of scrimmage, returning it 32 yards to the Wheaton 29-yard line. The first touchdown of the night came two plays later, as Fanthorpe connected with Hank Johnston (Jr., Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way East) on a 21-yard scoring pass, providing the guests with a 13-0 advantage with 8:26 to play in the first half.
Norris was also intercepted on the next Wheaton possession, as Tyler Venier (Sr., Dixon, Ill./Dixon) hauled in his first pick of the season at the Cardinals' 46 with 6:31 to play in the period. A 35-yard pass from Fanthorpe to Johnston yielded a first down at the Thunder seven-yard line, and Fanthorpe ran untouched up the middle on the very next play, giving North Central a commanding 20-0 lead with 4:37 still to play before halftime.
The Cardinals' final scoring drive of the first half followed a Wheaton punt. Starting at its own 20, North Central moved down the field quickly, as Fanthorpe completed a 31-yard pass to Steve Hlavac (So., Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and a 30-yard strike to Fiedorowicz. Barciszewski tied a North Central single-game record with his third made field goal, converting a 20-yard kick with just 10 seconds on the clock to put his team on top, 23-0.
Wheaton (6-1, 3-1 CCIW) started the second half with vigor, eager to begin chipping away at the Cardinals' lead. The Thunder took the first step on the opening drive of the second half, traveling 59 yards in seven plays for its first score of the contest. After keeping the drive alive with a fourth-down conversion at the North Central 35-yard line, Norris completed a 14-yard TD pass to Freddy Ellis with 11:37 on the third-quarter clock, narrowing the gap to 23-7.
Unfazed by Wheaton's newfound offensive proficiency, the Cardinals returned the favor by scoring on their initial second-half possession as well. Fanthorpe completed passes of 14 and six yards to Hlavac before running for 23 yards to the Wheaton 14. Sulo required three carries to get into the end zone, scoring on a one-yard plunge with 8:40 to play in the period.
The Cardinals' defense came back onto the field determined to halt the Thunder's offensive momentum, and ended Wheaton's next drive by forcing its fourth turnover of the game. Treglown sacked Norris, knocking the ball loose near the 50-yard line. Janecek pounced on the ball at midfield, setting the stage for yet another North Central score. Fanthorpe crossed the goal line for the second time after five plays, scoring from five yards away. With 5:59 still on the third-quarter clock, the Cardinals' lead ballooned to 37-7.
The Thunder resumed its comeback effort on its next possession, driving 75 yards in eight plays to reach the end zone once again. Norris, who completed 4 of 4 passes on the drive, flung a five-yard touchdown pass to Mike Berttucci, leaving the score at 37-14. Wheaton continued to make things interesting on its next possession as well, as Norris threw a 60-yard bomb to Ellis for another score after the Thunder's defense forced a punt. The hosts trailed by just a 37-21 count with 12:48 remaining in the game.
Wheaton had the opportunity to post a score on a third straight drive, venturing into the Cardinals' half of the field once again. A fourth-down conversion attempt from the 36-yard line was unsuccessful, however, giving the ball back to the North Central offense. The Cardinals succeeded not only in bleeding more than six minutes off of the clock on the drive that followed, but also in further padding their lead. On fourth down from the Wheaton 25-yard line, Fanthorpe fired his second touchdown pass of the evening to Jeff Grunwald (So., Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East), putting the visitors ahead, 44-21, with just 2:48 to play. The North Central defense shut down the Thunder one final time to close out the victory.
Fanthorpe completed 18 of 28 passes for 294 yards, while also running for 45 yards on 10 carries, and Sulo turned in an even 100 yards on 25 carries. Hlavac caught five passes for 63 yards, while Fiedorowicz made four grabs for 78 yards and Johnston caught four passes for 72 yards. Wenger led North Central in tackles for the seventh straight game, making nine stops, while also turning in 3.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Derek Sulo (Jr., Oak Forest, Ill./Mt. Carmel) made seven tackles and Janecek and Nick Hicks (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage) each finished with six.
Norris was 18 of 33 passing for 244 yards, throwing five times to Alex Pokorny, who gained 68 yards. Rocky Gingg ran for a team-high 63 yards on 16 carries for the Thunder.
The Cardinals play the first of two straight home games on Saturday, hosting Illinois Wesleyan University. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
