FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
Nov. 1, 2008 - The North Central College football team is now 8-0 for just the second time in the program's history, as the Cardinals made use of seven takeaways and a 24-point second quarter to vanquish the visiting Illinois Wesleyan University Titans, 30-7, at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The second-ranked Cardinals, now 5-0 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play, turned three of Illinois Wesleyan's turnovers into points, including the first touchdown of the game. After a 52-yard punt by Adam Pucylowski (Sr., New Berlin, Wis./Catholic Memorial) pinned the Titans on their own nine-yard line, the visitors fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, and David Treglown (Sr., Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) fell on the ball at the IWU 8.
On fourth down at the one-yard line, Pat Malek (Jr., St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) took an option pitch to the left side for his first touchdown of the season. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving the Cardinals' lead at 6-0 just 3:51 into the contest.
The teams traded punts before the North Central defense came up big again, as Matt Wenger (Jr., Davis, Ill./Dakota) picked off quarterback Kraig Ladd's pass and returned it 14 yards to the Titans' 32-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Kyle Kniss (Sr., Lanark, Ill./Eastland) completed a 12-yard TD pass to Joe Sosinski (Sr., New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie), putting the hosts ahead, 13-0, with 14:14 to play in the second period.
Sosinski was a pivotal figure in the Cardinals' next drive as well, hauling a 58-yard pass from Kniss to move his team to the Illinois Wesleyan 11. Dominic Sulo (Jr., Oak Forest, Ill./Mt. Carmel) then ran in for the score, and the lead expanded to 20-0 with 10:31 still to go before halftime.
The Cardinals appeared en route to their third straight scoring drive before Titan defensive back Neal Loftus intercepted a pass at his own nine-yard line. IWU traveled 91 yards in 10 plays, breaking up the shutout with Ladd's 18-yard TD throw to Chris Messina with 1:46 to play.
Kniss began the rush to get into position for a final score before the break, completing a 13-yard pass to Mike MacIntosh (Sr., Decatur, Ill./Mt. Zion) and a 23-yard toss to Joe Rubin (Sr., Roselle, Ill./Lake Park), setting up a first down at the Titan's 24. Sulo ran for 11 yards before Kniss covered the final 13 by himself, increasing the advantage to 27-7 with just 20 seconds on the clock.
North Central, however, was afforded one more scoring opportunity in the little time that remained, as a fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Cardinal kicker Shaun Wild (So., Brown Deer, Wis./Northern Illinois Univ.) After a quick completion by Kniss to Hank Johnston (Jr., Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way East), Andrew Barciszewski (Fr., Troy, Ill./Triad) connected on a season-long 33-yard field goal with time running out.
The Cardinals' defensive unit repeatedly thwarted IWU's attempts at igniting a comeback in the second half, as four of the Titans' last five possessions resulted in turnovers in North Central territory. Taylor Overman (Fr., Winfield, Ill./West Chicago) recovered a fumble and Tyler Venier (Sr., Dixon, Ill./Dixon) intercepted a pass in the third quarter, with Wenger and Joe Antonacci (Fr., Naperville, Ill./Drake Univ.) picking off passes in the fourth period.
Kniss completed 9 of 17 passes for 149 yards, with Sosinski making four grabs for 90 yards. Sulo picked up a game-high 76 rushing yards on 19 carries. Wenger tallied 11 tackles to lead the Cardinals for the eighth straight game, while Treglown turned in seven stops and Derek Sulo (Jr., Oak Forest, Ill./Mt. Carmel) recorded six.
Ladd completed 25 of 40 passes for 240 yards for Illinois Wesleyan (5-3, 2-3 CCIW). Martin Ceisel caught eight passes for 103 yards, while Tom Almanzo recorded seven catches for 48 yarsd and Eli Williams snagged seven balls for 46 yards. Nick Nikolich was the Titans' top tackler with seven.
The Cardinals will look to maintain their hold on first place in the CCIW on Saturday, hosting Augustana College (Ill.) The Vikings (6-2, 4-1) sit alone in second place in the conference standings following a 52-0 victory over North Park University (Ill.)
Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. North Central will conduct its annual Senior Day ceremonies prior to kickoff.
