FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Nov. 14, 2009 – The North Central College football team stands at the top of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin standings for the fourth straight season, clinching a share of the 2009 title on Saturday with a 49-24 Senior Day victory over Elmhurst College at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The Cardinals (8-2, 6-1 CCIW) share this year's championship with Illinois Wesleyan University (9-1, 6-1 CCIW), which finished the regular season with a 49-0 win over North Park University.

North Central, which has led the nation in scoring most of the season, wasted little time getting on the board in the opening period, taking its opening drive 67 yards in seven plays and scoring on a three-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Fanthorpe to Kyle Fiedorowicz. The Bluejays (4-6, 1-6) managed to maintain possession for more than seven minutes on their first drive, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Tyler Lomnicki.

Joe Antonacci seized back any lost momentum for the Cardinals, returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to the Elmhurst 16-yard line. Phillip Rossberg ran for a TD on the next play, increasing the hosts' advantage to 14-3.

The visitors put together another extended drive, eating up five minutes in a 13-play, 68-yard possession which culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by Nick Herrrera and narrowing the gap to 14-10. The Cardinals restored their double-digit advantage on their next trip down the field, traveling 61 yards in seven plays. Fanthorpe ran two yards for the score, making a leap for the goal line and getting spun in the air by a last-ditch tackle attempt, to give North Central a 21-10 edge.

Later in the second period, Elmhurst recovered a fumble and attempted a 39-yard field goal which sailed wide. On the next play, Hank Johnston took the ball on a reverse and lofted a pass to Andy Stuursma, who rambled 78 yards for a touchdown and a 28-10 lead. The pass was the longest this season for the Cardinals and the third-longest passing play in school history.

After a Bluejay punt, Fanthorpe led the Cardinals down the field for their final first-half score, finding Johnston for a 20-yard TD pass with 1:03 on the clock. Elmhurst quarterback Joe Furco, however, was able to counter with the final touchdown of the second period, a four-yarder to Rodney Payton with just 1.9 seconds left. North Central went into halftime with a 35-17 advantage.

North Central opened the second-half scoring by covering 77 yards in just three plays midway through the third period. A 41-yard run by Rossberg moved the Cardinals into their opponents' half of the field, and Fanthorpe found Fiedorowicz for a 29-yard TD throw on the next play. Linebacker Scott Skuteris ended Elmhurst's next drive with an interception at the North Central 40, and three plays later, Rossberg ran 42 yards for the home team's final score.

The only fourth-quarter scoring came when Furco sent a pass deep to Payton, who made the catch after it was tipped by a defender and ran 46 yards to the end zone.

The Cardinals' 560 yards of offense were as evenly distributed as possible, with 280 yards coming on the ground and 280 through the air. Rossberg ran for 133 yards on just 10 carries, while Pat Malek gained 112 yards on 19 attempts. Fanthorpe was 15 of 22 passing for 202 yards. Stuursma gained 96 yards on three receptions and Johnston caught four balls for 70 yards.

Stewart Charles was North Central's top tackler with 11 stops, three pas breakups and two tackles for loss. Willie Hayes, Josh McLeod and Joe Schneiderbauer each made seven tackles.

The Cardinals now have 490 points this season, breaking the previous school record of 442, and have also established new single-season records for rushing touchdowns (35) and total touchdowns (70). North Central's 31 passing touchdowns ties the school record.

Furco was 25 of 55 passing for 310 yards. Mitch Holmer caught 10 passes for 145 yards and Payton made six grabs for 106. Wayne Tuckson was the team's leader in tackles (10).

Selections for the 2009 NCAA Division III Football Championship will be announced Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPNews. The tournament bracket will be made available at ncaa.com immediately following the announcement.