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

Box Score

ADA, Ohio (Sept. 5, 2009) - The 2009 season began on a sour note for the North Central College football team on Saturday, as the Cardinals were defeated, 28-19, at Ohio Northern University.

After taking an early lead, the fourth-ranked Cardinals surrendered 21 consecutive points to the Polar Bears, who avenged a 20-3 setback at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in the 2008 season opener.

North Central won the coin toss and elected to take the ball first, securing the game's first score with an 11-play, 62-yard drive. Dominic Sulo, who entered the game as the Cardinals' all-time leading scorer, ran the ball across the goal line from two yards out with 10:51 to put the visitors ahead early. The extra-point attempt sailed wide, leaving the score at 6-0 in North Central's favor.

The Cardinals forced Ohio Northern to punt away its first possession, but the Polar Bears got the ball back when ONU defensive back Jesse Richards intercepted a pass by Aaron Fanthorpe at the North Central 30-yard line. On fourth down at the 25, a pass interference penalty on the Cardinals kept the hosts' drive alive, and tailback Brent Donley scored on a two-yard run with 5:07 on the clock. ONU's PAT attempt sailed through the uprights to give the Polar Bears a 7-6 advantage.

North Central responded by pulling ahead on the ensuing drive. The guests traveled 58 yards in eight plays, seven of which were runs, and Sulo scampered into end zone from 21 yards away. Andrew Barciszewski nailed the extra-point attempt and the Cardinals led, 13-7, with 2:07 left in the opening period. North Central drove deep into Polar Bear territory early in the second period, but ONU's Chad Coward intercepted a Fanthorpe pass at his own five-yard line to end the scoring threat.

The teams traded punts before the home team embarked on its next scoring drive, which began at its own 37. Donley turned in his second TD of the day, scoring on an 18-yard jaunt, and ONU took the lead once again at 14-13. The score would hold up until halftime.

Ohio Northern's first three possessions of the second half resulted in turnovers, although the Cardinals were unable to convert any of the extra opportunities into points. Scott Hogan intercepted a pass on the opening drive of the third quarter and Willie Hayes pounced on a fumble to end the Polar Bears' next possession, but North Central wound up punting after both miscues.

Kane Thompson recovered another Ohio Northern fumble near midfield with 6:07 left in the third period. The Cardinals drove into Polar Bear territory, but defensive back Eric Wenzler picked off a pass at the home team's 20-yard line to help ONU dodge another bullet. Wenzler's interception jumpstarted an 11-play, 70-yard drive which culminated in a five-yard TD run by Donley with 35 seconds left in the period.

North Central responded with a scoring drive to narrow the gap, traveling 66 yards in eight plays. Sulo, who ran for 36 yards on six carries during the possession, scored his third TD of the day from four yards away with 12:36 left in the game. The Cardinals' two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving them with a 21-19 deficit.

Donley ran for 27 yards on the first two plays of the Polar Bears' next drive, setting the pace for a nine-play, 73-yard sojourn. ONU quarterback Kyle Simmons completed a three-yard scoring pass to running back Evan Elliott with 7:47 on the clock, providing the hosts with a nine-point edge. The Cardinals went three-and-out on their final drive and the Polar Bears ran out the clock.

Sulo finished the game with 25 carries for 120 yards, and he also led North Central's receiving efforts with four catches for 35 yards. Fanthorpe completed 11 of 21 passes for 108 yards and ran nine times for 35 yards. Tim Janecek led the Cardinals' defense with nine tackles, while Thompson totaled eight.

Donley carried the ball 29 times for 144 yards, while Simmons was 20 of 31 passing for 196 yards. Justin Linzy was ONU's top receiver, gaining 56 yards on seven catches. Jason Horn paced the Polar Bears' defensive effort with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss.

North Central opens the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, hosting Benedictine University. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.