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

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Nov. 7, 2015) - Many hands were called upon to carry the load at Augustana College on Saturday, and the North Central College football team responded with a total team effort and the Cardinals' fourth straight victory on the road, a 27-10 conquest of the Vikings at Lindberg Stadium.

All three phases of the game were counted on for contributions and a dozen North Central players had their numbers called for rushing or receiving attempts. The Cardinals' offense built up a large early lead before the defense halted each of Augustana's attempts to build a comeback effort down the stretch.

North Central's defensive unit turned in season-high totals for tackles for loss (11) and interceptions (4) and limited the Vikings to just five rushing yards, the fourth-lowest total ever by a Cardinal opponent. Each of the four interceptions occurred in the second half, when the hosts gained just 36 yards on their final five possessions.

The Cardinals (6-3, 5-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) got on the board for the first time late in the first period, as Austin Breunig broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run with 2:44 on the clock. The score was Breunig's 14th rushing touchdown of the season, tying him for second on North Central's all-time single-season list. 

North Central started its next drive at its own three-yard line following a Viking punt near the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Justin Hunniford, back in the lineup after missing last week's game at Illinois Wesleyan University due to injury, methodically guided the Cardinals down the field on a 12-play, 97-yard possession to extend the lead to 14-0 with 10:09 on the clock. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 63 yards before scoring on his own from two yards out, his third rushing TD of the year.

The Cardinals' second scoring drive got a boost when Dom Zavaglia kept the drive alive with a 12-yard run on a fake punt. North Central's second fake punt attempt did not go as well, as Zavaglia's pass was intercepted by Augustana's Ryan Hennessy in North Central territory. The Vikings were unable to gain any yards, but did convert a 42-yard field goal attempt by Jacob Stytz with 2:02 before halftime.

Tyler Oakley gave North Central a short field of its own after returning the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the Vikings' 30-yard line. The Cardinals tacked on a third touchdown with just 29 seconds on the clock, as Kyle Brown scored his first collegiate TD on a 11-yard pass from Hunniford.

North Central opened the second half with possession, but the Vikings tipped a pass at the line and intercepted it at midfield on the first play from scrimmage. Augustana quarterback Chris Salazar, called upon early in the contest in relief of starter Sam Frasco, completed 4 of 5 passes before handing off to running back Ryan Pitra for a three-yard score, the hosts' lone touchdown of the day. 

The Cardinals scored for the final time after Kevin Schroeder collected North Central's first interception of the afternoon, wrestling the ball away from Augustana receiver Danny Lattner at the Vikings' 26. Five plays later, Dylan Warden scrambled to his right and dove for the corner of the end zone to complete a 10-yard touchdown run with 4:30 on the third-quarter clock.

Augustana (3-6, 2-4 CCIW) saw five of its final six drive result in turnovers. Schroeder added a second interception, Oakley and Richard Zirngibl made picks as well, and two drives resulted in turnovers on downs. Steve Liaromatis forced one failed fourth-down conversion with one of the Cardinals' four quarterback sacks.

North Central outgained the Vikings, 367-211. Breunig finished with 93 rushing yards on 12 first-half carries, leaving him just six yards short of becoming the sixth Cardinal to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season. Matt Randolph ran for 65 yards on 13 attempts, while Hunniford completed 11 of 20 passes for 126 yards. Ryan Kuhl caught a team-high four passes for 27 yards.

Zirngibl made a team-high nine tackles for the Cardinals, while Schroeder and Tom Sora each made seven stops and Liaromatis finished with a team-best three tackles for loss. Zavaglia punted six times for a 41.0-yard average, including a career-long 66-yard punt.

Salazar completed 17 of 39 passes for 185 yards, hitting Sean Fitzgerald nine times for 81 yards. Linebacker Jack Asquini made a game-high 14 tackles.

The Cardinals close out the campaign next Saturday, hosting Elmhurst College (4-5, 1-5 CCIW) at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with Senior Day activities to be conducted prior to the game. Links to live audio and in-game statistics, as well as a live video broadcast by Naperville Community Television (NCTV), can be accessed by clicking HERE.