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

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Oct. 8: North Central College Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 CCIW) at North Park University Vikings (1-4, 0-3 CCIW)

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Holmgren Athletic Complex
Video: athletics.northpark.edu/sports/2016/10/5/north-park-vs-north-central-college-football-10-8-16.aspx
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/nparku/football
Game Updates: @NCC_Athletics
Series History: North Central leads, 44-10-2

Setting the Scene: After a week away from competition, the Cardinals look to remain unbeaten and extend their most lengthy current winning streak against a CCIW opponent.

Series History: This is the 57th football meeting between the two institutions. North Central owns a 44-10-2 advantage in the all-time series, winning the past 20 consecutive meetings.

The Cardinals won last year's meeting in Naperville, 47-20, breaking open a 17-13 contest with a run of 30 consecutive points and establishing a single-game school record with 693 yards of total offense.

North Central gained 398 yards of its record output on the ground, led by Austin Breunig's two touchdowns and 221 rushing yards on just 19 carries.

The Cardinals have scored at least 40 points in nine of their last 11 games against North Park. The Vikings' most recent win in the series was in 1995 by a score of 29-14. 

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 6 in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll and No. 7 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll this week.

Scouting the Vikings: North Park rallied from an early deficit and nearly posted its first CCIW win of the season on Saturday, losing a narrow 23-17 decision at Millikin.

The Vikings got back into contention by intercepting passes on two straight drives, turning them into a 33-yard field goal by Alexis Santillan and a 28-yard touchdown run by Enrique Menendez. 
North Park had a chance to pick up the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over on downs near midfield with under a minute to go.

Senior quarterback T.D. Conway has gained most of the Vikings' offensive yardage through the air this season, throwing for 1,118 yards and four touchdowns, though he has been intercepted nine times. Menendez has carried the lion's share of the burden in the running game, gaining 356 yards and scoring all six of North Park's touchdowns on the ground.

The Vikings' defensive unit has allowed 392 yards and 33 points per game this season, though it has forced a CCIW-leading 15 turnovers thus far. Linebacker Chaun Maiava leads North Park in tackles (57), tackles for loss (6.5) and quarterback sacks (4), while another linebacker, Chris Washington, has collected three of the Vikings' eight interceptions.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central has been idle since a 42-7 home victory against Millikin on Sept. 24.

The Cardinals' defensive unit registered a season-high 13 tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks in the win over the Big Blue, while the offense scored on its first three possessions and gained a season-high 172 rushing yards.

Austin Breunig and Jack Dibble each rushed for a pair of touchdowns, while Broc Rutter connected with Alex Ulmer for two additional scores. Tommy Sora and Ben Wiley each made three tackles for loss and Sora added a team-best two sacks as well.

The Cardinals have held both of their CCIW opponents to single digits in the scoring column and have limited each of their past three opponents to less than 300 total yards.

CCIW Statistical Leaders: North Central leads the CCIW in scoring offense (37.2 points per game), passing offense (277.5 ypg), turnover margin (+2.5 per game) and passing efficiency (175.0).

Rutter leads the conference in passing yards (267.2 per game) and passing touchdowns (11) while Ulmer is the CCIW leader in receiving yards (81.5 per game) and receiving touchdowns (5). Kicker Liam Crotty ranks first in points scored by kicking (29) and punter Zane Lodico owns a CCIW-best 42.4-yard average.

NCAA Statistical Leaders: Through four games, North Central is ranked second nationally among 234 Division III programs in turnover margin (+2.50 per game), third in quarterback sacks (4.25 per game) and ninth in third-down conversion defense (22.2 percent). 

Rutter ranks 14th nationally in passing efficiency, while Lodico is 11th in punting average and Jeremy Niklos is 11th in passes defended (2.0 per game).

Around the CCIW: Other conference games this week feature Augustana playing at Illinois Wesleyan, Carroll visiting Elmhurst and Millikin traveling to Wheaton. Carthage is idle this week.

North Central Career Rankings:  Brown and Breunig currently rank 11th (1,528) and 13th (1,510), respectively, in the Cardinals' history in career rushing yards. Breunig also ranks ninth in rushing touchdowns (20), 11th in total touchdowns (21) and 16th in all-purpose yards (1,912). Brown ranks 15th in rushing touchdowns (15) and 20th in all-purpose yards (1,601).

Ulmer and Ryan Kuhl are tied for ninth all-time in touchdown receptions (12). Ulmer is also 10th in receiving yards (1,152) and 17th in receptions (67).

Niklos currently ranks 11th all-time in pass breakups (17) while Justin Stuursma ranks 17th in tackles for loss (19.5) and 18th in quarterback sacks (7) and Brandon Kibby ranks 20th all-time in interceptions (5).

'Red Zone' Returns in 2016: Once again, fans of North Central College football can get an insider's look at the Cardinals' football program, as 'The Red Zone' highlight show returns for its ninth season on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17.

The show airs each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and midnight, Friday at 8:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m., Saturday at 8:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. It will feature interviews with coaches and players, highlights of the previous week's game, and a look ahead to the upcoming opponent.

Each show is viewable online at nctv17.com and is archived at youtube.com/northcentralsports as well as at northcentralcardinals.com.