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

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Sept. 17: North Central College Cardinals (2-0) at Illinois Wesleyan University Titans (1-0)

Kickoff: 6 p.m., Tucci Stadium
Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu
Game Updates: @NCC_Athletics
Series History: IWU leads, 36-26-3

Setting the Scene: The Cardinals look to build upon a promising start to their 2016 season, hitting the road to begin conference play with the goal of continuing their recent success against the Titans.


Series History: This is the 66th football meeting between the two institutions. The Titans own a 36-26-3 edge in the all-time series, though North Central has won the past six meetings and 12 of the last 13.

In last season's encounter, also in Bloomington, the Cardinals secured a 33-15 victory and limited IWU to 184 yards of total offense. North Central never trailed in the game, getting a safety and an 18-yard touchdown run from Austin Breunig in the first quarter and tacking on a one-yard TD plunge by Matt Randolph to carry a 16-7 edge into halftime.

Al Willett extended North Central's lead to 23-7 in the third period, returning a botched punt snap for a touchdown. The Titans narrowed the gap to 23-15 on Jack Warner's 11-yard scoring pass to Andrew Javorka, but the Cardinals got a 27-yard field goal from Dom Zavaglia and a 19-yard TD run from Breunig to put the contest away.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 9 in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll for the second straight week.

Scouting the Titans: Illinois Wesleyan opened its season on Saturday with a victory, coming from behind to secure a 17-13 win at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Trailing, 13-3, at halftime, the Titans scored on their first possession of the second half as quarterback Jack Donegan completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to wideout Austin Wagner. Donegan put IWU in front early in the fourth quarter with a 12-yard TD pass to running back Austin Harrell. After an attempt to extend the lead resulted in a blocked field goal, the Titans forced a punt and were able to maintain possession for the final 5:08 of the contest to preserve the win.

IWU outgained the Prairie Wolves, 343-264, and recovered a pair of fumbles. Donegan completed 19 of 28 passes for 218 yards, while tailback Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore gained 120 yards on 25 rushing attempts.

Linebackers Tyler Fahey and Luke Roth paced the Titans' defense with nine tackles each, while defensive end Kyle Venhuizen contributed three tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central improved to 2-0 against NAIA scholarship programs on Saturday, using a big third quarter to cruise past Webber International, 38-21.

After carrying a 10-0 lead into halftime, the Cardinals scored on each of their four third-quarter drives to put the game out of reach before allowing their reserves to play out the final period.

Broc Rutter continued his outstanding early-season production at quarterback, completing 22 of 26 passes for 284 yards. He was a perfect 10 for 10 for 163 yards and all three of his touchdowns during the decisive third period.

Austin Breunig gained a team-high 62 rushing yards and caught a career-best seven passes, while Alex Ulmer, Cory Hartema and Ryan Kuhl each caught TD passes and Oshayne Brown and Jack Dibble both found the end zone on the ground. Liam Crotty closed the first half with a 32-yard field goal.

The Cardinals' defense allowed just 109 total yards while the starters were in the game and totaled 11 tackles for loss. North Central tallied seven quarterback sacks, one shy of the singlegame school record.

DJ Warkenthien led the way with eight tackles and two sacks, also forcing a fumble on a kickoff return. Billy Douds added six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks while Noah Boardman and Andrew Kray each recovered fumbles.

CCIW Players of the Week: In recognition of their performances against Webber International, Rutter and Warkenthien were selected as the CCIW Players of the Week on offense and defense, respectively.

D3football.com Team of the Week: Warkenthien was also selected to this week's D3football.com Team of the Week at the Special Teams position, designated for special-teams contributors who are not kickers, punters or returners.

The Cardinals have had a Team of the Week representative following each of their first two games, as Pat Cravens made the list following the season-opening win over Robert Morris-Chicago.

Around the CCIW: Other conference openers this week feature North Park traveling to Elmhurst, Wheaton traveling to Carthage and Carroll heading to
Augustana. Millikin has a bye week this week, which each CCIW team will have in the new-look nine-team conference. Carroll, a CCIW member from 1955 to
1992, rejoins the conference this year.

North Central Career Rankings:  Brown and Breunig currently rank 14th (1,429) and 15th (1,387), respectively, in the Cardinals' history in career rushing yards. Breunig also ranks 12th in rushing touchdowns (18), 13th in total touchdowns (19) and 18th in all-purpose yards (1,634). Brown ranks 17th in rushing touchdowns (14).

Quarterback Justin Hunniford currently sits 11th all-time in touchdown passes (10) and completed passes (118) and 14th in passing yards (1,527).

Ryan Kuhl ranks ninth all-time in touchdown receptions (12) while Ulmer ranks 14th (9). Ulmer is also 12th in receiving yards (1,037) and 18th in receptions (60). Justin Stuursma ranks 18th in the Cardinals' history in tackles for loss (18.5) and quarterback sacks (7).

Justin Stuursma ranks 18th in the Cardinals' history in tackles for loss (18.5) and quarterback sacks (7).
'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 the newly-redesigned northcentralcardinals.com.