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

WHEATON, Ill. (Oct. 16, 2017) - The North Central College football team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Monday, as Wheaton College reeled off 35 second-half points and reclaimed the Little Brass Bell with a 42-20 victory in a contest that began on Saturday before inclement weather forced the second half to be played two days later at McCully Stadium.

The Cardinals (5-1, 3-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) owned a 13-0 advantage early in the contest, as Liam Crotty connected on field goals of 19 and 23 yards and Dominick Muoghalu ran five yards for a touchdown. Wheaton got on the board just before halftime, as Spencer Peterson found Carter Roberts for a 34-yard TD pass. North Central, led 13-7, at halftime when play was suspended.

The Thunder took possession once play resumed on Monday and drove 78 yards in seven plays before taking a 14-13 lead on Curtis McWilliams' 14-yard scoring pass to TJ Williams. After forcing a punt, the hosts extended their lead to 21-13 when Sola Olateju scored on an eight-yard run. Wheaton ended the Cardinals' next drive with an interception and turned that into a touchdown as well, with McWilliams finding Trey Hanley from 15 yards out. 

North Central quarterback Broc Rutter completed 5 of 7 passes in a 10-play drive which culminated in Muoghalu's four-yard TD run and narrowed the gap to 28-20 just after the fourth quarter began. The Thunder (5-2, 3-2 CCIW), however, scored on its next two drives to put the contest out of reach.

Rutter completed 23 of 45 passes for 296 yards, as Andrew Kamienski established season highs with nine receptions for 130 yards. Austin Breunig led the Cardinals' ground game with 85 yards on 22 carries. DJ Warkenthien led North Central's defense with seven tackles, including two tackles for loss and an interception. 

McWilliams completed 18 of 29 passes for 287 yards for the Thunder. Olateju ran 22 times for 120 yards and linebacker Eric Stevenson made a game-high 10 tackles.

Still tied for first place in the CCIW standings, the Cardinals host Augustana College (1-6, 1-4) on Saturday during Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.