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

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Oct. 21: Augustana College Vikings (1-6, 1-4 CCIW) at North Central College Cardinals (5-1, 3-1 CCIW)

Kickoff: 2 p.m., Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
Video: Naperville Community Television, Channel 17/nctv17.com
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/ncc/football
Game Updates via Twitter: @NCC_Athletics
Series History: Augustana leads, 55-30-1

Setting the Scene: Still tied for first place in the CCIW standings, the Cardinals look to get back on track following the season's first loss with a Homecoming victory over Augustana.

Series History: This is the 87th football meeting between the two institutions. Augustana owns a 55-30-1 advantage in the all-time series, though the Cardinals have won each of the last 11 times the teams have taken the field.

North Central traveled to Rock Island on Oct. 22 of last season and returned home victors by a 42-21 count. The Cardinals owned a 35-0 lead at halftime, with three of their five scoring drives in the first two periods consisting of four plays or less.

Scouting the Vikings: Augustana missed out on a second conference victory by the slimmest of margins on Saturday, as a late Millikin field goal lifted the Big Blue to a 28-27 victory on the Vikings' home field.

Augustana had led throughout the game, extending its advantage to 20-7 after Austin Chausse returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a touchdown. 

Millikin rallied to trail by just a 27-25 count late in the game, then stopped a fourth-down conversion attempt before taking its only lead of the day on a 27-yard field goal with 1:01 on the clock.

The Vikings average 303 yards of offense per game and have used three different quarterbacks this season. Junior Luke Bleyer and freshman Alek Jacobs both saw time under center against Millikin. Bleyer has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 479 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions, while Jacobs, despite attempting just 40 passes, has run for 321 yards and four TDs.

Sophomore Devin Haxby (52 tackles) and junior Cassin Wolfe (50 tackles) are the leaders of a defense which has yielded 32.1 points and 380.9 yards per game. 

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central suffered a 42-20 loss to Wheaton in a game which began on Saturday but was not completed until Monday, as play was suspended due to lightning after the first half had concluded.

The Thunder scored 35 points in the second half to put the contest out of reach after trailing, 13-7, at the half. Dominick Muoghalu scored both of the Cardinals' touchdowns on runs of four and five yards, while Liam Crotty made field-goal attempts from 19 and 23 yards. Muoghalu now has 11 rushing touchdowns this season, while Crotty has made 11 of 12 field goals.

Andrew Kamienski established season highs with nine receptions and 130 receiving yards, while DJ Warkenthien paced the defense with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception.
 
This Week in the CCIW: Carthage is on the road at Illinois Wesleyan this week, while Carroll travels to Millikin and Wheaton plays at North Park. Elmhurst is idle this week.

CCIW Statistical Rankings: North Central is currently leading the CCIW in first downs (138), average time of possession (33:02), red-zone offense (91.2%), net punting average (36.6 yards per punt), third-down conversion percentage (50.0%), fewest quarterback sacks allowed (10) and punt return average (15.9 yards per return).

Austin Breunig is leading the CCIW in all-purpose yards (146.8 per game), while Muoghalu ranks first in total touchdowns (11) and Crotty leads in points scored by kicking per game (9.0).

North Central Career Rankings:  Broc Rutter ranks fourth in North Central history in career touchdown passes (47), passing yards (4,871) and pass completions (349).

Breunig ranks fourth all-time in all-purpose yards (3,525) and rushing yards (2,597) and fifth in rushing touchdowns (25), and Crotty sits fourth in field goals made (19) and fifth in extra-point kicks made (80).

Pat Cravens ranks fourth in school history in punt return yards (626), 13th in interceptions (8) and 15th in pass breakups (15). Justin Stuursma and Tommy Sora rank seventh (228) and 11th (197) in total tackles, respectively.

Stuursma also currently ranks 11th tackles for loss (30.5), while DJ Warkenthien sits 12th (28.5), and Billy Douds is 10th in quarterback sacks (13.5).

'Red Zone' Returns in 2017: 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 10th season on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17.

The show airs each Thursday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Friday at 12:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at midnight. 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.