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

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Oct. 28: North Central College Cardinals (6-1, 4-1 CCIW) at Carroll University Pioneers (1-6, 1-4 CCIW)

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Schneider Stadium
Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/carroll/
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/carrollu/football
Game Updates via Twitter: @NCC_Athletics
Series History: Carroll leads, 30-19-2

Setting the Scene: Fresh off a Homecoming victory featuring dominant performances in all phases of the game, the Cardinals hit the road looking to build on last week's success as the regular season's home stretch draws closer.

Series History: This is the 52nd football meeting between the two institutions. Carroll owns a 30-19-2 advantage in the all-time series, which was renewed after a 21-year hiatus last year with a 62-7 North Central victory at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The Cardinals scored touchdowns on eight of their first nine possessions in the contest, three of which came in the first seven minutes of play, and owned a 56-0 advantage by halftime.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked 10th nationally by D3football.com and 15th by the American Football Coaches Association this week.

Scouting the Pioneers: Carroll traveled to Millikin on Saturday and hung tough with the Big Blue before giving up two touchdowns in a 48-second span late in the contest, losing by a score of 56-35.

The score stood at 42-35 with 8:42 to play after Drake Pusateri scored on a four-yard touchdown run, but Millikin gave itself some breathing room by scoring on the ensuing drive. The Big Blue put the game on ice with an interception return for a touchdown with 4:27 remaining.

Carroll posted its highest point total and second-highest offensive yardage total (411) of the season in the game. Junior quarterback Colton Bahling completed 25 of 41 passes for a season-high 329 yards, throwing for three TDs and running for another. 

Bahling has contributed to 16 of the Pioneers' 19 offensive touchdowns, throwing for 10 and running for six. He has passed for 1,244 yards and is Carroll's leading rusher (283 yards) as well.

Junior Parker Zitzke (46 catches, 427 yards, three TDs) and senior Brandon Ehrke (29 catches, 575 yards, four TDs) are Bahling's primary receiving targets, while senior defensive tackle Ethan Molisee has recorded seven tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks. 

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central controlled Saturday's Homecoming game from wire to wire, dismantling Augustana, 54-2.

North Central broke the game open with a 27-point second quarter, working with a short field on two occasions due to an interception by Matt Sutherland and a blocked punt by Tyler Holl.

The Cardinals established season highs in points, rushing yards (252), total offensive yards (538), tackles for loss (12) and quarterback sacks (8).

Broc Rutter completed 20 of 28 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns, while Austin Breunig ran 21 times for 114 yards and three scores. 

Breunig posted the fourth 100-yard game of the season and the ninth of his career, while Rutter has thrown for at least 200 yards in each game this season and 17 of 19 career games for the Cardinals.

CCIW Players of the Week: Breunig was named the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Augustana, earning the distinction for the second time this season.

Illinois Wesleyan defensive back Trevor Staley was named the CCIW's Defensive Player of the Week and Millikin kicker Noah Spelman was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Second-Quarter Success: North Central has scored 119 of its 260 points this season in the second quarter. The Cardinals put up 34 second-quarter points at Millikin and 29 at Washington.

The most points scored in a single quarter by any North Central team is 35, first accomplished in a 70-26 victory over Bethel (Tennessee) in 2011 and matched in a 56-21 victory at Millikin in 2015.
 
This Week in the CCIW: North Park travels to face Augustana this week, while Illinois Wesleyan ventures to Elmhurst and Millikin heads to Carthage. Wheaton is idle this week.

CCIW Statistical Rankings: North Central is currently leading the CCIW in total offensive yards per game (448.6), first downs (167), average time of possession (32:36), red-zone offense (90.0%), net punting average (35.9 yards per punt), fewest quarterback sacks allowed (10) and punt return average (14.4 yards per return).

Breunig is leading the CCIW in rushing yards (100.7 per game) and all-purpose yards (145.4 per game), while Dominick Muoghalu ranks first in total touchdowns (11), Zane Lodico leads in punting average (42.7) and Liam Crotty leads in points scored by kicking per game (8.6).

North Central Career Rankings:  Rutter ranks fourth in North Central history in career touchdown passes (50), passing yards (5,157) and pass completions (369).

Breunig ranks fourth all-time in all-purpose yards (3,662) and rushing yards (2,711) and fifth in rushing touchdowns (28), and Crotty sits third in extra-point kicks made (86) and fourth in field goals made (19).

Pat Cravens ranks fourth in school history in punt return yards (626), 13th in interceptions (8) and 14th in pass breakups (16). Justin Stuursma and Tommy Sora rank seventh (232) and 11th (201) in total tackles, respectively. Stuursma and DJ Warkenthien are tied for 11th all-time in tackles for loss (30.5), while Billy Douds is ninth in quarterback sacks (14.5).

'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.