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

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Nov. 11: North Central College Cardinals (8-1, 6-1 CCIW) at Elmhurst College Bluejays (2-7, 2-5 CCIW)

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Langhorst Field
Video: www.bluejaytv.com/
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/elmhurst/football
Game Updates via Twitter: @NCC_Athletics
Series History: North Central leads, 55-21-1

Setting the Scene: An automatic bid to the postseason and at least a share of a conference title are within grasp for the Cardinals this week, as they head to Elmhurst looking for a fourth straight win.

Series History: This is the 78th football meeting between the two institutions. North Central owns a 55-21-1 lead in the all-time series and has won each of the past 18 contests.

The Cardinals cruised to a 59-17 victory at home in last year's meeting, scoring on the first play from scrimmage as Broc Rutter connected with Ryan Kuhl on a 75-yard touchdown pass. North Central scored 28 of the game's first 31 points, then slammed the door by putting up 21 unanswered points after halftime.

Kuhl wound up catching nine passes for 157 yards and two scores as Rutter finished the day 22 of 35 passing for 351 yards and four TDs. DJ Warkenthien recorded 2.5 of North Central's seven qaurterback sacks and Pat Cravens added a 29-yard interception return.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked ninth nationally by D3football.com and 14th by the American Football Coaches Association this week.

Scouting the Bluejays: Elmhurst traveled to Millikin last week, absorbing a 41-7 setback for its third straight loss. The Bluejays trailed by just a 14-7 count at halftime but saw four of their final five possessions result in interceptions, two of which were returned to the end zone.

Junior quarterback Orlando Hernandez has contributed the majority of Elmhurst's offensive output, throwing for 1,342 yards and 12 touchdowns while running for a team-high 319 yards and two scores. Tight end Matt Brachmann and wideout Hasahn Austin have each caught five TD passes.

Linebacker Joe Nixon has made a team-best nine tackles for loss, while defensive end Romain Richards has recorded five of the Bluejays' 15 quarterback sacks.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central made use of a record-setting performance by Austin Breunig to post a 43-20 Senior Day victory over Carthage on Saturday.

Breunig established single-game school records for rushing yards (264) and all-purpose yards (350) while becoming the first North Central player to score five touchdowns in a game.

As a team, the Cardinals rushed for 314 yards and gained a total of 581 offensive yards, setting new season highs for the third straight week. 

North Central has averaged 560 yards and 52 points per game the past three weeks. The Cardinals have scored 23 touchdowns during that time, 14 of which have come on the ground.

CCIW Players of the Week: Breunig was named the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Week this week, giving him the award for the third time this season. 

North Park defensive back David Simmons, Jr. and Wheaton kicker Stefan Knoerr were named the CCIW's Players of the Week on defense and special teams, respectively.

Breunig and Knoerr are the only CCIW players to win three Player of the Week awards this season. 
 
This Week in the CCIW: A win in this week's game assures the Cardinals at least a tie for the CCIW Championship and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.

Millikin travels to Illinois Wesleyan this week, while North Park plays at Carthage and Wheaton visits Carroll. Augustana has completed its season.

CCIW Statistical Rankings: North Central is currently leading the CCIW in total offensive yards per game (475.9), average time of possession (32:07), red-zone offense (92.0%), third-down conversions (50.8%), net punting average (35.5 yards per punt), quarterback sacks (35), fewest quarterback sacks allowed (11) and total first downs (216).

Breunig is leading the CCIW in rushing yards (126.3 per game), all-purpose yards (170.7 per game) and touchdowns (14), while Rutter has the conference's highest passing efficiency rating (157.7) and Zane Lodico leads in punting average (41.6).

North Central Career Rankings:  Rutter ranks fourth in North Central history in career touchdown passes (56), passing yards (5,657) and pass completions (400).

Breunig ranks third all-time in total touchdowns scored (39) and fourth in all-purpose yards (4,180), rushing yards (3,143) and rushing touchdowns (33). Crotty sits second in extra-point kicks made (96) and fourth in field goals made (20).

Pat Cravens ranks third in school history in punt return yards (687), 13th in interceptions (8) and 14th in pass breakups (16). Tommy Sora ranks 10th (211) in total tackles, while DJ Warkenthien is ninth in tackles for loss (33.5) and Billy Douds is ninth in quarterback sacks (15.5).

'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.