Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Live Video/Audio/Stats

Setting the Scene: The stakes get larger as the Cardinals prepare to host a national quarterfinal for the third time seeking a 23rd straight win and another step toward a repeat national title.

Series History: This is the first meeting between North Central and RPI in any team sport.

National Rankings: North Central has been ranked No. 1 by both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for the final seven weeks of the regular season. RPI was ranked No. 18 by D3football.com and No. 20 by the AFCA.

Scouting the Engineers: RPI went on the road to earn its spot in this week’s game, registering a 21-14 victory over SUNY Cortland in bitterly cold, snowswept conditions.

After yielding the game’s first score, the Engineers held Cortland scoreless for seven straight possessions as they moved in front. RPI’s Chris Gomes ended the Red Dragons’ final possession with an interception in Engineer territory with 1:29 to play.

RPI has lived dangerously the past couple of months, as each of its last eight games have been decided by eight points or less. The Engineers have yet to give up more than 22 points in a game.

Quarterback George Marinopoulos has thrown for 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions, averaging 190 passing yards per game. Peter Lombardi and Vinnie McDonald are the Engineers’ top receivers, while running back Dylan Burnett was the chief yardage gainer last week with 155 on 32 rushing attempts.

Safety Francis Perry has recorded five of the team’s 11 interceptions this season. 

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central led throughout a hard-fought 34-20 victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse, dictating terms over the final 12 minutes to keep the Eagles at bay.

Ethan Greenfield and Terrence Hill each rushed for two touchdowns and Greenfield also gained 198 yards on a career-high 30 carries. DeAngelo Hardy caught a 15-yard TD pass from Luke Lehnen, Hardy’s 10th, giving him seven scores in the last five games.

Nic Rummell ended a UWL drive in the Cardinals’ end zone with an interception and the North Central defense sealed the win by forcing a turnover on downs near midfield before running out the final 4:36.

After 11 games, the Cardinals have 3,407 rushing yards, 41 short of the program record. The existing record of 3,448 was set in 15 games by the 2019 national championship team.

NCAA Career Rankings: Kamienski's North Central-record reception total (326) ranks him eighth in NCAA Division III history. The career record of 463 is held by Michael Zweifel, who played for Wisconsin-La Crosse and Dubuque from 2007-2011.

With 4,850 career receiving yards, Kamienski ranks fourth all-time. The record of 6,108 yards was set by Scott Pingel of Westminster (Missouri) from 1996-99.

North Central Career Rankings:  Kamienski is the program's all-time leader in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (56) while ranking third in points scored (342), Beesley sits second in passes defended (41) and pass breakups (33), and Ben Wong ranks 10th all-time in tackles (229).

Greenfield now also ranks first all-time in rushing touchdowns (58) and  second in points scored (378) and all-purpose yards (4,976).

Hardy and Williams rank 10th (1,556) and 15th (1,079) in career receiving yards, respectively, while Dan Gilroy sits 12th all-time quarterback sacks (14) and Hill is currently 10th in total touchdowns (27) and 11th in rushing touchdowns (22).

'Red Zone' Returns in 2021: 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 13th season on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17. 

The show airs each Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 12:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 3:30, 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., Saturday at 12:30 and 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 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 at northcentralcardinals.com.