Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Live Video/Audio/Stats

Setting the Scene:  The Cardinals look to extend an historic run of dominant play into a fifth week as they make the final road trip of the regular season to Tucci Stadium.

Series History: This is the 72nd football meeting between the two institutions. The Titans own a 38-30-3 edge in the all-time series, though the Cardinals have won the last 11 encounters.

North Central posted a 55-7 victory in Bloomington last season, breaking open a close game with 42 unanswered second-half points.  The Cardinals scored on all six of their second-half possessions and gained 369 of their 598 yards on the ground.

Luke Lehnen completed 15 of 24 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns, throwing to Andrew Kamienski 10 times for 154 yards. Ethan Greenfield gained 199 rushing yards on 21 carries and Terrence Hill ran for 127 yards and three TDs on just nine attempts.

Sam Taviani led all tacklers with 10 stops while also making two tackles for loss and breaking up two passes, while Dan Gilroy recorded five tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 1 by D3football.com and the first American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). 

Scouting the Titans: Illinois Wesleyan saw a two-game winning streak halted Saturday with a 24-21 loss at Augustana.

The Titans owned a 13-3 lead midway through the third quarter before Augustana put together three straight scoring drives to seize control.  IWU owned a 329-269 advantage in total yards and more than a 10-minute edge in time of possession.

The Titans have thrown for the majority of their 358 yards per game, utilizing quarterbacks Ryan Saxe and Jay Lemenager in the starting role. Lemenager completed 18 of 35 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown vs. Augustana.

Wide receiver Charlie Hamilton leads the CCIW in receptions (56) and receiving yards (760) this season while defensive back Artist Benjamin ranks second in the conference in passes defended (13). 

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central set an all-time program record with its fourth consecutive shutout victory Saturday, dictating terms throughout a 59-0 win at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Luke Lehnen established a new career high with three rushing touchdowns and ran for a game-high 102 yards on just five carries. Lehnen also threw touchdown passes to Rory Hills and Jake Lynch, each of whom registered their first collegiate score.

North Central also scored its second defensive TD of the season as Zack Orr ran back an interception  48 yards to the end zone. Orr is the Cardinals' leader in interceptions (4) this season.

The victory is the Cardinals' 24th consecutive in regular-season play and their 17th straight home triumph. 

CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week: Lehnen was selected as the CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts against the Vikings, joining DeAngelo Hardy, Dan Lester, BJ Adamchik and Tanner Rains as award winners thus far this season.

NCAA All-Time Active Leaders:  Greenfield is the second-leading active rusher in all of college football and ranks 13th all-time in Division III history with a North Central-record 5,725 yards.

Greenfield also ranks second among active players in career all-purpose yards (6,605) and points scored (474). He ranks 11th in Division III history in scoring and 23rd in all-purpose yards.

Greenfield is the highest-ranked non-kicker among all returning players and is the current active career leader in points per game (11.0).

National Statistical Rankings: Lehnen sits fifth nationally in passing efficiency (193.0), seventh in yards per pass attempt (10.39),  18th in yards per completion (15.06) and 19th in passing touchdowns (20).

Greenfield ranks fourth nationally  in rushing yards per game (130.4), 13th in rushing touchdowns (12) and 19th in points (78).

Rains ranks 18th nationally in scoring (79) and Lester ranks 18th in tackles for loss per game (1.8).

As a team, North Central leads all of Division III in scoring (56.5 ppg) and total yards (571.2 ypg) while ranking fourth in scoring defense (5.6 points allowed per game) and 19th in total defense (234.1 yards allowed).

North Central Career Rankings:  Hardy ranks fourth in school history in touchdown receptions (27), and receiving yards (2,346) and sixth in total receptions (136).  

Terrence Hill is sixth all-time in total touchdowns (38), seventh in rushing touchdowns (30) and 14th in rushing yards (1,788). Hill is 174 yards away from moving into the career top 10. 

Lehnen ranks fifth in North Central history in passing touchdowns (53) and passing yards (4,926) and sixth in completions (305).

Around the CCIW: Wheaton travels to WashU today in a showdown that will put the winner in sole possession of second place in the conference standings.

Other games around the CCIW include Elmhurst at North Park, Carthage at Augustana and Carroll at Millikin.

This Day in Cardinal Football History:  1966 vs. Millikin - The Cardinals rolled to an early 21-0 lead and defeated Millikin, 35-13, holding the Big Blue scoreless until after halftime.

In his first start at fullback, Cory McLaughlin scored the game's first two touchdowns, the first of which came after less than three minutes had elapsed. Quarterback Luther Selbo connected with Paul Faris for a 58-yard touchdown pass late in the contest to answer the first Millikin score of the game.

'Red Zone' Returns in 2022: 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 14th 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.