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Setting the Scene:  After playing with precision throughout their matchup with WashU, the Cardinals travel to face a North Park squad looking to post its highest single-season win total as a Division III program.

Series History: This is the 63rd football meeting between the two institutions. North Central holds a 50-10-2 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last 26 contests dating back to 1996.

The Cardinals won last year's meeting at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, 59-0, using a series of long-distance plays in all phases of the game to light up the scoreboard despite a nearly 17-minute deficit in time of possession.

Luke Lehnen ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries while completing 9 of 12 passes for 141 yards and connecting with Jake Lynch and Rory Hills for touchdowns.  Joe Sacco and Jordan Chisum also rushed for scores while Zack Orr returned an interception 52 yards to the end zone.

North Central has shut out the Vikings in four of their last five encounters.

National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 by D3football.com in this week’s NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, receiving all 25 first-place votes.  

The Cardinals are the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) first Top 25 Poll of the campaign, receiving 47 of 48 first-place votes.

North Central has been ranked No. 1 in 27 of D3football.com’s last 30 regular-season polls.

Scouting the Vikings: After two straight victories on the road, North Park suffered a 42-28 setback at Augustana Saturday, forced to play catch-up after trailing, 28-7, early in the second half. 

The Vikings' AJ Harris ran for two touchdowns and caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Matt Eck to bring them back into contention, though the deficit never shrank below 14 points.

North Park has gained 249 of its 341 yards per game via the pass. Eck is completing 54.5 percent of pass attempts for 1,661 yards and 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Harris is the team's leading receiver with 26 catches for 309 yards and four scores, while Marcel Love leads the rushing attack with 199 yards and two TDs.

The Vikings' defense ranks fourth in the CCIW in yards allowed per game (339.4) and has allowed 23.1 points per outing. Linebacker Jaydin Miller ranks second in the CCIW and 28th in the nation in tackles (71) while leading the conference in quarterback sacks (6.5).

North Park has turned the ball over three times in its four victories and has committed 11 in its three losses this season.

This Week for the Cardinals: Reaching the end zone on every offensive possession and limiting its opposition to roughly half its average output, North Central administered a 49-3 battering of the WashU Bears Saturday.

The Cardinals gained 503 yards on just 47 plays  and led, 21-3, at halftime as Lehnen threw touchdown passes to Charles Coleman and Joey Lombardi while also running for his fifth score of 2023. Lehnen added a touchdown toss to Jacob Paradee in the second half while Coleman, Sean Allen and DeAngelo Hardy ran for TDs.

North Central limited the Bears to 196 yards, their lowest total of the campaign, and recorded a season-high seven quarterback sacks. Orr led the way with three sacks among seven solo tackles, matching the third-highest single-game total in program history.

The Cardinals have won 33 straight regular-season games, including 30 CCIW contests.

North Central has scored touchdowns on 39 of 42 first-half possessions thus  far this season and its outscoring opponents, 292-27, in the first two periods of play. 
 

CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week: Orr was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts against the Bears, making him the first Cardinal to receive the distinction on defense this season. North Central has claimed seven of the CCIW's weekly awards the last six weeks.

Wheaton's Caleb Titherington was named this week's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week while Elmhurst's Nick Mullett was recognized on special teams.

D3football.com Team of the Week: Orr was one of four linebackers named to the D3football.com Team of the Week, giving the Cardinals a selection to the honor roll for a fourth straight week.

Hardy was recognized with two straight selections following North Central's wins over Carroll and Millikin.

The Cardinals' offensive line was named to the Team of the Week following the Sept. 30 win at Wheaton.

National Statistical Rankings: The Cardinals currently lead all Division III teams in total offense (565.4 yards per game), scoring offense (59.6 points per game), passing efficiency (280.8) and pass completion percentage (75.9), and are one of three teams yet to throw an interception in 2023.
North Central ranks second nationwide in fewest turnovers lost (2) while sitting  third in rushing offense (318.3 ypg) and 12th in total defense (229.1 ypg) and scoring defense (11.1 ppg).

Hardy ranks fourth nationally in yards per reception (25.0) and touchdown receptions (12), eighth in total touchdowns (13) and 17th in receiving yards (724).  Lehnen ranks 12th nationally in touchdown passes (23).

North Central Career Rankings:  Hardy ranks  second in North Central history in receptions (200), receiving yards (3,624) and touchdown receptions (50), third in total touchdowns (56), fourth in points scored (336) and fifth in all-purpose yards (4,470).

Lehnen now sits second in the Cardinals' history in passing touchdowns (94) while ranking fourth in passing yards (7,626) and completions (457). Lehnen currently sits first in passing efficiency (206.3) and completion percentage (.685).

Lehnen is also poised to join North Central's all-time leaders in rushing. He currently sits third in yards per rushing attempt (6.89) and ranks eighth in career rushing touchdowns (28). Julian Bell is tied for seventh all-time in pass breakups (25). 

National Career Rankings: Lehnen is the current active leader among all players in college football in career passing efficiency. Among Division III players, Lehnen ranks third in touchdown passes and ninth in passing yards.

Hardy ranks second nationwide among all divisions in career touchdown receptions and fourth  in receiving yards  while sitting 22nd in receptions.

This Week in Cardinal Football History: 1922 vs. Wheaton - North Central emerged from a scoreless halftime break to score 19 second-half points and claim a 19-0 shutout win over Wheaton.

Jake Gingrich scored the Cardinals’ first touchdown on a goal-line plunge in the third period and added a second score on an interception return deep in Wheaton territory.   

Around the CCIW: North Central sits atop the CCIW with a perfect 6-0 in-conference record, while Augustana and Wheaton are a game back in the standings at 5-1.

Augustana visits Illinois Wesleyan this week, while Wheaton travels to Millikin. Elmhurst goes to WashU and Carroll plays at Carthage.

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