Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324 

Oct. 7, 2023 - Overwhelming its opposition with a barrage of long-distance scoring plays, the North Central College football team treated a Homecoming crowd to a 69-24 victory over the Carroll University Pioneers Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The No. 1-ranked Cardinals (5-0, 4-0 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) rolled up a season-high 695 yards, the fourth-highest single-game total on school history, while averaging just more than 14 yards per play. North Central scored three touchdowns on single-play possessions while also putting long-distance scores on the board on defense and special teams.

The hosts needed only four plays to open the scoring, as Sean Allen ran 22 yards to the end zone with 12:53 on the first-quarter clock. The Pioneers (3-2, 2-2 CCIW) drove 72 yards in 15 plays to level the score at 7-7 on quarterback Josh Raby's one-yard touchdown plunge, but North Central jumped back in front on the ensuing kickoff. Joey Lombardi fielded Jacob Laurent's kick and stormed through Carroll's coverage for a 98-yard touchdown return, the longest in North Central's history.

Raby connected with Trevor Hancock on a 14-yard scoring pass to tie the score once again at 14-14 with 3:37 still to play in the opening period. Once again, North Central needed a single play to restore its lead, as Luke Lehnen threw over the top of the defense to DeAngelo Hardy for a 76-yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals' defense forced two Pioneer punts before Lehnen extended the advantage to 28-14 with a 27-yard scoring strike to Jacob Paradee with 9:49 to go in the first half.

Angelo Cusumano broke up a pass on fourth down to bring Carroll's next possession to a halt at the Cardinals' 46-yard line. Five plays later, Hardy accepted a shovel pass from Lehnen and swept to his right for a two-yard touchdown reception and a 35-14 advantage. The Pioneers brought on Laurent for a 30-yard field goal with 2:51 left in the half, but North Central put together a four-play scoring drive capped by Joe Sacco's 45-yard TD run to extend the lead to 42-17.

After forcing another Carroll punt, the Cardinals took one final shot down the field before halftime. Once again the ball went to Hardy, who outraced the defense for a 69-yard scoring reception. North Central went into halftime with a 49-17 lead, gaining 449 yards on just 24 offensive plays.

The Pioneers drove into North Central territory on the second half's first possession before Cusumano stepped in front of a Raby pass at the Cardinals' 24-yard line and went the other way for a 76-yard touchdown return. After taking possession on its own seven-yard line following a punt, North Central turned to Hardy once again for a career-high fourth touchdown reception, taking another shovel pass 93 yards to the end zone. Allen capped the scoring with a nine-yard scoring run with 14:12 to play.

Hardy finished the game with a career-best 278 receiving yards on seven catches. Lehnen completed 12 of 13 throws for a career-high 385 yards, while Sacco rushed for a team-best 106 yards on just seven carries. Jahron Williams was the Cardinals' leading tackler with seven stops, Martin Egbo counted three tackles for loss and a quarterback sack among six total tackles.

The Cardinals travel to face Millikin University (0-5, 0-4) Saturday at Frank M. Lindsay Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2023 schedule.

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