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

Nov. 4, 2023 - Treating its Senior Day crowd to an afternoon filled with thrilling performances, the North Central College football team seized control of Saturday's matchup with Illinois Wesleyan University in the very early going and decimated the Titans, 83-26, at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The Cardinals' point total matches the sixth-highest in their history and is the program's third-highest point total in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) game. It is the fifth-highest scoring output by any NCAA Division III team this season. With the victory, North Central has clinched at least a share of its third straight CCIW championship and its 17th CCIW title all-time.

The hosts took a lead they would never relinquish just 17 seconds after play began, as Joey Lombardi returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Lombardi, who established a North Central record for the longest kickoff return (98 yards) Oct. 7 against Carroll University, is one of just four Division III players to return two kickoffs to the end zone in 2023.

The Titans got on the board just three plays into their first offensive drive, as quarterback Jay Lemenager found Tre Moore for a 76-yard scoring pass. Illinois Wesleyan's point-after attempt failed, leaving North Central with a 7-6 advantage with 13:46 remaining in the opening period. The Cardinals' next possession got new life after an IWU pass interference penalty on third down, and Jacob Paradee's leaping 42-yard reception over Shea Gaffney set the hosts up at the Titans' 10-yard line. Joe Sacco ran into the end zone on the next play, extending the lead to 14-6.

Following a Titan punt, North Central needed just four plays to cross the goal line once more, as Lehnen scrambled to his left to extend a play before finding Nic Rummell in the end zone. The senior's diving catch near the left sideline increased the Cardinals' lead to 21-6 with 7:05 still left in the opening frame. The hosts forced IWU to punt once again and tacked on a fourth first-quarter touchdown, as Lehnen threw over the top of the Titans' coverage to Sean Allen for a 60-yard scoring pass and a 28-6 advantage.

Illinois Wesleyan (2-7, 2-6 CCIW) advanced to the Cardinals' 11-yard line early in the second period before Rahmareon Roby put an end to the Titans' progress with an interception in the end zone. Eight plays into the ensuing possession, on third down-and-12, Lehnen took the ball on a designed running play up the middle 70 yards for a touchdown, his ninth of the campaign. After another IWU punt, Lehnen led a two-play scoring drive which featured a 21-yard completion to Bobby Behmer before a 35-yard touchdown toss to Lombardi.

The Cardinals (9-0, 8-0) scored twice in the final minute of the half and took a 55-6 advantage into halftime. Lehnen lofted a five-yard touchdown pass to Myles Walton, completing Walton's first collegiate reception, with 43.7 seconds on the clock. Sam Chapman forced a fumble on the following kickoff, which was recovered by Jake Lynch at the Titans' 17. Two plays later, Sacco tore through the IWU defense for a 25-yard scoring run. The Cardinals closed the half with 466 yards of total offense.

The Titans' first drive of the second half ended on their first play from scrimmage, as Julian Bell intercepted a pass near midfield. Two plays later, Sean Allen broke free for a 36-yard gain to put North Central just one yard away from the goal line. Allen covered the remaining distance on the next pay to make it a 62-6 score with 13:23 left in the third period. IWU scored on a 66-yard pass from Dermot Smyth to Myles Kee on the ensuing drive and successfully converted a two-point try, leaving the score at 62-14.

Charles Coleman finished a seven-play, 70-yard trek with a three-yard touchdown run midway through the third period, and the Cardinals headed to the fourth period ahead, 69-20, after IWU's Jahari Scott scored on a two-yard run. Darius Byrd ran for a 63-yard score early in the fourth period and Jordan Chisum tacked on the Cardinals' final score of the day on an 11-yard run on fourth down-and-goal.

North Central finished with 712 total yards (424 rushing, 288 passing), its third-highest single-game yardage total ever. Lehnen completed 13 of 15 passes for 291 yards while rushing for 65 yards on seven carries. Sacco led the ground attack with 99 yards on 11 attempts, while Lombardi was the team's top receiver with 83 yards on three catches. Will Vernon made a team-high seven tackles for the Cardinals.

North Central closes the regular season Saturday at Augustana College. The Vikings are 8-1 overall (7-1 CCIW) following Saturday's 16-13 victory over Carthage College. Kickoff at Lindberg Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2023 schedule.

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