Complete Game Notes (PDF)

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Setting the Scene:  The Cardinals look to ground a prolific Carthage aerial attack as both teams prepare to open conference play.

Series History: This is the 68th football meeting between the two institutions. North Central has won the last 17 straight encounters dating back to 2005 and owns a 37-27-3 all-time record against the Firebirds.

The Cardinals traveled to Kenosha Sept. 17, 2022, breaking the game open with 24 unanswered second-quarter points before closing out the victory, 59-7.

North Central finished with 671 yards of total offense, the eighth-highest single-game total in the program’s history, gaining 412 yards on the ground.

Luke Lehnen completed 12 of 26 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while also running for 107 yards and another score. Ethan Greenfield and Terrence Hill each rushed for two TDs while Tyler Rich recorded three quarterback sacks.

National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 by D3football.com in this week’s NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, receiving 23 of 25 first-place votes.

The Cardinals have been ranked No. 1 in 21 of D3football.com’s last 24 regular-season polls.

Scouting the Firebirds: Carthage opened its season Sept. 2 by hosting Albion (Michigan). The Britons scored the first 24 points of the game and departed Art Keller Field with a 41-20 win.

The Firebirds gained 366 of their 399 total yards through their passing game, making them one of 25 Division III teams to throw for at least 350 yards in their season opener.

Quarterback Bryce Lowe completed 26 of 52 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns as Jordan Wiles made eight catches for 162 yards and Gavin Betts caught six balls for 106 yards.

Defensive back Garrett Warner paced Carthage’s defensive effort with 12 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and a forced fumble. Linebacker Chris DiVito made two tackles for loss among his 10 total stops.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central cruised to a 41-7 victory in its season opener at Roosevelt, scoring 34 unanswered first-half points as Lehnen established a new career high with five touchdown passes.

Lehnen threw two scoring passes to DeAngelo Hardy and one each to Joey Lombardi, Matt Robinson and Nic Rummell, completing all 10 pass attempts before halftime.

The Cardinals finished with 414 total yards, 257 of which came from their running game. Joe Sacco led the charge with 111 rushing yards on 16 carries, topping the 100-yard mark for the second time as a collegian.

The North Central defense, which stopped four Roosevelt drives on downs and did not allow a score until the Lakers’ final possession, was led by Jahron Williams’ six tackles, while BJ Adamchik and Antwain Walker each finished with five. Angelo Cusumano recorded an interception and a quarterback sack.

Lehnen's five touchdown passes are one short of North Central's single-game record of six, set by Aaron Fanthorpe '10 in 2009 against Millikin and equaled by Broc Rutter '20 in 2019 against Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan.

The Cardinals have now won 27 consecutive regular-season games and have prevailed in their last 10 season openers.

CCIW Preseason Poll: North Central was voted the favorite to win this year's CCIW Championship in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll, claiming the maximum nine first-place votes.

The Cardinals have gone 9-0 in conference play each of the last two seasons and has earned at least a share of the CCIW title in 13 of the last 16 seasons.

Wheaton claimed the No. 2 spot in the poll, followed by WashU in third and Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan tied for fourth. Rounding out the poll are Carroll, Carthage, Millikin, North Park and Elmhurst.

Shrine Bowl Watch List: Walker was named as one of 1,000 players nationally to the East-West Shrine Bowl's Watch List  in July, becoming one of five Division III players being considered for selection to the 99th annual Shrine Bowl in February.

Preseason All-Americans: Walker also joined Hardy, Maples, Thornton and Lester on D3football.com's Preseason All-America First Team.

North Central's five First Team selections match 2022 national runner-up Mount Union for the most of any team.

North Central Career Rankings:  Hardy ranks  second in North Central history in receiving yards (2,942) and touchdown receptions (40) while ranking third in receptions (175), fifth in total touchdowns (45), sixth in points scored (270) and seventh in all-purpose yards (3,696).

Lehnen ranks third in the Cardinals' history in passing touchdowns (76) while ranking fifth in passing yards (6,150) and completions (400). Lehnen sits first in passing efficiency (191.5) and second in completion percentage (.675).

Lehnen is also poised to join North Central's all-time leaders in rushing. He currently sits third in yards per rushing attempt (6.70) and ranks 11th in school history in rushing touchdowns (24).

Julian Bell is tied for ninth all-time in pass breakups (23). 

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 third nationwide among all divisions in career touchdown receptions and fifth in receiving yards  while sitting 20th in receptions and 22nd in all-purpose yards.

 

This Week in Cardinal Football History: 2006 vs. Benedictine -  Establishing a program record for fewest yards allowed (97) which stood for more than a decade, the Cardinals routed Benedictine on the Eagles’ home field, 38-0.

North Central scored on six of its first seven possessions and only allowed the Eagles in their half of the field twice. The Cardinals stopped Benedictine on fourth down-and-goal at the one-yard line early in the second period. Kam Kniss threw touchdown passes to Eric Stuedemann and Perry Welch and ran for a score, while Dominic Sulo found the end zone twice. Chris Bazant led the Cardinals with eight tackles. 

Around the CCIW: All 10 CCIW teams open conference play this week. Wheaton travels to face Illinois Wesleyan, while Carroll visits North Park, WashU goes to Millikin and Elmhurst plays at Augustana.

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