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

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Sept. 2, 2023) - Punishing its opposition early and often through the air before salting away the game in the second half on the ground, the North Central College football team won its 2023 season opener in convincing fashion Saturday. The No. 1-ranked Cardinals recorded a 41-7 triumph over the Roosevelt University Lakers at Morris Field.

North Central scored five unanswered touchdowns in the first half, each coming on passes by quarterback Luke Lehnen. The junior signal-caller completed 13 straight throws to start the game and finished 15 of 21 for 157 yards, connecting with eight different receivers.

The visitors took the game's opening possession 69 yards in seven plays to take a lead they would not relinquish. Lehnen uncorked a 32-yard touchdown pass to DeAngelo Hardy, who outleaped a pair of Roosevelt defenders in the end zone to open the scoring. The Lakers' first possession came to an end with an interception by North Central linebacker Angelo Cusumano, whose 24-yard return set up a second Cardinal score on the next play as Lehnen found Joey Lombardi on a post route for a 35-yard scoring pass.

Roosevelt faked a punt in its own territory on the ensuing drive but came up short, giving the Cardinals possession just 30 yards from the end zone. Eight plays later, Lehnen connected with a leaping Matt Robinson for a six-yard touchdown toss on the final play of the first period. North Central carried a 20-0 advantage into the second stanza.

A promising drive for the Lakers came to an end at the North Central 15-yard line, as Jahron Williams stopped Roosevelt receiver Ethan Cano short of the line to gain on fourth down. The Cardinals needed 10 plays to visit the end zone once again, as Lehnen found Hardy on a fade route in the right corner of the end zone from four yards away.

The Lakers were unsuccessful on a second fake punt late in the first half, enabling the visitors to take possession on the Roosevelt 30 once again. With just 25 seconds left in the period, Lehnen made his fifth TD toss, this time a 12-yarder to Nic Rummell in the back of the end zone. North Central owned a 249-81 advantage in total yards at the break.

The third period was a stalemate as the Cardinals saw two drives come to an end on fourth down. North Central opened its final scoring drive of the day with 1:35 left in the quarter following a fourth-down quarterback sack by Cusumano at the Cardinals' 40-yard line. Eleven plays later (eight of which were runs), Joe Sacco sprinted for the left corner of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown run. 
Roosevelt's lone score came with 6:12 left in the contest, as backup quarterback Carson Budke found wideout Alex Tran for a six-yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals melted the final 6:05 off the clock with their running game, traveling 50 yards on eight attempts. 

North Central finished with 414 yards of total offense while allowing 170. Sacco gained 111 yards on 16 carries, topping the 100-yard mark for the second time as a collegian to lead a 257-yard effort on the ground. Hardy was the Cardinals' leading receiver with four catches for 42 yards and Williams was the team's top tackler with six solo stops.

Lehnen moves past Aaron Fanthorpe '10 and Spencer Stanek '13 into third on the Cardinals' all-time career list in touchdown passes (76). Hardy, meanwhile, moves up to third in the program's history in career receptions (175), fifth in total touchdowns (45) and sixth in points scored (270).

The Cardinals are idle next week before hosting Carthage College (0-1) Saturday, Sept. 16 at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.  Click HERE for the full 2023 schedule.

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