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Setting the Scene:  After enjoying a dominant win in their conference opener, the Cardinals make the brief trek to Elmhurst  to square off with a Bluejay squad reeling from a lopsided loss.

Series History: This is the 84th football meeting between the two institutions. North Central has won its last 23 games against the Bluejays dating back to 1999. It is the Cardinals' longest winning streak against any opponent.

North Central enjoyed a 76-6 conquest of the Bluejays Sept. 24 of last season at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals owned a 55-0 lead at halftime and gained 666 total yards,   the 10th-highest single-game output in program history, while setting a new single-game standard by allowing Elmhurst to accumulate just 81 yards.

North Central ran for 475 yards, the sixth-highest total in school history, including a 137-yard, two-touchdown effort by Ethan Greenfield. Luke Lehnen completed 16 of 20 passes for 180 yards and three scores, two of which went to DeAngelo Hardy.

The Cardinals also tied a single-game program record with six interceptions, collected by Nic Rummell, Nic Laird, Brandon Greifelt, Jahron Williams, Jahmar Daniel and Antwain Walker. Dan Lester registered four tackles for loss. 

National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 by D3football.com in this week’s NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, receiving 24 of 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 all 49 first-place votes.

North Central has been ranked No. 1 in 22 of D3football.com’s last 25 regular-season polls.

Scouting the Bluejays: After opening the season with a 14-3 victory over Adrian (Michigan), Elmhurst was beaten in its CCIW opener Saturday evening at Augustana, 74-6.

The Vikings scored 37 points in the first quarter alone, returning a  punt for a touchdown, scoring a safety and taking advantage of a turnover deep in Bluejay territory.

Elmhurst gained 73 of its 157 total yards on its final possession, when it recorded its lone touchdown on a six-yard pass from Andrey Acosta to Jacob Cockrell. The Bluejays were plagued by four turnovers, including three lost fumbles.

Acosta has completed 24 of 44 passes for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Gabe Holtke is Elmhurst's leading receiver with five grabs for 57 yards, while Zach Norman is the team's top rusher with 69 yards on 19 carries.

Bryce Gable and Talyn West are the Bluejays' tackling leaders with 15 stops each for a defense which has yielded 322 yards per game thus far this season.

This Week for the Cardinals: After recording five shutout victories in 2022, North Central held its first 2023 opponent scoreless last week as the Cardinals routed Carthage, 70-0, at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

North Central scored touchdowns on seven of eight offensive possessions before the starters left the game, accumulating 647 total yards while allowing only 102. Carthage ran only four plays in North Central territory.

Luke Lehnen completed 10 of 12 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns, giving him nine TD passes thus far this season. DeAngelo Hardy hauled in two scores, while Joey Lombardi and Jack Rummell each scored once. Lombardi finished with a career-high 110 receiving yards on three catches.

Joe Sacco gained a career-best 131 rushing yards on just 11 carries and scored one touchdown, as did Lehnen, Jordan Chisum, Sean Allen and Jordan Williams.  The Cardinals gained 351 of their yards on the ground.

North Central also got special-teams contributions from Josh Stevens, who returned a fumbled kickoff return 15 yards for a touchdown, and Kyler Green, who blocked a punt which led to a score just three plays later.

North Central's 70-point margin of victory is its largest against the Firebirds in 68 all-time meetings.

CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week: Lehnen was voted the CCIW's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday, becoming the first Cardinal to be so honored this season.

Augustana linebacker Tim Swaney was honored as the Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week, while Wheaton kicker Mateo Jesch received the award for special teams.

North Central Career Rankings:  Hardy ranks  second in North Central history in receptions (180), receiving yards (3,044) and touchdown receptions (42), fourth in total touchdowns (47), sixth in points scored (282) and seventh in all-purpose yards (3,798).

Lehnen ranks third in the Cardinals' history in passing touchdowns (80) while ranking fourth in passing yards (6,413) and fifth in completions (410). Lehnen currently sits first in passing efficiency (195.2) and completion percentage (.678).

Lehnen is also poised to join North Central's all-time leaders in rushing. He currently sits third in yards per rushing attempt (6.72) 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 fourth nationwide among all divisions in career touchdown receptions and sixth in receiving yards  while sitting 18th in receptions and 25th in all-purpose yards.

This Week in Cardinal Football History: 1961 at Fisk - The Cardinals made a rare trip south to Nasvhille, Tennessee, taking on Fisk amid 96-degree heat.

Trailing, 14-8, in the fourth period, North Central scored the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Bill Melsheimer to Mike Hundley.

Henry Brown kicked the extra point to put the Cardinals in front for good, 15-14.

Around the CCIW: Augustana visits Wheaton this week after both teams won their conference opener, while Carthage travels to WashU, Millikin plays at North Park and Illinois Wesleyan goes to Carroll.

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