Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

NOTE: This recap has been updated with corrected statistical information.

Nov. 9, 2024 - Sending off its senior class with a performance befitting its contributions to the program, the North Central College football team eviscerated Elmhurst University, 70-7, Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium to clinch a fourth straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship.

The Cardinals (9-0, 8-0 CCIW) opened up a 63-7 halftime lead, scoring 42 points in the second quarter alone, and finished with 708 total yards to post the fourth-highest single-game yardage total in the team's history.

The game was also held special significance for quarterback Luke Lehnen, who accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) to set a new all-divisions collegiate record for touchdowns responsible for (193). Lehnen also established a new North Central record for career touchdown passes (146), moving into fifth place in Division III history and 11th place in college football history.

The hosts took a lead they would not relinquish on the third play from scrimmage, as Lehnen faked a handoff and ran untouched down the left sideline 83 yards to the end zone. Lehnen's run is the sixth-longest in school history and marks the second straight week a Cardinal has achieved a running play of more than 80 yards. Elmhurst (2-7, 2-6) saw its first possession come to an end with a missed field goal, and North Central doubled its lead to 14-0 six plays later as Lehnen tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Myles Walton.

The Bluejays attemped a fourth-down conversion at the North Central 29-yard line on their next possession, but Zack Orr's quarterback sack forced a turnover. After a 48-yard completion to Jack Rummell, Lehnen handed off to Charles Coleman, who scored the first of three touchdowns from 13 yards out. The hosts headed to the second quarter with a 21-0 advantage, having already gained 300 yards of total offense.

Lehnen fired a 59-yard completion to Jacob Paradee on the final play of the first period to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Coleman shortly after the second quarter began. Elmhurst followed with its lone score of the contest, as quarterback John Odom connected with Jacob Cockrell for a 53-yard gain before finding Cockrell again for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 13:55 left in the half.

The Cardinals returned to the end zone less than two minutes later, as Lehnen threw to Rummell for 27 yards before a 33-yard scoring strike down the right sideline to Jake Lynch with 12:00 on the clock. Taking possession near midfield following a Bluejay punt, North Central crossed the goal line six plays later, as Joe Sacco gained 17 yards to bring the Cardinals to the Elmhurst two-yard line before covering the remaining distance on the next play. 

North Central forced the first of two Bluejay turnovers on the following possession, as Jacob Vincent sacked Odom and forced a fumble. John Sullivan recovered the ball at the Elmhurst 11-yard line, and the Cardinals turned to running back Jordan Chisum, whose four-yard TD run made it a 49-7 game with 5:18 still to play in the second period. Following an Elmhurst punt, Lehnen passed to Paradee for 52 yards, then handed off to Coleman for another score, this time from eight yards out. 

Taking possession for the final time in the half with 1:03 to play, Lehnen completed five straight passes to put the home team in the end zone again, as Walton caught the ball in the middle of the field and outraced the Elmhurst coverage for a 14-yard scoring reception. The game's final touchdown came with 4:20 to play in the third quarter, as Donovan McNeal broke free for a 44-yard gain before scoring from three yards away on the next snap.

North Central gained 412 of its 708 yards through the air, marking just the sixth time a Cardinal team has thrown for more than 400 yards and the first since 2019. Lehnen completed 15 of 16 passes for a season-high 347 yards, and his 83-yard touchdown run, Lehnen's lone carry, made him the team's leading rusher. Sacco and McNeal rushed for 60 yards each while Paradee was the team's top receiver with three catches for a career-high 132 yards. 

The Cardinals' defense registered nine tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks. Kaden Hartnett intercepted a pass and Myron Lewis made a team-high two tackles for loss as both shared team-high honors in tackles (3) with Sullivan, Orr, Angelo Cusumano, Matt Janiak, Cortez Jones and Bobby Medina. 

Having clinched the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship, North Central concludes the regular season Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan University. The Titans are 5-4 (5-3 CCIW) following a 24-21 win over Carroll University. Kickoff at Tucci Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options.

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