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Setting the Scene:  The Cardinals open the season on the road for the third straight year and the fifth time in the last six seasons, seeking a 37th consecutive regular-season victory before starting conference play next week.

Series History: This is the 10th football meeting between the two institutions and just the second in the last 88 years. North Central has won eight of the previous nine encounters.

The teams renewed their long-dormant rivalry Sept. 11, 2021, in the Cardinals’ first game in nearly two years following the COVID-19 pandemic. North Central scored 51 unanswered points en route to a 64-7 victory, owning a 610-219 advantage in total yards.

Ethan Greenfield ran for three touchdowns and 137 yards on 16 carries, while Luke Lehnen, in his first collegiate game, completed 13 of 24 passes for 264 yards and three scores. Ben Wong recorded eight tackles Dakota Cremeens and Sam Taviani each recorded interceptions.

National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division III Top 25 Polls by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Aurora was ranked No. 13 by D3football.com and No. 14 by the AFCA.

The Cardinals have been ranked No. 1 in the last 22 AFCA regular-season polls and 31 of the last 34 D3football.com regular-season polls.

Scouting the Spartans: Aurora opened its season Friday, Sept. 6 at Dubuque, rallying from an early deficit to claim a 33-21 victory in a game that featured 109 total pass attempts.

Trailing, 14-6, midway through the second period, the Spartans turned to backup quarterback Tyler Adkins, who threw for touchdowns and ran for another as Aurora took a 27-14 lead late in the third period. Dubuque narrowed the gap to 27-21 and had the ball late in the game when Aurora cornerback Qiuntarius Davis returned an interception 20 yards to the end zone.

The Spartans gained 525 yards, 313 of which came from the passing game as Aurora completed 25 of 56 attempts. Adkins finished the game 22 of 40 for 294 yards with two interceptions, while Zackery Russell gained a team-high 91 yards on 18 carries and wideout Avron Carter made five catches for 105 yards.

Safety Andrew Nordland led Aurora’s defense with 18 tackles (13 solo) and an interception.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central returns 13 starters from a 2023 team that advanced to the national championship for the fourth straight season.

Quarterback Luke Lehnen, left tackle Jeske Maples and right guard Sam Pryor return as four-year starters on offense for the Cardinals. Nick Fehrle returns as the starter at left guard while Jerred Durian (center) and Ryan Kennelly (right tackle) ascend to starting roles.

After orchestrating the most efficient passing attack in the sport’s history a season ago, Lehnen will throw to a pair of returning starters in wideout Jack Rummell and tight end Bobby Behmer. Thomas Skokna and Jacob Paradee start alongside Rummell. Graduate transfer Trey Madsen joins North Central’s receiving corps as well after establishing career records for receptions, yards and touchdowns at Aurora.

Joe Sacco led a North Central ground game that accounted for 4,952 yards and 66 touchdowns in 2023. Sacco (1,818 yards), Lehnen (850), Sean Allen (702) and Charles Coleman (628) all ranked among the top eight in the CCIW in rushing.

The Cardinals return all three starting linebackers in BJ Adamchik, Angelo Cusumano and Zack Orr, while end Martin Egbo and tackle John Sullivan are back on the defensive line alongside first-year starters Cortez Jones (tackle) and Jacob Vincent (end).

After starting at safety a season ago, Jahron Williams moves to cornerback alongside Rahmareon Roby. Kenny Rutherford and incoming transfer Brayden Garrigan take over at safety.

North Central led the CCIW in total defense, scoring defense and turnover margin in 2023, returning five of its top six tacklers from last year’s team: Adamchik (92), Orr (66), Egbo (51), Cusumano (47) and Williams (47).

The Cardinals have won their last 36 regular season games dating back to 2019.

TD Catches from the Backfield: Charles Coleman set a North Central record in 2023 for touchdown receptions by a running back (7). After just one season in uniform, Coleman is tied with Terrence Hill (2019-2022) for second in the Cardinals’ history for career touchdown catches by a running back.

2022 Gagliardi Trophy winner Ethan Greenfield holds the North Central career record with eight TD catches.

Preseason All-Americans: North Central had a program-record seven players make this year’s D3football.com Preseason All-America Teams, surpassing the previous record of five set in 2023.

First Team selections are Sacco, Madsen, Maples, Egbo and Adamchik, while Lehnen and Pryor are Second Team picks.

The Cardinals’ seven selections are the most of any team.
 

Shrine Bowl Watch List: Lehnen was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000, the annual watch list of players considered for selection to the 100th Shrine Bowl Jan. 30 in Arlington, Texas.

Lehnen is one of just two Division III representatives on the all-divisions list. North Central is represented for the second straight year, as defensive back Antwain Walker made the 2023 list.

CCIW Preseason Poll: North Central was picked as the favorite to win its 18th CCIW Championship, receiving 8 of 10 first place votes in the annual preseason coaches’ poll.

Wheaton received the remaining two first-place votes and sits second in the poll, followed by WashU, Augustana, Carroll, Illinois Wesleyan, North Park, Carthage, Elmhurst and Millikin.

Division III National Leaders: North Central established new NCAA Division III national records for yards gained per play (9.5), yards per pass attempt (13.59), passing efficiency (249.0) and points scored (879).

The Cardinals also led all Division III teams in scoring offense (58.6 points per game) and total offense (567.5 yards per game) and own a division-best 42-2 record over the past three seasons.

Individual NCAA Records: Lehnen established new Division III single-season records for passing efficiency (263.2), yards per pass attempt (14.7), yards per pass completion (20.0) and percentage of passes completed for touchdowns (20.7). Lehnen also holds the current record for consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass, having done so in all 44 collegiate games.

Joe Sacco established a new single-season record by averaging 9.77 yards per rushing attempt.

NCAA Active Career Leaders: Lehnen is Division III’s active career leader in total offensive yards (11,748), passing touchdowns (119) and total touchdowns responsible for (155).

Lehnen is the third player in Division III history to accumulate at least 4,000 passing yards (9,400) and 2,000 rushing yards (2,348).

CCIW Single-Season Records: The Cardinals established new CCIW records in 2023 for points scored in conference play (576) as well as points per game (64.0), touchdowns (83), total offensive yards (5,504) and yards per game (611.6).

North Central has gone 9-0 in conference play the last three season and has won 33 straight CCIW games.

Gagliardi Trophy: Lehnen was named the 31st recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in Division III football, in 2023.

Lehnen is the third junior to win the trophy and the third Cardinal in the last four seasons to claim the award. Quarterback Broc Rutter won the 2019 Gagliardi Trophy, while running back Ethan Greenfield was the 2022 winner.

The University of Southern California is the only other college football program in the nation to win three such awards in a four-season span, claiming the Heisman Trophy in 2002 (Carson Palmer), 2004 (Matt Leinart) and 2005 (Reggie Bush). 

This Week in the CCIW: North Central is the only CCIW team in action this week as the rest of the conference opened play last week. Augustana, Carroll, North Park and WashU posted victories.

Conference play opens Sept. 21 as Millikin visits North Park, Carroll travels to WashU, Augustana plays at Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan goes to Elmhurst while the Cardinals travel to face Carthage.

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