Football Week 2 Preview: Carthage

9/18/2025 2:36:00 PM

Setting the Scene: North Central College football opens College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play by welcoming Carthage College to Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals have won the last 19 meetings between the two programs.

Series History: This marks the 70th matchup between North Central and Carthage, with the Cardinals holding a 39-27-3 advantage. North Central is 21-10-2 all-time against Carthage in Naperville, dating back to a 0-0 tie in 1928.

Last season, North Central dominated the Firebirds, 63-0, racking up 629 yards of total offense while holding Carthage to just 146.

Quarterback Luke Lehnen completed 16 of 25 passes for 294 yards and added 58 rushing yards on four attempts. Joe Sacco ran for 96 yards on 16 carries and caught a career-high four passes for 48 yards. Thomas Skokna added 67 yards on two receptions, and Trey Madsen made four catches for 43 yards. On defense, Danny Nuccio led the team with seven tackles, followed by Brayden Garrigan with six and John Sullivan with four.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 1 nationally in the latest NCAA Division III Top 25 polls by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

The defending national champion Cardinals received 22 of 25 first-place votes in the D3football.com poll and all 52 first-place votes in the AFCA poll. This marks the 36th consecutive AFCA poll and the 44th of the last 47 D3football.com polls in which North Central has held the top spot.

Scouting the Firebirds: Carthage enters the matchup 1-0 after a 51-40 win over Lakeland University. The Muskies jumped out to a 20-7 lead, but a touchdown and a safety shifted momentum back to the Firebirds, who ultimately secured the victory.

Lakeland opened with two rushing touchdowns and a 73-yard scoring pass. Carthage responded in the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run by Bryce Frank and a safety from Michael Sneed, trimming the deficit to 20-16. Easton Heafner connected with Dylan Salisbury for a 4-yard touchdown late in the half, sending Carthage into the break trailing 26-23.

The Firebirds took control in the third quarter as Frank broke free for a 68-yard touchdown, Salisbury added his second score, and Mark Hunter ran in from 33 yards to extend the lead to 44-26. Lakeland answered early in the fourth to cut the lead to 44-34, but Heafner’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Betts sealed the win.

Frank led the ground game with 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Hunter added 104 yards and two scores as Carthage totaled 307 rushing yards on 47 attempts. On defense, Briton Stanton posted a team-high 10 tackles, while Idarius Walton, Mariano Talamantez and Adam Contreras each recorded nine.

This Week in the CCIW: North Central has claimed the CCIW title in each of the past four seasons, finishing 9-0 in conference play.

This week, Illinois Wesleyan hosts Elmhurst, and Carroll welcomes Washington University in St. Louis for 1 p.m. kickoffs. Augustana hosts Wheaton, while Millikin hosts North Park in 6 p.m. night games as league play begins.

North Central, Augustana, Carthage, Elmhurst, Millikin, North Park and WashU all enter CCIW play with 1-0 records.

1986 vs. Carroll - In their 1986 home opener, the North Central College Cardinals dominated Carroll College 33–9 at Kroehler Field. After a scoreless first quarter and an early Carroll field goal, NCC’s offense erupted. Halfback Clint Mobley led the charge with 175 rushing yards and two long touchdown runs. Fullback Dean Sjong consistently gained first downs, while the offensive line overpowered Carroll’s defense. Head coach Paul Connor, a former New England Patriot, brought intensity both in strategy and sideline control—personally breaking up a scuffle near Carroll’s bench. The Cardinals’ physical play and leadership sent a clear message: NCC football was a rising powerhouse.1980 vs. Luther - North Central opened its 1980 football season with a hard-fought 14–12 victory over Luther College. Led by head coach George Badke, the Cardinals showcased a resilient defense, stopping Luther at the goal line early and forcing two key interceptions in the second quarter. Quarterback Steve Thompson, filling in for the injured Bob Dobry, guided two scoring drives, including a touchdown run by Allan Douglass—who led the team with 99 rushing yards—and another by fullback Jay Ketz. Despite a safety and a fumbled punt that gave Luther a brief halftime lead, North Central’s defense held strong in the second half, sealing the win with a late sack by Bill Fitzpatrick.

CCIW Preseason Poll: North Central was picked as the favorite to win its 19th CCIW Championship, receiving 8 of 10 first place votes in the annual preseason coaches’ poll.

Following the Cardinals in the preseason poll are Wheaton College (73 points, one first-place vote), Washington University in St. Louis (65), Illinois Wesleyan University (53), Carroll University (48), Augustana College (43), North Park University (34), Carthage College (26), Millikin University (14), and Elmhurst University (13).

?? Back on top again — North Central has been picked to win the 2025 CCIW football title in the coaches’ preseason poll released Monday.

The defending national champions are chasing a fifth straight CCIW crown. ????#d3fb | #CCIWwins | @football_ncc

?? https://t.co/BdcaxG4rq9 pic.twitter.com/s8wsYkBAko
— CCIW (@CCIW_Athletics) August 18, 2025

A Look Back: North Central College head football coach Brad Spencer, wide receiver Thomas Skokna, defensive tackle John Sullivan and quarterback Garret Wilson respond to questions following the Cardinals' 45-14 victory over UW-Oshkosh at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.

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