Mark Black

Football Week 3 Preview: WashU

9/25/2025 2:30:00 PM

Setting the Scene: The North Central College football team looks to win its 44th straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin contest as the Cardinals take on Washington University in St. Louis for the last time as a member of the CCIW. Kickoff at Francis Field is set for 1 p.m.

Series History: Saturday’s contest marks the 12th all-time meeting between North Central and WashU, with the Cardinals owning a commanding 10-1 edge in the series. North Central has won the last seven matchups and holds a perfect 6-0 record when playing in St. Louis.

In last season’s meeting, North Central cruised to a 49-9 victory in Naperville. The Cardinals racked up 563 yards of total offense while limiting the Bears to just 145.

Quarterback Luke Lehnen led the charge, completing 9 of 14 passes for 192 yards and adding a team-high 70 rushing yards on only six carries. Calvin Lavery also contributed through the air, going 11-for-15 for 126 yards. Jack Rummell and Thomas Skokna each eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the first time in their careers, with Rummell hauling in six catches for 123 yards and Skokna adding seven receptions for 102 yards.

Defensively, Brayden Garrigan paced the Cardinals with eight tackles, including two for loss. John Sullivan added 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to round out a dominant performance.

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

The defending national champion Cardinals earned 22 of 25 first-place votes in the D3football.com poll and swept all 52 first-place votes in the AFCA poll. This marks North Central’s 37th consecutive appearance atop the AFCA rankings and the 45th time in the last 48 D3football.com polls that they've claimed the No. 1 spot.

Scouting the Bears: WashU enters Saturday’s matchup with a 2-0 record following a dominant 49-0 non-conference win over Rhodes College and a 41-29 victory against Carroll University in their conference opener.

Through two games, the Bears have scored 12 touchdowns—six through the air and six on the ground. They’ve thrown for 426 yards and rushed for 400, all without committing a turnover. Defensively, WashU has forced three turnovers. Ethan Venable and Wiley Flores lead the team in sacks with one apiece, while Joy Chane has recorded a team-high 15 total tackles. Chane and Ryan Schmadtke have each notched an interception.

Quarterback Levi Moore has thrown five touchdown passes for 351 yards, connecting with four different receivers. Makael Carter leads the receiving corps with 167 yards on eight catches, followed by Drew Bowmar with 98 yards on five receptions. Moore also leads the ground game, rushing for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Fred Ware has added 119 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.

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, Augustana hosts Millikin, Carthage hosts Illinois Wesleyan, Wheaton hosts Carroll and North Park hosts Elmhurst in addition to the Cardinals vs Bears contest.

North Central, Millikin and WashU all enter week three with 2-0 records.

1941 vs. Elmhurst - North Central opened its 1941 football season with a 21–0 win over Elmhurst, marking its ninth victory in 11 meetings. Co-captain Bill Shatzer led the Cardinals with two touchdowns and three extra points, totaling 15 points. He scored early in the first quarter and added an 80-yard run in the third. Don Jacob sealed the win with a fourth-quarter touchdown on a reverse from Shatzer. The Cardinals struck quickly, with Shatzer scoring before Elmhurst could settle in. A second touchdown was called back due to a penalty, but North Central continued to dominate field position. Shatzer’s 55-yard run and Joe Sciuto’s punting kept Elmhurst deep in its own territory. Elmhurst’s offense struggled, with Harry Smith breaking through to block two passes and Jacob making a touchdown-saving tackle after a 65-yard gain. Freshmen Doeschler and Haumerson contributed in the fourth quarter, helping shut down Elmhurst’s final scoring chance. Coach Fisher rotated his lineup extensively, giving nearly every healthy player time on the field. The Cardinals’ defense held strong throughout, and the offense capitalized on key opportunities to secure a convincing season-opening win.

CCIW Recognition: Earning the first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin weekly award for the Cardinals, quarterback Garret Wilson has been named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Cardinals' 62-0 victory over Carthage College.

Wilson led a Cardinal offense that racked up 688 yards of total offense, the eighth most in school history. On the day, he was 20-for-27 with 295 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson added 70 rushing yards to lead the CCIW in total offense for the week with 365 yards.

Among NCAA Division III competition, Wilson ranks fifth in passing efficiency (222.7), seventh in points responsible for per game (27.0) and 13th in completion percentage (73.5%). As an offensive unit, North Central is first in DIII with a 69.6% third-down conversion rate and third in the country in total offense (628.5 yards per game).

A Look Back: North Central College head football coach Brad Spencer, quarterback Garret Wilson, linebacker Matt Janiak and wide receiver Jack Rummell respond to questions following the Cardinals' 62-0 victory over Carthage at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.

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