Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
CANTON, Ohio (Jan. 4, 2026) - Playing in its sixth straight NCAA Division III National Championship, the North Central College football team fell 24-14 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Sunday night inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Cardinals won the coin toss and took the ball for the second straight week. Garret Wilson connected with Jack Rummell for a 16-yard completion before a Wilson scramble to move into Falcons' territory. Donovan McNeal found a gap on the left side and took the ball 48 yards to complete a four-play, 73-yard opening drive as North Central took a 7-0 lead less than two minutes in.
Facing a quick offense in UW-River Falls, the Cardinal defense forced a three-and-out in just 39-seconds. An 11-yard punt return from Thomas Skokna put North Central in plus-territory to begin the second drive of the game. The Cardinals moved into the red zone, but fumbled on an option to give the ball back to the Falcons. UW-River Falls drove deep into North Central territory, but the defense prevailed to hold the Falcons to a field goal.
Three straight runs from McNeal picked up a first down before Wilson found Skokna for an 18-yard gain. Jordan Williams and McNeal pushed the ball into the UW-River Falls side of the field as the first quarter ended with 3rd & 13. Another clutch connection between Wilson and Rummell moved the chains as North Central moved into the red zone. The offensive line opened a hole for McNeal's second score of the game to extend the lead to 11, 14-3, with 11:07 to play in the first half.
The teams traded punts before the Falcons scored their first touchdown of the game on a 7-yard pass from Kaleb Blaha to Blake Rohrer, cutting into the Cardinal lead, 14-10. North Central drove deep into the red zone, but a Falcons interception in the end zone kept North Central at 14 heading into the break.
Opening the second half, UW-River Falls quickly drove down the field to the Cardinals' 10-yard line. On 4th & goal, Bradyen Garrigan broke up Blaha's pass in the end zone to put the ball back in the hands of the North Central offense.
Following a North Central punt, UW-River Falls scored quickly on a 7-play, 59-yard drive to take a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter. A sack from Matt Janiak and Graham Wight on 4th & 6 stopped the Falcons from scoring.
After a first down from a 14-yard rush by McNeal, Wilson's pass was tipped and intercepted at the line of scrimmage, and returned to the Cardinals' 12-yardline. Blaha ran up the middle for the touchdown to give the Falcons a 21-14 lead.
North Central crossed midfield on its next offensive drive on a Williams rush before a 15-yard sack put the Cardinals at 4th & 22. The fourth down attempt was broken up at the line of scrimmage to give UW-River Falls the ball in Cardinal territory.
Again, the North Central defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs after three straight incompletions.
Wilson found Skokna for a 30-yard completion on first down. The Cardinal drive stalled as an incomplete pass on 4th & 7 sealed the game's fate as UW-River Falls earned a 24-14 win for their first national championship.
McNeal posted his fifth straight 100+ yard game, racking up 133 yards on 23 carries for two scores. Wilson totaled 195 yards through the air with two interceptions. Skokna added 77 yards receiving, with Rummell closely following with 75. Janiak and Danny Nuccio led the Cardinals with 12 tackles each. Bobby Medina and John Sullivan each recorded a full sack while Janiak and Wight combined for another.
North Central finishes the 2025 season 14-1 as the NCAA Division III national runner-up. The Cardinals claimed the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Title for the fifth straight season while appearing in its sixth consecutive Stagg Bowl.
