Setting the Scene: Looking to rebound from their first regular season loss since 2019, the North Central College football team visits Elmhurst University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Langhorst Field.
Series History: The Cardinals hold a decisive 63-22-1 lead in the all-time series, including winning the past 26 games, dating back to 1999. North Central secured a 58-0 victory in 2025.
After a 40-yard kick return by David Ballard III, Garret Wilson connected with Thomas Skokna for a 40-yard touchdown to open the scoring. The Cardinal defense repeatedly shut down Elmhurst drives, helping North Central build a 28-0 first-quarter lead. Wilson threw touchdown passes to Jack Rummell, Skokna and Isaac Banker, while Skokna added a 79-yard punt return touchdown, the seventh-longest in program history.
The Cardinals continued to pour it on in the second quarter. Aidan Ellison drilled a 51-yard field goal, the fifth-longest in school history, and Donovan McNeal capped the half with a nine-yard touchdown run to give North Central a 45-0 halftime advantage. Defensively, Eli Renick, Rahmareon Roby and the Cardinal front generated consistent pressure, while Phillip Carlton Jr. forced a third-quarter fumble that Alex Gil recovered to keep the Bluejays off the scoreboard.
North Central added fourth-quarter scores on a one-yard run by Demir Ashiru and field goals from Sean Ryniec to close out the shutout. Wilson finished an efficient 12-of-13 passing for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Rummell totaled 100 receiving yards and a score, Skokna recorded two touchdowns, and McNeal rushed for 81 yards. Carlton Jr. led the Cardinals with seven tackles, while Renick posted 1.5 sacks
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| Graham Wight (left), Kaden Hartnett (middle) and Zebulon Rashid (right) |
National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 3 nationally in the latest NCAA Division III Top 25 polls released by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Wheaton, St. John's are the top two teams in the poll, with UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville rounding out the top five.
Scouting the Bluejays: Elmhurst enters the week with a 1-4 overall record and an 0-3 mark in CCIW play. The Bluejays opened the season with a 28-14 victory over Rockford before facing a difficult stretch against conference opponents. Elmhurst is averaging 11.6 points per game while allowing 32.2 points per contest.
The Bluejays average 200.4 yards of total offense per game, including 137.2 passing yards and 63.2 rushing yards per contest. Elmhurst has forced six interceptions and recovered five fumbles while committing four interceptions and losing four fumbles.
Quarterback Justin Carlson has completed 65 of 126 passes (51.6%) for 558 yards and five touchdowns while adding 82 rushing yards. Giovanni DiBene has also contributed 128 passing yards on 10-of-19 passing.
The Bluejays' leading receiver is A.D. Russell, who has recorded 18 receptions for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Colby Mortenson ranks second with 20 catches for 189 yards, while David Monteilh has added 10 receptions for 147 yards.
Leading the running game is Jonathan Billions, who has rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown on 71 carries. Carlson ranks second on the team with 82 rushing yards, while James Thomas has added 30 yards on the ground.
Defensively, Jaden Genova leads Elmhurst with 41 tackles, while Jace Zeffiro has totaled 37 stops. The Bluejays have recorded 33 tackles for loss and eight sacks through five games. Zeffiro also leads the team with three interceptions, including a 97-yard return for a touchdown, while Jayvon King has added two interceptions. Opponents are averaging 354.2 yards of total offense per game against Elmhurst, including 171.8 rushing yards and 182.4 passing yards per contest.
On special teams, Jayden Wilkinson is 1-for-1 on field-goal attempts and has averaged 30.9 yards per punt. Russell leads the return game, averaging 16.8 yards on eight kickoff returns and 9.3 yards per punt return.
North Central is donning its fifth straight unique jersey combo vs. Elmhurst with a white helmet, white jersey, and black pants
This Week in History: Oct. 16, 1993 - North Central celebrated Homecoming with a dramatic 24-22 victory over Elmhurst, securing the win on a 35-yard field goal by freshman kicker Bryce Cann as time expired. The Cardinals built an early advantage behind a 20-yard touchdown run from Joey Sanchez and a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Platt to freshman receiver Ben Rockwell for his first collegiate touchdown. Platt later added a 22-yard touchdown run to help North Central take a 21-7 lead. Elmhurst rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns and converting a two-point conversion to grab a 22-21 lead with just 36 seconds remaining. The Cardinals answered with a quick drive highlighted by several key receptions from Chris Ferretti, moving into field-goal range for Cann's game-winner. North Central totaled 395 yards of offense, led by Dave Reed's 166 rushing yards, a performance that ranked among the best single-game rushing efforts in program history. Platt added 84 rushing yards, while Ferretti finished with four catches for 87 yards. Defensively, Craig Thompson recorded 10 tackles and a pivotal goal-line stop, Alex Serrano contributed two sacks, and Van Clarkson and Greg Chancellor each intercepted passes to help preserve the Homecoming victory.
Around the CCIW: Wheaton hosts Carroll while Carthage welcomes North Park to Kenosha in 1 p.m. kickoffs. Millikin and Illinois Wesleyan battle in a 6 p.m. start in the lone night contest of the week.
Around Division III: The lone ranked matchup this week is in the WIAC as No. 5 UW-Platteville hosts No. 6 UW-River Falls at Pioneer Stadium.
