Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Oct. 3, 2026 - The North Central College football team scored the game's first 35 points in a 35-7 victory over Augustana College, highlighted by a school-record 97-yard rushing touchdown from
Duke Guenther to close out the first half Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The Cardinal offense opened the game with a methodical 13-play drive that ended with a Guenther rushing touchdown from the one-yard line. David Ballard III caught four passes on the scoring drive.
North Central's defense forced a quick three-and-out on the Vikings' first possession of the day. A Tucker Johnson sack put Augustana behind the sticks on its second drive, resulting in another punt.
Garret Wilson connected with Ballard III for a 25-yard completion to close out the first quarter. Wilson opened the second quarter with back-to-back six-yard completions before hitting Dawson Trebolo for a 24-yard gain to put the Cardinals in the red zone. Wilson found Ballard III for a nine-yard touchdown, extending the hosts' advantage to 14-0 following a Sean Ryneic extra point.
After the Vikings picked up two first downs, David Finfer was sacked on three straight plays by Bobby Medina, Ethan Groark and Kyler Green, respectively, forcing Augustana to punt the ball back to North Central.
On the ensuing drive, Galashky Blaise opened with a 16-yard run before Ballard III hauled in a 26-yard pass from Wilson. Jack Rummell joined the action with a 23-yard reception before Ballard III scored on the ground from 13 yards out to give North Central a 21-0 advantage.
Medina forced an incompletion on third-and-10 to force another Augustana punt, which was downed at the three-yard line. With 97 yards in front of him, Guenther ran to his left, made a pair of Vikings defenders miss and was off to the races, scoring the longest touchdown in North Central football history to put the Cardinals ahead 28-0 at the half.
Nathan Blazewski and the Cardinals opened the third quarter with a surprise onside kick, catching Augustana off guard and recovering at the North Central 45-yard line. The Vikings' defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs.
Augustana used that momentum to work its way down to the Cardinals' red zone. The Vikings ran the ball nine straight times, setting up fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. North Central's defense stopped Ben Ludlum's leap at the line of scrimmage to force a turnover on downs.
Blaise gave the Cardinal offense some breathing room with a pair of runs before Rummell hauled in a 16-yard pass from Wilson. North Central controlled the clock on the drive, taking more than 12 minutes off the clock before finishing the 99-yard march with a four-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Ballard III.
Aahil Khan and Kachi Ugwu recorded sacks down the stretch before the Vikings scored a late touchdown, but it wasn't enough as North Central improved to 4-0 with a 35-7 victory over Augustana.
The Cardinals ran for a season-best 340 yards, paced by Guenther's 145 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries. Blaise added 71 yards, while Jordan Williams finished with 59. Ballard III racked up 99 yards on a career-best 10 catches with two touchdowns. Wilson finished 17-of-25 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
North Central's defense tallied six sacks on the day, recorded by six different players. Matt Janiak led the way with eight tackles, followed by Groark with six, including a sack.
Turning their attention to Homecoming, the Cardinals host No. 3 Wheaton College in the Battle for the Little Brass Bell. Kickoff inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is set for 6 p.m. following a slate of Homecoming activities, highlighted by the Hall of Fame ceremony at 11 a.m., with defensive coordinator Shane Dierking and Gagliardi Trophy winner Broc Rutter being inducted.
