Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication,
630-637-5324
Nov. 14, 2026 - North Central College football capped the regular season with a 20-10 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, scoring in all three phases and outscoring the Titans 17-0 in the second half.
After North Central's opening possession ended in a punt, Bobby Medina and Phillip Carlton Jr. combined for a sack that helped force an Illinois Wesleyan punt. The half-sack gave Medina 23.5 for his career, tying him for third-most in program history.
The Cardinals pieced together a methodical drive that consumed more than seven minutes, but negative plays stalled the possession. Sean Ryniec's 40-yard field-goal attempt missed, leaving the game scoreless heading into the second quarter.
Following a muffed punt by North Central, the Titans took over in plus territory. The Cardinal defense stiffened, forcing Illinois Wesleyan to settle for a field-goal attempt. Lach Sullivan's kick sailed wide, keeping the game tied 0-0 with 12:33 remaining in the half.
On the Titans' next possession, Ethan Groark pressured the quarterback, leading to Graham Wight's first career interception. Despite taking over in favorable field position, North Central was backed up by a penalty and missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt into the wind.
Illinois Wesleyan put together a 14-play, 50-yard drive but again came away with only three points. Sullivan connected from 34 yards out to give the Titans a 3-0 lead with 1:35 left before halftime.
A key 22-yard scramble by quarterback Garret Wilson set up another opportunity for Ryniec, who drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to send the teams into the locker room tied, 3-3.
Illinois Wesleyan received the second-half kickoff, but North Central quickly seized momentum. Near midfield, a hurry by Kyler Green forced an errant throw that Kaden Hartnett intercepted and returned 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 10-3 advantage.
The Cardinals forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and answered with a clock-eating drive. Wilson connected with Luke Rummell four times during the march, which consumed nearly eight minutes. Ryniec capped the drive with a field goal to extend North Central's lead to 13-3. It proved to be the Cardinals' lone offensive possession of the third quarter.
Illinois Wesleyan threatened after taking over following a missed field goal with 10:25 remaining. A 46-yard completion moved the Titans deep into Cardinal territory, and back-to-back pass interference penalties helped set up Dermot Smyth's 2-yard touchdown run that cut the deficit to 13-10.
North Central answered immediately. Zebulon Rashid and Duke Guenther carried the load on the ground, while a 36-yard reception by Rummell sparked the drive. Rashid capped the possession with an 11-yard touchdown run, the Cardinals' first offensive touchdown of the afternoon, pushing the lead back to 10 points at 20-10.
The Cardinal defense delivered one final stop, turning Illinois Wesleyan away on fourth down. North Central's offense then ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Wilson completed throws for 144 yards, with Rummell accounting for 113 receiving yards. Guenther paced the rushing attack with 68 yards, while Rashid added 58 and a touchdown.
Carlton Jr. led the defense with 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss and a half-sack. Hartnett's pick-six highlighted the effort, while Wight added an interception. Ryniec finished with two field goals, including a career-long 50-yarder before halftime.
With the win, North Central improved to 9-1 and secured a berth in the NCAA Division III Football Championship. The Cardinals will learn their postseason destination during the NCAA selection show Sunday at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com.
