North Central College
Cardinal Football
Nov. 2, 2024
Carroll University Pioneers (4-3, 3-3) at North Central College Cardinals (7-0, 6-0)
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Full Game Preview All-Time Series vs. North Park Program History Setting the Scene: Entering the regular season’s final stretch with the first of two straight home games, the Cardinals look to extend their winning streak in conference games to 40 as they face a Carroll team coming off two straight wins. Series History: This is the 60th football meeting between the two institutions. Carroll owns a 34-23-2 advantage in the all-time series, though the Cardinals have won the last nine meetings, including all seven since the Pioneers rejoined the CCIW in 2016. Carroll visited North Central on Oct. 7 of last season. The Cardinals gained nearly 700 yards of total offense and scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game in a 69-24 victory. Seven of North Central’s eight scoring drives took five plays or less and each covered at least 54 yards. Luke Lehnen completed 12 of 13 passes for a careerhigh 385 yards and five touchdowns, connecting with DeAngelo Hardy seven times for 278 yards and four scores. Joe Sacco ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Joey Lombardi established a program record for the longest kickoff return with a 98-yard runback to the end zone in the first period, while Angelo Cusumano returned an interception 76 yards for a score in the third quarter and Martin Egbo totaled three tackles for loss. National Rankings: North Central was ranked No. 1 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division III Top 25 Polls by D3football. com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The Cardinals have been ranked No. 1 in the last 29 AFCA regular-season polls and 38 of the last 41 D3football.com regularseason polls. Scouting the Pioneers: Carroll won for the third time in four games Saturday, scoring the first 31 points of a 45-14 victory at Elmhurst. Quarterback Charlie King threw for touchdowns to David Simmons and Titan Kilgore and ran for another. Running back Jaxon Case ran for a team-high 50 yards and a score, while tight end Reed Breckheimer, the Pioneers’ leading receiver, also ran for a touchdown.
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Location:................................................. Waukesha, Wis. Enrollment:................................................................. 3,283 Affiliation:............................................. NCAA Division III Conference:................................ College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Stadium:................................ Schneider Stadium (4,200) 2023 Record:............................................. 5-5 (4-5 CCIW) Head Coach:.....................................Mike Budziszewski Record at Carroll:....................................21-16 (5th year) Career Record:........................................21-16 (5th year)
Location:..................................................... Naperville, Ill. Enrollment:................................................................. 2,695 Affiliation:............................................. NCAA Division III Conference:................................ College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Stadium:....................Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium (5,889) 2023 Record:........................................... 14-1 (9-0 CCIW) Head Coach:.............................................. Brad Spencer Record at NCC:......................................... 36-1 (3rd year) Career Record:......................................... 36-1 (3rd year)
LIVE COVERAGE Video: northcentralcardinals.com/watch Radio: 89.1-FM, WONC/wonc.org Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/ncc/football Live Game Updates via Twitter/Instagram: @NCC_Athletics
2024 CARDINAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16
#13/14 Aurora University Carthage College Washington University in St. Louis #18/23 Wheaton College Millikin University North Park University Augustana College Carroll University Elmhurst University Illinois Wesleyan University
Montgomery, Ill. W, 48-21 Kenosha, Wis. W, 63-0 Naperville, Ill. W, 49-9 Wheaton, Ill. W, 55-27 Decatur, Ill. W, 70-14 Naperville, Ill. W, 69-0 Rock Island, Ill. W, 49-10 Naperville, Ill. 12 p.m. Naperville, Ill. 12 p.m. Bloomington, Ill. 1 p.m.
Home games in BOLD College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games in ITALICS
Carroll’s defense allowed a seasonlow 217 total yards and recovered two fumbles, while Aaron AppiahKubi scoerd the Pioneers’ first puntreturn touchdown of 2024. As Carroll’s starting signal-caller the last two games, King has completed 28 of 42 passes for 432 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. The Pioneers threw for seven scores in their first five games of the season. Marcus Johnson has run for a team-best 430 yards while Breckheimer has caught 24 passes for 338 yards and two TDs. The Pioneers lead the CCIW and rank 14th nationally in fumble recov-
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eries (8) in 2024 and have forced at least one turnover in every game. Linebacker Will Campbell ranks second in the conference in tackles (58) to lead a defense which ranks third in the CCIW in scoring defense (21.6 points allowed per game) and quarterback sacks (17). This Week for the Cardinals: North Central recorded its ninth straight win on Augustana’s home field Saturday, prevailing by a 49-10 count and averaging just more than 10 yards per offensive play. The Cardinals gained a season-high 391 rushing yards on just 36 attempts and tied a season high with
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