North Central College
Cardinal Football
Nov. 9, 2024 (Senior Day)
Elmhurst University Bluejays (2-6, 2-5) at North Central College Cardinals (8-0, 7-0)
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Full Game Preview All-Time Series vs. Elmhurst Program History Setting the Scene: The Cardinals’ senior class looks to extend its perfect record in conference play and secure at least a share of its fourth straight CCIW title as the team seeks a 25th consecutive win over the Bluejays. Series History: This is the 85th football meeting between the two institutions. North Central leads the all-time series, 61-22-1, and has won the last 24 contests dating back to 1999. The Cardinals visited Elmhurst Sept. 23 of last season and departed Langhorst Field with a 59-6 victory. North Central owned a 49-0 lead by halftime, scoring on all seven first-half possessions while forcing six Bluejay punts. Joe Sacco ran for three touchdowns in the opening half, while Luke Lehnen, Sean Allen and Jordan Chisum each ran for one. Lehnen also completed a twoyard touchdown pass to DeAngelo Hardy. Second-half scores came on a Darius Byrd touchdown run and a Sean Ryniec field goal. Sacco totaled a game-high 80 rushing yards on just seven carries, while Joey Lombardi caught three passes for 57 yards and Lehnen completed 11 of 14 passes for 201 yards. The North Central defense, which allowed just 148 yards and registered five quarterback sacks, was led by BJ Adamchik and James Hart with six tackles each. The Cardinals have outscored Elmhurst, 212-19, in their last three meetings. 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). Scouting the Bluejays: The Bluejays absorbed a fourth straight loss Saturday as Wheaton broke open a close game midway through the second quarter and prevailed in a 6517 rout. Taveon Porter’s four-yard touchdown run early in the second period left Elmhurst with just a 14-10 deficit. The Thunder scored 17 points in the final 7:11 of the half before putting up three touchdowns in the first nine minutes of the third quarter. The Bluejays rank ninth in the 10-team
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Location:........................................................ Elmhurst, Ill. Enrollment:................................................................. 3,731 Affiliation:............................................. NCAA Division III Conference:................................ College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Stadium:....................................... Langhorst Field (2,500) 2023 Record:............................................. 2-8 (1-8 CCIW) Head Coach:................................................Mike Murray Record at Elmhurst:.................................4-14 (2nd year) Career Record:..........................................8-50 (6th year)
Location:..................................................... Naperville, Ill. Enrollment:................................................................. 3,003 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:......................................... 37-1 (3rd year) Career Record:......................................... 37-1 (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. W, 56-3 Naperville, Ill. 12 p.m. Bloomington, Ill. 1 p.m.
Home games in BOLD College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games in ITALICS
CCIW in total offense (243.8 yards per game) and eighth in scoring (17.5 points per game). Porter, who set a season high with 109 rushing yards against Wheaton, and Darius Lane have comprised the bulk of Elmhurst’s running game, while receiver Jacob Cockrell has caught six of the team’s 10 touchdown passes this season. Quarterback John Odom’s eight-yard scoring toss to Cockrell in the fourth quarter against Wheaton was the Bluejays’ first passing touchdown in three games. Linebacker Jace Zeffiro is the leading tackler (76) for an Elmhurst defense which has allowed 42.8 points and 440.1 yards per game.
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The Bluejays have been particularly vulnerable against the run, yielding 237 yards per contest, but lead the CCIW in turnovers forced (17) and have recorded at least one takeaway in every game. This Week for the Cardinals: North Central won its 31st straight home game Saturday, rolling to a 56-3 victory over Carroll to defeat the Pioneers for the 10th consecutive time. The Cardinals owned a 28-3 advantage by halftime as Luke Lehnen ran for a touchdown while throwing scoring passes to Jacob Paradee, Jordan Chisum and Thomas Skokna. Lehnen and Chisum tacked on
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