2024 North Central Cardinals football team

Last updated

2024 North Central Cardinals football
Stagg Bowl, W 41–25 vs. Mount Union
Conference College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Record15–0 (9–0 CCIW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorEric Stuedemann (3rd season)
Offensive scheme West Coast spread
Defensive coordinatorShane Dierking (6th season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
Seasons
  2023
2025 
2024 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 North Central (IL) $^  9 0   15 0  
No. 20 Wheaton (IL)  8 1   9 2  
Washington University  7 2   8 2  
Illinois Wesleyan  5 4   5 5  
Carroll (WI)  4 5   5 5  
North Park  4 5   5 5  
Augustana (IL)  3 6   4 6  
Elmhurst  3 6   3 7  
Carthage  2 7   2 8  
Millikin  0 9   0 10  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3Football.com

The 2024 North Central Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented North Central College of Naperville, Illinois, as a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) during the 2024 NCAA Division III football season. In their second year under head coach Brad Spencer, the Cardinals compiled a 15–0 record (9–0 in conference games), won the CCIW championship, and were ranked No. 1 in Division III at the end of the regular season.

Contents

The team advanced to the Division III playoffs where they defeated Whitworth in the second round, Hope in the third round, and Springfield in the national quarterfinal.

CCIW preseason poll

The CCIW released its preseason coaches' prediction poll on August 19, 2024. The Cardinals were predicted to finish first in the conference, receiving 8 of the possible 10 first place votes. [1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 146:00 p.m.at No. 14 Aurora *No. 1
W 48–213,743
September 211:00 p.m.at Carthage No. 1
W 63–01,553
September 2812:00 p.m. Washington University No. 1W 49–94,000
October 51:00 p.m.at No. 18 Wheaton (IL) No. 1
W 55–275,337
October 121:00 p.m.at Millikin No. 1
W 70–14475
October 196:00 p.m. North Park Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL
W 69–04,500
October 261:00 p.m.at Augustana (IL) No. 1
W 49–10875
November 212:00 p.m. Carroll (WI) No. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL
W 56–33,500
November 912:00 p.m. Elmhurst No. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL
W 70–72,000
November 161:00 p.m.at Illinois Wesleyan No. 1
W 42–202,238 [2]
November 3012:00 p.m.No. 22 Whitworth *No. 1
W 42–17761 [3]
December 712:00 p.m.No. 16 Hope *No. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL (NCAA Division III Third Round)
W 41–211,491 [4]
December 1412:00 p.m.No. 23 Springfield *No. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal)
W 27–3942
December 212:30 p.m.No. 6 Susquehanna *No. 1
  • Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium
  • Naperville, IL (NCAA Division III Semifinal)
W 66–01,206
January 5, 20257:00 p.m.vs. No. 5 Mount Union *No. 1W 41–251,938

[5]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011Final
D3football.com 1 (14)1 (17)1 (17)1 (16)1 (16)1 (18)1 (18)1 (18)1 (18)1 (18)1 (22)1 (22)1 (25)
AFCA 1 (26)1 (28)1 (33)1 (33)1 (36)1 (36)1 (36)1 (36)1 (37)1 (36)1 (38)1 (38)1 (43)

Game summaries

At No. 14 Aurora

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals17177748
No. 14 Spartans0714021
StatisticsNCCAUR
First downs2518
Total yards463372
Rushing yards22283
Passing yards241289
Turnovers01
Time of possession33:0027:00
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen21/31, 241 yards, 3 TD
RushingJoe Sacco19 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingTrey Madsen6 receptions, 63 yards, TD
AuroraPassingTyler Adkins22/40, 289 yards, TD, INT
RushingTyler Adkins8 rushes, 55 yards
ReceivingTy Pruett4 receptions, 122 yards, TD

At Carthage

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals721142163
Firebirds00000
StatisticsNCCCAR
First downs319
Total yards629146
Rushing yards30029
Passing yards329117
Turnovers12
Time of possession29:3430:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen16/25, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingJoe Sacco16 rushes, 96 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingThomas Skokna2 receptions, 67 yards
CarthagePassingBryce Lowe21/33, 117 yards, 2 INT
RushingBryce Frank10 rushes, 17 yards
ReceivingGavin Betts4 receptions, 42 yards

Washington University

1234Total
Bears0
No. 1 Cardinals0
StatisticsWASHUNCC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Washington UniversityPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At No. 18 Wheaton (IL)

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals0
No. 18 Thunder0
StatisticsNCCWHE
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving
WheatonPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Millikin

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals0
Big Blue0
StatisticsNCCMIL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MillikinPassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Park

1234Total
Vikings0
No. 1 Cardinals0
StatisticsNPUNCC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North ParkPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Augustana (IL)

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals0
Vikings0
StatisticsNCCAUG
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving
AugustanaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Carroll (WI)

1234Total
Pioneers0
No. 1 Cardinals0
StatisticsCARNCC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CarrollPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Elmhurst

1234Total
Bluejays0
No. 1 Cardinals0
StatisticsELMNCC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ElmhurstPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Illinois Wesleyan

1234Total
No. 1 Cardinals0
Titans0
StatisticsNCCIWU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois WesleyanPassing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 22 Whitworth (NCAA Division III Second Round)

1234Total
No. 22 Pirates0301417
No. 1 Cardinals2177742
StatisticsWTWNCC
First downs1620
Total yards329493
Rushing yards99350
Passing yards230143
Turnovers10
Time of possession31:0128:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WhitworthPassingRyan Blair29/48, 230 yards, TD, INT
RushingNathan Owens3 rushes, 56 yards, TD
ReceivingDawson Tobeck6 receptions, 54 yards
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen10/13, 137 yards, 2 TD
RushingJoe Sacco10 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingIsaac Banker1 reception, 54 yards

No. 16 Hope (NCAA Division III Third Round)

1234Total
No. 16 Flying Dutchmen077721
No. 1 Cardinals02113741
StatisticsHOPENCC
First downs1721
Total yards334486
Rushing yards167234
Passing yards167252
Turnovers31
Time of possession27:0532:55
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
HopePassingBen Wellman13/27, 167 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingBen Wellman11 rushes, 83 yards, TD
ReceivingGrant Holtzer5 receptions, 103 yards, 2 TD
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen13/18, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingJoe Sacco19 rushes, 120 yards, TD
ReceivingThomas Skokna4 receptions, 119 yards, TD

No. 23 Springfield (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal)

1234Total
No. 23 Pride03003
No. 1 Cardinals7103727
StatisticsSPRNCC
First downs1718
Total yards260328
Rushing yards227232
Passing yards3396
Turnovers21
Time of possession34:4125:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SpringfieldPassingDrew Heenan3/10, 33 yards
RushingArsen Shtefan20 rushes, 92 yards
ReceivingLogan Schenk1 reception, 20 yards
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen10/20, 96 yards, 2 TD
RushingSean Allen15 rushes, 94 yards, TD
ReceivingJack Rummell2 receptions, 46 yards, TD

No. 6 Susquehanna (NCAA Division III Semifinal)

1234Total
No. 6 River Hawks00000
No. 1 Cardinals212814366
StatisticsSQHNCC
First downs532
Total yards135638
Rushing yards60352
Passing yards75286
Turnovers31
Time of possession23:5936:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SusquehannaPassingBobby Croyle4/9, 55 yards
RushingRahshan La Mons14 rushes, 72 yards
ReceivingChris Bookter1 reception, 25 yards
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen16/17, 275 yards, 4 TD
RushingJordan Williams16 rushes, 106 yards, TD
ReceivingJacob Paradee3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD

Vs. No. 5 Mount Union (Stagg Bowl)

1234Total
No. 5 Purple Raiders737825
No. 1 Cardinals7772041
StatisticsUMUNCC
First downs2325
Total yards426495
Rushing yards112197
Passing yards314298
Turnovers01
Time of possession29:3230:28
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mount UnionPassingT. J. Deshields21/36, 314 yards, 2 TD
RushingTyler Echeverry20 rushes, 83 yards, TD
ReceivingNick Turner7 receptions, 104 yards, TD
North CentralPassingLuke Lehnen18/26, 298 yards, 4 TD
RushingCharles Coleman2 rushes, 68 yards, TD
ReceivingThomas Skokna3 receptions, 94 yards

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References

  1. "North Central Earns Top Spot in Preseason CCIW Football Poll". CCIW. August 19, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  2. "Cardinals Overpower Titans for Tenth Win". North Central Cardinals. November 16, 2024.
  3. Geoffrey Clark (November 30, 2024). "North Central pounces on Whitworth, ending Pirates' season with 42-17 rout in Division III playoffs". The Spokesman-Review.
  4. Mike McGraw (December 7, 2024). "North Central beats Hope, gets help in Division III playoff bracket". Daily Herald.
  5. "2024 Football Schedule". North Central College . Retrieved December 9, 2024.