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.
The team advanced to the Division III playoffs where they defeated in the second round, Hope in the third round, and 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.
Personnel
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries At No. 14 Aurora
Statistics NCCAUR First downs 25 18 Total yards 463 372 Rushing yards 222 83 Passing yards 241 289 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:00 27:00 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 21/31, 241 yards, 3 TD Rushing Joe Sacco 19 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD Receiving Trey Madsen 6 receptions, 63 yards, TDAurora Passing Tyler Adkins 22/40, 289 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Adkins 8 rushes, 55 yards Receiving Ty Pruett 4 receptions, 122 yards, TD
At Carthage
Statistics NCCCAR First downs 31 9 Total yards 629 146 Rushing yards 300 29 Passing yards 329 117 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:34 30:26 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 16/25, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Joe Sacco 16 rushes, 96 yards, 2 TD Receiving Thomas Skokna 2 receptions, 67 yardsCarthage Passing Bryce Lowe 21/33, 117 yards, 2 INT Rushing Bryce Frank 10 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Gavin Betts 4 receptions, 42 yards
Washington University
Statistics WASHUNCC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWashington University Passing Rushing Receiving North Central Passing Rushing Receiving
At No. 18 Wheaton (IL)
Statistics NCCWHE First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Rushing Receiving Wheaton Passing Rushing Receiving
At Millikin
Statistics NCCMIL First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Rushing Receiving Millikin Passing Rushing Receiving
North Park
Statistics NPUNCC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Park Passing Rushing Receiving North Central Passing Rushing Receiving
At Augustana (IL)
Statistics NCCAUG First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Rushing Receiving Augustana Passing Rushing Receiving
Carroll (WI)
Statistics CARNCC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCarroll Passing Rushing Receiving North Central Passing Rushing Receiving
Elmhurst
Statistics ELMNCC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsElmhurst Passing Rushing Receiving North Central Passing Rushing Receiving
At Illinois Wesleyan
Statistics NCCIWU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Wesleyan Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 22 Whitworth (NCAA Division III Second Round)
Statistics WTWNCC First downs 16 20 Total yards 329 493 Rushing yards 99 350 Passing yards 230 143 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 31:01 28:59 Team Category Player StatisticsWhitworth Passing Ryan Blair 29/48, 230 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nathan Owens 3 rushes, 56 yards, TD Receiving Dawson Tobeck 6 receptions, 54 yardsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 10/13, 137 yards, 2 TD Rushing Joe Sacco 10 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaac Banker 1 reception, 54 yards
No. 16 Hope (NCAA Division III Third Round)
Statistics HOPENCC First downs 17 21 Total yards 334 486 Rushing yards 167 234 Passing yards 167 252 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 27:05 32:55 Team Category Player StatisticsHope Passing Ben Wellman 13/27, 167 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ben Wellman 11 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Grant Holtzer 5 receptions, 103 yards, 2 TDNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 13/18, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Joe Sacco 19 rushes, 120 yards, TD Receiving Thomas Skokna 4 receptions, 119 yards, TD
No. 23 Springfield (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal)
Statistics SPRNCC First downs 17 18 Total yards 260 328 Rushing yards 227 232 Passing yards 33 96 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 34:41 25:19 Team Category Player StatisticsSpringfield Passing Drew Heenan 3/10, 33 yards Rushing Arsen Shtefan 20 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Logan Schenk 1 reception, 20 yardsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 10/20, 96 yards, 2 TD Rushing Sean Allen 15 rushes, 94 yards, TD Receiving Jack Rummell 2 receptions, 46 yards, TD
No. 6 Susquehanna (NCAA Division III Semifinal)
Statistics SQHNCC First downs 5 32 Total yards 135 638 Rushing yards 60 352 Passing yards 75 286 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 23:59 36:01 Team Category Player StatisticsSusquehanna Passing Bobby Croyle 4/9, 55 yards Rushing Rahshan La Mons 14 rushes, 72 yards Receiving Chris Bookter 1 reception, 25 yardsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 16/17, 275 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jordan Williams 16 rushes, 106 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Paradee 3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD
Vs. No. 5 Mount Union (Stagg Bowl)
Statistics UMUNCC First downs 23 25 Total yards 426 495 Rushing yards 112 197 Passing yards 314 298 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:32 30:28 Team Category Player StatisticsMount Union Passing T. J. Deshields 21/36, 314 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyler Echeverry 20 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Nick Turner 7 receptions, 104 yards, TDNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 18/26, 298 yards, 4 TD Rushing Charles Coleman 2 rushes, 68 yards, TD Receiving Thomas Skokna 3 receptions, 94 yards
References