Sep 03, 2016
Despite being outgained in total yardage on offense, the Cardinal defense forced five turnovers to propel the 13th-ranked North Central College football team to a 35-21 win in the season opener on Saturday night over NAIA foe Robert Morris University-Chicago.
Robert Morris (0-1) outgained the Cardinals 457 to 398 in total yards on offense, including a 139-110 margin in rushing yards and a 318-288 margin through the air, but the Cardinals held a 5-1 advantage in turnovers, including two crucial takeaways in the Eagle red zone.
The Cardinal offense came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter, as the opening three-play, 55 second drive was capped by a 50-yard touchdown pass from Broc Rutter to Alex Ulmer to give the visitors an early 7-0 lead.
With Robert Morris marching down the field, the Cardinal defense seemed to have the Eagles stalled on a huge fourth down stop, but a personal foul on the Cardinals extended the drive and allowed Barrington Thomas to take it in from one yard out two plays later, knotting the score 7-7 with 9:44 to play in the first.
The Eagle defense did not have an answer to the Cardinal aerial attack in the first quarter, as Rutter found Ryan Kuhl from three yards out on the next Cardinal drive, capping off a 9-play, 75-yard drive.
After the defense forced a Robert Morris punt, the Cardinal offense drove 89 yards in just four plays thanks in part to a 48-yard touchdown strike from Rutter to Michael LeBlanc, increasing the Cardinal lead 21-7 with 1:18 to play in the opening quarter.
The second quarter was sloppy on the offensive side of the ball for both teams, featuring four total turnovers and no points scored by either team. The Cardinal defense forced a fumble and two interceptions, both by Jeremy Niklos, including an important pick on a fade route with the Eagles threatening from the 11-yard line with just over a minute left in the half, preserving the Cardinals 21-7 lead heading into the intermission.
The Cardinal defense forced another Robert Morris punt on their opening second half drive, while the offense took the ball and stormed down the field in six plays over the next 2:45, capped by Rutter's third touchdown pass of over 35-plus yards, this time to Austin Breunig for a 38-yard catch and run, increasing the Cardinal lead 28-7.
Robert Morris did not go down without a fight however, scoring 14 unanswered points to draw to within a touchdown 28-21, as the Cardinal offense went cold, garnering just 32 total yards over their next three offensive drives.
With 3:12 to play in the contest, Robert Morris regained possession at their own 23 yard line looking to make a game-tying drive, but facing a 3rd and 10 Pat Cravens picked off a bobbled pass and returned it 27 yards to the house, sealing the 35-21 win for North Central in the process.
Rutter finished 16-of-26 for 288 yards and four touchdowns, while Ulmer racked up 164 yards receiving on eight catches, including 145 in the first half. Breunig carried the ball 22 times for 98 yards, while catching two passes for 46 yards, including the 38-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively, Cravens turned in a game-high 12 total tackles to go along with his interception return for a touchdown, while Niklos added seven tackles along with his two interceptions. Emonte Logan and Kevin Nalefski each recovered a fumble on the evening, while Billy Douds recorded the only Cardinal sack.
Robert Morris' Kenyatte Allen finished the contest 25-50 passing with three interceptions and two touchdowns, while Tristen Jeffries led the team with 148 yards receiving on nine catches. On the ground, Korey Rogers led the Eagles with 116 yards on 21 carries, but fumbled three times, losing one.
North Central plays host to Webber International University (Florida) in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.