Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Establishing dominance to a degree not seen in Naperville in several years, the North Central College football team made quick work of visiting Carroll University Saturday evening, jumping on top early and never letting the Pioneers up for air in a 59-0 walkover at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The Cardinals' margin of victory is their largest since an 86-14 victory over Olivet College on Sept. 17, 2011, and their total of 630 offensive yards is just three yards shy of the season-high 633 put up in this season's opener at Lake Forest College. North Central (5-1, 4-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) achieved its second shutout of the 2018 campaign, marking the first time since 2011 it has dealt more than one in a season.
The hosts needed just six plays to get the scoring started. A 54-yard run by Dominick Muoghalu jumpstarted the night's first drive, and Terrence Hill finished it off with a 10-yard touchdown run. After Carroll (2-4, 1-4 CCIW) saw its first possession end on a failed fourth-down conversion attempt in Cardinal territory, the hosts doubled their lead to 14-0 after Broc Rutter's20-yard touchdown pass to Michael Sfikas. Rutter struck again before the first quarter concluded, hitting Hill for a 20-yard score.
Derik Judka converted a 24-yard field-goal attempt shortly after the second period began, and North Central tacked on one final touchdown before halftime with 2:41 to play, as Rutter found Andrew Kamienski for a five-yard TD toss. Rutter completed two passes to Sfikas and another to Alex Rose to convert three straight third downs during the drive.
Zach Greenberg cut the Pioneers' first second-half drive short with an interception at the Cardinals' 35-yard line. North Central took the ensuing possession to the end zone, as Muoghalu scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season from three yards out. Rutter delivered a 41-yard strike down the left sideline to Kamienski on the Cardinals' next possession before finding Kamienski again for a five-yard score to cap a 10-play, 87-yard trek and boost the lead to 45-0.
North Central's backups came on two put together two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. Zane Lodico's 19-yard TD run concluded a 12-play, 68-yard drive with 8:31 to play, and an 11-play, 87-yard jaunt ended with Armando Varela's one-yard scoring plunge with under a minute to play.
Rutter finished the night 21 of 30 passing for 268 yards, connecting with Kamienski six times for 96 yards, while Muoghalu paced the ground game with 135 yards on 13 carries. The North Central defense, which allowed just 166 total yards and forced eight punts, was led by Matt Sutherland's seven tackles, while DJ Warkenthien added six.
The Cardinals travel to face Carthage College (2-4, 2-3 CCIW) on Saturday. Kickoff at Art Keller Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.