North Central advances to DIII quarterfinals

Posted November 25, 2023 12:00 am

Courtesy of North Central College

Stringing together 27 unanswered first-half points to seize control, North Central College advanced to its sixth NCAA Division III national quarterfinal Saturday with a 71-28 victory over Trinity University (Texas) at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The No. 1-ranked Cardinals (12-0) achieved their highest point total ever in a postseason game and forced four turnovers against a Trinity squad which had committed only five turnovers all season. North Central stopped three drives on fourth down in the second half to keep the Tigers (10-2) from mounting a comeback.

"I thought our defense played outstanding," said North Central head coach Brad Spencer. "(Trinity) has one of the best offenses in the country, and to shut them down the way they did, especially early, was really important."

Quarterback Luke Lehnen completed 11 of 14 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns while running for a game-high 94 yards on 11 carries. DeAngelo Hardy caught seven passes for 98 yards and two scores. Hardy has 56 career touchdown catches, one shy of the North Central career record set by Andrew Kamienski from 2017-2021.

The Cardinals advance to face the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (11-1), a 56-35 second-round winner over Aurora University, in Saturday's quarterfinals at a site to be announced. North Central defeated the Eagles, 34-20, in the second round of the 2021 playoffs.

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