By: Jared Shlensky, Sports Editor Photo Courtesy of Rachel Hurtig
Shlensky Sit-Down: Spencer Stanek
[soundcloud params=”auto_play=true&show_comments=true&color=0ac4ff”]https://soundcloud.com/ncclinked/shlensky-sit-down-spencer-1[/soundcloud]NCC’s deepest postseason run came in 2010 when the squad made it all the way to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual national champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks.
Leading the way for the Cards in 2010 was senior wide receiver Steve Hlavac and senior middle linebacker Matt Wenger.
Hlavac led the Cardinals receiving corps with 43 receptions and 716 receiving yards en route to claiming his second consecutive first-team All-CCIW selection. Meanwhile Wenger finished with a team-high 120 tackles, earning his third straight first-team All-CCIW selection, second straight CCIW defensive player of the year as well as regional defensive player of the year
But here in 2013, NCC has arguably its best shot of achieving what it did in 2010, courtesy of its veteran experience on both sides of the football. One of those veterans on the offensive side of the ball is senior quarterback Spencer Stanek, who started eight games for NCC in 2010 along with all three of its postseason games.
After taking a year off from football in 2011, Stanek came back in 2012 and really didn’t miss a beat, throwing for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing just 11 interceptions.
But so far in 2013, Stanek has taken his game to a completely different level, throwing for just under 1,000 yards, 12 total touchdowns (nine passing and three rushing) and zero interceptions, something the fifth year senior credits to being able to handle his emotions better.
“It just seems like the game has kind of slowed down just a little bit for me in my senior year,” said Stanek. “Coming back after taking the year off (in 2011) I guess I was just a little frantic and I wasn’t making the correct reads all the time. But this year I’ve just taken a step back and I’m able to see the game a lot better, which has helped me a lot.”
While many may be surprised with the way Stanek has played through the Cardinals nonconference schedule, one who isn’t is senior right tackle Greg Whalen.
“The ginger gerbil came to play this year,” said Whalen. “It might have been a surprise to a lot of people, but it wasn’t a surprise to me at all. I worked out with him (Stanek) everyday this summer and I knew how great of a year he was going to have and the fact that he’s succeeding on the field is exactly what he deserves.”
Another reason the Cardinals have had so much success early this season through the air is because of the play of its wide receivers. At least 12 different receivers have caught one pass, one being junior Peter Sorenson, who has a team-high 27 catches and 369 receiving yards.
“Pete is a great receiver and he’s just going to keep getting better and better,” said Stanek.
While the receivers have played well early so far, senior tight ends A.J. Thomas and Ryan Szudarski have stood out too. In 2012 Szudarski and Thomas combined for just 18 catches and two touchdowns, but through the first three games of the season, Szudarski and Thomas have seven catches and five touchdowns.
Thomas, who leads NCC with a team-high three receiving touchdowns, credits the tight ends high level of play to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Jeff Thorne.
“I think Coach Jeff embraced us and really believes in us,” said Thomas. “Last year was kind of tough, but this year we’ve really had to embrace the role of being the senior guys. And for Coach Jeff to see that and to just put that confidence in us has completely changed the outlook.”
Shlensky Sit-Down: A.J. Thomas
[soundcloud params=”auto_play=true&show_comments=true&color=0ac4ff”]https://soundcloud.com/ncclinked/shlensky-sit-down-a-j-thomas[/soundcloud]While Stanek and the NCC receiving corps have stood out the most for the offense, the play of its offensive line has been just as successful.
NCC’s starting offensive line returned four its five starters from last year; right tackle Whalen, junior center John Cannova, senior left guard Alex Mann and senior left tackle Jace Werkheiser, and they have given up just one sack through the first three games of the season.
Defensively the Cards returned a lot of familiar faces, including six of its 11 starters from last year’s defense. But one major change for the defense came on the coaching end, as assistant coach Mike Murray enters his first season as defensive coordinator for North Central.
Coach Murray, a former head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator at CCIW rival Illinois Wesleyan, has put NCC’s defense in position to be successful according to coach Thorne.
“The beautiful thing about coach Murray’s defense is that in some ways it’s very simplistic,” said Thorne. “Now you get to spend tons of time just working on the technique and getting better at it but what it allows you to do is play fast.”
Another change for NCC defensively was senior Nick Slezak moving from free safety to middle linebacker, a transition that Thorne believes Slezak has made the most of.
“There’s a learning curve that has to happen,“ said Thorne. “He’s starting to see the windows of opportunity and making bigger plays.”
While North Central has given up 124.7 rushing yards per game and 193.3 passing yards per game, NCC has given up just 15 points per game.
One concern NCC may have through three games is senior kicker Nice Dace, who has missed three extra points and has yet to make a field goal. However, coach Thorne is confident Dace will turn the corner soon.
“I have all the confidence in the world that he (Dace) is going to have another fabulous year for us,” said Thorne. “He (Dace) is trying to sort of punch the ball instead of following all the way through and a lot of that is that his confidence is shaken a little bit right now.”
Last weeks 27-7 win over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point was much bigger than just starting the nonconference schedule undefeated, as the win on Saturday gave coach Thorne his 100th career collegiate coaching win.
Shlensky Sit-Down: Head Coach John Thorne
[soundcloud params=”auto_play=true&show_comments=true&color=0ac4ff”]https://soundcloud.com/ncclinked/shlensky-sit-down-head-coach[/soundcloud]While Thorne is proud of what he has accomplished in his 11 seasons as head football coach at North Central, he explains how it wouldn’t have happened without the players and assistant coaches he’s had around him since he took over as head football coach in 2002.
“The players and assistant coaches have done a wonderful job of accepting the philosophy of trying to play Cardinal football the way that the program has laid it out,” said Thorne. “I can never thank North Central College enough for hiring me. I need to get a few things in place before I leave because I would like the program to continue just like the program at Wheaton Warrenvile South has been able to continue. It’s in a good place right now, and it can stay that way for many, many, years if we can just get a couple more things in place.”
North Central begins conference play tomorrow when the Cards travel to Elmhurst to take on the Bluejays, a team that NCC must be ready for according to senior safety Shane Dierking.
“Their program (Elmhurst) is headed in the right direction so it’s going to be another tough week,” said Dierking. “Last year they had a breakout season and they’re looking to do more of the same so we know they’re going to give us a battle.”
Kickoff from Langhorst Field is slated to begin at 2 p.m. and can also be heard on North Central College’s radio station, WONC, 89.1 FM, or on the web at either wonc.org or woncsports.org.
