On Saturday, the North Central College football team scored its second-highest point total, defeating the Elmhurst College Blue Jays 59-17, capping off an undefeated season and claiming the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Trophy for the 12th time in team history.
The offense was in sync, totaling 558 yards. Broc Rutter threw four touchdown passes in the first half, including a 75-yarder to Ryan Kuhl on the first play from scrimmage.
The red-hot Cardinals went into halftime with a 38-17 lead, then kept the ball on the ground for most of the second half and finding the end zone three more times, while shutting Elmhurst out.
Other than a couple of big plays in the first half where Blue Jay quarterback Orlando Hernandez was able to escape the pocket and find receiver Kaylon Miller, the Cardinals defense held Elmhurst in check and performed well in all three phases of the game.
After an undefeated regular season, the Cardinals now enter the playoffs, and will host the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers on Nov. 19 at noon in Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The Fightin’ Engineers won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) and will travel to Naperville from Terre Haute, Ind. They finished their season 8-2 overall and 7-1 in HCAC play.
Rose-Hulman averages 34.7 points per game, while holding opponents to 16.7. Their highest point total came in their regular season finale: a 74-6 win on their senior day.
