The North Central football team has done a lot of winning over the past five years. This year’s Stagg Bowl did not produce one of those wins. For the second time in five years, North Central finished as national championship runners-up. Despite the disappointment, the program is focused on the bigger picture.
UW–River Falls claimed its first national title with a 24–14 win over the Cardinals. The Falcons dominated both sides of the ball.
“The bottom line is as a head coach I didn’t get it done today,” head coach Brad Spencer, ‘04, said postgame, “I have to do better for these seniors.”
The bigger picture
But results are not what matter most to this program. It is about something bigger than wins and losses.
Faith, family, and friendship have shaped the program’s success in recent years.
“Our program is about going much further than a football game result,” Spencer said reflecting about the program, “it’s about developing all-American husbands, fathers, and teammates.”
That’s mentality has defined players like defensive end JP Sullivan, ’26 and wide receiver Thomas Skokna, ’26. Coach Spencer emphasizes that mindset to his players every day.
“I would say my time here has been kind of cool,” Sullivan said reflecting on this time with the team, “Being a part of such great teams and such great people, it changed something about me. I hope I did that in some sort of capacity.”
“Everything that Coach Spencer and the rest of the coaching staff taught us and put us through, I think it set me up for life,” Skokna continued, “I couldn’t be more thankful for him and this program and North Central College for everything they did for me.”
The aftermath
Despite a bittersweet ending to a great season, the Cardinal football program aims to develop not only great players, but great people.
“It’s been such a blessing to come to North Central,” linebacker Danny Nuccio, ‘26 said, continuing to reflect on his time at North Central. “I’ve made lifelong friends. I’ve learned how to be a man, a father and a husband and I’m just so blessed. I wouldn’t want to trade it for the world.”
