Media regarding the Cardinals
Here are some of the online articles and tweets regarding the run-up to the D-III football championship. They're from Channel 5 (WMAQ, the NBC affiliate), Channel 9 (WGN), and NCC for the most part. I know this story is over a week old, but I want to keep a record of this, plus it was just prior to a major holiday and I was a little busy. :P
Reminder: The hashtag symbols have been removed because Livejournal will turn them into tags.
~~~~~
Prior to the national semifinal game against Muhlenberg:
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https://twitter.com/MikeBermanNBC/status/1205265433311547392
Mike Berman @MikeBermanNBC
This weekend, the @northcentralcol Cardinals are headed to Pennsylvania to play in the @NCAADIII National Semis. A win would give the Naperville program a shot at its first ever national title. Story on the way at 6 on @nbcchicago .
5:17 PM · Dec 12, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
~~~~~
(From WGN) HAWL IN: North Central College’s historic late fall of football
Posted 5:31 PM, December 13, 2019, by Larry Hawley, Updated at 05:34PM, December 13, 2019
NAPERVILLE - In the general vicinity of the Chicago area there are still a few teams left playing football as the weather continues to get colder and colder.
The Bears are trying to rescue their topsy-turvy 2019 season with three games left, needing to win them all to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Venturing out a bit, Illinois is in their first postseason game in five years as they head to Santa Clara for the Red Box Bowl against California. A year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance, Notre Dame heads to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando against Iowa State.
When it comes to championships, the Fighting Illini and the Fighting Irish are out of the running. As for the Bears, the odds are stacked against them since they’ll need help from other teams even if they win out.
But in Naperville, there is a team that right now is in the thick of a race for a championship, making their own history with every win over the last month.
North Central College’s football squad has advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals for just the second time in the history of the program. They’ll be on the road at Muhlenberg (Pennsylvania) on Saturday afternoon at 11 AM central time in hopes of advancing to their first national championship game.
Head coach Jeff Thorne’s team has won three playoff games, including one upset that caught the attention of many in the sport. In the second round, they knocked off perennial Division III power and second-ranked Mount Union 59-52, which was the earliest the Purple Raiders had been knocked out of the playoffs since the 1994 season.
Ironically, it was Mount Union that defeated North Central in their only other Division III National Semifinal game in 2013. The Cardinals knocked off Wabash in the first round before that victory and then beat ninth-ranked Delaware Valley in the quarterfinals to advance to the “Final Four.”
In most of these games, like they’ve done all season, North Central has used an elite offense to propel themselves to victory. In seven of their 12 victories this season, they eclipsed the 50-point mark and reached 40 points in four other contests.
Naturally, North Central’s statistics sit near the top of Division III as they rank second in scoring (53.2 points per game), total offense (565.2 yards per game), setting six program records along the way.
Quarterback Broc Rutter, a Naperville native, and a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Player of the Year) leads the charge as he is second in the nation in four categories, including passing yards (4,135) and passing touchdowns (49). He’s also taken on the punting duties during the playoffs, with a 52.5 yard-per-punt average in the last two games.
Receiver Andrew Kamienski is first in the country in receiving yards and second in receptions, and his 26 receiving touchdowns in a season tied the Division III single-season record. Running back Ethan Greenfield has a division-leading 29 total scores and 2,207 all-purpose yards while ranking second in rushing yards.
A win on Saturday, and it’s off to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on December 20th in Shenandoah, Texas to face either St. John’s of Minnesota or Wisconsin-Whitewater. Either way, it gives the Chicago area another football team to root for as 2019 comes to an end.
~~~~~
After winning the semifinal game:
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College punches ticket to Division III Championship Game
Posted 2:20 PM, December 14, 2019, by Rick Tarsitano, Updated at 07:13PM, December 14, 2019
ALLENTOWN, PA - North Central College made history Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals beat Muhlenberg College in the Division III semifinals 45-14 to advance to their first ever National Championship Game.
In twelve of their thirteen victories this season, North Central has eclipsed the 40 point-mark.
“We knew that we had to stay foot on the pedal the whole time and keep working. That’s been our mindset all year,” noted Rutter. “We threw an interception the first play. That shows how well our guys did bouncing back.”
Naperville native Broc Rutter helped lead the charge. The Gagliardi Trophy finalist threw five touchdown passes in the first half. Four went to Andrew Kamienski, giving him 30 on the year. Kamienski became the first player in the history of D3 football to reach 30 touchdowns in a single season.
“I thought our defense was the difference today,” noted head coach Jeff Thorne. “Put on a show on offense, but at the same time our defense got stop after stop after stop and put the ball back in the hands of these guys. It really allowed us to establish a nice lead by halftime.”
Now it’s off to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas Friday night to face the winner of St. John’s and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
~~~~~
North Central Football Team One Win Away From National Title
North Central College is one win away from a national championship, and NBC 5’s Chris Coffey visited the campus as it prepares for its moment in the sun.
[video] North Central College December 16, 2019 10:48 pm
It was a day or two later that Channel 5 had the blurb that showed the band, but I was unable to find that video or an article link.
~~~~~
Deep in the heart of Texas…
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/northcentralcol/status/1208092727965102080
NorthCentralCollege @northcentralcol
Tune into our [hashtag]InstaStory today as Cardinal Marching Band members Hannah Estoll '21 and Sarah Purlee ’21 show a behind-the-scenes look at the @NCAADIII [hashtag]StaggBowl2019!
12:32 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter Web App
These are the drum majors! I don't have an Instagram, so I am unable to find this. :( But how cool is this? I love that they got the band involved.
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/northcentralcol/status/1208200675261403136
NorthCentralCollege @northcentralcol
Cardinal Marching Band warms up the crowd at [hashtag]StaggBowl2019!
[video of marching band]
7:41 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
Super bummed that I can't view this video! I know my computer has issues with videos (it's pretty old at this point), but even my phone wouldn't play it.
~~~~~
*cue up Queen*
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/NCC_Athletics/status/1208242063009030145
NCC Cardinals @NCC_Athletics
.@football_ncc are kings of @NCAADIII! The Cardinals are National Champions!! [hashtag]WeAreNC [hashtag]d3fb [hashtag]StaggBowl2019
10:25 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1208261659313221638
NCAA @NCAA
HISTORY. MADE.
@NCC_Athletics wins the 2019 Stagg Bowl to capture the program's first @NCAADIII National Championship! [hashtag]d3fb | http://on.ncaa.com/staggbowl19
11:43 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter Web App
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College wins first Division III National Championship
Posted 10:44 PM, December 20, 2019, by Rick Tarsitano and Associated Press, Updated at 12:58AM, December 21, 2019
SHENENDOAH, Texas - North Central of Illinois made the most of its first trip to the NCAA Division III championship game, starting fast and never looking back.
Ethan Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, Broc Rutter threw for 263 yards and two scores and North Central routed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 on Friday night for its first Division III championship.
[Tweets from an NCC account not copied over, though one appears above]
North Central was making its first appearance in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The Cardinals’ previous best finish in the Division III playoffs was a semifinal loss in 2013.
“Just thrilled with the way these guys played,” North Central coach Jeff Thorne said. “These guys played their ever-living tails off like they have all year long. To be here in this position is just beyond description. Just so grateful.”
Rutter was 17 of 26 passing and ran for another touchdown, Andrew Kamienski caught nine passes for 134 yards and a score, and Julian Bell had two interceptions.
“We came out, we were ready to play,” Rutter said. “We couldn’t wait all day. We came out and executed the game plan.”
Thorne gave credit to his players and coaches for the win, but also credited his father, John Thorne, who took over the program in 2002 before he succeeded him in 2015.
“It’s been an incredible run for us,” Jeff Thorne said. “I’m grateful for everything that’s come our way. We’ve had to work for it, which makes it more rewarding. What it means is a dream that was launched in 2002 when my dad took this thing over and so many people put so much into this thing. … To see it to completion means the world to me and to be able to hand the trophy to my dad tonight was very special.”
Rutter broke the Division III record for career passing yards with his final touchdown pass, giving him 14,265 yards and surpassing Alex Tanney, who played at Monmouth College in Illinois. Tanney threw for 14,249 yards.
Rutter gave credit to his team and coaches for the record.
“I had no clue,” Rutter said of the record. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment. … I’ve been doing this for four years, and it’s the best four years of my life. Time of my life. To get that is a nice reward to cap things off, but this national championship means so much more to me than that ever could.”
The Cardinals (14-1) outgained the Warhawks (13-2) 436-390 en route to its 11th straight victory.
Greenfield scored on a 5-yard run less than three minutes into the game and capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run with 1:49 left in the second quarter. Greenfield added a 38-yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 34-0.
In between Greenfield’s two first-half scores, Rutter found Blake Williams for a 31-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter before Rutter had a 1-yard scoring with 10 minutes left in the second.
“They jumped on us right off the bat, and that was ultimately the story of the game,” Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis said. “We missed on some opportunities in the first half. They took advantage of their opportunities.”
Max Meylor was 25 of 42 for 183 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 104 yards for Whitewater, and Alex Peete ran for 79 yards and a score. The Warhawks were making their 10th appearance in the championship game in the last 15 years. They last won the title in 2014, capping a string of six titles in eight years.
“They knew where I was throwing at times,” Meylor said. “They took away some of our receivers which was tough. We hadn’t seen that all year. My decision-making has to be better. I have to get the ball on guys and let our athletes run instead of taking chances.”
Meylor got the Warhawks on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jared Zausch with five minutes remaining in the third. Peete scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9 1/2 minutes left.
~~~~~
The return home
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College football team welcomed back home after victory
Posted 5:16 PM, December 21, 2019, by Meghan Dwyer and Associated Press, Updated at 05:43PM, December 21, 2019
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - North Central College is celebrating its first ever national title in NCAA Division III football. The team was welcomed back home Saturday afternoon by fans.
While the team celebrated their win, so did the town of Naperville.
"This is huge and for Naperville our little town to have a championship because the Bears didn’t make the playoffs, nobody went to the World Series, Bulls aren't doing good, neither are the Blackhawks, so we got something to celebrate," Naperville resident Tina St. Angelo said.
As fans and faculty gathered to greet the champs Saturday afternoon the excitement was palpable. It was a celebration a long time coming.
The team’s quarterback Broc Rutter won the Gagliardi trophy for the most outstanding player in all Division III football.
"We're just a small town school who does things the right way and keep on creating great relationships and building this thing it’s great to see all the support we had. we felt that all the way in Texas," he said.
North Central made the most of its first trip to the NCAA Division III championship game, starting fast and never looking back.
Ethan Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, Rutter threw for 263 yards and two scores and North Central routed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 on Friday night for its first Division III championship.
North Central was making its first appearance in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The Cardinals’ previous best finish in the Division III playoffs was a semifinal loss in 2013.
“Just thrilled with the way these guys played,” North Central coach Jeff Thorne said. “These guys played their ever-living tails off like they have all year long. To be here in this position is just beyond description. Just so grateful.”
Rutter was 17 of 26 passing and ran for another touchdown, Andrew Kamienski caught nine passes for 134 yards and a score, and Julian Bell had two interceptions.
“We came out, we were ready to play,” Rutter said. “We couldn’t wait all day. We came out and executed the game plan.”
Thorne gave credit to his players and coaches for the win, but also credited his father, John Thorne, who took over the program in 2002 before he succeeded him in 2015.
“It’s been an incredible run for us,” Jeff Thorne said. “I’m grateful for everything that’s come our way. We’ve had to work for it, which makes it more rewarding. What it means is a dream that was launched in 2002 when my dad took this thing over and so many people put so much into this thing. … To see it to completion means the world to me and to be able to hand the trophy to my dad tonight was very special.”
Rutter broke the Division III record for career passing yards with his final touchdown pass, giving him 14,265 yards and surpassing Alex Tanney, who played at Monmouth College in Illinois. Tanney threw for 14,249 yards.
Rutter gave credit to his team and coaches for the record.
“I had no clue,” Rutter said of the record. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment. … I’ve been doing this for four years, and it’s the best four years of my life. Time of my life. To get that is a nice reward to cap things off, but this national championship means so much more to me than that ever could.”
The Cardinals (14-1) outgained the Warhawks (13-2) 436-390 en route to its 11th straight victory.
Greenfield scored on a 5-yard run less than three minutes into the game and capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run with 1:49 left in the second quarter. Greenfield added a 38-yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 34-0.
In between Greenfield’s two first-half scores, Rutter found Blake Williams for a 31-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter before Rutter had a 1-yard scoring with 10 minutes left in the second.
“They jumped on us right off the bat, and that was ultimately the story of the game,” Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis said. “We missed on some opportunities in the first half. They took advantage of their opportunities.”
Max Meylor was 25 of 42 for 183 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 104 yards for Whitewater, and Alex Peete ran for 79 yards and a score. The Warhawks were making their 10th appearance in the championship game in the last 15 years. They last won the title in 2014, capping a string of six titles in eight years.
“They knew where I was throwing at times,” Meylor said. “They took away some of our receivers which was tough. We hadn’t seen that all year. My decision-making has to be better. I have to get the ball on guys and let our athletes run instead of taking chances.”
Meylor got the Warhawks on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jared Zausch with five minutes remaining in the third. Peete scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9 1/2 minutes left.
(I like how they basically included the whole previous article in this one.)
~~~~~
(From WMAQ) Video of NCC's football team returning to campus.
(This is pretty much the video version of the article below.)
~~~~~
(From WMAQ) ‘It’s Epic:’ North Central College Football Team Returns Home as National Champions
North Central defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-4 Friday night to become NCAA Division III champions
By Kate Chappell • Published December 21, 2019 • Updated at 3:10 am on December 22, 2019
An ecstatic North Central College community welcomed its football team home to Naperville on Saturday following its first-ever NCAA Division III championship win Friday night.
The North Central Cardinals defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-4 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas.
Friends, family and community members congratulated the team as players proudly hoisted their championship trophy into the air.
"This is huge," said quarterback Broc Rutter. "A life-changing moment for us. So great to see hard work pay off."
Head Coach Jeff Thorne said the players have demonstrated hard work and a strong work ethic, both on and off the field.
"We talk about character traits that make you a really good human being, [the] chance to be successful in whatever you choose to do, and when you do that, it's amazing," he said.
Following the win, "NC" stood for not only North Central College, but national champions.
"It's exciting," said community member Carolyn Lauingfinzer. "This is epic. This is epic."
Reminder: The hashtag symbols have been removed because Livejournal will turn them into tags.
~~~~~
Prior to the national semifinal game against Muhlenberg:
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/MikeBermanNBC/status/1205265433311547392
Mike Berman @MikeBermanNBC
This weekend, the @northcentralcol Cardinals are headed to Pennsylvania to play in the @NCAADIII National Semis. A win would give the Naperville program a shot at its first ever national title. Story on the way at 6 on @nbcchicago .
5:17 PM · Dec 12, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
~~~~~
(From WGN) HAWL IN: North Central College’s historic late fall of football
Posted 5:31 PM, December 13, 2019, by Larry Hawley, Updated at 05:34PM, December 13, 2019
NAPERVILLE - In the general vicinity of the Chicago area there are still a few teams left playing football as the weather continues to get colder and colder.
The Bears are trying to rescue their topsy-turvy 2019 season with three games left, needing to win them all to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Venturing out a bit, Illinois is in their first postseason game in five years as they head to Santa Clara for the Red Box Bowl against California. A year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance, Notre Dame heads to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando against Iowa State.
When it comes to championships, the Fighting Illini and the Fighting Irish are out of the running. As for the Bears, the odds are stacked against them since they’ll need help from other teams even if they win out.
But in Naperville, there is a team that right now is in the thick of a race for a championship, making their own history with every win over the last month.
North Central College’s football squad has advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals for just the second time in the history of the program. They’ll be on the road at Muhlenberg (Pennsylvania) on Saturday afternoon at 11 AM central time in hopes of advancing to their first national championship game.
Head coach Jeff Thorne’s team has won three playoff games, including one upset that caught the attention of many in the sport. In the second round, they knocked off perennial Division III power and second-ranked Mount Union 59-52, which was the earliest the Purple Raiders had been knocked out of the playoffs since the 1994 season.
Ironically, it was Mount Union that defeated North Central in their only other Division III National Semifinal game in 2013. The Cardinals knocked off Wabash in the first round before that victory and then beat ninth-ranked Delaware Valley in the quarterfinals to advance to the “Final Four.”
In most of these games, like they’ve done all season, North Central has used an elite offense to propel themselves to victory. In seven of their 12 victories this season, they eclipsed the 50-point mark and reached 40 points in four other contests.
Naturally, North Central’s statistics sit near the top of Division III as they rank second in scoring (53.2 points per game), total offense (565.2 yards per game), setting six program records along the way.
Quarterback Broc Rutter, a Naperville native, and a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Player of the Year) leads the charge as he is second in the nation in four categories, including passing yards (4,135) and passing touchdowns (49). He’s also taken on the punting duties during the playoffs, with a 52.5 yard-per-punt average in the last two games.
Receiver Andrew Kamienski is first in the country in receiving yards and second in receptions, and his 26 receiving touchdowns in a season tied the Division III single-season record. Running back Ethan Greenfield has a division-leading 29 total scores and 2,207 all-purpose yards while ranking second in rushing yards.
A win on Saturday, and it’s off to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl on December 20th in Shenandoah, Texas to face either St. John’s of Minnesota or Wisconsin-Whitewater. Either way, it gives the Chicago area another football team to root for as 2019 comes to an end.
~~~~~
After winning the semifinal game:
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College punches ticket to Division III Championship Game
Posted 2:20 PM, December 14, 2019, by Rick Tarsitano, Updated at 07:13PM, December 14, 2019
ALLENTOWN, PA - North Central College made history Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals beat Muhlenberg College in the Division III semifinals 45-14 to advance to their first ever National Championship Game.
In twelve of their thirteen victories this season, North Central has eclipsed the 40 point-mark.
“We knew that we had to stay foot on the pedal the whole time and keep working. That’s been our mindset all year,” noted Rutter. “We threw an interception the first play. That shows how well our guys did bouncing back.”
Naperville native Broc Rutter helped lead the charge. The Gagliardi Trophy finalist threw five touchdown passes in the first half. Four went to Andrew Kamienski, giving him 30 on the year. Kamienski became the first player in the history of D3 football to reach 30 touchdowns in a single season.
“I thought our defense was the difference today,” noted head coach Jeff Thorne. “Put on a show on offense, but at the same time our defense got stop after stop after stop and put the ball back in the hands of these guys. It really allowed us to establish a nice lead by halftime.”
Now it’s off to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas Friday night to face the winner of St. John’s and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
~~~~~
North Central Football Team One Win Away From National Title
North Central College is one win away from a national championship, and NBC 5’s Chris Coffey visited the campus as it prepares for its moment in the sun.
[video] North Central College December 16, 2019 10:48 pm
It was a day or two later that Channel 5 had the blurb that showed the band, but I was unable to find that video or an article link.
~~~~~
Deep in the heart of Texas…
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/northcentralcol/status/1208092727965102080
NorthCentralCollege @northcentralcol
Tune into our [hashtag]InstaStory today as Cardinal Marching Band members Hannah Estoll '21 and Sarah Purlee ’21 show a behind-the-scenes look at the @NCAADIII [hashtag]StaggBowl2019!
12:32 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter Web App
These are the drum majors! I don't have an Instagram, so I am unable to find this. :( But how cool is this? I love that they got the band involved.
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/northcentralcol/status/1208200675261403136
NorthCentralCollege @northcentralcol
Cardinal Marching Band warms up the crowd at [hashtag]StaggBowl2019!
[video of marching band]
7:41 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
Super bummed that I can't view this video! I know my computer has issues with videos (it's pretty old at this point), but even my phone wouldn't play it.
~~~~~
*cue up Queen*
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/NCC_Athletics/status/1208242063009030145
NCC Cardinals @NCC_Athletics
.@football_ncc are kings of @NCAADIII! The Cardinals are National Champions!! [hashtag]WeAreNC [hashtag]d3fb [hashtag]StaggBowl2019
10:25 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
~~~~~
https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1208261659313221638
NCAA @NCAA
HISTORY. MADE.
@NCC_Athletics wins the 2019 Stagg Bowl to capture the program's first @NCAADIII National Championship! [hashtag]d3fb | http://on.ncaa.com/staggbowl19
11:43 PM · Dec 20, 2019·Twitter Web App
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College wins first Division III National Championship
Posted 10:44 PM, December 20, 2019, by Rick Tarsitano and Associated Press, Updated at 12:58AM, December 21, 2019
SHENENDOAH, Texas - North Central of Illinois made the most of its first trip to the NCAA Division III championship game, starting fast and never looking back.
Ethan Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, Broc Rutter threw for 263 yards and two scores and North Central routed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 on Friday night for its first Division III championship.
[Tweets from an NCC account not copied over, though one appears above]
North Central was making its first appearance in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The Cardinals’ previous best finish in the Division III playoffs was a semifinal loss in 2013.
“Just thrilled with the way these guys played,” North Central coach Jeff Thorne said. “These guys played their ever-living tails off like they have all year long. To be here in this position is just beyond description. Just so grateful.”
Rutter was 17 of 26 passing and ran for another touchdown, Andrew Kamienski caught nine passes for 134 yards and a score, and Julian Bell had two interceptions.
“We came out, we were ready to play,” Rutter said. “We couldn’t wait all day. We came out and executed the game plan.”
Thorne gave credit to his players and coaches for the win, but also credited his father, John Thorne, who took over the program in 2002 before he succeeded him in 2015.
“It’s been an incredible run for us,” Jeff Thorne said. “I’m grateful for everything that’s come our way. We’ve had to work for it, which makes it more rewarding. What it means is a dream that was launched in 2002 when my dad took this thing over and so many people put so much into this thing. … To see it to completion means the world to me and to be able to hand the trophy to my dad tonight was very special.”
Rutter broke the Division III record for career passing yards with his final touchdown pass, giving him 14,265 yards and surpassing Alex Tanney, who played at Monmouth College in Illinois. Tanney threw for 14,249 yards.
Rutter gave credit to his team and coaches for the record.
“I had no clue,” Rutter said of the record. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment. … I’ve been doing this for four years, and it’s the best four years of my life. Time of my life. To get that is a nice reward to cap things off, but this national championship means so much more to me than that ever could.”
The Cardinals (14-1) outgained the Warhawks (13-2) 436-390 en route to its 11th straight victory.
Greenfield scored on a 5-yard run less than three minutes into the game and capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run with 1:49 left in the second quarter. Greenfield added a 38-yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 34-0.
In between Greenfield’s two first-half scores, Rutter found Blake Williams for a 31-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter before Rutter had a 1-yard scoring with 10 minutes left in the second.
“They jumped on us right off the bat, and that was ultimately the story of the game,” Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis said. “We missed on some opportunities in the first half. They took advantage of their opportunities.”
Max Meylor was 25 of 42 for 183 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 104 yards for Whitewater, and Alex Peete ran for 79 yards and a score. The Warhawks were making their 10th appearance in the championship game in the last 15 years. They last won the title in 2014, capping a string of six titles in eight years.
“They knew where I was throwing at times,” Meylor said. “They took away some of our receivers which was tough. We hadn’t seen that all year. My decision-making has to be better. I have to get the ball on guys and let our athletes run instead of taking chances.”
Meylor got the Warhawks on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jared Zausch with five minutes remaining in the third. Peete scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9 1/2 minutes left.
~~~~~
The return home
~~~~~
(From WGN) North Central College football team welcomed back home after victory
Posted 5:16 PM, December 21, 2019, by Meghan Dwyer and Associated Press, Updated at 05:43PM, December 21, 2019
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - North Central College is celebrating its first ever national title in NCAA Division III football. The team was welcomed back home Saturday afternoon by fans.
While the team celebrated their win, so did the town of Naperville.
"This is huge and for Naperville our little town to have a championship because the Bears didn’t make the playoffs, nobody went to the World Series, Bulls aren't doing good, neither are the Blackhawks, so we got something to celebrate," Naperville resident Tina St. Angelo said.
As fans and faculty gathered to greet the champs Saturday afternoon the excitement was palpable. It was a celebration a long time coming.
The team’s quarterback Broc Rutter won the Gagliardi trophy for the most outstanding player in all Division III football.
"We're just a small town school who does things the right way and keep on creating great relationships and building this thing it’s great to see all the support we had. we felt that all the way in Texas," he said.
North Central made the most of its first trip to the NCAA Division III championship game, starting fast and never looking back.
Ethan Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, Rutter threw for 263 yards and two scores and North Central routed Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-14 on Friday night for its first Division III championship.
North Central was making its first appearance in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The Cardinals’ previous best finish in the Division III playoffs was a semifinal loss in 2013.
“Just thrilled with the way these guys played,” North Central coach Jeff Thorne said. “These guys played their ever-living tails off like they have all year long. To be here in this position is just beyond description. Just so grateful.”
Rutter was 17 of 26 passing and ran for another touchdown, Andrew Kamienski caught nine passes for 134 yards and a score, and Julian Bell had two interceptions.
“We came out, we were ready to play,” Rutter said. “We couldn’t wait all day. We came out and executed the game plan.”
Thorne gave credit to his players and coaches for the win, but also credited his father, John Thorne, who took over the program in 2002 before he succeeded him in 2015.
“It’s been an incredible run for us,” Jeff Thorne said. “I’m grateful for everything that’s come our way. We’ve had to work for it, which makes it more rewarding. What it means is a dream that was launched in 2002 when my dad took this thing over and so many people put so much into this thing. … To see it to completion means the world to me and to be able to hand the trophy to my dad tonight was very special.”
Rutter broke the Division III record for career passing yards with his final touchdown pass, giving him 14,265 yards and surpassing Alex Tanney, who played at Monmouth College in Illinois. Tanney threw for 14,249 yards.
Rutter gave credit to his team and coaches for the record.
“I had no clue,” Rutter said of the record. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment. … I’ve been doing this for four years, and it’s the best four years of my life. Time of my life. To get that is a nice reward to cap things off, but this national championship means so much more to me than that ever could.”
The Cardinals (14-1) outgained the Warhawks (13-2) 436-390 en route to its 11th straight victory.
Greenfield scored on a 5-yard run less than three minutes into the game and capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run with 1:49 left in the second quarter. Greenfield added a 38-yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 34-0.
In between Greenfield’s two first-half scores, Rutter found Blake Williams for a 31-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter before Rutter had a 1-yard scoring with 10 minutes left in the second.
“They jumped on us right off the bat, and that was ultimately the story of the game,” Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis said. “We missed on some opportunities in the first half. They took advantage of their opportunities.”
Max Meylor was 25 of 42 for 183 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 104 yards for Whitewater, and Alex Peete ran for 79 yards and a score. The Warhawks were making their 10th appearance in the championship game in the last 15 years. They last won the title in 2014, capping a string of six titles in eight years.
“They knew where I was throwing at times,” Meylor said. “They took away some of our receivers which was tough. We hadn’t seen that all year. My decision-making has to be better. I have to get the ball on guys and let our athletes run instead of taking chances.”
Meylor got the Warhawks on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jared Zausch with five minutes remaining in the third. Peete scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 9 1/2 minutes left.
(I like how they basically included the whole previous article in this one.)
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(From WMAQ) Video of NCC's football team returning to campus.
(This is pretty much the video version of the article below.)
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(From WMAQ) ‘It’s Epic:’ North Central College Football Team Returns Home as National Champions
North Central defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-4 Friday night to become NCAA Division III champions
By Kate Chappell • Published December 21, 2019 • Updated at 3:10 am on December 22, 2019
An ecstatic North Central College community welcomed its football team home to Naperville on Saturday following its first-ever NCAA Division III championship win Friday night.
The North Central Cardinals defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 41-4 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas.
Friends, family and community members congratulated the team as players proudly hoisted their championship trophy into the air.
"This is huge," said quarterback Broc Rutter. "A life-changing moment for us. So great to see hard work pay off."
Head Coach Jeff Thorne said the players have demonstrated hard work and a strong work ethic, both on and off the field.
"We talk about character traits that make you a really good human being, [the] chance to be successful in whatever you choose to do, and when you do that, it's amazing," he said.
Following the win, "NC" stood for not only North Central College, but national champions.
"It's exciting," said community member Carolyn Lauingfinzer. "This is epic. This is epic."