Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Oct. 31: North Central College Cardinals (4-3, 3-1 CCIW) at Illinois Wesleyan University Titans (7-0, 4-0 CCIW)

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Tucci Stadium
Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu/
Radio: 89.1-FM WONC
Live Stats: portal.stretchinternet.com/iwu/
Game Updates: www.twitter.com/NCC_Athletics
Series History: 36-25-3, Illinois Wesleyan

Setting the Scene: Chances of sharing a CCIW title this season hinge on a strong performance this weekend for the Cardinals, who face an undefeated squad for the second straight week at Illinois Wesleyan.

Series History: This is the 65th football meeting between the two schools. The Titans own a 36-25-3 edge in the all-time series, though North Central has won the last five encounters and 11 of the last 12.

Illinois Wesleyan traveled to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Nov. 1 of last season, when the Cardinals scored the game's first 21 points and went on to win, 45-24.

Dylan Warden completed 13 of 18 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 102 yards and a score. Oshayne Brown, making his first collegiate start, ran 23 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals intercepted three passes in the game, two of which were snared by Kevin Schroeder.

The Titans had won 15 consecutive games in the rivalry before North Central began its current run of success.

National Rankings: North Central is ranked No. 19 this week by D3football.com. Illinois Wesleyan is ranked 13th by the AFCA and 15th by D3football.com.

Scouting the Titans: Illinois Wesleyan broke open a close game with a big fourth quarter Saturday, scoring the contest's final 21 points in a 49-28 victory at Elmhurst.

After taking a 28-14 lead into halftime, the Titans saw Elmhurst score twice in the final 4:37 of the third period. Taking advantage of three Bluejay turnovers in the fourth quarter, including a fumble which was returned for the day's final touchdown, IWU was able to pull away and remain unbeaten.
Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries for the Titans, while Artie Checchin scored twice and gained 162 yards on just three receptions. Quarterback Jack Warner, despite completing just 9 of 19 passes, threw for 244 yards and three TDs.

The Titans have gained 446 yards (197 rushing, 249 passing) per game this season. Warner has thrown for 1,621 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 65.9 percent of his passes, finding Checchin 37 times for 693 yards and eight scores. Shoemaker-Gilmore is IWU's top rusher with 533 yards and eight TDs.

The Titans' defense has caused a CCIW-leading 20 turnovers and leads the conference in total defense, allowing 269 yards per game. Linebacker Sean Garvey is IWU's leading tackler with 57 total stops, and 10 different Titans have intercepted at least one pass.

This Week for the Cardinals: North Central's offense never got untracked in Saturday's Battle for the Little Brass Bell against Wheaton, as the Cardinals suffered a 17-9 loss to the Thunder to snap a three-game winning streak.

North Central spent most of the afternoon knocking on the door, but a missed field goal, two interceptions and two failed fourth-down conversions conspired to keep the Cardinals out of the end zone until their final possession of the game, when Austin Breunig scored on a two-yard run.

North Central's defense registered a season-high six quarterback sacks, three of which came from defensive end Eric Wilson. Brandon Kibby intercepted his second pass of the year and Emonte Logan recovered a fumble for the Cardinals.

D3football.com Team of the Week: Wilson was named to D3football.com's weekly honor roll of the top performers around the nation for his performance against Wheaton, making him the first Cardinal to be so honored this season.

North Central Career Rankings:  Dylan Warden ranks fifth in North Central history in career touchdown passes (28), while kicker Dom Zavaglia ranks third all-time in extra points (81) and fifth in field goals (16).

Warden also ranks seventh all-time in passing yards (2,046) and ninth in completions (129),  Ryan Kuhl is 11th in receiving touchdowns (10) and Matt Randolph sits 12th in rushing touchdowns (17) and 14th in total touchdowns (19).

Zavaglia and Randolph rank 13th (129) and 18th (114), respectively, in career scoring.

Breunig's 11 rushing touchdowns rank 12th on North Central's all-time single-season list. He also ranks 16th in total touchdowns and 20th in rushing yards (773) and all-purpose yards (970). Justin Hunniford is 16th in completed passes (87) and 17th in passing yards (1,088) in a single season.
 
Around the CCIW: Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan remain tied atop the CCIW standings this week, with the Cardinals a game behind.  Wheaton and IWU will face off in Bloomington Nov. 7.

In four weeks of conference play, the Cardinals have posted the CCIW's highest totals for points (36.5 per game), rushing yards (250.8) and total offensive yards (487.8).

Breunig is the CCIW's top rusher (136.8 ypg) and scorer (seven touchdowns) in conference games thus far.

CCIW Players of the Week:  Illinois Wesleyan's Artie Checchin, Wheaton's Adam Dansdill and Millikin's Chayce Volpert were named the CCIW Football Players of the Week on Monday.
 
Checchin scored three touchdowns during the Titans' win at Elmhurst on touchdown catches of 72 and 45 yards and a 13-yard run.
 
Dansdill totaled 12 tackles (7 solo) and 2.5 tackles-for-loss during Wheaton's win over the Cardinals.
 
Volpert was 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on PATs during the Big Blue's 20-17 win over North Park. He kicked a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

'Red Zone' Returns in 2015: Once again, fans of North Central College football can get an insider's look at the Cardinals' football program, as 'The Red Zone' highlight show returns for its eighth season on Naperville Community Television, Channel 17.

The show airs each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and midnight, Friday at 8:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m., Saturday at 8:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. It will feature interviews with coaches and players, highlights of the previous week's game, and a look ahead to the upcoming opponent.

Each show is viewable online at nctv17.com and is archived at youtube.com/northcentralsports as well as the newly-redesigned northcentralcardinals.com.