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| Luke Lehnen made a big splash for the Cardinals with a team-high 66 yards rushing against Wheaton in September, and has run for 407 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Photo by David Malamut, d3photography.com |
By Joe Sager
D3sports.com
When Broc Rutter graduated from North Central in 2020, the Cardinals faced quite a void under center.
They said farewell to a four-year starter at quarterback who guided the program to the 2019 national championship. He rewrote program record books along the way and won the Gagliardi Trophy as well.
North Central found its guy this season in freshman Luke Lehnen. Plus, he already had a year head start on seizing the position before he saw any game action.
When COVID-19 precautions wiped out the 2020 season, the Cardinals were limited to some fall practices. The program practiced even more in the spring, which allowed Lehnen to enter this fall with plenty of repetitions, albeit under “friendly” fire.
“That was a major part in my development – just getting comfortable with the team and playbook and building chemistry. That year of practice really helped me out and made me comfortable and confident in this program,” he said. “I knew, coming in, that Broc would be leaving and the position would be open and I’d have a chance to take the starting job. It is cool to think that I got the opportunity to be the starter with all the competition here.”
So far, so good for Lehnen. He’s helped guide the nation’s top scoring offense (57.4 points per game) and the No. 1 Cardinals to an 11-0 mark.
“The season has gone pretty good, so far. There’s not much to complain about. We’re undefeated and going to the quarterfinals,” he said. “I think I’ve played pretty well or done enough to help the team out and get us where we are today.”
North Central coach Jeff Thorne, who oversees the quarterbacks as well, has been pleased with Lehnen’s progress.
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| Photo by David Malamut, d3photography.com |
“With not playing any games, we had 10 practices in the fall of 2020 and then we had about 25 practices this spring. That time was really pivotal for his growth in our offense,” Thorne said. “I think he has gotten more and more comfortable as the season has worn on. There’s no replacement for experience, from a learning standpoint. We just needed the opportunity to get him out there for games.”
Lehnen made his debut this fall and faced a challenge from the start. The team beat then-No. 21 Aurora, 64-7, to open the year and followed it up with a 20-7 win over then-No. 5 Wheaton. He passed for 345 yards and a score in that clash.
“Game 2 was a top five matchup and he showed his mettle right away,” Thorne said. “He showed his toughness and competitive fire and just his full skillset.”
Lehnen’s abilities are different from Rutter’s. Not a typical pocket passer, Lehnen will look to run with the ball, too. He has 407 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground this season.
“He is the quintessential dual-threat quarterback,” Thorne said. “He is 5-11 and 185 lbs. He is lightning fast. He is lightning in a bottle when he gets out of the pocket. That’s an added dimension teams have to deal with because of his elite speed.
“We still have some RPO things that we did with Broc, but we’ve kind of reincorporated some of the QB run stuff we had before Broc was here,” he continued. “Our core offense has remained the same but we’ve just added some things here and there with running game for him. In the passing game, we’re just trying to do what he does best and not trying to force things.”
Lehnen has had success through the air. He’s completed 157 of 241 passes for 2,804 yards and 27 touchdowns. He ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency at 194.87.
“Throughout high school, I was a dual-threat guy. In college, I am still a dual threat, but I have to pass the ball more. I have more responsibility as a true quarterback. I do run when I need to and I am pretty comfortable with that,” Lehnen said. “I really do think I am getting better and better. Coach Thorne has helped with some small things, simple things like my feet and mechanics when dropping back. He really preaches fast and efficient feet. When I do have that, my accuracy goes up and my decision making is way better. I feel like my passing game has gotten a lot better because of it.”
Also a standout baseball player, Lehnen the Cardinals with 71 hits, 58 runs scored, 10 triples and 18 stolen bases in the spring. There was just one drawback for the outfielder.
“When you’re playing baseball and football at same time – and my son had the same issues in high school – it’s such a different throwing motion. You have to work you way through,” Thorne said. “There are just some mechanical things we have to stay on top of. Those are things we’ve been working on. He has made huge, huge progress as a passer. He has done a phenomenal job for us this year. He is a really, really special athlete and his ceiling is limitless. The better thing about him is he’s an incredible kid. He is a leader though and through and a quietly confident kid. There’s not an ounce of ego or arrogance. He’s just a guy everyone loves being around. He is an awesome kid. It’s going to be a lot of fun working with him for three more years.”
Lehnen has enjoyed being around his teammates, too.
“The guys around me make my job so easy. Starting with the offensive line – everyone is doing an amazing job giving me time to make the proper reads,” he said. “Then, we have the two-headed monster with running backs Ethan Greenfield and Terrence Hill. With them doing what they can do opens up the passing game and gives me some times to run the ball myself. I have some amazing receivers in Andrew Kamienski, DeAngelo Hardy, Kori Blair and Blake Williams. They find the holes and read the defense and know where to go to get open. It makes my job easier to get the ball to the right people at the right time.
“I really like how we have progressed. The offense is doing an amazing job with the run game and the pass game. Our run game is almost unstoppable,” he continued. “Our defense has also been really great throughout the entire season. They make our job easier. We only have to score 20 or more points to win a game because they are limiting teams. That’s really nice to have.
“I am having a lot of fun. This is really great. Getting this far in the playoffs, it’s been fun with all the upperclassmen. They really make practices and games fun.”
Lehnen had fun in Saturday’s 34-20 win over UW-La Crosse. It was Lehnen’s playoff debut since the team’s first-round matchup was not contested when Carnegie Mellon withdrew from the tournament due to COVID-19 issues.
“That La Crosse game was a tough one, too,” Thorne said. “La Crosse is one of the top teams in the country, in my opinion, They were everything we thought they’d be and more. It was quite the baptism for him for his first playoff game.”
Lehnen completed 13 of 23 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in the win.
“It was really nice to open the playoffs, especially against as good a team as La Crosse was. That was like a semifinal-caliber kind of game,” he said. “To get that win against that team boosted my confidence and will help me out for the rest of the playoffs.”
The Cardinals hope their postseason stay is a long one as they try to defend their national championship. They welcome RPI this Saturday.
“We’re just excited for another opportunity to compete and have another week with all of our teammates,” Lehnen said.