Sep 26, 2015
One of three games between nationally-ranked NCAA Division III teams on Saturday more than lived up to its advance billing at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, as the 22nd-ranked North Central College Cardinals waged an all-out war with the fifth-ranked Wesley College (Delaware) Wolverines. The contest was up for grabs until the final buzzer, with Wesley escaping Naperville with a 50-49 victory.
A contest that saw four ties and five lead changes also featured more than 1,200 yards of total offense and the fifth-most combined total points ever in a North Central game. The outcome wound up being sealed by the game's lone two-point conversion attempt, as the Wolverines negated a 49-42 deficit by scoring on a 12-yard pass from Joe Callahan to James Okike with 7.5 seconds to play before converting on Callahan's pass to Xavier Allen.
Wesley (3-0) made the game's first big offensive play midway through the first quarter, as Callahan connected with Okike on a 49-yard pass down the right sideline to get the visitors to the Cardinals' seven-yard line. Running back Jamar Baynard scored on a one-yard run three plays later. The Cardinals responded promptly with an eight-play, 65-yard drive which culminated in Austin Breunig's 21-yard run to around the right side to the end zone to tie the game with 4:29 to go in the opening period.
The Wolverines missed a 41-yard field goal attempt near the end of the first period and the Cardinals went to work putting together a second straight scoring drive, traveling 76 yards in eight plays. QuarterbackJustin Hunniford, in his first game as North Central's full-time signal-caller after splitting time with Dylan Warden the previous two weeks, completed passes on the final three plays of the possession, including a 10-yard TD strike to Ryan Kuhl to give the hosts their first lead at 14-7.
Callahan, who proved an elusive target for the Cardinals' pass rush all afternoon, scrambled and completed a 23-yard pass to Baynard early in the next drive, then hit Okike for 30 yards before finding him again for a 15-yard scoring pass to knot the game at 14-14 with 10:44 before halftime. The Wolverines forced a punt and threatened to lead once again, as Callahan again threw in Okike's direction on third down-and-goal from the six-yard line. Cardinal cornerback Brandon Kibby, however, snagged the ball out of the air and came down with the interception to turn Wesley away. North Central was in the end zone five plays later, as Hunniford threw a 46-yard pass to Alex Ulmer before handing off to Breunig for a three-yard TD run.
The Cardinals forced a punt and took possession on their own 25 with 4:32 before halftime, which turned out to be just enough time for another score. Hunniford completed five passes in eight attempts, then scrambled for a 15-yard gain to give North Central a first-and-goal opportunity at the 10-yard line. Matt Randolph found the end zone on the next play, sending North Central into the half with a 28-14 edge.
The hosts further padded their advantage early in the third period, taking over at the Wesley 46 following a punt. Hunniford found Ulmer for 29 yards, then ran 10 yards to the one-yard line before Randolph scored again to push the lead to 35-14. The Cardinals threatened to halt Wesley's next drive, but Callahan eluded the pass rush once again and lofted a 59-yard TD pass to Bryce Shade. Following a North Central punt, Callahan's mobility led to another score, as he scrambled for 19 yards on third down-and-nine then scored on a three-yard run to narrow the gap to 35-28 late in the third period.
The Wolverines rode Callahan's legs to the lead once again early in the fourth quarter, as the fifth-year senior scored on runs of 19 and 17 yards to put Wesley ahead, 42-35, with 11:30 on the clock. He scrambled for a 16-yard gain on the visitors' next drive, but Billy Douds forced a fumble which was recovered by Jon Egan near midfield. Five plays later, Hunniford knotted the score at 42-42 by lofting a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ulmer on the left sideline. The Cardinals punted on their next possession, but a fumbled return was recovered by Brett O'Kane at the Wesley 30.
Hunniford converted third downs with passes to Randolph and Breunig on the ensuing drive, then called his own number for a one-yard TD run with just 2:08 remaining. A penalty on the following kickoff left Wesley on its own six-yard line, but the visitors wound up covering 94 yards on 11 plays for the game-winning score.
The Cardinals finished with 465 yards of total offense, 321 of which came through the air as Hunniford completed 26 of 40 passes despite getting sacked six times. His 26 completions are the eighth-highest single-game total in North Central's history. Breunig, making his first collegiate start, ran for 97 yards on 21 carries, and Ulmer hauled in seven passes for a career-best 144 yards. Justin Stuursma and Richard Zirngiblled the Cardinals' defense with 11 tackles each and Steve Liaromatis recorded a quarterback sack.
Wesley finished the day with 672 total yards. Callahan completed 26 of 50 passes for 414 yards and ran for 111 yards on 13 carries, while Baynard ran 24 times for 141 yards and caught eight passes for 86 yards. Okike caught seven passes for 128 yards. Samer Manna recorded 11 tackles and Isaiah Ingram collected three quarterback sacks.
The Cardinals (1-2) open College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play at Millikin University on Saturday. The Big Blue are 1-2 following a 24-20 loss to Aurora University. Kickoff at Frank M. Lindsay Field is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.