Setting the Scene: The Cardinals' regular-season finale carries potential playoff implications for both teams as Augustana looks for a signature win to cap its most successful campaign in nearly two decades.
Series History: This is the 93rd football meeting between the two institutions. The Vikings own a 55-36-1 advantage in the all-time series, though North Central has won the last 16 meetings dating back to 2006.
The Cardinals won last season's meeting in Naperville, 63-3, owning a 42-3 edge by halftime and rushing for 507 of its 658 total yards.
Terrence Hill rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries, while Ethan Greenfield gained 163 yards and scored three times on 16 attempts. Luke Lehnen completed 10 of 14 passes for 151 yards, connecting with Greenfield and DeAngelo Hardy for touchdowns, while Angelo Cusumano led the defense with eight tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
North Central has won its last seven trips to Lindberg Stadium and is making its first visit to Rock Island since 2018. Augustana's most recent win over the Cardinals came in 2005, when it converted a 22-yard field goal as time expired to prevail, 20-17.
The Cardinals are the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) first Top 25 Poll of the campaign, receiving 48 of 49 first-place votes.
North Central has been ranked No. 1 in 29 of D3football.com's last 32 regular-season polls.
Scouting the Vikings: Having already clinched its highest win total since 2005, Augustana enters this week's game on a six-game winning streak after narrowly defeating Carthage, 16-13, on the Firebirds' home field.
Trailing, 13-9, early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings embarked on a six-play, 68-yard scoring drive which ended with Mike DiGioia's five-yard touchdown run with 7:33 to play. Carthage's final possession ended on downs at the Vikings' 40-yard line with 1:07 on the clock.
The Vikings are averaging 39.9 points per game and rank second in the CCIW in rushing at 211 yards per contest. Augustana also ranks second in the conference in scoring defense (18.7 ppg) and rushing defense (70.3 yards allowed per game).
Running back Tyler Rivelli, who led Augustana with 145 rushing yards Saturday, ranks first on the team and third in the CCIW in rushing with 931 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Cole Bhardwaj is completing 61.9 percent of pass attempts for 18 touchdowns and just one interception, while Bobby Inserra has caughta team-best 41 passes for 425 yards and four scores.
Defensive back Nick Harper is the CCIW leader in interceptions (6), while linebacker Tim Swaney is the Vikings' leading tackler (73). Swaney made 16 total stops in Saturday's victory.
This Week for the Cardinals: North Central celebrated Senior Day with an 83-26 victory over Illinois Wesleyan, achieving the fifth-highest single-game scoring output by any NCAA Division III team in 2023. The Cardinals owned a 55-6 lead by halftime and finished with 712 total yards, their third-highest single-game total ever.
Lehnen completed 13 of 15 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards and a score. Six different Cardinals rushed for TDs, led by Joe Sacco's 99 yards and two scores on 11 carries. Joey Lombardi, Sean Allen, Nic Rummell and Myles Walton each caught touchdown passes.
Lombardi returned the opening kickoff 97 yards to the end zone and now stands as one of just four Division III players to score two kickoff return touchdowns this season.Rahmareon Roby and Julian Bell both intercepted passes and Martin Egbo finished with three tackles for loss, including two quarterback sacks.
The Cardinals have won 35 straight regular-season games, including 32 CCIW contests.
North Central has scored touchdowns on 51 of 56 first-half possessions thus far this season and its outscoring opponents, 382-33, in the first two periods of play.
Lehnen is the only player in the CCIW to be so honored three times this season, having also received the distinction following North Central's victories over Carthage and Wheaton. Lombardi is the conference's lone two-time honoree on special teams in 2023.
Lehnen shared this week's offensive honor with WashU receiver Collin Goldberg, while Augustana's Tim Swaney was named the Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week.
National Statistical Rankings: The Cardinals currently lead all Division III teams in total offense (589.0 yards per game), passing efficiency (266.0), pass completion percentage (74.8) and kickoff return average (27.86 yards per return).
North Central ranks second nationwide in scoring offense (61.8 points per game) and yards per completion (20.19), third in fewest turnovers lost (4), quarterback sacks (34) and rushing offense (335.4 ypg), and seventh in tackles for loss (80)and rushing defense (53.9 ypg).
Lombardi ranks third nationally in yards per reception (26.55) while Hardy sits eighth in touchdown receptions (13), Lehnen is ninth in touchdown passes (30) and Nic Rummell ranks ninth in punt return average (16.5 yards per return).
North Central Career Rankings: Hardy ranks second in North Central history in receptions (210), receiving yards (3,727) and touchdown receptions (51), third in total touchdowns (57), fourth in points scored (342) and fifth in all-purpose yards (4,573).
Lehnen now sits second in the Cardinals' history in passing touchdowns (101) while ranking fourth in passing yards (8,146) and completions (482). Lehnen currently sits first in passing efficiency (206.9) and completion percentage (.690).
Lehnen is also poised to join North Central's all-time leaders in rushing. He currently sits third in yards per rushing attempt (7.06) and ranks eighth in career rushing touchdowns (32). Julian Bell is tied for seventh all-time in pass breakups (25) and ninth in passes defended (33).
National Career Rankings: er among all players in college football in career passing efficiency. Among Division III players, Lehnen ranks third in touchdown passes and ninth in passing yards.
Hardy ranks second nationwide among all divisions in career touchdown receptions and fourth in receiving yards while sitting 20th in receptions.
This Week in Cardinal Football History: 1939 at Valparaiso - The Cardinals scored on three long first-half running plays to conclude the season with a 19-6 victory amid persistent rainfall at Valparaiso.
Bill Shatzer, whose bronze statue resides in Championship Plaza adjacent to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, scored two of North Central's touchdowns and kicked an extra point.
Around the CCIW: North Central can clinch sole possession of the 2023 CCIW Championship with a win over the Vikings, who are tied with Wheaton for second place in the conference standings.
Wheaton closes the regular season at North Park while Carroll visits WashU, Carthage travels to Millikin and Elmhurst plays at Illinois Wesleyan.