Cardinals Stopped Dead In Their Tracks

North Central College picked up Saturday night where it left off last season, and that's not as good as it usually sounds.

The Cardinals suffered what could be considered a second straight shocking loss -- last year's season-ending defeat to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the NCAA Division III Playoffs followed by the season-opening loss to the University of Redlands (Calif.).

Both games were well within the grasp of the Cardinals, and both will leave them thinking about what-if. Obviously, there was a lot more on the line in the 2010 postseason than in Saturday's 35-29 defeat with an entire season still ahead.

The Bulldogs (1-0) sealed the win by intercepting Cardinals quarterback Brad Crackel at their own 21-yard line with seconds remaining.

The Cardinals (0-1) surrendered the final lead change with 28 seconds left in the game, throwing the ball 10 times before Redlands quarterback Chad Hurst called his own number for a five-yard TD run up the middle. About a minute after Nick Dace's 18-yard field goal gave the Cardinals a 29-28 lead with 1:41 on the clock.

The late back-and-forth was a far cry from the Cardinals dominating first half; they controlled the clock: 20:44-9:16 and led 19-7 before giving up 28 second-half points.

"They were just finding ways to pick us apart, and that's not acceptable for this defense," senior cornerback Stewart Charles said in a release. "We're supposed to be able to compete through adversity. We expected to face adverse situations while we were here. There were some times when we showed some life, but it just didn't turn out our way."

The Bulldogs took the opening drive of the second half 76 yards in 10 plays, scoring when running back Bobby Brown's fumble at the goal line was recovered by Redlands' Taylor Chappatte in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Cardinals' ensuing drive came to an end when Jordan Tassio was stopped short of the first-down marker on a fourth-down conversion attempt at the Redlands 41.

"We really thought we were in good shape at halftime," Cardinals coach John Thorne said in a release. "We had a couple of key situations on special teams that hurt us. Going for it on fourth down and not getting it really hurt us, so that was one that's on the head coach."

Both of the Cardinals preseason all-Americans showed early why they earned the accolade. Senior tight end Kyle Fiedorowicz scored the game's first touchdown and Josh McLeod recorded his first 
interception.

Fiedorowicz finished the game with five catches for 47 yards and one touchdown; McLeod's interception comes as no surprise after he tied NCC's single-season record with eight picks last year.

Both programs were considered preseason top-25 teams, nationally, prior to clashing in California. Perhaps the most significant ranking, by d3football.com, listed North Central fourth overall while keeping the Redlands on the outside looking in.

Tassio, a local product, made an impact against Redlands. Tassio scored from four yards out to extend the Cardinals first-half lead to 19-7, where it stayed until the second half. Tassio, a Naperville North High School graduate, carried 10 times for 46 yards in the first half and mostly did so on direct snaps from the wildcat formation. He finished with 67 yards on 16 carries.

Crackel (20 of 33 for 213 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) started quickly for the Cardinals. He connected with Fiedorowicz on a 15-yard scoring pass, which made it 10-0 in the first quarter. Dace broke the scoreless tie early with a 33-yard field goal, and he later converted from 26 yards and 18 yards.

Joey Michals and Scott Skuteris each totaled eight tackles to lead the North Central defense, while McLeod made seven stops along with his pick.

Hurst completed 26 of 45 passing attempts for 275 yards and led Redlands' ground game with 60 yards on 11 carries.

The Cardinals home opener is 6 p.m. Saturday and features Bethel 
University (Tenn.).