Paul's Perspective

Covering the NCC Run a Surreal Experience

Cardinals' football program has changed quite a bit since my 1998 graduation from North Central College.

Sitting in the press box at a snowy Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Saturday, watching the historic season of North Central College's football team come to an end, a little personal reflection moment occurred. I spent my final three years of college at North Central, calling the majority of the school's football games on WONC 89.1 FM, the campus radio station. I never got the privilege to call a game in that stadium, however. No, that stadium seemed like a dream when North Central played in the old stadium. And, honestly, considering how far the program has come since my 1998 graduation, the first official event held in the new venue, Saturday's game would have seemed like a dream back then. Being along for the ride for the win over Wheaton to …

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Cardinals Ready For Whitewater Showdown

Defending national champions come to North Central Saturday to face NCC in Division III quarterfinals.

As last Saturday's 28-9 victory over Ohio Northern in the second round of the Division III playoffs was becoming more and more apparent, North Central College's football team started looking ahead to its next opponent. The Cardinals knew that if they won over Ohio Northern, defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, the No. 1 team in the nation, would be coming to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Saturday. "We all wanted Whitewater to win," NCC receiver Steve Hlavac said. "We had a chance to play them a couple of years ago, and we were able to score some points on them. We've developed as a program. We've always wanted to beat the best teams in the country, so we wanted them to win. We want the challenge. I think we can do something next …

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North Central College Reaches Football Quarterfinals for First Time

Cardinals' win over Ohio Northern improves record to 12-0 and sets up showdown with Whitewater next Saturday.

Three times in North Central College football coach John Thorne's tenure, the Cardinals had reached the second round of the Division III playoffs. In all three of those appearances, NCC bowed out. Thorne's fourth chance came Saturday against Ohio Northern. This time, the Cardinals made history. North Central advanced to its first-ever quarterfinal game with a 28-9 win over Ohio Northern in front of 1,494 fans at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville. National power Wisconsin-Whitewater comes calling next Saturday at noon. "The coaches told us all week that we were the pioneers now," said sophomore running back Nick Kukuc, a Naperville Central graduate. "We've never made it this far. It's exciting knowing that the seniors started this, and…

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NCC Football Team Hopes for First Second-Round Win

Cardinals have never advanced past the second round in the Division III playoffs, but have a chance at noon today against Ohio Northern.

Good vibes flowed all around Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Saturday after North Central College's 57-7 thrashing of St. Norbert in the first round of the Division III playoffs. What's not to like? The Cardinals are 11-0, are ranked in the top five in the nation and are a No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which continue at home at noon today against Ohio Northern. But underneath the surface of all the good vibes is the stark reality that North Central has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. That includes the 2008 team, which was in the same exact spot as this team, 11-0 and at home, going into the second round. But Franklin ended that run with a 38-28 victory over the Cardinals. NCC coach John Thorne thinks this time will be …

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Cardinals Roll to Second Round of Playoffs by Dominating St. Norbert

North Central College's football team crushes the Green Knights 57-7 to improve to 11-0 and advance in the Division III playoffs.

North Central College football coach John Thorne has had the feeling that his offense was on the verge of a massive breakout for a few weeks now. In Saturday's first-round Division III playoff game against St. Norbert, that breakout happened. Playing its first-ever game against St. Norbert, the host Cardinals overwhelmed the Green Knights 57-7 to advance to the second round. North Central will host Ohio Northern, a 37-14 winner over Wittenberg on Saturday, next Saturday at noon at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals (11-0) gained a staggering 612 yards on offense and scored eight touchdowns and one field goal on their first nine possessions of the game. "We were hoping that was going to happen," Thorne said. "We were close with this …

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North Central Wins Share of CCIW Title

Cardinals knock off previously unbeaten Wheaton to earn share of CCIW crown; Thorne sets all-time coaching wins mark.

WHEATON — Everything was laid out for North Central College's football team coming into Saturday's CCIW showdown with fellow unbeaten Wheaton College. With a win, the Cardinals would win a share of their fifth consecutive CCIW title and an automatic berth into the Division III playoffs. A win also would make head coach John Thorne the school's new all-time leader in career wins. The Cardinals started out quickly to make that happen, scoring on their first two possessions, and cruised to a 28-6 win to improve to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin with only a date with North Park left before the playoffs begin. "It has nothing to do with me," Thorne said of his new record. "It's all about the kids. We're so…

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