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Carroll University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Meza, LOS
62
Winner North Central NCC 5-1 , 4-1
3
Carroll CARROLL 1-5 , 0-5
Winner
North Central NCC
5-1 , 4-1
62
Final
3
Carroll CARROLL
1-5 , 0-5
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NCC North Central 13 21 14 14 62
CARROLL Carroll 3 0 0 0 3

Game Recap: Football | | By Jeff Hagenau

Encouraging start not enough in loss to No. 8 North Central

Pioneers suffer third home-field loss of the season; promote MS awareness during emotional SpreadingOrange Game

WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Carroll University football team lost to No. 8-ranked North Central College 62-3 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Schneider Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Carroll, which suffered its third home-field loss of the season, dropped to 0-5 in the league standings and 1-5 overall following the MS4MS SpreadingOrange themed effort.
North Central, which improved to 4-1 in conference and 5-1 overall, outscored the Pioneers 34-3 in the first half - including a 13-3 margin in what became a decisive opening quarter.
Senior quarterback Broc Rutter completed 14 of 22 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns for the high-powered Cardinals, becoming the CCIW's all-time leader in career passing yards with 8,613 yards. Rutter established the record by converting a third-down-and-12 situation on a 23-yard pass to junior wide receiver Andrew Kamienski with 9:04 left in the second quarter.
On the opening drive of the contest, Rutter connected with Kamienski on what proved to be a game-winning 33-yard touchdown pass with 14:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Sophomore running back Ethan Greenfield rushed nine times for 137 yards and two touchdowns for North Central, which amassed 29 first downs and 602 yards of total offense - 307 yards coming behind its bruising ground attack. Freshman running back Rafael Rios completed the effective 1-2 punch with 15 carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cardinals scored on 9 of 11 drives in the game, including 5 of 7 in the momentum-shifting first half.
Carroll's lone points came on a 21-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Carson Roseleip (Oconomowoc, Wis.) to trim the deficit to 6-3 with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter, capping a confidence-building 10-play 63-yard drive.
Junior quarterback Michael Johnson (West Allis, Wis.) completed 15 of 24 passes for 196 yards with an interception in leading the Carroll offense, which finished with eight first downs and 214 total yards. Senior tight end David Meza (Berlin, Wis.) was the team's top receiving threat, hauling in six receptions for a career-high 102 yards. Freshman wide receiver Austin Eichstaedt (Cudahy, Wis.) followed with four catches for 58 yards and sophomore wide receiver Alex Kujawa (Oshkosh, Wis.) had three catches for 27 yards.
Carroll's statement-making first quarter scoring drive featured a 36-yard, third-down conversion pass from Johnson to Eichstaedt on the right sideline and a 29-yard, third-down pass to Meza, putting the ball at the North Central 1-yard line. The drive eventually lost momentum as the result of two costly, back-to-back illegal shift penalties and stalled at the 9-yard line following two running plays and an incomplete pass into the back of the end zone - resulting in the field goal.
It seemed only fitting that Meza's standout individual effort would come on a day in which the team was honoring second-year tight ends coach Luke Callahan, who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and spearheaded the emotionally charged MS4MS (Mission Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis) Spreading Orange event to help raise awareness for the disease.
"It's tough when you have a great team like North Central coming in but throughout the day we didn't back down, kept our chin up and battled for four quarters," said the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Meza, whose productive day included a 34-yard catch to convert a third-and-13 situation in the second quarter. "Even though we didn't come away with a victory, it was an amazing experience that we will continue to learn from.
Coach Call has been with us since the spring of 2018 and always approaches every challenge with a great, positive attitude. Just like football, MS is a difficult battle but its all about working through the hard days and seeing the good in things during each situation. He continues to be a perfect reflection of that mindset.
"I love everyone on this team and the way they always put their heart into it for 60 minutes each time we step on the field. I'm just thankful to be a part of it and the Carroll football family."
Junior defensive back Logan Heckman (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and junior linebacker Justin Kontny (Milwaukee, Wis.) each registered six tackles for the Carroll defense. Roseleip punted nine times, finishing with a 32.9 average.
"Regardless of the final score, we grew as a team today," said Carroll ninth-year head coach Mark Krzykowski, who was selected the Wisconsin Private College Coach of the Year in 2014. "We came out in the first quarter and executed the gameplan. If not for a few correctable mistakes, it becomes a very manageable game and quite possibly looks a lot different heading into halftime. North Central is ranked within the top-10 in the nation and deserves it but we continued to learn about what it takes to get there. It will take time but we work hard and have the heart needed to do it. Despite the outcome, I was very proud of them. Even late into the game, I continued to hear the guys talking on the sideline about coming together and family. It's something we've preached from day one. They knew the score but also realized that we're blessed to play this game and took advantage of the opportunity to compete. We always tell the guys that its all about giving back to the community and being a part of something bigger than ourselves so the MS4MS game really hit home for everyone. It wasn't only about today but more about the entire week and acknowledging those who don't get the opportunity to do what we do.
"When we look at the film tomorrow, we're going to look at that first quarter and pull out some things that we did really, really well against the No. 8-ranked team. So we're going to take that, build from it and regroup as we prepare to face North Park next week. We're just going to remain positive and continue to battle like Pioneers."
Stay up to date on Carroll football this season by going online to www.gopios.com, or by following the Pioneers on Facebook (Carroll University Athletics), Twitter (@pio_athletics), and Instagram (@pio_athletics).



 
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