CHICAGO, Ill. - Carroll's football team defeated North Park University 41-27 Saturday afternoon in what was the conference-opener for both teams. That marks the third consecutive season that the Pios have started 2-0, which is the longest such streak since accomplishing that feat in 1978. The Pioneers tied a school record in the process by intercepting North Park four times in a game that saw the lead change hands six times.

Carroll (2-0, 1-0 CCIW) opened the scoring on their initial possession, which ended in a 40-yard field goal by Jacob Laurent, which is just one yard shy of his career long. North Park (1-1, 0-1 CCIW) would answer later in the quarter with a three-yard touchdown pass from Matt Eck to Jereme Ombogo, which marked the first time the Pioneers have trailed all season.

That deficit didn't last long, as the Pios scored on a two-play drive on the ensuing possession, culminating in a 71-yard TD pass from Josh Raby to Austin Eichstaedt. North Park then answered with a 15-play drive that covered 74 yards in eight minutes, ending in a five-yard TD from Eck to Jakob Dreksler.

The wild first half would continue with 21 points scored in the final one and a half minutes before halftime. Raby gave Carroll the lead once again on a one-yard TD run that capped a 14-play, 95-yard drive, before North Park answered in a two-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 21 seconds, capped by a 62-yard TD from Eck to AJ Harris. Trailing 20-17 with 59 seconds left in the half, Raby engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive that saw him score from two yards out as time expired in the second quarter to give Carroll a 24-20 advantage at the intermission.

The Pioneers finally took control of the game mid-way through the third quarter when linebacker Damon Loker intercepted a North Park pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown and an 11-point Pio lead. Laurent would then add his second field goal of the game, this time from 39 yards away in the opening seconds of the final quarter, to give CU a 34-20 advantage. North Park would keep things interesting late when Quadrell Hill scored on a two-yard TD plunge to cut that lead to seven, but Carroll put the game away on the ensuing possession on Eichstaedt's second TD catch of the contest, this one of the 25-yard variety.

Raby led the Pioneers with four total touchdowns (two passing and two rushing), while completing 22-of-33 passes for 328 yards. Eichstaedt led all players with 184 yards on seven catches, including two scores. The Pios' rushing attack gained 141 yards, led by Mikey Coleman's 82 yards on 16 carries (5.1 ypc). Defensively, Carroll's four interceptions came from Loker, Jahkai Bohannon, Elliot Mueller, and Drake Emanuel. Travis Runberg led the Pioneers with eight tackles, while Steven Lazaris had seven (six solo), including four for a loss.

Carroll's defense limited North Park to just 18 yards rushing. The Vikings' offensive attack ran through Eck, who completed 27-of-44 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns. Harris served as his top receiver, catching nine passes for 163 yards and one TD.

The Pioneers will now return home to the friendly confines of Schneider Stadium, where they'll host Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. That game will also double as Big brothers Big Sisters Family Fun Day.