NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Carroll's football team battled the number one team in all of Division-III Saturday afternoon, falling to top-ranked and defending National Runners-Up North Central by a score of 56-3. Also the nation's number one scoring offense, North Central out-gained the Pioneers in total yardage (586-161), while finishing the game with 416 rushing yards on 40 carries (10.4 ypc).

North Central (8-0, 7-0 CCIW) scored on their oppening possession, which was capped by a 20-yard touchdown run by quarterback Luke Lehnen, who would throw a three-yard TD to Jacob Pardee to begin the second quarter. Carroll (4-4, 3-4 CCIW) would then get on the board thanks to a 31-yard field goal by Matthew Swink. The Cardinals would cap the first half by scoring two more touchdowns on TD passes from Lehnen to Jordan Chisum and Thomas Skokna, giving North Central a 28-3 halftime lead.

The Cardinals extended that lead in the third quarter when Chisum cound the end zone from one yard out. Lehnen added a three-yard touchdown run in the final quarter, while Jordan Williams and Donovan McNeal also scored on long runs.

Carroll quarterback Charlie King completed 10-of-18 passes for 93 yards, while Cameron Evans caught two passes for 38 yards, including a long of 30. Reed Breckheimer added four catches for 25 yards, while rushing four times for 26 yards. Nick Legnaioli served as the team's leading rusher, gaining 28 yards on nine carries. Carroll recorded the game's only interception, as Senior Jake Binkowski registered the fifth pick of his career. Drake Emanuel served as the Pioneers' leading tackler with nine.

Lehnen finished with 170 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while rushing five times for 64 yards and two additional scores. McNeal led all players with 90 rushing yards on just four carries, while Skokna and Myles Walton led the Cardinals with 46 receiving yards apiece.

The Pioneers will try to rebound next week against Illinois Wesleyan in what will be their first of two consecutive home games to end the 2024 season. Next week's game will begin at Noon from Schneider Stadium in Waukesha, Wis.