CHICAGO, Ill. – Carroll University piled up 652 yards of total offense and rallied to take a fourth-quarter lead, but North Park answered with three late touchdowns as the Pioneers fell 55-34 Saturday afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Carroll moves to 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the CCIW.
North Park struck first on a 67-yard touchdown run by Jamaal Jones, but the Pioneers quickly responded. Anthony Martorano capped a six-play, 56-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, with Matthew Swink's extra point giving Carroll a 7-6 advantage.
Carroll extended the lead early in the second quarter. Elisha Nieves connected with Pacey Weber for a two-yard touchdown to finish an 80-yard drive and make it 14-6. North Park responded with touchdowns on each of its next two possessions, however, taking a 19-14 advantage into the second half.
The Pioneers regained the lead early in the third following an interception by Cameran Banks. Carroll needed just five plays to cover 60 yards, with Marcus Johnson breaking free for a 33-yard touchdown run that put the Pioneers back in front, 21-19. North Park immediately responded on the ensuing kickoff, as Jamaal Jones returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 26-21 lead.
North Park pushed its advantage to 33-21 early in the fourth quarter, but Carroll's offense answered with its strongest stretch of the game. Nieves found Marcus Johnson for a 32-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to five before the Pioneer defense forced a three-and-out.
Carroll then marched 77 yards in six plays to retake the lead. Marcus Johnson broke a 40-yard run that moved the Pioneers inside the North Park 10 before Martorano finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The score gave Carroll a 34-33 advantage with 6:45 remaining.
The Vikings answered less than three minutes later with a 60-yard touchdown reception by Aidan Delisi to move back in front, 41-34. North Park added two more touchdowns over the final minutes to pull away for the 55-34 final.
Despite the result, Carroll produced its largest offensive output in school history, finishing with 652 total yards, including 342 rushing and 310 passing, breaking the record for most yards in a single game for the Pioneers by 36 yards. Additionally, Carroll recorded 35 first downs, which is another school record, breaking the previous of 34 in a game.
Marcus Johnson led a Carroll rushing attack that averaged 9.5 yards per carry, finishing with 196 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts. Martorano added 116 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, as the duo combined for 312 rushing yards and three scores.
Nieves completed 31 of 48 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns, while Liam Patrick led the receiving corps with 11 receptions for 134 yards. Marcus Johnson added four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown to finish with a team-high 257 all-purpose yards.
Defensively, Aiden McGlinn and Larsen Dixon shared the team lead with six tackles apiece, while Banks recorded Carroll's lone interception. Jakai Witt added four tackles and the Pioneers' only tackle for loss.
Carroll will now head into its bye week before returning home to close the regular season with Senior Day against Augustana at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14.
