North Central's College Cardinals Emerge Division III Champs

NAPERVILLE, IL — For the second year in a row, North Central College's Cardinals football team has emerged as NCAA Division III national champions, according to an article from North Central College. The Cardinals defeated the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders 28-21 Friday at the Stagg Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Maryland.

This victory, the second Division III championship, wraps up an undefeated 15-win season for the Cardinals. Friday's game also notched the team up to a Division III record 5,325 rushing yards for the 2022 season.

The 15 wins are the most the Cardinals have posted in a single season.

The first half of the game kicked off with Ethan Greenfield catching a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Cardinals in an early lead. Later, a 94-yard touchdown pass from Luke Lehnen to Deangelo Hardy made history as the longest in North Central College's record books.

The game's second half saw the Purple Raiders scoring twice before Lehnen delivered another touchdown pass to Hardy.

Mount Union rallied with Edwin Reed catching a touchdown pass just before the end of the game, leaving the Purple Raiders shy of victory.

North Central's Greenfield was named Most Outstanding Player in the championship game, marking the second time he has captured the honor. Greenfield won the honor in North Central's Stagg Bowl championship in 2019. In Friday's game, Greenfield finished with 119 yards on 25 carries.

Patch Editor Jeff Arnold contributed to this article.