Box Score
CANTON, Ohio - The longest winning streak in college football changed hands on Friday night as the reigning National Champion North Central football team fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor 57-24 in the Stagg Bowl. North Central (13-1) saw it's run of 24 consecutive wins ended while the Crusaders (15-0) ascended to claim college football's longest winning streak with its 20th-consecutive victory.
With the Stagg Bowl making its debut at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame stadium in Canton, Ohio, North Central provided the fireworks to open the proceedings as DeAngelo Hardy returned the game's opening kickoff 93 yards to give the Cardinals a quick 6-0 lead. UMHB countered with a run of 16 unanswered points to take control of the game into the second quarter.
As the Crusaders drove to add to their lead, the Cardinals defense stepped up to force the first of two fumbles on the day. With the running game taking center stage, Ethan Greenfield capped off a 14-play, 90-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to cut the lead to 16-13. All-American corner back Jake Beesley blindsided UMHB quarterback Kevin King to foce another fumble on the ensuing drive that would lead to a late Cardinals field goal by Tanner Rains to tie the game at 16. UMHB answered with a field goal as time expired to take a 19-16 halftime lead.
UMHB took control of the game in the second half, owning a 38-7 scoring advantage and forcing three Cardinals turnovers. North Central was able to got on the board again in the fourth quarter when Luke Lehnen found Blake Williams for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Greenfield finished with 124 rushing yards on 25 carries, marking his fifth straight 100-yard effort. Lehnen finished the game 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards, throwing to Andrew Kamienski eight times for 115 yards. Kamienski is the fourth player in Division III history to accumulate over 5,000 career receiving yards (5,019).
Dakota Cremeens recorded a team-high eight tackles and Beesley broke up three passes, giving him a North Central single-season record 21 passes defended.
The Cardinals established new team single-season records for rushing yards (4,118), rushing touchdowns (66) and pass breakups (76).