NAPERVILLE, Ill. --- Playing in snowy conditions from the opening kickoff, the North Central College football team scored the game's first 38 points in a 38-6 victory to begin its 2025 NCAA Division III postseason on Saturday inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

The Panther's opening drive stalled out at the North Central 31 with a turnover on downs as Bobby Medina sacked Eian Roudebush to give the ball to the Cardinal offense. 

Following a pair of three-and-outs from each side, Hanover could not handle a bad snap on a punt attempt as the Cardinals took over at the Panthers' 11-yard line. Hanover's defense stood tall to force a field goal attempt in the wintry conditions. Nate Boylan delivered a good snap to Chip Dose as Aidan Ellison converted the 22-yard field goal to give North Central a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinal defense forced a Hanover punt as North Central took over at their own 34 yard line. Garret Wilson connected with Jack Rummell for a 50-yard completion to put the ball into Hanover territory at the end of the opening quarter. Zeb Rashid broke through to score a one-yard touchdown on 3rd & goal to give the Cardinals a 10-0 advantage. 

On 2nd & 5, Brayden Garrigan intercepted Roudebush as North Central's offense took over near midfield. The Cardinal offense could not convert on 4th & 11 as the Panthers regained possession. The Cardinal defense forced a punt as North Central held a 10-0 lead at halftime.

After the field was cleared off at halftime by members of the North Central maintenance, athletic administration and members of the Cardinal football team, North Central struck first as Wilson found Thomas Skokna for a 31-yard touchdown on a shovel pass to the wideout who did the rest to extend the North Central lead to 17.

Hanover moved the ball into the Cardinal territory, but stalled out as Kenny Rutherford broke up a pass on 4th & 8 at the North Central 28 yardline. North Central moved quickly as Grant McAtee caught a 40-yard pass from Wilson before he delivered a deep ball to Skokna who scored on a 46-yard catch. An Ellison extra point put the hosts ahead 24-0.

The Panthers picked up a first down before a penalty backed up Hanover into a 4th & 11. Jalen Johnson blocked the punt attempt, picked the loose ball and ran 22-yards for the score, his second blocked punt and special teams touchdown this season to give North Central a 31-0 lead after three quarters of play.

Following a Hanover turnover on downs, the Caridnals marched down the field before Wilson found Johnson in the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown pass, adding to the Cardinal lead, 38-0.

Roudebush ran for a 34-yard play before Josh Williams found the end zone on a 23-yard run up the middle to give Hanover its first touchdown of the day. That would be the visitors' last possession as Jordan Williams and Demir Ashiru picked up first downs to clinch the 38-6 victory for North Central.

Wilson threw for 233 yards on 12-of-16 passing with three touchdowns. His leading target, Skokna, led all players with 106 receiving yards on six catches and two scores. Rashid led the Cardinals with 33 yards on the ground, followed closely by Sean Allen (27 yards) and Williams (27 yards). Johnson caught one pass for nine yards with a touchdown on offense and special teams.

Danny Nuccio paced the Cardinal defense with 14 tackles, including a sack. Medina added two sacks with John Sullivan and Eli Renick combining for another.

Roudebush threw for 80 yards on 11-of-24 passing while adding 31 net rushing yards. Josh Williams ran for 75 yards on ten carries and a touchdown. 

North Central advances to the Third Round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs, where they will face the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Saturday, December 6, for a noon kickoff. The Cardinals are 3-1 all-time against the Eagles, including a 55-42 win in the 2023 postseason.