NAPERVILLE, Ill. --- Scoring the game's first 31 points, the North Central College football team advanced to a sixth straight NCAA Division III National Championship with a 41-21 victory over John Carroll University on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

"We are super excited and very blessed to go to the Stagg Bowl," head coach Brad Spencer said. "That's what it is about, a first-class experience for our players."

On the Cardinals' first play from scrimmage, Garret Wilson delivered a strike to Jack Rummell for an 18-yard gain. Two plays later, Donovan McNeal broke free for a 34-yard run into Blue Streaks territory. North Central capped a 10-play, 87-yard drive with a shovel pass from Wilson to Grant McAtee for a five-yard touchdown.

John Carroll crossed midfield on its next possession, but two incompletions forced a punt. The Cardinals capitalized as McNeal ripped off a 22-yard run before Wilson connected with Rummell for a 71-yard touchdown — North Central's longest play of the season — to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

On 4th-and-2 near midfield, John Sullivan batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage, giving the ball back to the surging Cardinals. Wilson completed three passes to three different receivers, finishing the drive with a 31-yard touchdown to Rummell to extend the lead to 21.

After two punts by each team, John Carroll regained possession with 1:33 left in the half. The Blue Streaks earned two first downs and moved into North Central territory, but with 32 seconds remaining, Sullivan wrapped up quarterback Nick Semptimphelter, who threw the ball directly to Eli Renick as he was being tackled. Renick returned the interception 60 yards for a pick-six, sending the Cardinals into halftime up 28-0.

John Carroll opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, and North Central again marched downfield as Wilson found Rummell for gains of 23 and 30 yards. A penalty stalled the drive, and Aidan Ellison converted a 28-yard field goal.

The Blue Streaks responded quickly as Semptimphelter hit Tyren Montgomery for a 73-yard touchdown. North Central answered with a steady ground attack from McNeal and Zeb Rashid before Wilson found Isaac Banker for 18 yards and later kept the ball for a 15-yard touchdown run. Ellison's extra point pushed the lead to 38-7.

Semptimphelter later connected with Kenneth Rawls for an 18-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 38-14. A North Central fumble gave the ball back to John Carroll, but the Blue Streaks' drive stalled at the 24-yard line.

After three carries by McNeal, Wilson found Thomas Skokna for a 25-yard completion. On 4th-and-5, Ellison drilled a 34-yard field goal — his second of the season and the program-record 17th made field goal for the Cardinals this year.

Semptimphelter threw his third touchdown of the day on the ensuing possession, finding Shane Lindstrom for a 21-yard score. North Central then kneeled out the clock to secure a 41-21 win and its sixth straight trip to the Stagg Bowl.

Wilson threw for a season-high 324 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-23 passing. Rummell posted a career-high 179 receiving yards on six catches with two scores. McNeal recorded his fourth straight 100-yard game, finishing with 160 yards on 18 carries. Matt Janiak led the defense with 12 tackles, while Renick's 60-yard pick-six highlighted the unit's effort. Sullivan added five quarterback hurries, a pass breakup, and five tackles.

"I am very thankful for the guys around me who make my job easy," Wilson said. "Jack and I have been building a connection all year. When a guy gets hot, you want to give him the ball as much as possible."

North Central will face the University of Wisconsin–River Falls for the first time in program history in the national championship. The Stagg Bowl will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET.

"UW-River Falls is as advertised," said Spencer. "It will be an exciting two weeks to prepare for them and find ways to slow them down."