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Stagg Bowl LI: A Dynasty is Set in Naperville

by Hayden Krzyzanowski

 

“In the world of sports, a ‘dynasty’ is a team that has exhibited excellence over a considerable period of time. In order to be considered a ‘dynasty,’ a team is usually required to win at least two titles over a short period of time.” (Sports-Kings.com)

Three National Championships in five years. Is that a dynasty? I’d like to say so. The North Central Cardinals pulverized the machine once again, beating the Mount Union Purple Raiders (OH) 41-25 in Houston, Texas at Shell Energy Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo in MLS and Houston Dash in NWSL. This thriller of a game had all the energy and passion you’d see in any other college football matchup, but with it being on the main ESPN network, there was more riding on this ballgame. I walked around the concourse for 20 minutes before kickoff and both team’s fans were confident they were going to win. The game kicked off at 7:00 p.m. and all hell broke loose, as North Central fumbled the ball within the first five minutes.

Many know how the game went at this point. Touchdown after touchdown, tense moment after tense moment. In the dying embers of the first half, Mount Union ran a QB power left for no gain with no timeouts and the clock running out. 7 seconds remained and with time ticking, the Purple Raiders couldn’t get a field goal attempt off in time and it set the tone for the second half. North Central’s momentum couldn’t be stopped. The scales had been tipped. Halftime came and it was 14-10 North Central. Scores from Myles Walton and Luke Lehnen gave the Cardinals the edge and both sets of fans were jittery.

The Cardinals scored on all five offensive drives in the second half and broke the machine for the fourth time since 2013, and became champions for the third time in five years. The players rushed the walnut and bronze and hoisted it above themselves and then towards the fans. The dynasty had well and truly begun.

 

The Cardinals end their season 15-0, one of two teams to be unbeaten in the country. The other is Grand View (IA) at the NAIA level. North Central did what we all thought they would do: bring the title back to Naperville where it will reside once again. As reality sets in that the team won, we returned to the hotel to celebrate into the early morning hours before flying back the next day.

Winning the national championship was the highlight coming from our trip down south, but some other experiences enhanced the trip, making it one to remember for years to come.

Thursday was full of action. The team had meetings in the morning before briefing the local media. I was able to get down there and get a few questions in for Coach Spencer, as well as a couple of the players. Practice began following the interviews and I stayed for a bit to watch. I’d been to a few practices in the past, but this one felt different. There was a breath of excitement and energy that I hadn’t seen too often. This team felt ready.

The team had jumped on a flight out of O’Hare and flew to Houston where we eventually hit the hotel around 11:30 p.m. It was a chaotic first day, but this is where we as broadcasters got to look at the team from another angle. Many of these players are viewed as athletes, but I struck up a conversation and asked about many of their stories from the last couple of years. Everyone mentioned something about Stagg Bowl L (50) and their loss 38-37 to SUNY Cortland. This is when I knew that this game meant so much more than I initially realized. The sting of last year’s loss meant these seniors and fifth years knew they had to win, and they were going to stop at nothing in doing so.

Friday was a day to practice and scope out Houston. The team traveled to the University of Houston’s football field, just a few miles outside downtown Houston. Once practice concluded, we were invited to NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, for a tour and a dinner that included an awards ceremony. We were also given access to the field to take some photos, as well as the locker room (no photos allowed here!) and some of their training areas.

The part that made our trip to NRG Stadium special was the dinner hosted by the stadium. Some delicious food and some excellent awards being handed out, including the infamous Gagliardi Trophy, the most prestigious honor in Division III. Our fifth-year QB, Luke Lehnen, was the recipient for the second consecutive season, becoming the second player in division history to do so. It’s an incredible award for an incredible athlete and person. Senior TE Bobby Behmer took home the Elite 90 award, given to the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average going into the final game of the year. He had a 4.0 as an economics major. Impressed? Yeah, us too.

Saturday was filled with walkthroughs, and as fans arrived at the hotel, it became a sea of red and black. They were thrilled to be in Houston for North Central’s fifth straight Stagg Bowl appearance. Players and coaches went through their final walkthroughs and touchups before being herded to bed. The hotel was quiet, but you could feel the excitement buzzing throughout the building. Tomorrow was the big day.

Sunday. Stagg Bowl LI. The morning was filled with final preparation and a quick visit to Shell Energy Stadium to see the battlefield before relaxing and locking in back at the hotel. We then suited up and headed to the game.

We hitched a ride with some fans heading over to tailgate beforehand (shoutout to them!) and we headed through the media entrance before getting to our perch to set up. The team wasn’t too far behind us, arriving 30 minutes later. North Central and Mount Union both got a quick look at the field before suiting up themselves and getting warmed up for what became a victory for the ages.

Local media awaited the team after their victory and for many of the seniors and fifth years, that would be one of the final times they entered a locker room as a part of the team. Many other campus members swarmed the team, celebrating their huge accomplishment. This was the 46th national title in North Central history, with their 45th coming just a few months prior with the women’s triathlon securing their third consecutive title. North Central not only brings out the best from its athletes, but it also has the hardware to show it. Both of their wins will be displayed across campus on signs on the athletic end of campus.

Stagg Bowl LI will never be forgotten by this team and the fans. Everything built up to that moment showed how good this program is. In the past, we’ve seen teams with numerous All-Americans showcasing their talents and being the main force in this team. It wasn’t the case this year as everyone had an active role in the team, awards or not. This program became a hydra where you cut off one head and two more grow back in its place. The next man-up mentality was instilled in every single player, and they were all ready to do their part.

A huge shoutout and thank you to Head Coach Brad Spencer and his coaching staff, alongside Senior Director of Athletics Jim Miller and the rest of the administration and staff for allowing us to cover this huge event. It was an outstanding experience.

The future is red, Cardinal fans. The purple powers are no more. #RollCards

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