North Central Football Team Wins Third Division III National Title, Finishes Season a Perfect 15-0
Incredible Run
The North Central football dynasty has reached rarified air. So has quarterback Luke Lehnen. The graduate student from Chatham, just south of Springfield, accounted for five touchdowns Sunday night, and North Central — located in west suburban Naperville — beat Mount Union (Ohio), 41-25, to win its third NCAA Division III national championship and second in three years.
The Cardinals, who also finished their season 15-0 for the second time in three years, were playing in their fifth consecutive Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the name of the D-III championship game. By winning it Sunday, North Central became the fifth program to win three or more D-III national titles, joining Mount Union (13), the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (six), Augustana, Ill. (four), and Ithaca (three).
Cardinals Pull Away
To get their third national title, the Cardinals had to beat Mount Union, the most decorated program in D-III III history. Sunday was also a rematch of the 2022 Stagg Bowl, which North Central won, 28-21. The Purple Raiders (75) and Cardinals (47) have won a combined 122 consecutive regular-season games.
Mount Union’s Tyler Echeverry ran 29 yards untouched to open the scoring Sunday, the first time North Central trailed all season. But Lehnen, who went 57-2 over his college career, countered quickly, throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Myles Walton to make it 7-7 with 4:35 left in the first quarter. That one gave Lehnen 159 career touchdown passes, breaking Plunk’s D-III record.
Lehnen’s Record-Breaking Performance
Lehnen threw two of his four touchdown passes to Jacob Paradee on Sunday and finished with 162 in his collegiate career, tied with John Matocha (D-II Colorado School of Mines, 2019-23) for college football’s all-divisions record. Lehnen also broke the D-III record of 158 set by Braxton Plunk (Mount Union, 2019-23).
Awards and Recognition
On Friday night, two days before the Stagg Bowl, Lehnen was announced as the winner of the Gagliardi Trophy — the top award in D-III football — for the second straight year. He became just the second repeat winner of the award, joining Mount Union quarterback Kevin Burke in 2013 and 2014.
Last month, Lehnen was named the Offensive Player of the Year and first-team quarterback on The Associated Press D-III All-America team. North Central senior Sam Pryor (offensive line) joined Lehnen with first-team honors, while senior Jeske Maples (defensive line) received second-team honors.
Coaching Staff
The first part of that run came under head coach Jeff Thorne, then Brad Spencer took over following the 2021 season when Thorne departed to join a Division I coaching staff. The Cardinals haven’t missed a beat under Spencer. They’ve won more national titles (two) than they’ve lost any game (one) under Spencer.
“I’m extremely humbled and proud to be in this position,” Spencer, who graduated from North Central in 2004, said on the program’s website. “These seniors — there are 38 of them — have believed in our culture and what we were trying to become. That took a lot of trust and belief, and they went to work. As coaches, we just put good plans in place and put them in a position to succeed.”
Conclusion
The North Central football team’s incredible five-season run has come to an end, but the legacy of this team will be remembered for years to come. With their third national title and perfect 15-0 season, the Cardinals have cemented their place as one of the greatest programs in Division III history.
FAQs
Q: How many national titles has North Central won?
A: The Cardinals have won three NCAA Division III national championships.
Q: Who is the quarterback for North Central?
A: Luke Lehnen is the quarterback for North Central.
Q: What is the name of the D-III championship game?
A: The D-III championship game is called the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
Q: Who is the head coach of North Central?
A: Brad Spencer is the head coach of North Central.
