Box Score
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Spencer Stanek and Chad O'Kane hooked up for two touchdown passes in the game's first five and a half minutes Saturday and fourth-ranked North Central went on to post a 53-14 win over Augustana at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Vikings finish the year 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the CCIW, while the Cardinals end the regular season with a 10-0 mark overall and as conference champions at 7-0.
 
Jordan Dean's 46-yard return of the opening kickoff set North Central up with excellent field position and Stanek took advantage, leading the hosts on a nine-play, 54-yard march capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to O'Kane. Nick Dace's point after attempt was no good. After forcing a three-and out on Augustana's first possession, it took the Cardinals just two plays to go 53 yards with Stanek and O'Kane hooking up for a second score – this one from 46 yards.
 
The lead grew to 20-0 when the Vikings fumbled on the second play of their next possession and linebacker Nick Slezak scooped it up and went 22 yards to paydirt. After a nice Augustana goal line stand late in the opening period, North Central had to settle for a 20-yard Dace field goal and a 23-0 lead after one quarter.
 
Trailing 33-0 with 24 seconds left in the second quarter, Augustana got on the board when sophomore quarterback Chris Salazar (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) carried it in from five yards out to cap an eight-play, 53-yard drive. However, Dean brought the ensuing kickoff back 84 yards to the Viking four-yard line and Stanek connected with Ryan Szudarski for a touchdown on the first play to take a 40-7 lead to the locker room.
 
Augustana put together an 84-yard, 14-play drive late in the third quarter for its other score of the game. Senior running back Eric Chandler (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.), who rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries in his final game, took it in from the three to make it 50-14 after three periods.
 
Dace's 34-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the game accounted for the final score.
 
Stanek ended up 15 of 20 through the air for 195 yards and four touchdowns. Denzel Thompson led the Cardinal ground attack with 82 yards on just five carries. Peter Sorenson had five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown and O'Kane caught four balls for 72 yards and two scores. In addition to his touchdown, Slezak had a team-high eight tackles, including four for loss.
 
Salazar connected on eight of 18 pass attempts for 80 yards and rushed for 30 yards on 14 carries. Kyle Snow was the Vikings' top receiver with two catches for 41 yards. Defensively, senior linebacker Erik Westerberg (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) recorded eight tackles, as did junior safety Bo Goshorn (Romeoville HS, Romeoville, Ill.) and senior linebacker Dylan Smith (Aurora Christian HS, Yorkville, Ill.).