NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Ninth-ranked North Central jumped on Augustana early Saturday and rolled to a 42-14 win at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Vikings fell to 3-2 on the season and 2-2 in the CCIW, while the host Cardinals improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
 
It took North Central just 2:23 to go 81 yards in eight plays for a touchdown on the opening series. Quarterback Broc Rutter connected on a 40-yard strike to Blake Williams, setting up a two-yard scoring run by Ethan Greenfield. Milan Dezelich added the point after.
 
After forcing an Augustana three-and-out, the Cardinals had a long Nic Rummell punt return nullified by a penalty. They went right back to work though, driving 65 yards in nine plays for another score. On a fourth-and-13 play, Rutter found Andrew Kamienski in a seam down the middle for 30 yards and a touchdown. Dezelich's kick made it 14-0 with 6:51 left in the first quarter. North Central recovered the ensuing onside kick, but a holding call and three incompletions forced the Cardinals to punt. Later in the period, Rummell had a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a running into the kicker infraction.
 
With 1:40 left in the first, the Vikings took over at the North Central 42-yard line following a punt. On the second play, quarterback Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) found Tom Dolis (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) down the left side and Dolis made nice grab in the end zone for his fifth TD reception of the season. The play covered 39 yards and Owen Ennis' (Evanston HS, Evanston, Ill.) kick cut the deficit to 14-7 after one quarter.
 
Augustana forced another punt on the Cardinals' next possession, but found itself pinned at its own one-yard line. A Fuller sneak netted three yards to get some breathing room, but on third down, the Vikings mishandled the snap and North Central's Isaiah Ziegler recovered at the two. Greenfield went into the end zone on the first play and Dezelich's extra point put the hosts up 21-7 early in the second.
 
Rutter added scoring strikes of 32 and six yards to Kamienski in the period and the Cardinals took a 35-7 advantage to the locker room.
 
On its second series of the third quarter, Augustana drove 58 yards to the North Central 10, but couldn't convert on fourth-and-two. The Cardinals answered with a 12-play, 90-yard march that Greenfield capped with his third rushing touchdown of the day. Dezelich added the kick after Greenfield's three-yard burst and it was 42-7 North Central after three quarters.
 
Another Viking drive reached the Cardinal six, but Dakota Cremeens picked off an Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock island, Ill.) pass in the end zone. On its next possession, Augustana found paydirt. Jacobs completed a pair of passes on a six-play, 53-yard drive and capped it with a 15-yard touchdown run. Ennis' point after accounted for the final.
 
Behind 69 yards by senior Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.), the Vikings managed to run for 160 yards against the nations' eighth-ranked rushing defense. Jacobs finished with 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. North Central limited the Vikings to 137 yards through the air. Fuller was 7-for-19 for 89 yards and a touchdown and Jacobs 4-for-8 for 48 yards and one interception. Dolis had two catches for 55 yards and a score.
 
Luke Sawicki (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) and John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) each finished with a game-high 10 tackles for Augustana. Senior J.J. Cervino (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) had an interception and a fumble recovery.
 
Rutter connected on 25 of 37 passes for 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kamienski snared 11 passes for 135 yards and three scores. Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three TDs on 27 carries.
 
Augustana is back at Lindberg Stadium on Saturday, October 19, taking on its Viking namesakes from North Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.