My 360th game brought me to Naperville, Illinois. This holds significance because along my journey, this was the first departure from an FBS (Division I-A) experience. The North Central Cardinals have become the juggernaut in this division aiming for its fifth straight national championship appearance and third national title. This team has obliterated the competition all season long, and with hapless Elmhurst making the 20 mile trip south, this looked to be another massacre.
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium filled with Cardinal red on senior day. Superstar senior QB Luke Lehnen put on another brilliant performance. North Central only needed him for one half as the Blue Jays looked up at a 63-7 deficit at the break. Gray November skies brightened with celebration as the Cardinals continued careening toward conference supremacy. The blowout victory secured yet another CCIW conference championship.
With all my documentation of the passion and pageantry of college football at the highest level, it was truly inspiring to see a similar energy in Naperville. Tailgating, traditions, marching bands, and spirit squads kept the bleachers full of fans entertained despite the expected lopsided score. Chicagoland’s powerhouse team appears poised for more greatness ahead in a division of football that is worthy of more national attention.
