Local Central Illinois football players look to lead North Central to 2nd straight D-III title

Naperville, Ill (WICD/WICS) — The North Central football team in Naperville, Illinois will look to win their second straight national championship on Friday against Cortland.

North Central is filled with local Central Illinois talent.

List of Central Illinois players on North Central's roster:

• Will Kettelkamp
• Nick Golden
• Luke Lehnen
• Sam Chapman
• Aiden Riser
• Parker Pierceall
• Matt Robinson
• Ashton Bacon
• Galashky Blaise

Former Glenwood quarterback Luke Lehnen is among those former Central Illinois players, on the Cardinals roster. Lehnen is the starting quarterback for North Central in his third season under center.

Lehnen on what North Central needs to do to be victorious on Friday night.

"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing all year. Defensively we need to eliminate explosives. They have an explosive offense, eliminating those big plays is what's key for us in getting takeaways... Offensively, we need to not have three and outs," said Luke Lehnen.

North Central will take on a 13-2 Cortland team out of the Empire 8 conference in New York, who has played dominant football throughout the Division 3 playoffs.

"They're playing really well right now, they're lighting up the scoreboard... They make plays when the ball is in their hand," said Lehnen.

In Lehnen's third season under center, he threw for 3,228 yards and 46 total touchdowns. In 14 games, Lehnen also ran for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lehnen has been selected as 1 of 5 finalists of the Gagliardi Award, given to the best player in Division-III college football. It is also known as the Heisman of D-3 football.

Lehnen touched on what it would mean to him to win this award.

"It would mean a lot but obviously the goal is the win a championship. That's what I'm really focused on... It would mean a lot to me because I don't really get hurt not being named all-American... I feel like I've flown under the radar," said Luke Lehnen.

North Central and Cortland are set to kick off on Friday at 7 PM ET on ESPN+.