Wheaton, Ill. - The fifth-ranked Thunder football team dropped a tightly contested 20-7 matchup at home on Saturday night against fourth-ranked North Central College (2-0, 1-0 CCIW). Wheaton is now 1-1 on the season with an 0-1 record in CCIW play. The Thunder travel to North Park next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against the Vikings.

Wheaton totaled 395 yards of offense on Saturday with 120 rushing yards and 275 passing yards. The Cardinals amassed 414 yards of offense tonight with 126 yards on the ground and 288 passing yards.

Thunder quarterback Luke Anthony (PICTURED LEFT) completed 23 of his 42 passing attempts, for 275 yards with one touchdown pass. Running back Giovanni Weeks caught seven passes for 119 yards and ran for 53 yards for Wheaton, on 13 carries. Adam Terrini caught six passes for 68 yards.

Linebacker Ryan Schwartz had a team-high nine total tackles for the Thunder. Dallas McRae recorded seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss (-6 yards) and a sack (-4 yards). Luke Gammichia registered six total tackles, recovered a fumble and had a tackle for loss (-1 yards). Caleb Groteleuschen and River Shindledecker each recorded five total tackles. Senior lineman Jake Holaday (PICTURED RIGHT) had four solo tackles, including a quarterback sack of -12 yards, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up.

Wheaton received the opening kickoff and Matthew Tucker returned it 21 yards to the Thunder 32-yard line. On the third play of the opening drive, Anthony connected with receiver Bert McJunkin on a 32-yard catch on third-and-seven. Anthony also converted on a key third down later in the drive when he threw a 12-yard pass on third-and-11 to Weeks to move Wheaton to the Cardinals' 22-yard line. On first-and-goal at the Thunder nine-yard line Anthony connected with Spencer Peterson for a nine-yard touchdown toss. Following the PAT by Tommy Gallagher, the Peterson touchdown gave Wheaton a 7-0 lead with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter (VIDEO).

North Central scored on the first play of its third drive of the game with a 44-yard touchdown pass by Luke Lehnen to DeAngelo Hardy to tie the game at 7-7 with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter. The contest was tied 7-7 at halftime.

North Central received the second-half kickoff and responded with a 10-play drive of 87 yards that culminated with a three-yard touchdown run for Ethan Greenfield to give the guests a 14-7 lead with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Greenfield reached the end zone a second time for the Cardinals with an 18-yard TD run with 1:36 remaining in the game. The ensuing NCC PAT attempt was blocked by Caleb Egbert as the Cardinals' lead was extended to 20-7.