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Time of Poss.
WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University football team pitched its first shutout since 2018 against the North Park Vikings on Saturday night under the lights of Schneider Stadium by a score of 42-0. The Pioneer defense combined for six takeaways, a new school record for a single game. Keon Miller ran rampant, catching four passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, with 79 yards after the catch.
The Pioneers (2-0, 1-0 CCIW) open the season 2-0 for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1978. The offensives' 404 total yards were fueled by 235 rushing yards. Jaxon Case tallied nine carries for 57 yards with a touchdown, while Marcus Douglas gathered 37 yards on eight carries for another touchdown. Jake Netchin led the Pioneers in the fourth quarter with 69 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Pioneer defense collected three interceptions and three forced fumbles. Jake Binkowski returned an interception for a three-yard pick-six against the Vikings. Steven Lazaris recorded six tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss to lead the defensive line.
The Vikings began the game with the football, and with a drive fueled by penalties, North Park was stranded at the Carroll 25-yard line. With a 42-yard attempt lined up, Helios Martinez jumped out and blocked the kick attempt, and Tim Nelson recovered the ball for the Pios. It took Josh Raby and the offense just seven plays to march 62 yards downfield as they capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Josh Hill.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Damon Loker knocked the ball out of a receiver's hands and forced the game's first turnover to give the offense the ball back at their own 42-yard line. Case rushed for a 28-yard score four plays later to give Carroll a 14-0 lead. Carroll's next offensive possession appeared to stall, but a fumble by the return man picked up by Reed Breckheimer gave Carroll the ball back in North Park territory. Carroll traveled 48 yards in 4:05 to score on the Douglas touchdown run.
After a stalled opening drive in the second half, Pioneer Punter Noah Streveler hit a nuke that went into the coffin corner at the one-yard line. Binkowski picked off the North Park QB two plays later. On North Park's next drive, a deep pass was broken up by Donny Parker and intercepted by AJ Moorer at the Carroll 35-yard line. Miller caught a slant over the middle that the junior turned into a 59-yard score two plays later.
Jordan Pfeiffer stripped sacked the North Park backup QB on the ensuing drive as Loker came up with the ball. The defense stayed on the field for 15 minutes in the second half but forced another interception and three more punts. Jake Netchin carried the ball down the field with the help of Carson Crouch for the final Carroll score of the game with 5:58 left.
The Pioneers will have a fight on their hands next weekend down in Bloomington, Illinois against Illinois Wesleyan. The Pios took down the Titans at Schneider Stadium last season in a thrilling 34-33 victory.