Jose Figueroa

Nick Semptimphelter

Box Score

John Carroll JCU 12-2 , 8-0

North Central (IL) NCC 14-0 , 9-0

John Carroll JCU

12-2 , 8-0

Final

Dec. 20, 2025

North Central (IL) NCC

14-0 , 9-0

Score By Quarters
Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	F
JCU John Carroll	0	0	7	14	21
NCC North Central (IL)	14	14	10	3	41

Game Recap: Football | 12/20/2025 9:15:00 PM | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Journey Ends in NCAA Semifinal for #9 John Carroll Football

The Blue Streaks could not overcome an early deficit at #1 North Central in JCU's 3rd semifinal appearance

Team Statistics

Team Statistics
Game Stats	JCU	NCC
Total Yards	399	528
Pass Yards	307	324
Rushing Yards	92	204
Penalty Yards	3-22	8-89
1st Downs	21	20
3rd Downs	7-15	2-7
4th Downs	2-4	1-1
TOP	31:40	28:20

Scoring Summary
Scoring Play	Visiting Team Score	Home Team Score
1st Quarter
08:22 - NCC - McAtee,Grant 5 yd pass from Wilson,Garret (Ellison,Aidan kick) 10 plays, 87 yards, TOP 06:33	0	7
03:57 - NCC - Rummell,Jack 71 yd pass from Wilson,Garret (Ellison,Aidan kick) 3 plays, 94 yards, TOP 01:22	0	14
2nd Quarter
12:07 - NCC - Rummell,Jack 31 yd pass from Wilson,Garret (Ellison,Aidan kick) 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:49	0	21
00:19 - NCC - Renick,Eli 60 yd interception (Ellison,Aidan kick)	0	28
3rd Quarter
07:31 - NCC - Ellison,Aidan 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 04:54	0	31
06:46 - JCU - Montgomery,Tyren 73 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Schuler,Colin kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:45	7	31
02:32 - NCC - Wilson,Garret 15 yd run (Ellison,Aidan kick), 10 plays, 82 yards, TOP 04:09	7	38
4th Quarter
12:52 - JCU - Rawls,Kenneth 18 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Schuler,Colin kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:40	14	38
04:36 - NCC - Ellison,Aidan 34 yd field goal 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:56	14	41
00:36 - JCU - Lindstrom,Shane 21 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Schuler,Colin kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:00	21	41

Total Yards

JCU

399

NCC

528

Turnovers

JCU

NCC

First Downs

JCU

NCC

Total Possession

JCU

31:40

NCC

28:20

Game Leaders

Receiving Yards

136

Passing Yards

#14

Semptimphelter,Nick

307

Rushing Yards

#31

Tackles

#13

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The magical 2025 season run came to a close at #1 North Central College on Saturday for #9 John Carroll Football.

The juggernaut Cardinals dominated on a cold day at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium that began with a hint of sunshine and ended under the lights. North Central scored on its first three possessions to grab a big lead, and John Carroll never recovered.

The Blue Streaks lost in the program's third NCAA Semifinal appearance, 41-21.

"Hats off to North Central College, they did a phenomenal job hosting today's semifinal and to coach Brad Spencer and his staff and team, they're a phenomenal program. You saw it on the field, they're a very good football team," said Head Coach Jeff Behrman '95. "This was a tremendous season for us as a program. Hopefully it brought some respect as to who John Carroll Football is and where we are at today. It's brought a lot of joy to our university community and alumni. I'm proud of our team and their perseverance throughout the year."

Postgame Press Conference

North Central has been the standard in NCAA Division III for the last half-decade, now set to appear in the program's sixth straight Stagg Bowl. The Cardinals extended their home-game winning streak to 46 games and will seek their fourth NCAA Division III Championship since 2019.

On the positive side for John Carroll, quarterback Nick Semptimphelter cemented his legacy in the JCU and NCAA record books. The graduate student finished the season with a completion percentage of 77.9%, good for not just a program record, but an NCAA record across all divisions. The previous standard bearer was Mac Jones with a mark of 77.4% in 2020.

Additionally, JCU set an NCAA record for completion percentage in a season with a mark of 77.16%. This record is a new all-division standard, as well. The previous record was set by Texas in 2008 with a mark of 76.7%.

The Cardinals fired down the field on the opening drive, picking up a key 4th and 2 on the way to the red zone. A 5-yard shuffle pass from Garret Wilson to Pat McAtee concluded a 10-play, 87-yard scoring drive, marking North Central's first game-opening scoring drive since Week 10.

The visitors' offense clicked some on its first drive, but the Blue Streaks stalled just inside North Central territory. Owen Schuckert pinned the Cardinals at their own 6-yard line with just over 5 minutes left. Wilson found Jack Rummel on a 71-yard touchdown play, marking the Cardinals' longest of the season. It also marked JCU's first double-digit deficit since the Week 2 loss at #3 Johns Hopkins.

JCU again drove into NCC territory late in the first quarter, but the Cardinals stopped the Blue Streaks on 4th and 2 on the first play of the second quarter at the NCC 44-yard line. The Cardinals made the visitors pay, as Rummel dodged several Blue Streaks en route to a 31-yard touchdown at the 12-minute mark.

Following a JCU punt, the visitors' defense forced its first three-and-out of the day and Wilson's first incompletion, getting the ball at the JCU 40-yard line with 6:03 left in the half. Once again, the Blue Streaks drove inside North Central territory but stalled. JCU's defense got a stop to get the ball back for the offense with 1:33 remaining.

But a rare JCU pick-six, this one by Eli Renick for 60 yards, buried the Blue Streaks' hopes heading into halftime. John Carroll trailed at halftime, 28-0.

North Central extended the lead to 31-0 with a 10-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard field goal at the midway mark of the third.

John Carroll got on the board at the 6:46 mark of the third quarter. Tyren Montgomery streaked open down the field and caught a bomb from Nick Semptimphelter for a 73-yarder, the longest pass of the season for the Blue Streaks. But the Cardinals responded with a 15-yard Wilson scamper.

Kenneth Rawls hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Semptimphelter on a nice play with 12:52 remaining to trim the deficit to 38-14. JP Germano quickly got the ball back to the offense with a forced fumble, which Dylan Crasi recovered. JCU drove to just outside the NCC red zone but could not convert a fourth down with 9:32 left, ending any hopes of a desperation comeback.

But to the end, the Blue Streaks battled. On his final collegiate pass, Semptimphelter found Shane Lindstrom for a 21-yard touchdown to the pylon while taking a low hit. To see the graduate student's last pass go for a touchdown felt fitting.

Semptimphelter finished 34-of-47 for 307 yards and avoided any sacks, impressive considering he was under pressure from a relentless North Central pass rush that notched 8 quarterback hurries. Semptimphelter also cemented his legacy with a new program record for passing yards with 3,623.

Semptimphelter concludes his career fourth in program history in passing touchdowns (74) and fifth in passing yards (6,535) in addition to being the new leader in completion percentage. Only seven interceptions in 697 attempts is also an incredible feat.

"It means a lot, it's a team award. I know my name will be on it, but John Carroll will be right next to it. I'm very lucky to play in the offensive system with the teammates I have," said Semptimphelter. "Joe Collins broke the [program] record and then I broke it, which is a testament to Coach Behrman, Coach James and the offense as a whole. I'm very lucky to be part of this great culture and program."

"I don't know if I can put into words what this guy's done for this program. He's the best," Behrman said of Semptimphelter. "I've been coaching for 30 years and I've coached a lot of special players, and Nick is right up there. You're fortunate enough to cross paths with players like him. He's meant a lot to us, not just with his play on the field, but with his leadership in the locker room and off the field. He'll be super successful in life because he's got one value system: He values working hard on the field and in the classroom. He does things the right way all the time and we're going to miss him."

His top target was Tyren Montgomery with 10 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown. Montgomery finishes with the best season by a wideout in program history with the JCU records for receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,528). The Texan finished second in program history in receiving touchdowns (32) as well as third in receptions (176) and receiving yards (2,599). Montgomery also set a new standard for receptions per game in a career with 6.77.

"Most importantly, shoutout to my coaching staff and teammates," said Montgomery. "None of this would be possible without them. It's a huge blessing. Like Coach said in our huddle, we'll look back from this in a few weeks from now and be happy for the success we accomplished. I'm at a loss for words and trying to process everything, but I'm proud that we stayed in the dogfight and we held our own."

Semptimphelter connecting with his brother, Kenneth Rawls, was certainly a special moment as well. Lindstrom and Klimak both nabbed 7 receptions. JCU managed 5.1 yards per carry but had to pass plenty due to falling behind early.

"It's been a blessing. When I was transferring from Bucknell, both Kenny and I had two more years. We wanted to play together, and it's been a huge blessing," said Semptimphelter. "When I transferred in, I didn't know what to expect. This program and this university has welcomed us with open arms. It's been a great two years with a lot of great memories. It stings right now but hopefully I'll look back [one day] and appreciate what we had. I've said this before, but I'd run through a brick wall for Coach Behrman. That's what he means to the players. Kenny and I had a great two years and it's been a great experience for our family. Kenny and I got to connect one more time on a touchdown pass, that'll mean a lot to our family for the future."

On defense, Kenny Grobolsek topped the team with 10 tackles. Lamar Thomas and Mason Rus both notched 7 tackles.

"We're extremely blessed to have these coaches and players and this brotherhood we built," said defensive lineman Joe Thimons. "We've built this connection in the four years since I've been here and grown closer and closer. That connectedness and faith and trust in one another that led us this far. It all started with Coach Behrman coming in and bringing in this culture."

With 12 wins, the Blue Streaks tied the program record for wins in a season.

"We had some ups and downs [this season], obviously the early loss to Johns Hopkins as well as a lot of adversity behind the scenes a lot of people don't know about," said Behrman. "We had great resolve and resilience throughout. That showed today, they never quit and never gave up. They kept playing the game."

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