Walking onto field Saturday in the rain and the wind, senior left guard Sharmore Clarke knew the offensive line would be the key to victory for North Central College.
“It was sticking to the game plan and doing what we can,” said Clarke, an All-American and Oak Park-River Forest graduate. “Whenever you can keep the defense off the field, it’s a great thing for us.
“Keep the ball moving and do what we do.”
It’s also exactly what the Cardinals’ offense did in the NCAA Division III semifinals for a convincing 26-13 victory over host Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.
The win gives top-ranked NCC (13-0) a chance at repeating as the national champions.
The Cardinals face Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6 p.m. Friday in the Stagg Bowl at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
The Cardinals (13-0) controlled Saturday’s semifinal game, winning the time of possession with 38:27 to Mount Union’s 21:33. Ethan Greenfield rushed for 190 yards on 31 carries.
Freshman quarterback Luke Lehnen ran for 83 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also threw for two TDs. NCC finished with 293 yards rushing on 51 carries.
“I just thought the performance of our guys up front was really the story of the game,” NCC coach Jeff Thorne said. “And, obviously, Ethan Greenfield and Luke Lehnen with the plays they made with their feet.”
“Just so proud of our offensive line, led by Sharmore Clarke and Jarod Thornton, our second-year starting center.”
Clarke has had a decorated career as a Cardinal.
He has started every game since arriving at NCC, missing only one practice along the way. Friday will be his 63rd career start. He has been the CCIW’s offensive lineman of the year all three years the award has been in existence.
Clarke, who’s also a three-time all-region selection, was a first team All-American in 2019.
“Sharmore is more of a quiet leader,” Thorne said. “He’s not a boisterous guy. He’s not the guy that’s rah-rah all the time. He just comes in and gets his work done.
“When you watch him play, the physicality he brings, he’s 263 pounds. He’s not huge, but he can bend. He’s unbelievably flexible. And he’s one of the most kindhearted people I’ve ever met.”
Clarke has supreme confidence in Lehnen under center. The Cardinals graduated record-setting quarterback Broc Rutter after the 2019 championship season.
Even though Lehnen runs the ball more often, Clarke said the offensive line’s approach hasn’t changed.
“We trust him in everything he does,” Clarke said of Lehnen. “We know we’ll be dominant on the ground no matter who is running it.
“Luke is a little more different with his play style. He can do anything. Broc had that, too. He just didn’t show it that much. (Lehnen is) beyond fast and he’s only getting smarter.”
The defense also was a huge factor Saturday. After the Cardinals allowed a TD on Mount Union’s first possession, the Purple Raiders didn’t score again until their final possession.
“A huge factor in Saturday’s game was our defense getting off the field,” Thorne said. “You give up a touchdown on the first drive and shut them down until their last drive and hold a team that scores 50 points a game to 13 at their place.
“I’m just really proud of how all of our players and coaches approached Saturday’s game.”
It has been a two-year wait, but the Cardinals get the chance Friday to make history and repeat as national champions.
“We’re excited,” Thorne said. “What a great opportunity. We had a chance to play Mount Union and Whitewater in the 2019 title run. Now, we get to play the other ‘purple power.’
“We have an opportunity to measure ourselves against them.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
