NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Top-seeded North Central ended No. 9 John Carroll’s season with a 41-21 victory Saturday in an NCAA Division III national semifinal at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The Cardinals scored on their first three possessions and built a 28-0 halftime lead on their way to their sixth straight appearance in the Stagg Bowl. North Central extended its home winning streak to 46 games and will seek its fourth national title since 2019. The Cardinals (14-0) will play University of Wisconsin – River Falls at 8 p.m. on Jan. 4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for the title.

John Carroll (12-1) was making its third national semifinal appearance and finished with a program-record 12 wins.

“They’re a phenomenal program,” John Carroll coach Jeff Behrman said. “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the perseverance they showed all season.”

North Central quarterback Garret Wilson directed an offense that struck quickly. He capped the opening 87-yard drive with a 5-yard pass to Pat McAtee, then found Jack Rummel for a 71-yard touchdown later in the first quarter. Rummel added a 31-yard scoring run early in the second quarter.

An interception returned 60 yards for a touchdown by Eli Renick late in the second quarter put the Cardinals ahead 28-0 at the break.

North Central added a field goal midway through the third quarter before John Carroll got on the board on a 73-yard touchdown pass from Nick Semptimphelter to Tyren Montgomery. Wilson answered with a 15-yard touchdown run, and the Cardinals maintained control the rest of the way.

Semptimphelter finished 34 of 47 for 307 yards and three touchdowns. He set an NCAA all-divisions record for completion percentage in a season at 77.9 percent and led the Blue Streaks to a team completion mark of 77.16 percent, also an NCAA record.

Montgomery caught 10 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown, completing the most productive receiving season in program history with 119 catches for 1,528 yards.

John Carroll added fourth-quarter touchdown receptions from Kenneth Rawls and South Range graduate Shane Lindstrom, the latter coming on Semptimphelter’s final collegiate pass. Lindstrom caught seven balls for 63 yards.

Kenny Grobolsek led the Blue Streaks defensively with 10 tackles.