Chatham Glenwood graduate builds on last year's success with NCAA Division III football title

North Central College football coach Brad Spencer could discern over film that Luke Lehnen was routinely the best athlete on the field.

“He was totally dominating at the high school level,” said Spencer, previously the offensive coordinator before becoming the head coach this season.

After the Chatham Glenwood High School standout arrived on campus in 2020, Spencer knew Lehnen could be a fun quarterback for his offense to pivot around.

Lehnen emerged as the starting quarterback last season and led the Cardinals to the NCAA Division III national title game with a 13-0 mark before falling to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 57-24.

He excelled further this season.

Lehnen, The State Journal-Register's Male Athlete of the Year as a senior, helped guide the unbeaten Cardinals back to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and locked up the program’s second national title in its history with a 28-21 victory over Mount Union in Annapolis, Maryland on Dec. 16 to end with a pristine 15-0 record.

That roster also included Athens graduate Nic Laird, Taylorville’s Will Kettelkamp and Pana’s Drew Hackler on defense.

“It was a really good feeling this year,” Lehnen said. “Last year we made it to the championship, but we didn't get the result we wanted, so it was kind of sad seeing how we sent out the fifth-years last year.”

“This year the goal was to make it back and send the fifth-years on a good note and we did that.”

Immediate impact

NCC’s camaraderie and culture under then-head coach Jeff Thorne appealed to Lehnen during an overnight visit as a prospect.

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, upended the initial 2020 season and the Cardinals only fielded practices that fall and spring.

That worked in Lehnen’s favor, Spencer said, because it gave him an entire year to learn the playbook and get acquainted with the program's nuances.

Lehnen agreed.

“I think that spring was really beneficial for me because I was able to learn the playbook more and become more comfortable with everything that I was learning,” Lehnen said. “I was able to develop as a player a little bit more under coach Thorne and I was able to build chemistry and just get to know the guys a lot, which goes a long way. So I really think that spring leading into my actual freshman year of football really helped me become the player that I was.”

Lehnen, not unlike this season, complemented a potent running game spearheaded by tailbacks Ethan Greenfield and Terrence Hill, who combined for more than 2,600 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns the first season.

He completed 196 of 296 (66.2%) for 3,284 yards and 33 touchdwns with 10 interceptions. He also ran for 618 yards and 10 scores.

But in the finale against UHMB, he threw three picks and one touchdown on 18 of 27 passing for 202 yards. Spencer didn’t pin those turnovers on Lehnen but rather on moving away from the offensive game plan and trying to keep up with the Crusaders.

Regardless, it inspired Lehnen to finish the job the following season.

“I definitely learned a lot of things about myself from last year in that championship game,” Lehnen said. “The score of the game, I don't think it showed how close it actually was. But it was also a definitely a big motivator for me. It got me to go on the mindset that I'm not going to let the fifth-years go out the way that they did last year, so definitely a big motivator for me coming into this year and just making sure that we ended the year on a win.”

Efficient passer

Lehnen went 4 of 10 for 141 yards with three scores but no interceptions in his championship return. He also ran for 103 yards.

Lehnen perhaps wished he completed more passes but it epitomized his efficiency in protecting the ball. He threw 38 touchdowns and six interceptions all season as a sophomore.

“That's what we want to do,” Spencer said. “We want to be efficient. We want to complete over 70% of our throws, and we don't want to turn the ball over, so you look at 15 games only six interceptions. And there's one of them there that I take credit for, it was a bad call.

"He's a heck of a player and I really look forward to working with him for the next few years.”

Lehnen also completed 13 of 20 passing attempts for 174 yards and four touchdowns with no picks — on top of 139 rushing yards — to avenge the Crusaders 49-14 in the national semifinal. He ultimately completed 189 of 276 throws for 2,709 yards this fall.

“I think I had a good majority of my interceptions in the first half of the season and then towards the second half of the season, I really focused on taking care of the ball,” Lehnen said. “I feel like that helped us win some games by keeping the ball longer and not turning the ball over, so being efficient in the pass game was really important for us when we did pass the ball.”

Nimble on his feet

Lehnen undoubtedly likes to run the ball with his speed and athleticism.

He finished with 1,120 rushing yards and 13 scores as well. Only Greenfield, this year’s Gagliardi Trophy recipient, ran for more with 2,032 yards and 26 touchdowns.

He can also burn defenses with his arm outside of the pocket.

“It's really hard for a defense to stop an offense in all phases and when you have an offense that can run its quarterback, it creates even more challenges,” Spencer said.

Lehnen credited Greenfield and Hill for garnering most of the attention from the opposition.

It also helped set up the championship game’s most electric play when Lehnen dialed up a 94-yard touchdown pass to DeAngelo Hardy for a 14-0 advantage in the second quarter. Lehnen said Greenfield allowed that play to unfold by picking up a late blitzer.

“That's a killer if you can just go out there and score 94 yards on one play,” Lehnen said. “It was definitely a big adrenaline rush and probably one of the most exciting plays in my career I'd say.”

Two-sport athlete

Lehnen said he will miss his two top tailbacks next season.

Spencer certainly anticipates Lehnen to become more involved offensively with the departures for Greenfield and Hill. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of fine-tuning Lehnen’s attributes over the next two seasons.

Spencer also noted that Lehnen is a talented baseball player. He started 47 games over the spring and batted a .310 average with 63 hits, 56 runs, 29 RBIs and 21 walks.

Lehnen said most of that baseball team returns this upcoming season and hopes to register the same level of success in the spring.

Spencer indeed described Lehnen as a super athlete with great tangibles for good reason.

“He'll probably, I'm guessing, after his next two years graduate as one of the top athletes North Central's ever had.”

Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Chatham Glenwood grad Luke Lehnen completes NCAA Division III title run