PICTURED: 2016 North Park Football Senior Class

North Park ended the 2016 season with a home loss to Carthage College Saturday, and although it wasn't the way the Vikings were hoping to end the year, they sent off their senior class of seven student-athletes and one student coach in a positive manner.

NP recognized seniors Andrew Rangel, Ronnie Mase, Mike Harris, Frantz Dorcely, Norm Cupicciotti, Gabe Corey, T.D. Conway and coach Mike DiClementi as part of a graduating class that produced some of the greatest success Viking Football has seen in the history of program having snapped an 89-game conference losing streak in 2013 and earning seven CCIW victories over five of the eight other conference opponents in one of the toughest football conferences in all of NCAA Division III.

Sophomore quarterback Jace Bankord, who had his second collegiate start – subbing for Conway, who finished his illustrious four-year career as North Park's all-time career passing leader with 9,113 yards – finished the day with nearly 200 yards passing (198) on 14 of 28 completions with a touchdown. Bankord engineered his third passing touchdown drive of the season when he completed a 28-yard bomb down the right sideline to junior Devin Childress in the back corner of the end zone, which ended a 4-play, 38-yard drive just before halftime. Childress' catch was the 24th of his career, which tied the school record for most career TD receptions.

Freshman Jared Cantu electrified the crowd then with a monstrous 88-yard kickoff return down the left sideline with 12:53 left in the third quarter which cut the Carthage lead in half at that point. Cantu finished the day with a career-high 128 all-purpose yards.   

The Viking 'D' was strong once again as Uluao Letuli had a career-high 18 tackles, including a half-tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. Chaun Maiava added 15 tackles – his sixth game this season of 11 or more tackles – and both John Kellum and Matt DiFecchio each had a forced fumble. Maiava added 1.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards and a sack for a nine-yard loss.

North Park finishes the year with a 1-9 overall record.