FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2010 D3football.com All-North Region Teams

Dec. 19, 2010 - Three North Central College football players have been honored with selections to the 2010 NCAA Division III All-America Teams, as selected by D3football.com.

The Cardinals had a total of three All-America selections, the most North Central has had since D3football.com began selecting All-America Teams in 1999. Linebacker Matt Wenger and offensive lineman Kyle Antos were selected to the First Team, while defensive lineman Valente Garza was selected to the Third Team. Wenger was also voted the D3football.com National Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first North Central player to be so honored.

Wenger finished the 2010 season with 120 tackles (71 solo), 13 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. He tied a career high with 18 tackles in a second-round playoff win over Ohio Northern University on Nov. 27 and returned a fumble for a touchdown Oct. 23 against Illinois Wesleyan University. He ranked first in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and 14th in Division III in total tackles and posted the fourth-highest single-season tackle total in North Central history.

Antos started all 13 games at right guard for the Cardinals, who established new single-season school records for rushing yards (2,889) and total offensive yards (5,457). Garza led the CCIW and ranked seventh nationally in total quarterback sacks (11.5), tying Wenger and teammates Willie Hayes and Jim Clendenning for the conference lead in tackles for loss.

Each of North Central's three selections were First Team All-CCIW and First Team All-North Region honorees this season. Wenger was named the CCIW and North Region Defensive Player of the Year.