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

2010 D3football.com All-North Region Teams

Dec. 9, 2010 - Six North Central College football players have been honored with selections to the 2010 NCAA Division III All-North Region Teams, as selected by D3football.com.

For the first time since D3football.com began selecting All-Region teams in 2005, the Cardinals have received one of the North Region Player of the Year Awards, as linebacker Matt Wenger has been voted the region's Defensive Player of the Year. University of Mount Union (Ohio) wide receiver Cecil Shorts was selected as the North Region Offensive Player of the Year.

North Central had a total of three First Team All-Region selections, as offensive lineman Kyle Antos and defensive end Valente Garza joined Wenger on the list of the region's top 26 players. Return specialist Joe Antonacci and safety Josh McLeod made the Second Team, while defensive end Willie Hayes was selected to the Third Team.

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, Hayes and teammate Jim Clendenning for the conference lead in tackles for loss.

Antonacci returned 39 punts and 13 kickoffs for a total of 837 yards and one touchdown while also catching 25 passes for 433 yards and five TDs. He ranked second in the CCIW and 16th nationally in punt return average (13.6). McLeod tied a North Central single-season record with eight interceptions, tying for sixth in the nation, and ranked third on the team with 50 tackles. Hayes ranked second to Garza in the CCIW and tied for 15th nationally in quarterback sacks (10.5).

Each of North Central's six selections were First Team All-CCIW honorees this season. Wenger was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, while Antos placed second in the voting for CCIW Offensive Player of the Year.

The Cardinals' six All-Region selections match the second-highest total that a North Central team has received. The 2008 team had seven players honored, while the 2007 squad also had six selections.

A total of 204 players from North Region teams were nominated, of which 75 made one of the three All-Region Teams. The annual D3football.com All-America Teams will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 18, as part of D3football.com's broadcast of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va.