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Sporting News Division III Preview
Lindy's Sports Division III Preview

June 8, 2011 - The North Central College football team is represented once again in the NCAA Division III Top 25 rankings in a pair of preseason publications, as the Cardinals are ranked seventh in The Sporting News' Preseason Top 25 and 17th in the Lindy's Sports Preseason Top 25.

North Central tight end Kyle Fiedorowicz was also featured prominently in The Sporting News' season preview, as he was named to the magazine's Division III Preseason All-America Team. The senior caught 18 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns last season and enters his final collegiate season ranked fifth in school history with 14 career touchdown receptions.

Both publications had the same teams in the top three positions of their respective rankings, as the defending national champions from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the University of Mount Union (Ohio), and Wesley College (Del.) were first, second, and third, respectively, in both polls. The University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was fourth in The Sporting News Top 25, while Bethel University (Minn.) was rated fourth by Lindy's Sports. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.) was fifth in both rankings.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin is also represented in both polls by Wheaton College, which is ranked 11th by The Sporting News and 25th by Lindy's Sports. The Cardinals' Nov. 5 home game against Wheaton was listed as one of the 'Games to Watch' during the upcoming season by The Sporting News.

North Central went 12-1 last season to establish a new school record for single-season victories, and won their fifth consecutive CCIW title before advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Division III Playoffs for the first time.

The Cardinals open the 2011 season on Sept. 3 at the University of Redlands (Calif.) The Bulldogs are ranked 18th by Lindy's Sports and 22nd by The Sporting News.