Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
CCIW Press Release
Nov. 14, 2016 - The North Central College football team became the only team in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) to win all three of the CCIW's Football Player of the Week awards on the final day of the regular season, as wide receiver Ryan Kuhl, linebacker DJ Warkenthien and long snapper Kyle Preuss were recognized as the league's top performers on offense, defense and special teams, respectively, for games played Nov. 12.
The trio were recognized for their performances in the Cardinals' 59-17 Senior Day victory over Elmhurst College on Saturday. Kuhl caught a career-high nine passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while also preventing a turnover with a fumble recovery in the third period. He has scored at least one touchdown in North Central's last six games.
Warkenthien received his second Player of the Week award this season after totaling six tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, the fourth-highest single-game total in the Cardinals' history. He recorded 2.5 of North Central's seven quarterback sacks, which gave the Cardinals a school-record 49 for the season. Preuss, in addition to handling the long-snapping duties for nine successful placekicking attempts and three punts, gave North Central an extra possession by hustling down the field and recovering a mishandled punt return which led to a second-quarter touchdown for the Cardinals.
North Central received 12 of the CCIW's 33 Player of the Week awards during the 2016 campaign. Quarterback Broc Rutter was so honored twice on offense, while linebacker Tommy Sora and defensive end Josh Leonhard joined Warkenthien on defense. The Cardinals received five of the 11 Special Teams Player of the Week nods. In addition to Preuss' honor, punter Zane Lodico was recognized twice and kicker Liam Crotty and punt returner Pat Cravens were selected once.
Winners of their 12th CCIW Championship and a perfect 10-0 in the regular season for the fourth time, the Cardinals host Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (8-2) on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 noon.
