Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
CCIW Press Release
Nov. 7, 2016 - North Central College football players Josh Leonhard and Zane Lodico have been honored as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Players of the Week on defense and special teams, respectively, for games played on Nov. 5.
The pair were selected for their contributions to the Cardinals' 34-21 victory at Carthage College on Saturday, which assured North Central of at least a share of its 12th CCIW championship and the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Leonhard delivered his finest performance of the season to date, tying a North Central single-game record with four quarterback sacks and recording 6.5 total tackles for loss to miss the Cardinals' record in that category by only a half-tackle. He led a pass rush which produced 11 total sacks during the game, breaking the North Central team single-game record of eight which had been set four times, most recently in a 59-13 first-round playoff victory over the University of Dubuque in 2011.
Lodico, meanwhile, received his second Special Teams Player of the Week Award after averaging 40.0 yards on six punt attempts. Only one of Lodico's punts was able to be returned for a gain of four yards.
The Cardinals have a total of nine CCIW Player of the Week Awards this season. Quarterback Broc Rutter has been named Offensive Player of the Week twice, while linebackers Tommy Sora and DJ Warkenthien have also been recognized on defense and punt returner Pat Cravens and kicker Liam Crotty have been so honored on special teams.
Ranked fifth by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and sixth by D3football.com, North Central (9-0, 7-0 CCIW) hosts Elmhurst College (5-4, 4-3 CCIW) on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Senior Day festivities will be observed prior to the 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
