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

CCIW Press Release

Sept. 26, 2016 - For the second time in three weeks, the North Central College football team has secured two of the three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Player of the Week awards, as linebacker Tommy Sora and cornerback Pat Cravens have been named the conference's top-performing players on defense and special teams, respectively, for games played Sept. 24.

Sora and Cravens were recognized for their contributions to the Cardinals' 42-7 victory over Millikin University in CCIW play Saturday evening. Sora compiled seven total tackles, sharing the team lead in tackles for loss (three) and leading the squad with two quarterback sacks. In all, North Central finished with a season-high 13 tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks against the Big Blue, limiting a second straight CCIW opponent to a single-digit scoring total.

Cravens, meanwhile, made his mark on the game returning punts, gaining 85 yards on four attempts. He provided a 25-yard return deep into Millikin territory in the second period and added a 42-yarder late in the third quarter which led to the Cardinals' final touchdown. He also contributed four tackles and a pass breakup on defense.

North Central has received five of the 12 CCIW Player of the Week awards that have been presented in 2016. Punter Zane Lodico was recognized on special teams last week after a 34-7 victory at Illinois Wesleyan University, while quarterback Broc Rutter and linebacker DJ Warkenthien were the offensive and defensive Players of the Week, respectively, following a 38-21 win over Webber International University on Sept. 10.

Ranked sixth by D3football.com and seventh by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), North Central (4-0, 2-0 CCIW) resumes play Saturday, Oct. 8 at North Park University.