Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
CCIW Press Release
Nov. 13, 2017 - North Central College linebackers DJ Warkenthien and Ben Wong have been recognized as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Players of the Week on defense and special teams, respectively, for games played on Nov. 11. The CCIW announced its final Player of the Week honorees of the 2017 season on Monday.
The pair were selected on the strength of their efforts in the Cardinals' 49-7 victory at Elmhurst College on Saturday. Warkenthien was tabbed as the conference's top performer on defense after recording a career-high 13 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Warkenthien came within one tackle for loss of matching North Central's single-game record, and he moves into fifth place in school history for tackles for loss in a career (39.5).
Wong, meanwhile, earned this week's special teams award by blocking two Elmhurst punts and forcing a fumble on a kickoff return. On all three occasions, the Cardinals scored a touchdown two plays later. Wong also finished the game with a career-high seven tackles.
Breunig was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week after shattering a trio of single-game school records in Saturday's 43-20 victory over Carthage College. Breunig became the first North Central player to score five touchdowns in a single game, running for 264 yards and three scores on 26 rushing attempts and catching three passes for 86 yards and two TDs. He set new single-game records for rushing yards and all-purpose yards (350).
The CCIW's current leader in rushing yards per game (126.3), all-purpose yards per game (170.7) and total touchdowns (14), Breunig also earned Player of the Week honors following victories over Robert Morris University-Chicago and Augustana College. He is one of two CCIW players, along with Wheaton College kicker Stefan Knoerr, to receive three Player of the Week awards this season.
The Cardinals received a total of nine CCIW Player of the Week awards this season. North Central received four Offensive Player of the Week awards, three by running back Austin Breunig and another by quarterback Broc Rutter, while defensive back Pat Cravens and linebacker Tommy Sora were recognized on defense and defensive back Matt Sutherland received the distinction on special teams.
After clinching its second straight CCIW Championship and its 13th overall, North Central (9-1) hosts Saint John's University (Minnesota) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship on Saturday.
