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

CCIW Press Release

Oct. 22, 2018 - North Central College senior linebacker DJ Warkenthien has been selected as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Defensive Football Player of the Week, marking the fourth Player of the Week award for the Cardinals this season and the first on the defensive side of the football.

Warkenthien received the distinction after a performance in the Cardinals' 26-14 win at Carthage on Saturday which included a team-high nine tackles and a season-high four tackles for loss. Warkenthien came up with stops on third down to end three second-half drives for the Red Men as North Central won its third straight game and its 14th straight meeting with Carthage.

The Cardinals' leading tackler in five of seven games this season, Warkenthien currently ranks second in the CCIW in tackles for loss (12.5) and fourth in tackles (64). With 52.5 career tackles for loss, Warkenthien is North Central's all-time leader in the category and ranks 12th among active NCAA Division III players in career tackles for loss per game (1.31).

North Central quarterback Broc Rutter has received a pair of CCIW Offensive Player of the Week honors this season, while kicker Derik Judka was named the Special Teams Player of the Week following the Cardinals' victory over Washington University in St. Louis.

Currently ranked 12th nationally by D3football.com and 13th by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), North Central (6-1, 5-1 CCIW) hosts Elmhurst College (1-6, 0-6) on Saturday as part of Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.