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

CCIW Press Release

Nov. 12, 2018 - North Central College kicker Derik Judka has been selected as the final College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Special Teams Football Player of the Week for the 2018 season, giving the Cardinals their seventh such award this season and marking the fourth straight week that North Central has received one of the conference's weekly honors.

Judka was recognized following a historic performance in the Cardinals' 55-12 victory over Millikin University on Saturday, which sealed the program's third straight CCIW title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Judka connected on 7 of 7 extra-point attempts, as well as field goals of 20 and 43 yards, to give him a CCIW single-season record 88 points scored by kicking in conference play this season. A perfect 14 of 14 on field-goal attempts during the current campaign, Judka has established new North Central and CCIW single-season records for field goals made.

Currently tied for first nationally among Division III kickers in field-goal percentage and ranking third in field goals made per game, Judka is one of only two CCIW players to earn three Player of the Week awards this season. Washington University in St. Louis quarterback/punter Johnny Davidson was recognized twice on offense and once on special teams.

Judka also earned the CCIW's weekly special-teams award following wins over Washington-St. Louis (Sept. 29) and Elmhurst College (Oct. 27). Cornerback Jake Beesley and linebacker DJ Warkenthien each claimed a CCIW Defensive Player of the Week award this season, while quarterback Broc Rutter was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Week twice.

Currently ranked ninth nationally, the Cardinals (9-1) host Hanover College (Indiana) on Saturday in the first round of the Division III Football Championship. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is set for 12:00 noon.