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

D3football.com Week 7 Team of the Week
CCIW Week 7 Student-Athletes of the Week

Oct. 17, 2022 - The North Central College football team's 65-0 shutout victory over Millikin University has brought the Cardinals recognition from the D3football.com and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) in weekly awards announced Monday.

The Cardinals' starting offensive line of Jeske Maples, Alex Knaperek, Jarod Thornton, Sam Pryor and Will Ebert, as well as defensive lineman Dan Lester, were named to D3football.com's Team of the Week. North Central set single-game program records and 2022 NCAA Division III season bests for rushing yards (597) and total offensive yards (776) in its victory over the Big Blue Saturday and continues to lead Division III in points per game (60.3) and yards per game (617.5).

Lester, who makes D3football.com's weekly national honor roll for the second straight week, shared the Cardinals' team lead in tackles (5) Saturday and turned in a career-high three quarterback sacks. A starter at defensive tackle in all six games this season, Lester ranks second in the CCIW in tackles for loss (13.5) and quarterback sacks (6).

Lester was also chosen as the CCIW's Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week, while kicker Tanner Rains was named the conference's Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week. Rains connected on eight extra-point attempts and a 21-yard field goal Saturday while also averaging 56.4 yards on 11 kickoffs with four touchbacks. Rains shares the Division III national lead in points scored by kicking (61) this season.

Still ranked No. 1 by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), North Central (6-0, 5-0 CCIW) travels to face Washington University in St. Louis Saturday at Francis Olympic Field. The Bears (6-0, 5-0 CCIW) are ranked No. 21 by the AFCA and No. 23 by D3football.com. Click HERE for the full 2022 schedule.

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