Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
2022 All-CCIW Football Selections
Nov. 15, 2022 - Receiving unprecedented accolades in recognition of a dominant season, the North Central College football team has received a program-record 19 selections to this year's All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) teams, including a near-sweep of the major individual awards.
The No. 1-ranked Cardinals capped a perfect 10-0 regular season and 9-0 finish in CCIW play Saturday with a 63-3 victory over Augustana College, winning the program's 16th CCIW title and securing the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship. North Central set a new NCAA Division III national record for margin of victory in the regular season (53.2 points per game) and scored 527 points in nine CCIW games while allowing just 39.
The Cardinals enter the 2022 postseason ranked first in the nation in scoring offense (58.3 points per game), scoring defense (5.1 points allowed per game), total offense (574.5 yards per game), rushing offense (380.4 ypg) and red-zone defense (41.2%).
North Central running back Ethan Greenfield was voted the CCIW Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, marking the sixth straight year a Cardinal has claimed the award. Greenfield ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards (1,370) this season and is the Division III national leader in yards per rushing attempt (8.25) while ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18), total touchdowns (20) and points scored (120). Greenfield ranks seventh in Division III history in scoring (516), 11th in rushing yards (6,052) and 17th in all-purpose yards (6,957) and is now a three-time First Team All-CCIW honoree.
Defensive tackle Dan Lester shares the Don Larson Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year award with Millikin University's Alexander Perkins. Lester has started each of the Cardinals' games at defensive tackle, ranking third in the CCIW and 21st nationally in tackles for loss (18) and fifth in the conference in quarterback sacks (8.5). Lester is four tackles for loss shy of the Cardinals' single-season record of 22, set in 2004 by Ben Hare '05.
Jeske Maples has been named the CCIW's Offensive Lineman of the Year, continuing North Central's streak to four straight years winning the award since its inception in 2018. Maples has started all 24 games at left tackle for the Cardinals the last two seasons. North Central head coach Brad Spencer '04 was voted the conference's Bob Reade Coach of the Year.
North Central tight end Bobby Behmer is one of two CCIW Elite 26 Award winners, joining Wheaton College's JJ Ruff. Modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 program, the CCIW Elite 26 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average from the first or second-place team in the conference standings.
Joining Greenfield and Maples on the All-CCIW Offensive First Team are wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy and offensive linemen Sam Pryor and Jarod Thornton, while other Defensive First Team picks are defensive end Tyler Rich, linebacker BJ Adamchik, cornerback Antwain Walker and safety Julian Bell. Tanner Rains was voted the CCIW's First Team kicker, making Rains the lone kicker selected for All-CCIW honors.
North Centrals' eight Second Team All-CCIW picks include quarterback Luke Lehnen, running back Terrence Hill, tight end Matt Robinson, offensive tackle Will Ebert, defensive linemen Dan Gilroy and Brandon Greifelt, linebacker Sam Taviani and safety Zack Orr. Hardy, Maples, Lehnen and Gilroy are each two-time All-Conference honorees.
The CCIW also announced the nine winners of its RESPECT Award for the season. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture. North Central's RESPECT Award honoree is senior tight end Alec Wolff.
The Cardinals host Lake Forest College in the first round of the Division III Football Championship Saturday. Kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 noon.
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