The North Central College football team prepares to take the field for its home game vs. Millikin University, 10/15/22
Steve Woltmann

Football

Cardinals Favored to Win 17th CCIW Football Title

Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324 

2023 CCIW Preseason Football Coaches' Poll

Aug. 14, 2023 - North Central College has been voted the favorite to claim the 2023 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Championship, receiving the No. 1 spot in the annual preseason poll of the conference's 10 head coaches.

The Cardinals posted a perfect 9-0 record in CCIW play for the second straight year in 2022 before claiming its second NCAA Division III national championship in three seasons. North Central has earned at least a share of first place in the CCIW 13 times in the last 16 seasons.

With 81 points and nine first-place votes (coaches do not vote for their own teams), North Central is followed by Wheaton College with 71 points and one first-place vote. Washington University in St. Louis took third with 67 points with Augustana College and Illinois Wesleyan University tied for fourth (49). The rest of the poll consists of Carroll University (48), Carthage College (30), Millikin University (25), North Park University (15), and Elmhurst University (15).

North Central returns eight First Team All-CCIW selections from last season in wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy, offensive linemen Jeske Maples, Sam Pryor and Jarod Thornton, defensive lineman Dan Lester, linebacker BJ Adamchik, cornerback Antwain Walker and safety Julian Bell. Quarterback Luke Lehnen, tight end Matt Robinson and safety Zack Orr earned Second Team All-CCIW honors. Maples was voted the 2022 CCIW Offensive Lineman of the Year while Lester was the co-recipient of the Don Larson Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year. 

The Cardinals kick off their 2023 campaign at Roosevelt University Sept. 2 before opening conference play Sept. 16 as they host Carthage College at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.  Click HERE for the full 2023 schedule

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
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Players Mentioned

BJ Adamchik

#34 BJ Adamchik

LB
5' 9"
Sophomore
DeAngelo Hardy

#6 DeAngelo Hardy

WR
6' 1"
Junior
Luke Lehnen

#5 Luke Lehnen

QB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Dan Lester

#97 Dan Lester

DL
6' 1"
Junior
Jeske Maples

#70 Jeske Maples

OL
6' 2"
Sophomore
Zack Orr

#10 Zack Orr

DB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Sam Pryor

#58 Sam Pryor

OL
5' 11"
Sophomore
Matt Robinson

#84 Matt Robinson

TE
6' 3"
Junior
Jarod Thornton

#74 Jarod Thornton

OL
5' 11"
Junior
Julian Bell

#5 Julian Bell

DB
5' 7"
Junior
Antwain Walker

#26 Antwain Walker

DB
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

BJ Adamchik

#34 BJ Adamchik

5' 9"
Sophomore
LB
DeAngelo Hardy

#6 DeAngelo Hardy

6' 1"
Junior
WR
Luke Lehnen

#5 Luke Lehnen

5' 11"
Sophomore
QB
Dan Lester

#97 Dan Lester

6' 1"
Junior
DL
Jeske Maples

#70 Jeske Maples

6' 2"
Sophomore
OL
Zack Orr

#10 Zack Orr

6' 1"
Sophomore
DB
Sam Pryor

#58 Sam Pryor

5' 11"
Sophomore
OL
Matt Robinson

#84 Matt Robinson

6' 3"
Junior
TE
Jarod Thornton

#74 Jarod Thornton

5' 11"
Junior
OL
Julian Bell

#5 Julian Bell

5' 7"
Junior
DB
Antwain Walker

#26 Antwain Walker

6' 1"
Junior
DB