Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Sept. 7, 2026 - Following a 44-21 victory over No. 2 Bethel University, North Central College's linebacker Phillip Carlton Jr. and Sean Ryniec were named the league's first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively.

Carlton Jr posted the first 10+ tackle performance of his career, racking up 12 (seven solo), while recording 2.5 for a loss and a sack in the second quarter. He helped anchor the Cardinal defense to hold the Royals, NCAA Division III's highest-scoring offense a season ago, to just 21 points.

Ryniec's perfect day kicking was highlighted by a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the second-longest field goal in school history. That kick was the longest made in Division III this week and the second-longest amongst all divisions so far this season. He also converted a 21- and 37-yard field goal, which put him in a tie for sixth in program history for field goals made in a single game. Ryniec was 5-for-5 on extra points, scoring 14 points for the Cardinals.

This marks Ryniec's third CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week, winning once during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Augustana College's Jimmy Makuh was named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Week. He threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 42-14 win over Simpson College.

North Central takes on another ranked opponent in their final nonconference game of the season, facing 9 Wartburg College this Saturday. The Cardinals beat the Knights in the 2023 national semifinal, 34-27 in Waverly, Iowa. North Central heads back to Iowa for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Walston-Hoover Stadium.