NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Millikin’s Nicco Stepina, Illinois Wesleyan’s Jordan Hassan and North Central’s Matt Sutherland were selected as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Players of the Week on Monday.
 
Stepina, a junior quarterback from Casey, Illinois and Casey Westfield High School (Health, Fitness & Recreation major), helped lead the Big Blue to a 35-31 win over 13th-ranked Wheaton at home on Saturday. The win ended a 16-game losing streak to the Thunder as Stepina was 26-of-48 for 271 yards and two touchdown passes. He also finished with 15 carries for 69 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
 
Hassan, a senior linebacker from Wheaton, Illinois and Glenbard West High School (Marketing major), won his second-straight defensive player of the week honor after he totaled 13 tackles (12 solo), 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks in a 28-10 win at Augustana on Saturday. His 12 solo tackles were the second most of his career, while his 3.5 TFLs and two sacks were both career bests. Hassan’s 3.5 tackles-for-loss resulted in 17 yards lost for the Vikings, while his two sacks combined for 12 yards lost.
 
Sutherland, a junior defensive back from Cary, Illinois and Cary-Grove High School (Mathematics major), played a key special teams role during the Cardinals’ 33-0 win over North Park on Saturday. He recorded two of his six total tackles in kickoff coverage and also blocked a Viking punt which resulted in a safety. It was the Cardinals’ second blocked punt of the season.
 
2017 CCIW Football Players of the Week
 
Offense
Nicco Stepina – Millikin (10/9/17)
Broc Rutter – North Central (10/2/17)
Jamel Davis – Carthage (9/25/17)
Spencer Peterson – Wheaton (9/18/17)
Gerald Perry – Millikin (9/11/17)
Austin Breunig – North Central (9/5/17)
 
Defense
Jordan Hassan – Illinois Wesleyan (10/9/17)
Jordan Hassan – Illinois Wesleyan (10/2/17)
Pat Cravens – North Central (9/25/17)
Tommy Sora – North Central (9/18/17)
Shawntrel Garner – Carthage (9/11/17)
Trevor Staley – Illinois Wesleyan (9/5/17)
 
Special Teams
Matt Sutherland – North Central (10/9/17)
Tommy Bazarek – Carthage (10/2/17)
Stefan Knoerr – Wheaton (9/25/17)
Jacob Stytz – Augustana (9/18/17)
Wyatt Fox – Millikin (9/11/17)
Stefan Knoerr – Wheaton (9/5/17)
 
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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). During the 2016-17 academic year, the CCIW honored over 1,900 academic all-conference recipients, 10 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 33 CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients, one CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and over 100 all-Americans.