NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- For the first time since 2006, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) will have two representatives competing in the second round of the Division III Football Championship as Wheaton defeated Trine University 14-0 and North Central topped Thomas More 44-23 in the first round on Saturday.
Wheaton will travel to Crawfordsville, Ind., to face Wabash at 11 a.m. CDT November 29. North Central will host Franklin at Noon November 29 in a rematch of last season's first round match-up. The Cardinals defeated Franklin 44-42 in Franklin, Ind., last season. If both North Central and Wheaton win its second round games, they will face each other in the quarterfinals.
Of the 16 remaining teams left playing this weekend, the CCIW is the only conference with two members still in contention.
Only two other times has the CCIW had two of its members advance to the second round in the same season including 2004 (Carthage & Wheaton) and 2006 (North Central & Wheaton). The last time a CCIW member advanced to the quarterfinals was Carthage in 2004.