STAT REPORT
The latest CCIW football statistics report through Saturday, Oct. 19 can be viewed at this link.
 
RECENT RESULTS
Saturday, Oct. 19
#1/#1 North Central def. North Park, 69-0
#24/(RV) Wheaton def. Carthage, 50-13
(RV) WashU def. Elmhurst, 49-10
Illinois Wesleyan def. Millikin, 51-8
Carroll def. Augustana, 30-20
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All times Central)
Saturday, Oct. 26
1:00 p.m. | #1/#1 North Central at Augustana
1:00 p.m. | #24/(RV) Wheaton at (RV) WashU
1:00 p.m. | Illinois Wesleyan at North Park
1:00 p.m. | Carthage at Millikin
1:00 p.m. | Carroll at Elmhurst
 
IN THE POLLS
North Central is still the #1 team in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III rankings, released Sunday and Monday, respectively.
 
Wheaton was ranked #25 in the D3football.com poll. WashU received votes in both polls but remained unranked.
 
NCC secured 18 of 25 first-place votes for 618 points in the D3football.com ballots and 36 of 50 first-place votes for 1,235 points from the coaches. Wheaton had 68 points from D3football.com and 17 points to remain unranked by the AFCA. D3football.com voters gave WashU six points, while the coaches association allocated the Bears four points.
 
CCIW and the NPI
New to Division III football in 2024, the NCAA Power Index (NPI) is a system that houses the division’s statistical data and objectively applies the selection criteria to the data based on the sport committee’s established weighted criteria. NPI is a combination of the following: winning percentage; strength of schedule; home-away multiplier; quality win bonus; and overtime results. The rankings are used to select at-large teams for NCAA Championships.
 
The first NPI rankings, including games through Oct. 19, were released by the NCAA this week.
 
4. North Central
39. WashU
57. Wheaton
80. North Park
111. Carroll
133. Augustana
135. Illinois Wesleyan
165. Elmhurst
223. Millikin
228. Carthage
 
NATIONAL NOTABLES
North Central graduate student Luke Lehnen (Chatham, Ill.) ranks second in Division III with 11.32 yards per pass attempt. Lehnen also ranks second nationally with 16.99 yards per completion, fourth with a 201.8 passing efficiency, 12th with 22.0 points responsible for per game and 24th with 16 passing touchdowns.
 
North Park graduate student Jaydin Miller (South Bend, Ind.) ranks fourth in Division III with 0.50 forced fumbles per game.
  
North Park senior Matt Eck (South Bend, Ind.) ranks fourth in Division III with 23.83 completions per game. Eck also ranks 18th nationally with 270.7 passing yards per game and 22nd with 280.5 yards of total offense per game.
 
Wheaton senior Ben Bonga (Brentwood, Tenn.) ranks seventh in Division III with 10 receiving touchdowns. Bonga also ranks 12th nationally with 113.5 receiving yards per game, 16th with 7.3 receptions per game, 21st with 10 total touchdowns and 23rd with 10.0 points scored per game.
 
Wheaton junior Mark Forcucci (Winfield, Ill.) ranks seventh in Division III with 23.20 completions per game. Forcucci also ranks 16th nationally with 279.0 passing yards per game, 17th with a 70.3 completion percentage and 20th 283.8 yards of total offense per game.
 
Carroll senior Noah Streveler (Stevens Point, Wis.) ranks eighth in Division III with a punting average of 43.0
 
North Central sophomore Jack Rummell (Gilberts, Ill.) ranks ninth in Division III with 22.87 yards per reception.
 
Augustana senior Joren Clem (Columbus, Ohio) ranks 11th in Division III with 1.17 field goals per game.
 
Augustana senior Mike DiGioia (Schaumburg, Ill.) ranks 12th in Division III with 114.2 rushing yards per game. DiGioia also ranks 22nd nationally with eight rushing touchdowns.
 
Elmhurst junior Jacob Cockrell (Stockbridge, Ga.) ranks 14th in Division III with 22.20 yards per reception.
 
Illinois Wesleyan senior Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.) ranks 20th in Division III with 1.00 sacks per game.
 
Augustana junior Breyden Smith (Arlington Heights, Ill.) ranks 21st nationally with 135.33 all-purpose yards per game.
 
Carroll sophomore Marcus Johnson (Hazel Crest, Ill.) ranks 21st in Division III with 6.52 rush yards per carry.
 
Carroll sophomore Matthew Swink (Chandler, Ariz.) ranks 24th in Division III with 1.00 field goals per game.
 
Carroll junior Will Campbell (Kaukauna, Wis.) ranks 25th in Division III with 0.33 forced fumbles per game.
 
WashU senior Collin Goldberg (Atlanta, Ga.) ranks 25th in Division III with 6.8 receptions per game.
 
AROUND THE CCIW
Augustana senior linebacker Luke Willis (Mount Vernon, Ill.) established or equaled career highs with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack in the Vikings’ 30-20 defeat at Carroll last Saturday. Willis has 3.0 sacks on the season, one of only 11 players in the CCIW to reach that total through six games. The Vikings (3-3, 2-3 CCIW) host top-ranked North Central Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rock Island.
 
Carroll senior defensive back Jake Binkowski (Pulaski, Wis.) led the Pioneers to a 30-20 win over Augustana with 11 tackles and added a pass breakup last Saturday. The performance made Binkowski – who ranks 11th in the league with 7.00 tackles per game – one of five defensive backs on the current D3football.com Team of the Week. Carroll (3-3, 2-3 CCIW) travels to Elmhurst Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.
 
Carthage senior quarterback Bryce Lowe (Lutz, Fla.) logged 21 completions and a pair of touchdown passes to drive the Firebirds’ offense in a 50-13 loss to Wheaton last weekend at Art Keller Field. The performance marked the second time this season Lowe had surpassed 20 completions in a game and was his second consecutive effort of multiple touchdown throws. Carthage (0-6, 0-5 CCIW) heads south to Decatur this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Millikin.
 
Elmhurst senior linebacker Charles Scott (San Diego, Calif.) had a career-high 13 tackles and his first career interception last Saturday in the Bluejays’ 49-10 loss to WashU. Scott is among the CCIW leaders this season in tackles per game (7.83, sixth) and fumbles recovered per game (0.17, 10th). The Bluejays (2-4, 2-3 CCIW) play their second consecutive home game this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Carroll.
 
Illinois Wesleyan junior running back Jahari Scott (Lake Bluff, Ill.) hit new personal bests with 122 rushing yards, a 63-yard run and two rushing touchdowns as the Titans took down Millikin last Saturday in Bloomington, 51-8. It was the first career 100-yard rushing game for Scott, who ranks second in the CCIW with 130.0 all-purpose yards per game in 2024. IWU (3-3, 3-2 CCIW) will be in Chicago this Saturday, a 1 p.m. start at North Park.
 
Millikin junior Ixavion Moore (Chicago, Ill.) paced the Big Blue with eight tackles, 1.0 sack and a pass breakup in their 51-8 defeat at Illinois Wesleyan last weekend. Moore’s eight stops were a season high and increased his season tackle total to 28, third-most among MU defenders. Millikin (0-6, 0-5 CCIW) will welcome Carthage this Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
North Central fifth-year quarterback Luke Lehnen (Chatham, Ill.) became the first player in college football history to have a touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games with three scores in NCC’s 69-0 homecoming triumph over visiting North Park last Saturday. The performance, which included 11 completions for 182 yards, increased Lehnen’s career passing efficiency to 210.36 – highest among active players in all three NCAA divisions. The top-ranked Cardinals (6-0, 5-0 CCIW) trek to Augustana this Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
North Park senior linebacker Egan Bender (Mount Zion, Ill.) had a career high in tackles for the second consecutive week, notching 11 stops in the Vikings’ loss at North Central. Bender, whose performance vaulted him into the top 10 in the league in tackles with 7.5 per game (seventh), also recorded his first pass breakup of the season last Saturday. NPU (4-2, 3-2 CCIW) plays its next game at home this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Illinois Wesleyan.
 
WashU senior running back Kenneth Hamilton (High Ridge, Mo.) carried 10 times for a personal season-high 99 yards to spearhead the Bears’ 250-yard day on the ground and a 49-10 victory at Elmhurst last weekend. Hamilton also scored two touchdowns in the game’s first 20 minutes, sparking the Bears’ sprint to 35 first-half points. Hamilton needs just nine more all-purpose yards to become the sixth active CCIW player to reach 2,500 career yards. WashU (5-1, 4-1 CCIW) hosts 25th-ranked Wheaton Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Wheaton junior quarterback Mark Forcucci (Winfield, Ill.) was selected CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday after a 21-for-30 performance for 243 yards and four touchdowns in the Thunder’s 50-13 victory at Carthage. Forcucci is the conference leader in total offense per game (283.8) and passing yards per game (279.0), throwing for 13 touchdowns and just one interception on the year. Wheaton (5-1, 4-1 CCIW) and WashU will break a second-place CCIW tie this Saturday when the Thunder visit the Bears in St. Louis at 1 p.m.
 

2024 CCIW Stat Leaders (Per Game Through 10/19)
Total Offense	Forcucci, WC	283.8
Passing Yds	Forcucci, WC	279.0
Pass Efficiency	Lehnen, NCC	201.79
Rushing Yds	DiGioia, AC	114.2
Receptions	Bonga, WC	7.3
Receiving Yds	Bonga, WC	113.5
All-Purpose Yds	Smith, AC	135.3
Points Scored	Bonga, WC	10.0
Tackles	Zeffiro, EU	9.3
Tackles For Loss	Middleton, WUSTL	1.6
Sacks	McNees, IWU	1.0
Passes Defended	Breeden, AC; Oregon, AC	1.33
Interceptions	Nine players	0.33
Punting Avg	Streveler, CU	43.03
Field Goals	Clem, AC	1.17

 

Active CCIW Career Leaders (Totals Through 10/19)
Total Offense	Lehnen, NCC	13416
Passing Yds	Lehnen, NCC	10725
Pass Efficiency	Lehnen, NCC	210.36
Rushing Yds	Weeks, WC	4839
Receptions	Madsen, NCC	212
Receiving Yds	Madsen, NCC	3084
All-Purpose Yds	Weeks, WC	6077
Points Scored	Weeks, WC	458
Tackles	Loker, CU	231
Tackles For Loss	McNees, IWU	47.0
Sacks	McNees, IWU	25.0
Passes Defended	Benjamin, IWU	37
Interceptions	Nieves, NPU; Wilson, WC	7
Punting Avg	Blatchford, NPU	38.19
Field Goals	Jesch, WC	14