NAPERVILLE – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced the 2024 version of the Football All-Conference Teams on Tuesday morning.
North Central fifth-year quarterback Luke Lehnen was voted CCIW Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, becoming the sixth player to be a repeat recipient of the award – and the third North Central quarterback to do so since 2008. NCC’s John Sullivan and Wheaton’s Peter Johanik – both junior defensive linemen – were the co-recipients of the CCIW Don Larson Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Sam Pryor, North Central’s senior guard and a 2023 D3football.com All-American, was voted CCIW Offensive Line Student-Athlete of the Year. NCC freshman running back Donovan McNeal collected the First-Year Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, while WashU defensive lineman Jack Middleton earned the league’s First-Year Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year.
Third-year North Central head coach Brad Spencer was voted CCIW Bob Reade Coach of the Year, his third consecutive selection.
Lehnen joins Aaron Fanthorpe (2007-09) and Broc Rutter (2018-19) as NCC signal-callers to receive the Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year award in consecutive seasons after also earning the honor last season. The graduate student from Chatham, Ill. established a new all-time Division III record for total offense with 14,686 yards, as well as the all-time CCIW record with 10,160 yards of total offense. Lehnen also owns NCAA all-divisions records with 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass and 196 touchdowns responsible for.
This season, Lehnen led the CCIW in conference play with 297.1 yards of total offense per game, a 222.70 passing efficiency, 26 passing touchdowns and 38 total offense touchdowns.
Sullivan, a junior from Lake Villa, Ill., anchored a North Central defense that yielded a league-low 10.0 points and 235.4 yards per game. He finished fourth among league players with 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
Johanik was also a strong presence on the defensive front, helping Wheaton allow just 18.1 points per game and boast the CCIW’s second-ranked defense at 290.6 yards allowed per game. The West Chicago, Ill. native led the league with 17.5 tackles for loss and ranked second with 7.0 sacks. Johanik’s 19.5 tackles for loss over the full season ranked tied for sixth in Division III.
Tuesday’s announcement marked the second time in the last three seasons there were co-winners of the Don Larson Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Pryor joined teammate Jeske Maples (2022-23) as the only recipients of the CCIW Offensive Line Student-Athlete of the Year winner. The senior from Sugar Grove, Ill. helped create NCC’s dominant offensive attack as the CCIW leader with 58.1 points, 572.3 total yards and 318.1 rushing yards per game. Over the full 10-game season, NCC ranked first nationally in scoring offense (57.1), third in rushing offense (308.5) and allowed only three quarterback sacks – second-fewest in Division III.
McNeal, a freshman from Waukegan, Ill., finished as the league’s top rusher among newcomers with 422 rushing yards in seven league appearances. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry, finished 11th in the league with 60.3 yards per game and scored two touchdowns. His 90 rushing yards in a win over Carroll on Nov. 2 were a career best.
Middleton was the lone freshman to earn a spot on the All-CCIW First Team after ranking second in the CCIW with 13.0 tackles for loss and third with 6.5 sacks. He had 25 tackles during the nine-game league schedule, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, a pair of blocked kicks and forced a fumble at Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 5. He is the first WashU student-athlete to earn a postseason football specialty award from the CCIW.
Now in his third season, Spencer ran his CCIW record to 27-0 and guided NCC to its fourth consecutive undefeated regular-season conference title. NCC was ranked #1 throughout the campaign by both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and will host a second-round playoffs game on Nov. 30. Spencer, a 2004 NCC graduate, joins Lloyd Kramlauf (1982), John Thorne (2008, 2010-11) and Jeff Thorne (2016, 2021) as North Central head coaches to be selected CCIW Bob Reade Coach of the Year.
Tuesday’s announcement marked the fourth All-CCIW selections for Lehnen, Maples, Pryor, North Park’s Juan Nieves and Wheaton’s Giovanni Weeks. Maples and Weeks were on the First Team all four times.
CCIW Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Luke Lehnen, North Central
CCIW Don Larson Co-Defensive Student-Athletes of the Year
John Sullivan, North Central
Peter Johanik, Wheaton
CCIW Offensive Line Student-Athlete of the Year
Sam Pryor, North Central
CCIW First-Year Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Donovan McNeal, North Central
CCIW First-Year Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Jack Middleton, WashU
CCIW Elite 26 Award Winner
Bobby Behmer, North Central
CCIW Bob Reade Coach of the Year
Brad Spencer, North Central
All-CCIW First Team Offense
QB, Luke Lehnen, North Central, Gr., Chatham, Ill., Glenwood
RB, Mike DiGioia, Augustana, Sr., Schaumburg, Ill., Schaumburg
RB, Giovanni Weeks, Wheaton, Gr., Kent City, Mich., Kent City
WR, Jacob Cockrell, Elmhurst, Jr., Stockbridge, Ga., Dutchtown
WR, Myles Kee, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., St. Louis Priory
WR, Thomas Skokna, North Central, Jr., Hinsdale, Ill., Hinsdale Central
WR, Jereme Ombogo, North Park, Jr., Houston, Texas, Klein Forest
WR, Collin Goldberg, WashU, Sr., Atlanta, Ga., The Lovett School
WR, Ben Bonga, Wheaton, Sr., Brentwood, Tenn., Ravenwood
TE, Reed Breckheimer, Carroll, Jr., Hilbert, Wis., Hilbert
OL, Cain Johnson, Augustana, 5th, Galesburg, Ill., Galesburg
OL, Kevin Whittmon, Carroll, Sr., Chicago, Ill., South Shore
OL, Ryan Kennelly, North Central, Sr., Oak Lawn, Ill., Oak Lawn
OL, Jeske Maples, North Central, Sr., Moweaqua, Ill., Central A&M
OL, Sam Pryor, North Central, Sr., Sugar Grove, Ill., Kaneland
OL, Brendan Mayo, WashU, Sr., Merritt Island, Fla., Merritt Island
OL, Aidan Kingsbury, Wheaton, Sr., Roseville, Minn., Concordia Academy
All-CCIW First Team Defense
DL, Josh Hlavacek, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Plainfield, Ill., Plainfield North
DL, Zach McNees, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Hillsboro, Mo., Hillsboro
DL, Cortez Jones, North Central, So., Lansing, Ill., Thornton Fractional South
DL, John Sullivan, North Central, Jr., Lake Villa, Ill., Lakes
DL, Jack Middleton, WashU, Fr., Austin, Texas, Anderson
DL, Peter Johanik, Wheaton, Jr., West Chicago, Ill., Wheaton Academy
LB, BJ Adamchik, North Central, Gr., Raleigh, N.C., Leesville Road
LB, Egan Bender, North Park, Sr., Mount Zion, Ill., Mount Zion
LB, Jaydin Miller, North Park, Gr., South Bend, Ind., South Bend Adams
LB, Caleb McClung, Wheaton, Sr., Roswell, Ga., Fellowship Christian School
LB, Luca Torti, Wheaton, Jr., Carlsbad, Calif., Santa Fe Christian
DB, Brayden Garrigan, North Central, So., Lemont, Ill., Providence Catholic
DB, Zack Orr, North Central, Gr., Mokena, Ill., Lincoln-Way Central
DB, Rahareon Roby, North Central, Jr., Lena, Ill., Lena-Winslow
DB, Ben Butler, North Park, Jr., Kenosha, Wis., St. Joseph
DB, Max Wilson, Wheaton, Sr., Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton-Warrenville South
All-CCIW First Team Specialists
RET, Breyden Smith, Augustana, Jr., Arlington Heights, Ill., Hersey
K, Joren Clem, Augustana, Sr., Columbus, Ohio, Whetstone
P, Noah Streveler, Carroll, Sr., Stevens Point, Wis., Stevens Point Area
All-CCIW Second Team Offense
QB, Matt Eck, North Park, Sr., South Bend, Ind., Saint Joseph
QB, Mark Forcucci, Wheaton, Jr., Winfield, Ill., Wheaton North
RB, Taveon Porter, Elmhurst, Jr., Chicago Heights, Ill., Bremen
RB, Joe Sacco, North Central, Sr., Barlett, Ill., St. Edward
RB, Kenneth Hamilton, WashU, Sr., High Ridge, Mo., Christian Brothers
WR, Breyden Smith, Augustana, Jr., Arlington Heights, Ill. Hersey
WR, Jack Rummell, North Central, So., Gilberts, Ill., Independence
WR, Wesley McCloud, North Park, Jr., Peoria, Ill., Normal West
TE, Bobby Behmer, North Central, Sr., Rockford, Ill., Rockford Lutheran
OL, Dylan Meyer, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Minooka, Ill., Minooka
OL, Nick Fehrle, North Central, Sr., Rockford, Ill., Boylan Catholic
OL, Joshua De Luca, North Park, Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill., Rollings Meadows
OL, Tyler Brooks, WashU, Sr., Frisco, Texas, Wakeland
OL, Peter Lynch, WashU, Sr., Rochester, Minn., Century
OL, David Nussbuam, Wheaton, Jr., Bloomington, Ind., Bloomington South
All-CCIW Second Team Defense
DL, Riley Stobb, Carroll, Sr., Oshkosh, Wis., Oshkosh West
DL, Michael Sneed, Carthage, Jr., New Lenox, Ill., Lincoln-Way West
DL, Matt Hansen, Illinois Wesleyan, So., Chicago, Ill., Marist
DL, Jacob Vincent, North Central, So., Celina, Texas, Celina
DL, Nate Light, WashU, Sr., Jonesboro, Ark., Jonesboro
DL, Isaac Parrish, Wheaton, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind., Homestead
LB, Will Campbell, Carroll, Jr., Kaukauna, Wis., Kaukauna
LB, Alex Araiza, Millikin, Jr., San Antonio, Texas, Burbank
LB, Angelo Cusumano, North Central, Gr., Carol Stream, Ill., Glenbard North
LB, Juan Nieves, North Park, Sr., Carrollton, Ga., Carrollton
LB, Joy Chane, WashU, So., Johns Creek, Ga., Mount Pisgah Christian
LB, Johnny Eller, Wheaton, So., Knoxville, Tenn., Grace Christian
DB, Johnny Breeden, Augustana, Sr., Frisco, Texas, Memorial
DB, Chris Reaves, Elmhurst, Sr., Brighton, Mich., Brighton
DB, Artist Benjamin, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Wilmette, Ill., Loyola Academy
DB, Jahmar Daniel, North Central, Jr., Chicago Heights, Ill., Marian Catholic
DB, Colin Moore, Wheaton, So., Wheaton, Ill., Warrenville South
All-CCIW Second Team Specialists
RET, Jahari Scott, Illinois Wesleyan, Jr., Lake Bluff, Ill., Lake Forest
RET, Jacob Paradee, North Central, Gr., Moweaqua, Ill., Central A&M
CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Danny Witkowski, Augustana, Sr., Monee, Ill., Carl Sandburg
Tim Nelson, Carroll, Sr., Racine, Wis., Racine Lutheran
Bryce Frank, Carthage, Jr., Marshall, Wis., Marshall
Mayon Lowery, Elmhurst, Sr., Chicago, Ill., Brooks College Prep
Sam Schott, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., West Lafayette, Ind., West Lafayette
Chris Hill, Millikin, Jr., Braidwood, Ill., Reed Custer
Will Vernon, North Central, Sr., Lexington, Ky., Lexington Christian
Carson Blatchford, North Park, Gr., Belvidere, Ill., Belvidere North
Kenvorris Campbell, WashU, Sr., Eudora, Ark., Lakeside
Riley Schwartz, Wheaton, Gr., Las Vegas, Nev., Faith Lutheran