NAPERVILLE --- College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) football squads will play their fourth round of conference action this week with five more contests due up across the league.
 
NORTH CENTRAL REMAINS #1 IN D3FOOTBALL.COM, AFCA RANKINGS
Another new round of national rankings saw North Central holding the #1 spot. Both the D3football.com poll released Sunday and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) rankings unveiled Monday afternoon have the unbeaten Cardinals remaining the nation’s top-ranked team.
 
Wheaton, which dropped a 35-0 decision to the Cardinals last Saturday night in the Battle For the Little Brass Bell, dropped to #19 in the D3football.com poll and #24 in the coaches’ rankings.
 
NCC remained the unanimous #1 team in the AFCA poll and had 23 of the 25 first-place votes from D3football.com. Both point totals are unchanged from a week ago.
 
WashU, a 42-40 winner over Illinois Wesleyan last Saturday, received nine points in the coaches’ poll. That total is 11th-most among unranked teams.
 
WASHU, NORTH CENTRAL HIGHLIGHT CCIW FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
Three standout performances from around the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) have earned this week’s football student-athlete honors. WashU’s Fred Ware was recognized on offense, North Central’s Bobby Medina claimed the defensive award, and WashU’s Matias Adrogue received the special teams nod.
 
Ware, a senior, rushed 17 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bears defeat Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday night in St. Louis. The Carrollton, Texas native also had a 6-yard reception in helping WashU to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the league.
 
Medina gave the top-ranked Cardinals 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in a 35-0 win over #14 Wheaton on Saturday. Medina had five tackles overall and also recorded a quarterback hurry. The result marked NCC’s first shutout of the Thunder since 1964.
 
Adrogue was a perfect 6-for-6 on point-after attempts for the Bears on Saturday night. He also added two touchbacks on kickoffs and booted a 41-yard punt that was caught for a fair catch at the 11-yard-line.
 
CARDINALS STAND ALONE AS CCIW’S LAST UNBEATEN
North Central is the final remaining unbeaten team in the league after last Saturday’s 35-0 win over rival Wheaton to retain The Little Brass Bell. The Cardinals have won 19 games in a row overall and 45 consecutive CCIW games since 2019.
 
NCC is the CCIW leader in total offense – 537.5 yards per game. The Cardinals also lead the CCIW in offensive efficiency, averaging 7.85 yards per play … NCC leads the conference in rushing offense, stacking 1,139 yards across 172 attempts for a league-high average of 6.62 yards per rush. They have secured 13 rushing touchdowns, most in the CCIW … On the other side of the ball, NCC has the CCIW's top defense, allowing opponents an average of just 7.0 and 195.0 yards per game.
 
Quarterback Garret Wilson leads the CCIW in total offense (935 passing yards, 259 rushing yards). Wilson also holds the conference's highest passing efficiency rating at 185.54 and leads the CCIW with 11 passing touchdowns … Running back Donovan McNeal paces the league in rushing yards per game – 87.75 yards per contest. McNeal recorded one of North Central's two 100-yard rushing performances of the season in the 35-0 win over Wheaton, finishing that game with 113 yards … Running back Sean Allen is second in the CCIW in total scoring with 36 points. He scored three times against Wheaton.
 
Defensive lineman Bobby Medina leads the CCIW in sacks, totaling 4.5 sacks through four games. Medina also ranks third in the conference for tackles for loss, having logged 5.0 total TFLs (1.25 TFLs per game) … Defensive back Rahmareon Roby is the league leader in passes defended with seven … In the victory over Wheaton, linebacker Matt Janiak contributed six tackles along with 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Cardinals will host Millikin this Saturday night at 6 p.m. NCC has an active 19-game win streak in the series with the Big Blue since 2005 and leads the all-time series 40-37-1.
 
THUNDER SEEK RETURN TO FORM AT IWU
Wheaton is 2-2 this season and 2-1 in the league after last week’s 35-0 loss at North Central. The Thunder’s two losses this season are against the nation’s two top-ranked teams.
 
Wheaton is in the CCIW in total offense per game, averaging 402 yards. The Thunder lead the conference in passing offense with 263.2 yards per game … Wheaton averages 6.33 yards per play, which is second among CCIW teams behind rival North Central.
 
Quarterback Mark Forcucci ranks seventh in the CCIW in total offense with 204.0 yards per game. He also ranks fifth in passing average per game (199.3) and passing efficiency (130.28) in the CCIW … Wide receiver Seth Kortenhoeven is fourth in the CCIW in receptions per game (5.75). Kortenhoeven is also fifth in receiving yards per game, totaling 260 yards for an average of 65.0 yards per contest … In the game against North Central, Whit Jewett caught a team-high five passes for 57 yards. Jewett's longest reception was 34 yards.
 
Linebacker Zeke Harris leads the Thunder defense with 37 total tackles and is second overall in the CCIW with an average of 9.2 tackles per game. Harris recorded a career-high 13 tackles at North Central, including one tackle for loss ... Defensive Lineman Peter Johanik ranks seventh in the CCIW in total tackles with 30. He is second in the league in tackles for loss with 5.5.
 
Another road trip awaits the Thunder, who will visit Illinois Wesleyan Saturday at 1 p.m. Wheaton has beaten the Titans in five consecutive meetings since 2019 and is 37-29-2 all-time against IWU.
 
RUSHING DUO LEADS WASHU TO WIN OVER IWU
WashU was back in the win column last weekend, churning out a 42-40 win over Illinois Wesleyan in St. Louis to move to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW.
 
WashU is second among CCIW teams in rushing offense with 968 yards, averaging 6.01 yards per rush. The Bears have scored 10 rushing touchdowns, second-most in the league … Overall, WashU ranks fourth in the CCIW in total offense, averaging 409.2 yards per game and 6.11 yards per play … The team's offense has scored 21 total touchdowns for 36.5 points per game … WashU is tied for first in the CCIW with a turnover margin of +3. The defense has secured five interceptions and one fumble recovery, while their offense has only lost one fumble and thrown two interceptions.
 
Running back Fred Ware ranks second in the CCIW in rushing yards per game, averaging 84.0 yards. Ware rushed for 159 yards on 17 carries against Illinois Wesleyan and scored two touchdowns … Running back Matthew Kinoshita had a game-high performance against Illinois Wesleyan, rushing for 171 yards on 18 attempts, including a 30-yard touchdown run … Wide receiver Makael Carter ranks eighth in the CCIW in receiving yards per game, logging 246 yards on 11 receptions . Carter is tied for third in the CCIW for total scoring (TDs) on five touchdowns.
 
Linebacker Joy Chane ranks 11th in the CCIW in total tackles, recording 30 total tackles (14 solo, 16 assists), averaging 7.5 tackles per game … Safety Ryan Schmadtke is tied for third in the CCIW with two interceptions and ranks 10th in passes defended with four total … Linebacker Spencer recorded seven total tackles (two solo) in the win over Illinois Wesleyan, including 0.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Bears will take their second road trip to Wisconsin on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Carthage. WashU is 6-0 all-time in the series.
 
ROAD WARRIORS: AUGIE MOVES TO 3-1 WITH WIN IN CHICAGO
Augustana stayed perfect on the road in 2025 thanks to a 24-21 win at North Park last Saturday. The Vikings own a 3-1 overall record and are in a four-way tie for second place in the league standings at 2-1.
 
Augustana is fifth in the CCIW in total offense with 379.7 yards per game. The team's passing offense is a strong point, ranking third in the CCIW with 252.7 yards per game … Augustana is also efficient in converting third downs, achieving at a 44.6 percent clip –  third-highest in the CCIW … The Vikings’ kicking game is perfect so far in both field goal percentage (4-for-4) and PAT kicking percentage (12-for-12) through four games.
 
Quarterback Jimmy Makuh ranks second in the CCIW in passing average per game, throwing for 246.2 yards per game. Makuh has the second-highest passing efficiency rating in the conference at 142.96, having completed 97 of 140 passes with eight touchdowns and three interceptions … Wide receiver Breyden Smith leads the team and ranks second in the CCIW in receptions per game, logging 29 catches for an average of 7.2 receptions per contest. Smith also ranks seventh in the conference in receiving yards per game at 62.3 … Wide receiver Sean Schlanser ranks third in the CCIW in receiving yards per game – 73.0. Schlanser piled up a game-high 128 receiving yards against North Park, tied for the third-most receiving yards in a single game across the CCIW this season.
 
Defensive back Toby Splitt leads the CCIW in total tackles, registering 45 total tackles (31 solo) and averaging 11.2 stops per game. Splitt also paces the CCIW in interceptions with three and ranks second in passes defended with six … Linebacker Dino Hunt led the team with eight total tackles and shared one tackle for loss against North Park … Defensive end Ronde Worrels is tied for eighth in the CCIW in sacks with 2.0. Worrels is also a strong contributor against the run, contributing one shared tackle for loss against North Park.
 
Augie will be under the lights, on the road again, this Saturday at Elmhurst at 6 p.m. The Vikings have won seven in a row against EU, including their last three at Langhorst Field.
 
IWU PUSHES WASHU TO THE LIMIT, READY FOR ANOTHER TEST
Illinois Wesleyan fourth-quarter rally fell just short in its 42-40 loss at WashU last Saturday. The decision made the Titans 2-2 overall and 2-1 against CCIW opponents.
 
IWU is fourth in the CCIW in total defense, allowing 324.5 yards per game. IWU's pass defense is performing well, ranking third in the CCIW by allowing only 53.1% completion rate by opponents … The Titans also rank fourth in the CCIW in scoring offense, averaging 33.5 points per game. This scoring is partially fueled by their special teams unit, which leads the CCIW with two kick return touchdowns … IWU's team passing offense ranks fourth in the conference, with an average of 237.0 passing yards per game. This aerial attack averages 8.03 yards per pass attempt, the second-best average in the CCIW.
 
Quarterback Dermot Smyth ranks second in the CCIW in total offense, averaging 282.0 yards per game. Smyth has thrown for nine touchdowns and rushed for four touchdowns this season … Wide receiver Will Nazha leads the CCIW in receptions per game, logging 31 catches for an average of 7.7 receptions per contest. Nazha also leads the conference in receiving yards per game (109.7) …  Running back Danny Kent is ninth in the CCIW in rushing average per game (63.3).
 
Defensive back Joey DeMaio ranks 12th in the CCIW in total tackles with 29. He led the team with 11 stops at WashU … Defensive end Matt Hansen registered a career-high nine tackles, including one tackle for a six-yard loss, in the contest against WashU … Defensive back Clint Teater is tied for seventh in the league in passes defended, tallying three total (two breakups and one interception). He collected an interception against WashU and logged six total tackles.
 
IWU is back home at Tucci Stadium this weekend, hosting #19/#24 Wheaton at 1 p.m.
 
GROUND GAME, DEFENSE FUEL PIONEERS’ FIRST VICTORY
Carroll went on the road to collect its first victory of the campaign last Saturday, earning a 28-17 win at Millikin. The Pioneers improved to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.
 
Carroll's special teams unit features a perfect PAT kicker, Matthew Swink, who converted all four PAT attempts in the win over Millikin … The Pioneers’ red zone offense is highly efficient, scoring on 90 percent of their chances (9-of-10), which is tied for third in the CCIW.
 
Running back Mikey Coleman ranks fourth in the CCIW in rushing yards per game with 75.3 In the win against Millikin, Coleman led the offense with 141 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 carries … Quarterback Elisha Nieves ranks ninth in the conference in total offense, averaging 98.3 yards per game … Tight end Reed Breckheimer is eighth in the CCIW in receptions per game (4.3). In the win over Millikin, Breckheimer recorded two rushing touchdowns, capping off a short drive with a two-yard score and later scoring from five yards out in the fourth quarter.
 
Defensive back Drake Emanuel is third among league players in total tackles, tallying 34 total tackles (22 solo) through four games. Emanuel also recorded a key interception in the third quarter at Millikin ... Linebacker Evan Griffiths ranks sixth in the CCIW in total tackles with 32 (22 solo). Griffiths led the defense against Millikin with 11 total tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss … Linebacker Braedon Curtin recorded six total tackles in the win over Millikin, including 1.0 tackles for loss.
 
Homecoming is next for Carroll, which will welcome North Park to Schneider Stadium on Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The Pioneers dropped last season’s meeting to the Vikings in Chicago, but have won three in a row in the series in Waukesha.
 
BALANCED ATTACK POWERS FIREBIRDS TO 31-7 ROAD VICTORY
Carthage evened its record at 2-2 overall and also won its first conference game of 2025 thanks to a 31-7 win at Elmhurst last Saturday.
 
Carthage ranks third in rushing offense within the CCIW with 160.2 yards per game. The team's rushing attack averages 4.68 yards per rush attempt and has secured eight rushing touchdowns, fourth-most in the conference. Matt Grzyb leads the CCIW in punting average, recording 40.9 yards on 15 punts. This includes a long punt of 66 yards and four punts of 50 yards ore more.
 
Running back Bryce Frank is fifth among league players in rushing yards per game with 74.7 yards per contest. Frank is also tied for sixth in the league for total scoring on touchdowns, having secured five rushing touchdowns this season … Running back Mark Hunter ranks sixth in the CCIW in rushing yards per game (73.2). In the victory over Elmhurst, Hunter had 113 rushing yards on 17 carries and scored one touchdown, making him one of the two Carthage players with two 100-yard rushing performances this season … Quarterback Easton Heafner ranks seventh in the CCIW in passing efficiency with a rating of 125.81, completing 42 of 65 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Against Elmhurst, Heafner completed 12 of 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensive back Briton Stanton is eighth in the conference in total tackles with 31. Against Elmhurst, Stanton recorded seven total tackles, including a shared tackle for loss … Defensive back Idarius Walton picked up his interception of the year against Elmhurst, which the offense immediately capitalized on for a touchdown … Defensive back Jy'Lique Barnes forced a fumble in the Elmhurst win.
 
Art Keller Field will be the site of this weekend’s contest when Carthage plays host to WashU at 1 p.m. in Kenosha.
 
BIG BLUE LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST TOP-RANKED CARDINALS
Millikin dropped a 28-17 decision to Carroll on Saturday. The setback dropped MU’s overall record to an even 2-2 and its league record to 1-2.
 
The Big Blue possess the longest time of possession in the CCIW, holding the ball for an average of 35:28 per game … Millikin also performs well in third-down conversions, achieving a 44.0 percent conversion rate (26 of 59 attempts), fifth-highest in the CCIW … Millikin's red zone offense is highly effective, scoring on 90.9 percent of its chances (10-of-11), which ranks second in the conference … Defensively, Millikin ranks second in the CCIW in pass defense efficiency, holding opponents to an efficiency rating of 101.19 and allowing only 534 passing yards (133.5 yards per game). The team's overall total defense ranking is second best in the CCIW, allowing an average of 256.5 yards per game.
 
Running back Re'John Zeno leads the CCIW in total scoring among all players with 42 points … Quarterback Sylas Gomez ranks fourth in the CCIW in total offense, averaging 233.2 yards per contest. Gomez is also fourth in the CCIW in passing efficiency with a rating of 135.78, completing 75 of 114 passes for 801 yards and five touchdowns … Wide receiver Kevin Louis ranks seventh in the CCIW in receptions per game (4.5) Louis also ranks ninth in the conference in receiving yards per game (57.2).
 
Linebacker Alex Araiza leads the league in tackles for loss with 8.0. Against Carroll, Araiza recorded 3.0 tackles for loss, contributing to his six total tackles for the day … Defensive back Zyon Turner averages 6.5 tackles per game and also recorded one of Millikin's two interceptions this season in the second quarter against Carroll, returning it 30 yards … Linebacker Ryan Baskerville recorded five solo tackles versus Carroll.
 
The Big Blue will travel to #1 North Central on Saturday, a 6 p.m. start at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
 
VIKINGS’ RALLY FALLS SHORT AS FOCUS TURNS TO CARROLL ROAD TRIP
North Park’s second-half rally wasn’t enough for the Vikings in their 24-21 defeat versus Augustana last Saturday in Chicago. NPU is now 2-2 this season, including a 1-2 CCIW mark.
 
North Park is fifth in the CCIW in scoring offense, averaging 26.7 points per game … The Vikings’ kick return unit ranks third in the conference, averaging 29.9 yards per return and securing one kick return touchdown.
 
Wide receiver Jereme Ombogo leads North Park’s scoring, ranking eighth in the CCIW with 30 points through five touchdowns (one rushing, four receiving). Ombogo is also fourth in the CCIW in receiving yards per game with 70.7 per contest … Wide receiver Wesley McCloud is one of the team's top receivers, ranking ninth in the CCIW in receptions per game (4.25). McCloud posted a 100-yard receiving performance against Augustana, catching six passes for 101 yards … Quarterback Cailix Dillon ranks eighth in the CCIW in total offense with 144.5 yards per game. Dillon's passing efficiency rating of 116.76 is eighth in the CCIW.
 
Defensive back DJ Johnson ranks 15th in the CCIW in total tackles with 7.0 per game … Defensive back Vince Lenzy had a team-best nine tackles against Augustana … Defensive back Samuel Aguirre is tied for fifth in the league in interceptions with two and accumulating four total passes defended.
 
The Vikings will aim for their second road win of the campaign this Saturday when they will take the field at Carroll at 2 p.m.
 
ELMHURST TURNS THE PAGE AHEAD OF AUGUSTANA SHOWDOWN
Elmhurst fell 31-7 versus Carthage last Saturday. The Bluejays are now 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the CCIW.
 
The Bluejays' defense has recorded the most interceptions in the CCIW with seven in 2025, and their total interception return yards (77 yards) and return touchdowns (1) also lead the conference.
 
Quarterback John Odom ranks sixth in the CCIW in total offense at 208.0 yards per contest … Running back Jeffery Elms is third in the CCIW in rushing yards per game (78.2) … Wide receiver A.D. Russell ranks 10th in the conference in receptions per game (4.0).
 
Defensive lineman Malakai Correa averages 8.5 tackles per contest, fourth-most in the league. Correa is also tied for fifth in the CCIW in interceptions with two … Linebacker Ryan Burton ranks fifth in the CCIW in total tackles with 33 (22 solo) … Linebacker Jace Zeffiro is seventh in the league in total tackles, registering 31 overall (17 solo).
 
Another home contest awaits the Bluejays, who will host Augustana at 6 p.m. this Saturday.