NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Millikin University’s AJ Lee, North Central College’s Matt Janiak and North Park University’s Jamaal Jones claimed College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Football Student-Athlete of the Week honors, announced Monday.
Lee led the Big Blue with 169 rushing yards and four touchdowns in their victory over Elmhurst University. Janiak paced the Cardinals’ defense with eight tackles as North Central held Carthage College to a school-record low of 61 total yards. Jones highlighted North Park’s victory over Carroll University with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Conference play continues this weekend as the regular season enters its final two weeks. Fans can catch CCIW football action live and free on the CCIW Network.
Offensive
AJ Lee (Runningback, Sophomore, Springfield, Ill.) - Second Weekly Award
Lee led Millikin to a 42-21 victory over Elmhurst on Saturday, rushing for 169 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 8.0 yards per carry. His first two carries of the game both resulted in touchdowns, including a 61-yard scoring run on his second attempt.
Defensive
Matt Janiak (Linebacker, Senior, Plainfield, Ill.) - Second Weekly Award
Janiak led the Cardinals with eight tackles in North Central's 55-3 victory over Carthage on Saturday before exiting the game midway through the third quarter. The team captain helped lead a North Central defensive effort that held Carthage to just 61 total yards, the fewest allowed to an opponent in program history.
Special Teams
Jamaal Jones, North Park (Running Back/Returner, First Year, Katy, Tex.)
Jones returned three kickoffs for 135 yards, including a 99-yard return for a touchdown, in North Park's 55-34 victory over Carroll on Saturday. The first-year running back averaged 45 yards per kickoff return.
Previous Football Student-Athletes of the Week
Week 1
Offensive: Jimmy Makuh, Augustana
Defensive: Phillip Carlton Jr., North Central
Special Teams: Sean Ryniec, North Central
Week 2
Offensive: Dermot Smyth, Illinois Wesleyan
Defensive: Joey DeMaio, Illinois Wesleyan
Special Teams: Seth Kortenhoeven, Wheaton
Week 3
Offensive: Mark Forcucci, Wheaton
Defensive: Lucas Lappin, Illinois Wesleyan
Special Teams: Tyreke Fortney, Augustana
Week 4
Offensive: Ben Ludlum, Augustana
Defensive: August Johansen, Carroll
Special Teams: Seth Kortenhoeven, Wheaton
Week 5
Offensive: Will Nazha, Illinois Wesleyan
Defensive: Zeke Harris, Wheaton
Special Teams: Lach Sullivan, Illinois Wesleyan
Week 6
Offensive: Ben Ludlum, Augustana
Defensive: Zeke Harris, Wheaton
Special Teams: Matt Worthington, Illinois Wesleyan
Week 7
Offensive: AJ Lee, Millikin
Defensive: Armando Martinez, North Park
Special Teams: Robert Kubon, North Park
Week 8
Offensive: Garret Wilson, North Central
Defensive: Jeremy Rowlett, Carthage
Special Teams: Sean Ryniec, North Central
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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, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).