NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University’s Dermot Smyth and Joey DeMaio, along with Wheaton College’s Seth Kortenhoeven, claimed the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin’s Football Student-Athlete of the Week honors, announced Monday.
Smyth accounted for six total touchdowns and 421 yards of total offense in Illinois Wesleyan’s 45-35 win over Trine University, while DeMaio led the Titans’ defensive effort with 11 tackles, two sacks and a key fourth-quarter interception. Kortenhoeven totaled 132 yards on four punt returns in Wheaton’s 45-3 win over Albion College, including a 55-yard return for a touchdown.
Conference play kicks off next week, with fans able to catch CCIW football action live and free on the CCIW Network throughout the 2026 season.
Offensive
Dermot Smyth, Illinois Wesleyan (Quarterback, Senior, Chicago, Ill.)
Smyth delivered a dominant performance in Illinois Wesleyan’s 45-35 win over nonconference opponent Trine University, accounting for six total touchdowns. The senior quarterback completed 22 of 39 passes for 352 yards and five touchdowns while adding a team-high 69 rushing yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run. The rushing score also pushed Smyth past 1,000 career rushing yards, making him the first quarterback in program history to pair that mark with more than 5,000 passing yards.
Defensive
Joey DeMaio, Illinois Wesleyan (Linebacker, Senior, Woodridge, Ill.)
DeMaio led the Illinois Wesleyan defensive effort in the Titans’ 45-35 win over Trine, totaling a team-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops. The senior linebacker added a game-high two sacks for a loss of 30 yards and recorded a key third-down interception in the fourth quarter with Illinois Wesleyan holding a 31-29 lead. The takeaway led to a touchdown as the Titans held on for the win.
Special Teams
Seth Kortenhoeven, Wheaton (Wide Receiver/Returner, Senior, Wheaton, Ill.)
Kortenhoeven made a major impact in the return game during Wheaton’s 45-3 win over Albion College, returning four punts for 132 yards and averaging 33 yards per return. His day was highlighted by a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Kortenhoeven currently leads all Division III returners with 156 punt return yards in 2026 and ranks fifth with an average of 26 yards per return.
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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.).