Wheaton, North Central Earn NCAA Football Championship Bids

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The NCAA announced its pairings for the 2006 Division III Football Championship Sunday as Wheaton and North Central will both represent the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).

North Central, Wheaton and Augustana each won a share of the conference title by finishing the regular season with identical 6-1 conference records respectively. North Central earned the CCIW’s automatic qualifier by having the highest point-differential against Wheaton and Augustana. Wheaton earned an at-large bid with its overall record of 9-1.

North Central finished the regular season 8-2 and will face undefeated Concordia (Wis.) at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wis. Wheaton will host Mt. St. Joseph (9-1) in its first round game. Both games will be played on Saturday, Nov. 18 with the Wheaton game starting at noon. The North Central game time is yet to be determined.

Concordia and North Central faced each other on Sept. 9 as Concordia came away with a 30-24 victory. Mt. St. Joseph defeated CCIW opponent Illinois Wesleyan 28-7 on Sept. 16.