2006 CCIW Football Preview

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings stormed through the 2005 regular season, finishing 7-0 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play (10-2 overall), and earning the school’s first conference title since 2001.

The Vikings’ title was Augustana’s 20th in school history, but 2006 will prove to be a tougher encore against a deep conference. In 2005, North Central, which has not won a conference title since 1960, came within a field goal of winning its first in 45 years. Only a 20-17 defeat at the hands of Augustana on Nov. 5 kept the Cardinals from achieving their goal.

Wheaton (7-3, 4-3) and Carthage (7-3, 4-3) each shared a conference title in 2004 and will look to overtake Augustana this season.

In the 2006 preseason poll, the football coaches picked Augustana to defend its title as the Vikings earned 46 points, including four first place votes. Last season, Augustana advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs, losing to Mount Union. The Vikings return first-team all-conference fullback Mike Guzman, who rushed for 1,089 yards on 189 carries and 11 touchdowns in 2006. Junior Ryan McGinnis looks to be the frontrunner to take over the quarterback duties after the graduation of Matt Roe. On defense, the Vikings return six starters including senior linebacker Joe Youngbauer and senior defensive end Aaron Call, both all-conference players in 2005.

Last season was one of the most successful in North Central football history as the Cardinals placed second in the conference and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, losing to Capital in the first round. North Central was predicted to finish second in the preseason poll, earning 38 points, including two first place votes. The Cardinals lost 11 starters, but return 11 including first-team all-conference senior quarterback Kam Kniss. Kniss, the reigning CCIW Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 3,186 yards and 29 touchdowns last season and will serve as captain in 2006. Senior defensive back and co-captain Tim Bellazzini earned 2006 Football Gazette NCAA Division III Preseason All-America Second Team Defense after leading the secondary with 71 tackles in 2005. Bellazzini also picked off five passes, had 10 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Wheaton placed third in the preseason poll with 36 points and one first place vote. The Thunder will have to replace all-American placekicker Andrew Day, but head coach Mike Swider is confident that sophomore Tim Ellingsen is up the task. On defense, junior defensive end Andy Studebaker earned first-team all-conference honors last season after making 55 tackles including 19 ½ tackles for loss. Offensively, junior quarterback Jeremy Chupp earned second-team all-conference honors last season after throwing for 1,481 yards and completing 48.9 percent of his passes. Senior Chaz Black will be the primary tailback after rushing for 643 yards on 143 carries last season.

Millikin and Elmhurst tied for fourth in the preseason poll with 27 points, with Millikin earning one first place vote. Millikin (5-5, 2-5 in 2005) will lean on senior tailback Nathan Wallick. Wallick rushed for 1,251 yards on 298 carries and 14 touchdowns in 2005. The defense returns seven starters including linebacker Joel Goldstone and defensive lineman Chris Williams. Goldstone recorded 62 tackles with eight for losses of 35 yards, five sacks and two interceptions in 2005.

Elmhurst made a significant jump under head coach Tom Journell last season, finishing 6-4 overall, 3-4 in conference play. Journell enters his third season at the helm of the Elmhurst program. Senior linebacker Ward Brady led an improved Bluejay defense with 101 tackles and a team-high eight sacks. Defensive ends Matt Kelly and Matt Irps combined for 19 tackles and 9.5 sacks a year ago. Junior quarterback Chris Kudyba will anchor the offense after passing for 14 touchdowns and over 1,800 yards while rushing for eight touchdowns and 483 yards.

Carthage placed sixth in the preseason poll with 26 points, and returns 10-of-11 starters, losing only wide receiver Chris Krepline. Second-team all-conference tailback Tyson Mengel, who rushed for 70.7 yards per game, and second-team all-conference left tackle Ryan Glassman return to anchor the offense. First-team all-conference safety/punter Donovan Moore returns, as well as second-team all-conference placekicker Matt Denny. Second-team all-conference linebacker Brandon Fox also returns with Moore to anchor the defensive unit.

Illinois Wesleyan, a seventh place finisher in the preseason poll with 17 points, finished 3-7 (2-5 in the CCIW) in 2005. The Titans return 2004 Division III all-American Eric Esch who has been the team’s biggest punt return threat, while doubling up in the defensive backfield. Esch recorded 56 tackles last season and has been a first-team all-conference pick as a return specialist the last two seasons. Second-team all-conference pick Bo Osburn also returns after recording 71 tackles and three interceptions last season. On offense, sophomore Martin Ceisel, a first team all-conference pick as a freshman, led the Titans with 699 receiving yards on 34 catches with six touchdowns in 2005. Junior Marcus Dunlop, a second-team all-conference pick, rushed for 606 yards on 141 carries and two touchdowns.

North Park will usher in a new era in 2006 with first year head coach Scott Pethtel. Pethtel comes from NCAA Division I-A Buffalo where he was the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant. North Park was picked eighth in the preseason poll with eight points after finishing 3-7 a year ago. Senior wide receiver Brandon Watts, a 2005 transfer from Western Illinois, caught 47 passes for 546 yards and averaged 77.2 all purpose yards, finishing first on the team in punt returns.