NAPERVILLE, Ill. – North Central’s Austin Breunig, Illinois Wesleyan’s Trevor Staley and Wheaton’s Stefan Knoerr were selected as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Football Players of the Week on September 5.
 
Breunig, a senior running back from Sandwich, Illinois and Sandwich High School (Athletic Training major), accumulated 228 all-purpose yards during the Cardinals’ 33-31 win over Robert Morris-Chicago on Saturday. He rushed 27 times for 125 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 94 yards and one touchdown. Breunig moved into fifth place in North Central history for all-purpose yards and seventh all time in rushing yards. Robert Morris came into the contest ranked 13th nationally in the NAIA.
 
Staley, a junior defensive back from Lake Zurich, Illinois and Lake Zurich High School (Business/Finance major), helped lead the Titans to a 17-10 win over UW-Whitewater on Saturday. The Warhawks, ranked third nationally coming into the contest, suffered only their third non-conference loss since 2005. Staley totaled 10 tackles (seven solo) and one tackle-for-loss in the win.
 
Knoerr, a senior kicker from Arvada, Colorado (Engineering major), finished two-for-two on field goals and connected on all three of his extra point attempts during the Thunder’s 57-14 win at Benedictine on Saturday. His two field goals came from 32 and 38 yards out, respectively, in the first 17 minutes against the Eagles.
 
2017 CCIW Football Players of the Week
 
Offense
Austin Breunig – North Central (9/5/17)
 
Defense
Trevor Staley – Illinois Wesleyan (9/5/17)
 
Special Teams
Stefan Knoerr – Wheaton (9/5/17)
 
Twitter & Instagram: CCIW_Athletics
 
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). During the 2016-17 academic year, the CCIW honored over 1,900 academic all-conference recipients, 10 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 33 CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients, one CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and over 100 all-Americans.