Matt Wenger was named defensive player of the year in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin this week after helping the Cardinals finish 10-0 for the first time in the regular season and earn a No. 2 ranking behind nine-time champion Mount Union (Ohio) in Division III.

North Central opens the Division III playoffs at noon Saturday, hosting Thomas More (Ky.). CCIW runner-up Wheaton (8-2), which earned an at-large bid to the 32-team field, plays at Trine (10-0) in Angola, Ind., and Aurora (9-1) plays at Monmouth (10-0).

In the uncertain world of Division III's opening round, a dominating performance by Wenger on Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is almost a sure thing. Wenger has led the team in tackles every game and was tied for the conference lead in tackles (119) and interceptions (six). He also leads the Cardinals in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (5?) and ranks third in school history with 280 tackles.

''Matt is the most dominating linebacker I have coached,'' North Central coach John Thorne said. ''He is a tremendous leader, extremely fast and a huge contact player. He has unbelievable vision, and he uses his intelligence to make fast decisions to opponent formations.''

Wenger, from Davis, Ill., a town of 662 near Rockford, played linebacker, fullback and returned kickoffs for unbeaten Class 2A state champion Dakota in 2005, his senior year. He was an All-CCIW first-team selection as a sophomore.

''I hope he will be an All-American this season,'' Thorne said.

-North Central quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe (Naperville North) was named offensive player of the year in the CCIW, and Thorne was named coach of the year. Wheaton defensive back and return specialist Pete Ittersagen (Wheaton North) and Illinois Wesleyan wide receiver Martin Ceisel (Deerfield) were named to the All-CCIW first team for the fourth consecutive season.

-Defense has been the calling card for Aurora, which set a school record for wins and won the inaugural Northern Athletics Conference Football championship with a 7-0 record. Aurora's defense leads Division III with 40 turnovers and ranks second with 12.4 points allowed per game.

Linebackers Mike Budzinski (Minooka) and Chris Jackowiak (Woodstock), defensive backs Matt Meyer (Yorkville) and Tony Musaraca (Kaneland) and linemen Marcus Goedken (Kaneland) and Pat Funk (Morris) are the Spartans' statistical leaders. Meyer made nine of the team's school-record 30 interceptions. Rich Duncan was named NAC coach of the year Wednesday.

-Defensive back Willy Mason (T.F. South) has a team-high six interceptions for Monmouth, which will make its second playoff appearance.

-Former Wheaton All-American Andy Studebaker, a sixth-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles this year, was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday and placed on the 53-man roster for Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills. The outside linebacker would be the first Wheaton alum to play in an NFL regular-season game.

FCS

Southern Illinois (8-2, 6-1) takes a six-game win streak to Illinois State (3-7, 2-5), needing one more to earn a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and secure an automatic bid to the Football Championship Series (formerly I-AA) playoffs. SIU coach Dale Lennon would become the third coach in league history to win or share a conference title in his first season.

Northern Iowa is 7-1 in league play, having lost to SIU. Ranked ninth in the FCS coaches poll, the Salukis have made five straight postseason appearances.

-On the bright side of Illinois State's disappointing season are Walter Mendenhall's 404 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in his last three games. Mendenhall's 6.15 yards per carry rank second all-time at ISU. The Redbirds can strengthen coach Denver Johnson's case for coming back next season by beating the Salukis, who have won only once in Normal since 1996.

-Western Illinois' Herb Donaldson is the leading rusher (154.9 ypg) and scorer (12.6 ppg) in Division I. Donaldson had 243 yards last week in a 48-45 OT victory vs. ISU, the sixth 200-yard game of his career. The Leathernecks (6-4, 4-3), ranked 23rd in the coaches poll, finish the regular season Saturday at Youngstown State (3-8, 2-5).

Comment at suntimes.com.