Dec 11, 2024

Seven Thunder football players earn All-Region honors from D3football.com

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder football team placed seven players on the 2024 D3football.com All- Region 5 Team on Wednesday. Four players from the Thunder offense earned All-Region recognition, and three defensive players picked up the honor. Wheaton placed three players on the First Team unit, two on the Second Team and two on the Third Team.

Wide receiver Ben Bonga represented the Thunder offense on the All-Region 5 First Team. Defensive end Peter Johanik and linebacker Luca Torti were First Team honorees on the defense.

Bonga had an outstanding senior season for the Thunder to earn First Team All-Region 5 honors at wide receiver for the second-consecutive season. Earlier this fall he was a First Team All-CCIW honoree for the second-straight season, and he was named a Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He led the Wheaton offense with 74 receptions this year with 1,294 receiving yards. His 19 touchdown receptions tied a Wheaton single-season record that had stood since 2008. Bonga was named twice as the CCIW's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 30 & Oct. 14) this season and recorded seven games of 100 or more receiving yards. The senior had at least one touchdown catch in 10 games this season, including five multi-touchdown games. Bonga became just the fourth Wheaton wide receiver to record 3,000 receiving yards in a career with his outstanding 2024 campaign, ending the season with 3,008 career receiving yards as he moved into fourth on the program's all-time receiving yards list.

Johanik earned his Second career All-Region award from D3football as his First Team recognition this fall joins his Third Team award in 2023. The 2024 CCIW Co-Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year, Johanik led the CCIW in tackles for loss with 23 (-139 yards) and sacks with 11 (-95 yards). His average of 2.1 tackles for loss per game ranks fourth in Division III and his sacks per game average is top-10 in Division III Johanik is sixth in the CCIW in tackles per game (6.7 TPG, as his 74 total tackles ranked second on the Thunder defense this season. Johanik was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week and selected to the D3football.com Team following a performance at Millikin where he recorded six tackles for loss. He made a game-high 12 total tackles, including 3.5 TFL (-14 yards) and forced a fumble in a victory at WashU as he earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Johanik made 3.5 TFL (-35 yards), including two sacks (-33 yards) in Wheaton's Isthmus Bowl victory against UW-Stout.

Torti earned his first career All-Region award today, picking up First Team honors at linebacker. A 2024 All-CCIW First Team pick, Torti, led Wheaton with 75 total tackles this year. He made four or more total tackles in every game this season, including six games of seven tackles or more. Torti recorded a season-high 11 tackles at Carthage. He registered nine tackles against top-ranked North Central and also recorded nine tackles in a win against Augustana.

Giovanni Weeks was a Second Team All-Region honoree at running back, while Max Wilson earned Second Team honors at cornerback.

Weeks is a four-time D3football.com All-Region honoree at running back with today's selection. He picked up his fourth career First Team All-CCIW award earlier this fall. Weeks ran for 927 yards on 172 carries this year as he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He also caught 23 passes for 236 yards with 10.3 yards per reception. Weeks ran for 10 touchdowns this season and had a receiving touchdown as well. In his final collegiate season, Weeks became the CCIW's all-time leading rusher, concluding his career with 4,122 yards in conference play to become the first player in conference history to surpass 4,000 career yards in conference action. Weeks departs Wheaton as the program's all-time record holder in rushing yards (5,324), all-purpose yards (6,703), rushing TD's (69), total TD's (81), and scoring (488 points)...Weeks' 488 career points ranks 10th in Division III history...his 6,703 career all-purpose yards ranks 20th in Division III history...his 5,324 career rushing yards ranks 22nd in the Division III record books...his 10.8 PPG scoring average is 25th in Division III history.

Max Wilson, a Thunder senior, picked up Second Team All-Region 5 recognition at cornerback for the second-consecutive season. In November, Wilson was named a First Team All-CCIW selection at cornerback to earn his third career All-Conference award. Wilson recorded 32 total tackles this season, including 18 solo tackles. Wilson tied for the team lead in both interceptions (2) and passes broken-up (7) this season.

Quarterback Mark Forcucci and tackle Aidan Kingsbury each represented the Thunder offense in this year's D3football All-Region 5 Third Team.

Forcucci completed 196 of his 274 passing attempts this season, with just four interceptions as he posted an impressive 71.5% completion percentage that led the CCIW this season. Forcucci threw for 2,650 yards with 29 touchdown passes, and three touchdown runs. Forcucci was second in the conference in both passing yards (2,650 yards) and touchdown passes (27) this season as he had a TD pass in every game this year, including six games of three or more touchdowns. He threw for 376 yards with two touchdowns to lead Wheaton to an Isthmus Bowl victory against UW-Stout as he was named the game's MVP.

Kingsbury, a starter at tackle in every game this season for the Thunder, represented the Thunder offensive line on the website's Third Team in today's announcement. Kingsbury earned First Team All-CCIW honors in November to pick up his second career All-Conference award. He was the top blocker for a Thunder offense that impressed in 2024. Wheaton averaged 447.9 yards of total offense per game this season, with 4,927 yards in 11 games. Wheaton averaged 301.9 passing yards per game with 3,321 passing yards and just 13 sacks allowed, with only one allowed by Kingsbury. Wheaton ran for 1,606 yards behind Kingsbury and the Thunder offensive line as the Thunder averaged 146.0 rushing yards per game.Print Friendly Version

Footer

Accessibility

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Sidearm Sports, opens a new window

Ad Blocker Detected

Thanks for visiting !

The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.

We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.

Thank you for your support!

Learn More About Ad Blockers

was not found

-->

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2024/12/11/football-seven-thunder-football-players-earn-all-region-honors-from-d3football-com.aspx