12 Thunder football players earn All-CCIW honors

Linemen Jesse Scott (#75) and Michael Orr (#72) each earned All-CCIW recognition

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Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton College football team is well-represented on the 2008 All-CCIW Football Team, with 12 players earning All-Conference recognition. Wheaton posted an 8-2 record this season, including a 5-2 mark in league play as Wheaton finished second in the CCIW. The Thunder earned an at-large bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Playoffs and will play at Trine University on Saturday at 11 AM (CST).

Senior Pete Ittersagen (PICTURED RIGHT) was tabbed as a First Team All-CCIW selection at both defensive back and return specialist for the second straight year. Ittersagen's selection at defensive back marks the fourth consecutive time that he has earned a First Team All-Conference nod in the defensive backfield. He and Illinois Wesleyan wide receiver Martin Ceisel, also a four-time First Team pick with his selection this year, become the first players to earn four consecutive First Team All-CCIW selections since Kevin Burris from Carthage College (1996-99). Ittersagen has made 43 tackles for the Thunder this season, with two interceptions and nine passes broken-up. The standout also has accumulated 572 returns yards this season, with 321 yards on punt returns and 251 yards on kick returns. He has averaged 18.9 yards per punt return, with a touchdown and 25.1 yards per kickoff return.

Senior linebacker Stephen Pagh (PICTURED LEFT) and senior defensive lineman Ben Kuenzle (PICTURED RIGHT) each earned First Team recognition. Pagh led the Thunder with a team-high 63 total tackles this season, including six tackles for lost yardage (-13 yards). A Second Team All-CCIW pick in 2007, Pagh also contributed an interception, a forced fumble and six quarterback hurries. Kuenzle earned his second consecutive First Team selection to the defensive line. Kuenzle tallied, 40 total tackles this season, with eight tackles for lost yardage (-25 yards). He also posted team-highs of 3-1/2 sacks (-15 yards) and 12 quarterback hurries.

Senior wide receiver Alex Pokorny (PICTURED LEFT) was a First Team All-CCIW pick. He led the Thunder with 52 receptions for 1,024 yards, averaging 19.7 yards per catch this year. He also reached the end zone a team-high 14 times this year. In conference action Pokorny caught 43 passes for a league-leading 770 yards as he led the CCIW with an average of 110 yards per game that included nine touchdowns against league foes, the third-highest TD total in the league.

Senior offensive tackle Jesse Scott and sophomore tailback Rocky Gingg (PICTURED RIGHT) also earned First Team All-CCIW recognition. Scott's selection is his second consecutive All-CCIW recognition after earning Second Team honors last year. Scott leads a Thunder offensive line only allowed 14 quarterback sacks this season. Wheaton has averaged 4.4 yards per carry this year, with an average of 412 yards of offense per game. Gingg had a breakout sophomore season this year as he ran for 923 yards on 211 carries, with 12 touchdowns to average 92.3 rushing yards per game. Gingg ranked second in the CCIW in scoring with 10 touchdowns against league opponents this season.

Senior kicker Tim Ellingsen (PICTURED LEFT) earned First Team recognition. Ellingsen kicked 11 field goals this season, on 15 attempts, including a career-best 47-yarder at Augustana. Ellingsen is just one field goal shy of tying Chris Baughman (1999) Wheaton single-season record for field goals, of 12. The senior has also booted 39 PAT's this season to tally 72 points, the second-highest total on the team. Ellingsen's eight field goals in CCIW games is the most by any kicker in the league this year.

Senior safety Shane Woodward (PICTURED RIGHT) and junior defensive tackle Nick Theobald each earned Second Team All-CCIW recognition. Woodward, a Thunder team captain, tallied 40 total tackles this season. He tied for the team lead with four interceptions and also tied for the team lead with nine passes broken-up. Theobald recorded 32 tackles, with five tackles for lost yardage (-25 yards), 2-1/2 quarterback sacks (-19 yards) and six quarterback hurries for Wheaton this year.

Three members of the Thunder offense earned Second Team All-CCIW accolades as quarterback Sean Norris, tight end Mike Berttucci and center Michael Orr were each recognized. Norris (PICTURED LEFT)completed 57.7% (139-241) of his passes this season for 2,191 yards, with 23 touchdown tosses as he averaged 219.1 passing yards per game. Norris also ran for 250 yards, with four rushing touchdowns this season.

Berttucci (PICTURED RIGHT) caught 12 passes at tight end for the Thunder this season, for 207 yards as he averaged 17.2 yards per catch and scored four touchdowns. Orr and the Thunder offensive line helped Wheaton average 4.4 yards per carry this year for a unit that has averaged 412 yards of offense per game. In CCIW games Wheaton averaged a league-best 430.7 yards per game this season.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2008/11/18/FB-cciwallconf.aspx