Wheaton places 11 individuals on the 2018 CCIW All-Conference Football Team

Wheaton, Ill. –The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) announced its All-Conference football team on Wednesday, with 11 members of the Wheaton College football team earning 12 selections. Wheaton players earned six First Team honors with six Thunder honorees on the Second Team (junior Phillip Nichols was selected twice). Seven of Wheaton's All-CCIW selections were on the defensive side of the ball, four were offensive selections and one special team pick.

Eric Stevenson was named the Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year as he also picks up his second-consecutive First Team All-CCIW selection. The senior linebacker is the 12th Wheaton student-athlete to win the Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year Award. His selection marks the fourth time in five years that a Wheaton player won the Defensive Player of the Year Award, the first time that has occurred in the CCIW since Augustana accomplished the feat (1982-85). Stevenson has a team-high 73 total tackles this fall, including 40 solo stops. It marks the third-consecutive season that he led the Wheaton defense in total tackles. The senior made 9.5 tackles for lost yardage (-29 yards), including two quarterback sacks (-13 yards).

Tyler Sigler was a First Team All-CCIW selection at defensive back. The senior finished third on the Thunder defense with 50 total tackles this season, tying for the team lead with 41 solo tackles. Sigler, a First Team All-CCIW selection in 2016, broke up three passes, had one interception and recovered a fumble. Sigler was joined on the First Team defense by junior Patrick O'Connell. The defensive lineman led the Thunder with 15 tackles for loss (-46 yards), including a team-high 5.5 sacks (-19 yards). O'Connell recorded 49 total tackles this season, including 29 solo stops. This year's selection marks the third-consecutive year that O'Connell has earned All-CCIW recognition, earning Second Team honors in 2017 and 2016.

Senior Tyler Pace and junior Clay Wagner represent the Wheaton offense on the First Team. Pace earned First Team honors at tight end. He was second among Thunder players in receptions with 30 catches this season for 392 yards. He averaged 13.1 yards per catch with a team-high seven touchdown catches. Wagner picks up First Team All-CCIW recognition at tackle. Wagner has been a key player on a Thunder offensive line that has helped the Thunder average 448.3 yards per game this season, ranking second in the league in the category. Wheaton averaged 154.3 rushing yards per game and passed for 294.0 yards per game this season.

Junior Phillip Nichols was the All-CCIW First Team selection at return specialist and was a Second Team All-CCIW pick at wide receiver. Nichols led the CCIW with an average of 9.0 yards per punt as he totaled 207 yards on 23 punt returns this season. Nichols also had a team-high 251 kick return yards on 13 returns to average 19.3 yards per return this season. Nichols led the Thunder in receptions and receiving yards this season with 63 catches for 888 yards. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch with four touchdown receptions. Nichols averaged 135.8 all-purpose yards per game this season, ranking second in the CCIW.

Corey Kennedy, Daniel Herber, Jack Bates and Dallas McRae each earned Second Team honors for the Thunder defense. Kennedy, a safety, made 33 total tackles this season with 21 solo stops. The senior led Wheaton with three defensive touchdowns this season. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions (-177 yards), recovered three fumbles and had six passes broken up. Herber, a linebacker, was second on the Thunder defense this season with 59 total tackles. He tied Sigler for the team lead in solo tackles with 41. Herber registered 4.5 tackles for loss (-12 yards), including 1.5 sacks (-5 yards), with one interception. Bates and McRae earned All-CCIW honors on the defensive line. McRae tallied 41 total tackles, with 25 solo tackles. He made 8.5 tackles for loss (-45 yards), including five sacks (-36 yards). Bates recorded 28 total tackles, including 15 solos. Bates made 6.5 tackles for loss this season (-19 yards), including four quarterback sacks (-13 yards).

Running back Jacob Cretin joined Nichols on the Second Team offense. Cretin led the Thunder with 673 rushing yards this season, scoring four touchdowns. The senior averaged 74.8 yards per game on the ground and his average of 6.4 yards per carry ranks 23rd in NCAA Division III.

Photo Gallery of Wheaton's All-CCIW Football Players

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2018/11/14/wheaton-places-11-individuals-on-the-2018-cciw-all-conference-football-team.aspx