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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2009 D3football.com All-North Region Teams

Dec. 11, 2009 - Five North Central College football players have been honored with selections to the 2009 NCAA Division III All-North Region Teams, as selected by D3football.com.

The Cardinals, who finished 8-2 overall and tied for the CCIW Championship with an in-conference record of 6-1, had two players, guard Kyle Antos and tackle Josh Delancy, selected to the All-North Region Second Team, while quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe, tight end Kyle Fiedorowicz and defensive tackle Robert Champion were named to the Third Team.

As the starting right guard and right tackle, respectively, Antos and Delancy provided protection for an offense which ranked first among all divisions of the NCAA in scoring (49.0 ppg) and sixth in Division III in total offense (487.9 ypg). Both were First Team All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selections this year. Antos also made the All-Region Second Team last season, while Delancy was a Third Team pick a year ago.

Fanthorpe, a First Team All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selection and the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Year this season, completed 142 of 208 passes as a senior, setting a new North Central single-season record for completion percentage (.683), and threw for 2,096 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also ran for 330 yards and seven touchdowns. He established a single-game school record for completion percentage (.875) in a 69-18 victory over Olivet College (Mich.) on Sept. 26 and set another school record with six touchdown passes in a 58-0 win at Millikin University on Oct. 3. Fanthorpe, who ranked second among all Division III quarterbacks in passing efficiency (190.6), was also a Third Team All-Region pick last season.

Fiedorowicz, a First Team All-CCIW honoree, caught 11 passes for 131 yards this season, scoring six touchdowns. Champion, also a First Team All-CCIW selection, ranked third on the North Central defense in tackles (40) this season, leading the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and quarterback sacks (6.5). He led the CCIW in sacks per game and was second in tackles for loss per game.

Mount Union College wide receiver Cecil Shorts was named the North Region Offensive Player of the Year, while Wittenberg University defensive end Eddie Vallery was the Defensive Player of the Year. Coach of the Year honors went to Wittenberg's Joe Fincham.

A total of 184 players were nominated for All-North Region honors, from which 76 were chosen.