Wheaton's Ryan Schwartz is named the CCIW's Defensive Player of the Week

Junior linebacker Ryan Schwartz was named this week's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Defensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Monday morning. Today's selection marks Schwartz's first career recognition as a CCIW Player of the Week.

Schwartz was the leading tackler for a Wheaton defense that held Illinois Wesleyan to to just 151 total yards in last Saturday's 24-10 victory against the No. 17 ranked Titans. Schwartz's 11 total tackles was a team-high as was his eight solo tackles. Schwartz and the Thunder defense held the Titans' offense to just 2.6 yards per play on 57 plays.

The Wheaton defense has been impressive in Wheaton's two victories to open the season. Wheaton leads Division III in total defense (103.5 YPG), and the unit has allowed just 13 first downs this season to rank first in Division III. Opponents have just a 52.47 passing efficiency against the Thunder this season, a mark that also ranks first in Division III. The 70 passing yards allowed per game by Wheaton is second in Division III. Wheaton is holding teams to just 5.0 points per game early in the season, a mark that ranks third among the 245 Division III institutions that sponsor football. Wheaton has held opponents to just 33.5 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranks sixth in Division III.

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