The Western Suburbs are a College Football HOTSPOT!

Did you know that three of the best teams in Division 3 football teams are right here in our own backyard?

Both the Spartans of Aurora University and Cardinals of North Central in Naperville are going into the final week of the season undefeated. Both squads are 9-0! In addition to that, the Wheaton College Thunder are 8-1 entering the last week of the regular season! That’s right, our area’s three Division III football programs are a combined 26-1 this year, and that one loss was Wheaton’s defeat at the hands of North Central!

Not only are AuroraU and NCC beating their opponents…they are DESTROYING them. Both AU and NCC are beating their opponents by an average – AVERAGE! – of 50 points per game! Both teams average just over 62 points per game while both teams’ defenses hold opponents to just under 12 points per contest.

North Central has been in the last three national title games, winning two of them (including last year). Last week, Aurora University invited Mayor Richard Irvin to be a part of the game.

Wheaton College averages over 40 points per game while holding teams to 20 points…very impressive! As a matter of fact, the Thunder just won a game on a hail Mary last weekend!

If you look at the season rankings, it would appear coaches give the edge to North Central. The Cardinals are ranked as the nation’s #1 team while the Spartans are ranked 10th. The Wheaton Thunder are ranked 12th in the country in Division III.

The Benedictine Eagles out of Lisle are a respectable 5-2, with one of their losses to the aforementioned Spartans. The western ‘burbs are also home to the Elmhurst Bluejays who are 2-7 this year, with one game remaining.

This weekend, North Central visits Augustana, AuroraU hosts Concordia (WI), Wheaton visits North Park (out of Chicago), Benedictine travels to play St. Norbert and Elmhurst takes on Illinois Wesleyan.

NCC, AU and Wheaton will all find out where they begin the postseason this coming Sunday during the NCAA DIII selection show which starts at 4:00 p.m.