Smyth & DeMaio Earn CCIW Weekly Awards

Titans open CCIW play Saturday, Sept. 19, at Augie

9/14/2026 2:00:00 PM

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University football seniors Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) and Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont) hauled in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week awards announced by the league office Monday, Sept. 14. Smyth took home the CCIW Offensive Player of the Week honor for the fourth time in his career, while DeMaio was touted the league's defensive player of the week.

Together, Smyth and DeMaio helped lead Illinois Wesleyan to a 45-35 win over Trine University, Sept. 12. The win bumped IWU to 2-0 on the season, marking the program's best start since 2017.

Smyth completed 22-of-39 passes, finishing with 352 yards and five touchdowns in the victory. The senior dual-threat QB added a team-high 69 rushing yards on seven carries with a 56-yard touchdown run. The lengthy scamper pushed Smyth over 1000 rushing yards for his career, making him the first Titan QB to accomplish the feat while also throwing for 5000+ yards. Smyth fired off touchdown passes of 23, 35, 33, 19, and 17 yards as IWU jumped out to 2-0 on the year for the first time since 2017.

DeMaio totaled a team-high 11 tackles, eight solo and three assisted to pace the Titans' defensive effort. DeMaio finished with a game-high two sacks, resulting in a 30-yard loss for the Thunder. The senior added a key third-down interception in the fourth quarter, the first of his career. The pick proved critical, coming with the Titans clinging to a 31-29 lead, and resulted in a touchdown for the home team as IWU held on for the victory.

Illinois Wesleyan turns its attention to league play this week, beginning with a roadtrip to Augustana College, Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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