Tickets for Friday night's District 203 crosstown game at North Central College will be on sale at Naperville North and Naperville Central through Thursday of this week.

At North, tickets can be purchased at the main office. Central is selling tickets from its athletic office. Both offices will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for students. No reserved seats will be sold. Gates will open Friday at 4 p.m., an hour before the sophomore game begins. The varsity game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. This is considered a home game for North.

Throughout this week, we'll have more on the crosstown in the print edition.

After four consecutive appearances in the Division III playoffs, North Central College will enter the 2009 season ranked as the No. 4 team in the country, according to the D3football.com preseason poll.

Mount Union College (Ohio) - the defending Division III national champion - claimed the top spot. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - last season's national runner-up - is ranked second. Wheaton College is slotted at No. 6.

D3football.com named North Central College quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe (Naperville North) and linebacker Matt Wenger first-team preseason All-Americans. Offensive lineman Kyle Antos (Wheaton Warrenville South) and cornerback Derek Sulo were on the second team.

The Cardinals' four selections to the teams match last season's national champion -- Mount Union College (Ohio) -- for the most representatives on the two squads.

Lindy's Sports has named North Central College linebacker Matt Wenger as the preseason Division III defensive player of the year. The Sporting News also lists Wenger as a preseason all-American.

Last season Wenger led the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in tackles (137) and interceptions (8), while also totaling 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Kyle Antos, a Wheaton Warrenville South graduate who started at right guard for the Cardinals last season, was all-Division III second team on the Lindy's preseason list.

NCC's 2009 season begins Sept. 5, when the Cardinals travel to Ohio Northern.

Coming off an 11-1 season, North Central College is getting some national recognition. The Cardinals are ranked third in the Lindy's Sports preseason Division III Top 25 poll, while The Sporting News has them at No. 8 nationally.

Neuqua Valley defensive lineman Mike Khalil and Waubonsie Valley defensive back Ryan Yaeger will join forces next season at North Central College.

The Cardinals are coming off an 11-1 campaign in which they were ranked No. 2 in both Division III national polls at the end of the regular season.

Naperville Central will announce the site of the Week 1 opener at a later date; here's what the Warriors will have to face next season:

2009 WAUBONSIE VALLEY SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 at Naperville Central
Sept. 4 vs. Oswego
Sept. 11 at Bartlett
Sept. 18 at St. Charles North
Sept. 25 vs. Neuqua Valley at North Central College
Oct. 2 vs. St. Charles East
Oct. 9 vs. Elgin
Oct. 16 at Lake Park
Oct. 23 vs. East Aurora

All games are scheduled for Fridays at 7:30 p.m.