Football | 11/18/2014 9:53:00 PM

In two seasons as head coach of the North Park football team, Mike Conway and his coaching staff have brought new life to the Viking program.

After a 2013 season that produced four all-conference players and a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Coach of the Year honor, the 2014 campaign was equally impressive as a total of six players were named to the All-CCIW Conference team, the most for a North Park squad in 14 seasons.

Senior defensive lineman Trevor Forker and sophomore quarterback T.D. Conway were named to the All-CCIW First Team Defense and Offense, while seniors Philip Pendleton and Matt Leibforth earned Second Team Defense honors. In addition, freshman Devin Childress and senior Kenny Pistorius were named Second Team Offense.

A two-time All-CCIW selection, Conway led the Vikings and the CCIW with 2,649 yards and 26 passing touchdowns. He completed 242 of his 455 attempts for a 53.2 pass completion average. What's more is Conway set the NPU single-season records for pass completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns (26), and finished the season as the overall CCIW leader in total offense with 2,616 yards, becoming the first Viking to do so since John Love in 1990.

Forker meanwhile earned his first all-conference selection. The New Buffalo, Michigan native ranked fourth on the team in overall defense with 61 total tackles, including 25 solo, and 11 tackles for a loss. Forker was also second in total sacks with five and recovered three fumbles, a CCIW-best. His 61 total tackles ranked in the top-25 in the CCIW as he averaged just over six tackles a game.

As a preseason USA Football All-American, Pendleton lived up to his moniker in earning his second-straight all-conference honor. In 10 games, Pendleton had 63 total tackles, a team second-best 37 solo, two interceptions, four pass breakups and six deflections. The Chicago native also ranked in the CCIW top-20 in total tackles and had one tackle for a loss.

Leibforth finished his collegiate career as one of the leaders on defense. His 39 total tackles ranked in the team's top-15 and he recorded one forced fumble in earning his first all-conference selection. He had 6.5 tackles for a loss and recorded 17 solo tackles.

A native of Villa Park, Childress had an offensive season to remember for the Vikings. Not only did the freshman lead the team and the conference with 59 receptions and 14 touchdown passes, but his 14 TDs tied the NPU single-season record set by former NFL player Paul Zaeske in 1968. Childress averaged a team-best and CCIW second-best 8.6 points per game, and nearly two touchdown passes per game. He finished the year with a team-best 780 yards, averaging just under 80 yards receiving per game.

As North Park's workhorse on the offensive line for the last four seasons, Pistorius set the standard for offensive linemen to live up to. He started in every game on the line and was a key part in leading North Park to averaging over 350 yards of total offense per game.

The Vikings ended the 2014 season with a 2-8 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the conference. Their five conference victories are the best two-year stretch for a NPU football team since the 1979-80 seasons.