Quote from: emma17 on December 11, 2014, 03:16:52 PM

Quote from: bleedpurple on December 11, 2014, 02:23:07 PM

Quote from: D O.C. on December 11, 2014, 01:13:20 PM

QuoteNice story by D3 on the homepage highlighting the D-Line at Whitewater...linemen need love too.

And apparent lead into the game Saturday by the article...

QuoteWhether it's pressuring a gunslinger in a spread offense or limiting the damage of a mobile quarterback in a read-option attack

Yep. Big challenge again Saturday.  Loved the "solve Sam Riddle" reference. Well done, Josh! 

I'm sure this is the case nearly every year, but there are 4 darn good quarterbacks in the semi's.  I know the NFL is become more of a "best QB wins" kind of league. But I've never really thought of D3 that way. But whatever the case, these four guys are good!

Good point on the QB's. 
Interesting contrast in style too.  Burke and Riddle are the run/pass threats, reflecting the latest rage in offensive football at all levels with the read option.{emphasis added}
Behrendt and Callahan stay home a bit more.   
Riddle with 117 rushing attempts and Burke with 99.
Callahan with 50 rushing attempts and Behrendt with 34.

The latest "run/pass threat" being the current Heisman fave.

Why No One Wanted Marcus Mariota
Coaches Often Ignore Hawaiian Players, so Only Oregon Recruited the Heisman Favorite

Congrats Wildcats.  Great Win!  Keep on keeping on.

Congrats Linfield!  Great win over a talented Chapman team. 

From WC11's pick 'em blog:   "There are a small segment of our readers that have mentioned they enjoy this post the most during week. I think that's because of (509)Rat's ability to tick off everyone in the NWC, Linfield fans included. We'll be back next year, at least I hope so. I'd like to thank (509) for pitching in each week and being a non-Linfield voice on the blog." 

My props also to (509) for his views and ability to "tick off everyone in the NWC."

I was waiting for him to say that one way for the NWC to get two teams into the playoffs would be if the Boxers win on Saturday.  Then Pacific would get the automatic bid and Linfield would be the best remaining team available for a playoff bid, even with 2 losses.   

Excerpt from an article in the 11/12/14 issue of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:
"Local boys help put Pacific back on the map
By Billy Hull
Three losses by a combined 11 points. That's how close the Pacific football team came to an undefeated season in 2013.
The Boxers of Forest Grove, Ore., lost two nonconference games to start this year but are undefeated in the Northwest Conference heading into a season-ending showdown with Linfield (Ore.) on Saturday.  With 31 players from Hawaii on its roster, Pacific (6-2, 6-0) clinched at least a share of the conference title last weekend for the first time since 1952.  However, the automatic playoff berth into the NCAA Division III Championships is on the line this weekend as the Boxers face the Wildcats, who have won the past five conference titles.  "It's reminiscent of all five years that I've been here," receiver Darin Kamealoha, a 2010 Hanalani graduate, said. "The first Linfield game we got pounded, the second year we got pounded, the third year we got closer, the fourth year we got real close and now the fifth year we have to go out and execute and get it done."  Kamealoha, who has battled injuries throughout his career, was part of that 2010 class that started up the football program for the first time since 1982.  Pacific went 1-17 in his first two years, taking its share of lumps. Now, the Boxers are handing it back to the rest of the conference.  Pacific earned its first win over a ranked opponent when it knocked off Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) 31-28 four weeks ago. It survived overtime to beat Lewis & Clark (Ore.) two weeks ago and beat another ranked team last weekend when it scored 24 unanswered points to earn a 41-24 win over Willamette (Ore.). . . ."

By the way Oxy Bob, is 4 years in the SCIAC enough to make Chapman a "real" member of the conference?

Quote from: river on August 13, 2014, 07:33:43 AM
Is Chapman going to run the table this year in the SCIAC?

I apparently asked the right question on August 13 and look forward to a great game between Chapman and Linfield if the selection committee so wills it.   (Assuming first that Linfield wins over Pacific, and Chapman over Whittier).  The Wildcats winning should normally be a foregone conclusion.  But after the close game with the Panthers earlier this year and with the Linfield loss to Willamette (now in the middle of the conference standings), WC11's blog post takes on new meaning:  "...we all found out is that if Linfield takes for granted the opposition and puts out an inferior effort, Linfield is going to get upended."  The Wildcats have obviously improved, but so have the Panthers.  Should be quite a cat fight.

Props to the Willamette Bearcats for their win against arch rival Linfield, for beating the #5 DIII team on their home field (Ogdahl Field North), and for bending but not breaking against the 4th quarter Wildcat surge. 

Quote from: George Thompson on October 19, 2014, 04:38:49 PM

Quote from: D O.C. on October 19, 2014, 04:10:40 PM
The NWC was a two team conference for 30 years.
The NWC has been gapping between LINFIELD and the rest of the conference for 14 years.
Beating yourself with St. Thomas and Oshkosh might keep a team out of Elite east of the Cascades.

Spot on, DOC!!

Those come from behind losses to Wesley, CLU and last year didn't help either.   Last year's team, with the stars aligned (some good health), could have been in the Stagg Bowl.   This year's team can play even-up with anyone and can change the perception back east.

GT

Does LC being the only other Top 25 team with over 500 points after the "ultra-elite" 4 (just 21 points less than Wesley) in the Top 25 poll mean that "the panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country" who vote think that LC should be part of the "ultra-elite"? Or not?

"5    Linfield    5-0    527    5"

Quote from: d-train on October 23, 2014, 01:38:18 PM
Willamette is receiving the least votes (of the five teams) in that reader poll question...but is the only other team besides Chapman receiving votes in the D3 Top 25 (and more than a couple votes).

I'm a pretty big homer, but did not vote for PLU in the reader poll.  Should be a good match-up with Willamette this weekend.

"Sean • 4 days ago
Pacific gets no votes after knocking out number 18 Pacific Lutheran? They had a couple faults in preseason play, but its evident they've already grown as the season has progressed. Plus they can compete with Linfield."  --comment from D3football.com Top 25 thread

Team Stats
Pacific Lutheran             Pacific
Passing Yards
163                                   244
Rushing Yards
153                                   106
Turnovers
1                                          1
Time of Poss.
24:36                                35:24

I see that Ryan Tipps (and D3Football.com) believes the NWC has slipped to number 7 (Re-ranking the conferences for 2014), a drop of 3-4 places from last year's ranking of the conferences.  He also believes that Linfield (among a group of other wannabees) will find that "the hill is still very steep" to climb to make it to the "ultra-elite" four of D3 Football.  Snap judgments: Where's the dropoff in Division III?  Is the NWC going downhill, especially given the growing competition from the upstart SCIAC, and is it all hype or is Linfield really losing its cachet and mojo in the view of others in DIII? 

Props to Willamette RB Dylan Jones for being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week

Jones Chosen for D3football.com Team of the Week with 350 Rushing Yards

CLU Coach McEnroe's tongue-in-cheek blog comment about the "boys in black" and their game this Saturday.   

"Down south, the boys in black finally found a Top 10 opponent for their non-conference schedule in #5 Linfield College. They should be playing these sort of games rather than the bottom half of the Northwest Conference, so I tip my hat to them for joining the party. According to their web site, the Panthers schedule teams that they think they can beat, which won't sit well with the boys from McMinnville (I had to get that one in, especially after Coach O roasted me on the Brandman email joke!)."

The upcoming Willamette - Trinity game this Saturday should give the NWC an idea of where it stands with non-conference opponents.  The Bearcats got votes in the D3Football top 25, Trinity did not.  WU is playing its first game, TU played a close game losing against Howard Payne, 30-27.  The Tigers' QB has a 62.5% passing completion average, but was sacked 3 times.  The Tigers scored twice in the 4th Q and have 5 on the defense with double digits in total tackles.  An excerpt from the TU write up of the game:

"Mason Blaschke was 15-24 for 208 yards and a pair of scores in his return after missing last year due to injury for the Tigers.  Zachary Allen caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in his first career start.

Defensively, Boatman led all players with 14 tackles overall, as well as the key interception.  Camden Joubert also had 14 stops, while J.P. Sanchez (12) and Connor Yorloff (10) also hit double figures in tackles.  Though Trinity had several quarterback hurries, the team was not able to record any sacks. 

Trinity will be on the road for its next two games, facing off against Willamette (OR) University on September 13 (1:30 PDT), and then taking on Sul Ross (TX) State University at 1:00 p.m. on September 20.  The Tigers return home September 27, hosting Pacific Lutheran (WA) University at 6:00 p.m."

Redlands was 7-3 (7-0 SCIAC) last year.  DIII placed them at preseason #31, Sporting News at #24, and Lindy's at #11.  Will they run the table (at least in SCIAC) again this year?