FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Captain_Joe08]

CUC gets to face Bethel (MN) at home for the first round of the playoffs. The winner of this game gets to play the winner of the UW-Oshkosh/St. Scholastica game.

[Captain_Joe08]

Final Regular Season Northern Athletics Conference Standings

1. Concordia Chicago 10-0 (7-0)
2. Concordia Wisconsin 7-3 (6-1)
3. Wisconsin Lutheran 7-3 (5-2)
4. Aurora 5-5 (4-3)
5. Benedictine 5-5 (3-4)
6. Lakeland 2-8 (2-5)
7. Rockford 2-8 (1-6)
8. Maranatha 0-10 (0-7)

Looking forward a little, here is the potential lineup for the Nath-Con/MIAA Challenge next year.

Concordia Chicago (10-0) at Adrian (9-1)
Concordia Wisconsin (7-3) at Trine (7-3)
Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3) at Hope (5-5)
Aurora (5-5) at Albion (6-4)
Benedictine (5-5) at Kalamazoo (5-5)
Lakeland (2-8) at Alma (1-9)
Rockford (2-8) at Olivet (0-10)

Also looking ahead with Maranatha leaving the conference, that leaves all the Nath-Con teams looking to schedule one additional non-conference game. Doubt any of the teams will be willing to keep the Crusaders on the schedules.

[Pat Coleman]

Rockford might.

[Captain_Joe08]

Rockford might.

Wouldn't be surprised if they did. They were the only Nath-Con team that either team was competitive with in the last four seasons.

[WisIllMich]

Don't like the match-up that CUC drew.

Brethel is a hard nosed, grind it out team. CUC might struggle stopping the run, especially with one of their Mike linebackers out for the season (Andrew Gleason). Not sure if Bethel's defense is athletic enough to stop the Cougar offense though. Wouldn't be surprised if this game came down to better coaching.

What are people's thoughts on all conference honors?

Any interest in creating a "message-board" all conference team?
We could nominate players, and then accumulate votes from all of the posters and create a team.
Just an idea to keep some activity on the boards.

[WLCALUM83]

All-conference team "locks' -- imho:

WLC -- WR Josh Stodola (3 POTW awards)
CUC -- QB Jake Koehler (2 POTW awards)

Other players likely to receive accolades :

Benedictine  DL-- Ben Lockton, RB John Borsellino
WLC -- QB Zack Shaw, RB Donavin Tucker  (RB Reeves )
CUC -- RB Andrew Maddox

(All except Reeves got conference POTW awards, Reeves stepped it up a bit more toward the end of the season).

Who else gets on from "relatively under the radar?" 

[RFMichigan]

I would agree on all the names you have listed above. I would include Rolf from CUC at DB. I know they don't usually give out first team all-conference awards to teams in last place in the conference, but Ethan Lane from Maranatha often goes both ways and usually seems to have about 12+tackles in a game, and I think he deserves accolades.

[irisheagle]

Lane should be on the list somewhere (towards the top imo).  He was co defensive player of the year last year. I also agree with the bu players u put .. Both have recieved several all star games, regional combine, and pro day invites from what I heard. Possibly also chris buonavelento at MLB he was second after lockton on total tackles and also recieved some invites with the other two. But I do think that that might be it for the BU team, the oline did horrible, and WR were okay at best you may see shultz on there somewhere, defensivly they were ranked 14 in the nation so you may see some others on there from defense, possible dottelis, or stalarski I belive he had 6 picks. I also think that the aurora qb bevell will be up there and imo is the best qb in the conference, also all starting wr and rb for cuc should be up there somewhere, they are deffinitly a offensive team with there strength in  the skill players. The qb for them is also right there with jimmy bevell.

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon 2012 Football Awards here:

http://www.northernac.org/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/201211160vvtrp

[WisIllMich]

I'll try to update the CUC vs Bethel game for those not watching.

Bethel wins the toss and decides to receive.
CUCs kickoff team is awful so they pop the kick up. Bethel can't handle it and CUC recovers. Concordia has a wide open pass, but it's dropped. Koehler then throws a pick on 4th down. Bethel then goes 3-and-out. CUC gets the ball back and gets some yards, until Koehler goes deep to Jamal Thomas, but it is intercepted. Usually Jamal can make a play over a corner, but Bethels corner made a great play.

Bethel now has the ball.

[WisIllMich]

End of 1st. Still 3-0. Bethel has the ball near midfield.

[Captain_Joe08]

CUC loses a heartbreaker after rallying from a 24-10 4th quarter deficit. Potential game winning 2 point conversion was deflected away.

Bethel 24
Concordia Chicago 23

Great season CUC!!!!

[WLCALUM83]

CUC loses a heartbreaker after rallying from a 24-10 4th quarter deficit. Potential game winning 2 point conversion was deflected away.

Bethel 24
Concordia Chicago 23

Great season CUC!!!!

This matchup turned out to be better than the routs of previous seasons. Hopefully, this will lead to a bit more respect for  NAthCon football in the future.

[baseman201]

Wow, what a finish and a great comeback.

Congrats to CUC for their season, almost pulled it off against an excellent Bethel team from an excellent conference.  Hopefully they can build on this and next year be in the same boat and maybe win a first round playoff game for the NAC.

You figure CUC has to be the favorite for next year to win the NAC!

[d3fan1515]

Idk if CUC will be the favorite to win the NAC, from what I have seen they are losing a LOT of KEY talent on both O and D.  Most notably, their QB and best wideout... Defensively they are also losing a lot of talent.  If i had to guess I would say CUW would be the favorite going into 2013.