FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

Aurora chokes away another win. Inept quarterback play. Coaches are going to have to hit the QB recruiting trail hard this off-season... and maybe burn their playbooks while they're at it.

Benedictine wins big against Rockford. No surprise here.

Turns out CUW offense went through Wenzelberger, Damashke struggles without his 6'6 WR as he proved against BU after Wenzelberger got hurt and during today's game where he was absent.

CUC continues struggles against a mediocre MIAA squad. Like Aurora, inept QB play plagues the offense.

Lakeland is on pace to meet a purple powers in the first round of the playoff if they can hold off a surging BU next weekend.

WiscLutheran barely survived against the- and I cannot stress this enough- WORST football team Aurora has fielded in the past two decades. Don't see WLC as a NACC championship team this year.

Rockford was no match for BU. Next weekend brings them a 'decent' chance to get a win against CUC.

NACC is going to send an at best 7-3 team into the playoffs, and IMHO Lakeland gives us our best chance to 'compete'. Benedictine and WiscLutheran have decent defenses, but their offenses are not efficient enough to score against a playoff team from another conference. Lakeland might be able to put a couple TDs, and if their defense is as good as advertised, maybe make it a game for a few quarters.

One week left to iron things out. One week left for Aurora to gain some momentum going into year 2 of the Ponx era.

Olivet is not the team that won 1 game in three years ago. Yes they aren't Hope or Albion but they are miles better than where they were.

Lakeland has basically wrapped up the NACC bid. If they lose and WLC wins they have the head to head tiebreaker over WLC.

As much as WLC got themselves in a 21-3 hole, they did not throw the towel in and dug themselves out of that hole and won it. Reminds me of when Aurora did the same thing to WLC back a few years. They'll be a major factor going forward.

CUW's lack of defense is hurting them. Their offense is sputtering with injuries and they didn't need that heading into their toughest part of the conference slate here.

Liked how Benedictine turned it on as the season got further. I think Lakeland won't get an easy game out of this one next week.

You're right about Olivet. I didn't mean mediocre as a football team, I meant a middle-of-the-pack MIAA team. That's my fault, used the wrong phrasing.

You used the right phrasing, because "middle-of-the-pack" is exactly what the word mediocre means.

Though 'middle-of-the-pack' MIAA is somewhat below 'mediocre'.

[Gregory Sager]

In the larger D3 football world, perhaps, if you accept the premise that the MIAA is itself somewhere south of mediocre as D3 leagues go. (It's a premise that is not necessarily supported by the facts as far as this season is concerned, especially since the MIAA beat the CCIW head-to-head this season.) But within the MIAA itself, Olivet (5-4, 2-3) fits the definition nicely.

[Rhythm21]

In the larger D3 football world, perhaps, if you accept the premise that the MIAA is itself somewhere south of mediocre as D3 leagues go. (It's a premise that is not necessarily supported by the facts as far as this season is concerned, especially since the MIAA beat the CCIW head-to-head this season.) But within the MIAA itself, Olivet (5-4, 2-3) fits the definition nicely.

What I meant was that they had a middle-of-the-pack record, not that they weren't talented. Mediocre comes off as if I was commenting on their ability on the field (which I wouldn't know being that I haven't seen them play this year) instead of their place in the standings. That is why I felt my phrasing was off. My point was that the NACC needs to start playing the middle-of-the-pack MIAA and CCIW schools competitively if they ever want to earn some national respect.

[Ryan Stoppable]

In the larger D3 football world, perhaps, if you accept the premise that the MIAA is itself somewhere south of mediocre as D3 leagues go. (It's a premise that is not necessarily supported by the facts as far as this season is concerned, especially since the MIAA beat the CCIW head-to-head this season.) But within the MIAA itself, Olivet (5-4, 2-3) fits the definition nicely.

What I meant was that they had a middle-of-the-pack record, not that they weren't talented. Mediocre comes off as if I was commenting on their ability on the field (which I wouldn't know being that I haven't seen them play this year) instead of their place in the standings. That is why I felt my phrasing was off. My point was that the NACC needs to start playing the middle-of-the-pack MIAA and CCIW schools competitively if they ever want to earn some national respect.

Winning a playoff game would also help a lot - although that task would be aided by winning some regular season non-conference games so we can send a champion into a decent seed.

I too think that Lakeland-Benedictine game on Saturday is going to be a barn burner, just like last year's meeting which went down to the final play of regulation.

[d3fan1515]

BU beats Lakeland 16-0 and will be in the NCAA playoffs! Congrats to BU!

[Ryan Stoppable]

Well, that's certainly a disappointing way to end the season for the Muskies. But with Benedictine's defense holding them to only 54 yards, there can be no mistaking what happened in this one.

Congratulations are also due to Wisconsin Lutheran, who knocked off CUW to pick up a share of their first conference title in program history, and to Rockford, beating CUC to send longtime college coach Vic Wallace out a winner in Wallace's final game.

Hopefully, the Eagles can do us all proud in the playoffs.

[WLCALUM83]

I'm wondering how well Benedictine's defense will stack up--regardless of who their first round draw is, that D is going to be put to its' stiffest test yet, IMHO.

[Ryan Stoppable]

Eagles open the playoffs at the undefeated and No. 8 ranked CCIW champs, Wheaton.

[Captain_Joe08]

To be honest I forgot Benedictine had one loss in conference as well when I picked up the Journal-Sentinel today. Sadly WLC was done in by the 40 point drubbing that Lakeland gave them in the conference opener. Great season Warriors. Good luck to Benedictine in the postseason.

[Captain_Joe08]

Here is how the NACC teams have fared in the conference since the NACC has sponsored football in 2008.

Overall

1. Benedictine 43-29
2. Concordia Chicago 40-30
3. Wisconsin Lutheran 39-31
4. Lakeland 38-37
5. Concordia Wisconsin 36-35
6. Aurora 33-39
7. Rockford 8-62
8. Maranatha 4-46*

Conference Play

1. Benedictine 33-14
2. Concordia Wisconsin 31-16
3. Lakeland 30-17
4. Wisconsin Lutheran 29-18
5. Concordia Chicago 28-19
6. Aurora 23-24
7. Rockford 5-42
8. Maranatha 2-33*

Out of Conference

1. Concordia Chicago 12-11
2. Wisconsin Lutheran 10-13
3. Aurora 9-15
4. Benedictine 9-16
5. Concordia Wisconsin 6-18
6. Lakeland 4-20
7. Rockford 3-20
8. Maranatha 2-13*

*Maranatha left the conference after 2012-13 season.

[Rhythm21]

Here is how the NACC teams have fared in the conference since the NACC has sponsored football in 2008.

Overall

1. Benedictine 43-29
2. Concordia Chicago 40-30
3. Wisconsin Lutheran 39-31
4. Lakeland 38-37
5. Concordia Wisconsin 36-35
6. Aurora 33-39
7. Rockford 8-62
8. Maranatha 4-46*

Conference Play

1. Benedictine 33-14
2. Concordia Wisconsin 31-16
3. Lakeland 30-17
4. Wisconsin Lutheran 29-18
5. Concordia Chicago 28-19
6. Aurora 23-24
7. Rockford 5-42
8. Maranatha 2-33*

Out of Conference

1. Concordia Chicago 12-11
2. Wisconsin Lutheran 10-13
3. Aurora 9-15
4. Benedictine 9-16
5. Concordia Wisconsin 6-18
6. Lakeland 4-20
7. Rockford 3-20
8. Maranatha 2-13*

*Maranatha left the conference after 2012-13 season.

Good insight. Disappointed to see Aurora's place in all of these, especially compared to Benedictine's. But Benedictine has had a solid 7 year run in the NACC, and hopefully, if the wind's right and the game becomes a defensive battle, Benedictine can pull off a first round upset against Wheaton. In order for BU to make this a game a few things have to happen IMO:
1) Stop the run. BU D-linemen are a bit undersized and they will have to fight to hold the line and make it difficult for Wheaton's O-line to reach the second level. They also need to  spy Peltz, Wheaton's QB, who has been the featured ball carrier in that offense over the last few weeks of the regular season.
2) Get Artie Monaco the ball in space. The kid is electric and has the speed to outrun the players on Wheaton's defense. Benedictine's offensive line has not impressed much this year and they will need to gel quickly if they want to take on the CCIW's best.
3) BU's defensive backs need to shut down WR's Thorson and Kemp. BU has a strong secondary with Lecas playing ball hawk and Nichols and Herron at the corners, and they are going to force some turnovers from the inexperienced Wheaton quarterback and give their offense some solid starting field position.
4)Most importantly, BU has to go into the half with it still being a game. These players hear how they are not supposed to be able to stack up with the CCIW and I think going to halftime down just 7 or 3 or tied or even up some will boost confidence tenfold.
Again, this is only my opinion and the closest the NACC has come to winning a playoff game in its 7 year history was in 2012 when CUC lost to Bethel on a missed two-point conversion. That being said, it can be done, but it won't be easy.

[Captain_Joe08]

Rockford tabs BU's Defensive Coordinator Jim Schroeder as their new head coach.

http://www.naccsports.org/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20141203xh4ida

[Rhythm21]

D3football.com All-North Region NACC mentions:

1st Team: S Jarrett Lecas Benedictine
2nd Team: S Yaphay Harvey Lakeland
3rd Team: OT Alvin Taylor Benedictine

Congratulations to these players on a tremendous honor!

[d3fan1515]

http://benueagles.com/news/2015/3/3/FB_0303150026.aspx?path=football

New OC at BU has been hired!

[Captain_Joe08]

http://benueagles.com/news/2015/3/3/FB_0303150026.aspx?path=football

New OC at BU has been hired!

Which means Lakeland has to find a new head coach.