FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week Ten
Rockford 6
Lakeland 31

Aurora 24
Benedictine 32

Concordia Chicago 13
Wisconsin Lutheran 35

Olivet 56
Concordia Wisconsin 42

The Muskies and Eagles both get it done at home to set up a winner take all showdown for the NACC title next Saturday.

[Rhythm21]

As much as I would have loved to see Aurora upset Benedictine, the 32-24 win by the Eagles sets up an exciting defacto NACC championship game next saturday. Should be an excellent match-up between the undisputed top two teams in our beloved conference. With Lecas out for the remainder of the season, I have Lakeland's offense being too much for the BU defense to handle and Lakeland taking the AQ. Either way, we will have a great team representing the NACC once playoffs begin. Here's to getting our young conference its first playoff victory!

[Ryan Stoppable]

I have to say, based on the one game I've seen each year, the Spartans certainly seem like they're headed in the right direction. Pretty soon, those close losses - which all 4 of them in conference were - are going to start turning into wins.

As much as I would have loved to see Aurora upset Benedictine, the 32-24 win by the Eagles sets up an exciting defacto NACC championship game next saturday. Should be an excellent match-up between the undisputed top two teams in our beloved conference. With Lecas out for the remainder of the season, I have Lakeland's offense being too much for the BU defense to handle and Lakeland taking the AQ. Either way, we will have a great team representing the NACC once playoffs begin. Here's to getting our young conference its first playoff victory!

Lakeland is not a team you want to face with a shorthanded defensive backfield, that's for sure. Especially without a player of his caliber.

One thing to note is that the last two LC-BU games have been defensive battles - 15-12 in the Muskies favor two years ago, and a 16-0 shutout for the Eagles last year in which they held the Fish to 54 total yards. But I can't see this offense getting shut down like that.

Supposed to be sunny and about 50 degrees tomorrow - as nice as you can hope for in mid-November around these parts. And I am looking forward to it!

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week Eleven
Benedictine 22
Lakeland 46

Concordia Chicago 7
Rockford 26

Wisconsin Lutheran 23
Concordia Wisconsin 20 (2OT)

Albion 42
Aurora 14

With Lecas out for the remainder of the season, I have Lakeland's offense being too much for the BU defense to handle and Lakeland taking the AQ.

That's exactly what happened - Benedictine simply had no answer for the Lakeland passing attack, which then opened the way for the run game. The Muskies were unofficially credited with 571 yards of offense today. And now we wait and see what the playoff draw is. And it will surely be a tough team. But if Whitley and our offense keep playing like they has all season, why not us?

[Ryan Stoppable]

And the Muskies will be at #5 Wheaton in the first round.

[Rhythm21]

And the Muskies will be at #5 Wheaton in the first round.

Game Day!

[Ryan Stoppable]

The 2015 all-conference awards can be found here: http://www.naccsports.org/sports/fball/2015-16/awards-season

Lakeland sophomore QB Michael Whitley is the Offensive Player of the Year. During the regular season, he completed 63% of his passes for 3,219 yards, with 33 touchdowns against only 7 interceptions. Additionally, he ran for 607 yards and a NACC leading 15 touchdowns. Putting the two together, Whitley was No. 2 in the country in dual threat yardage and scoring, trailing only Joe Callahan of Wesley in both categories.

A pair of seniors shared Defensive Player of the Year honors. Wisconsin Lutheran LB Tanner Behnke led the conference with 105 tackles, 9 of which were for loss, and also recorded an interception. Lakeland DB Landon Derginer shared the conference lead with 5 interceptions; recovered 2 fumbles, returning one for a touchdown; and was credited with 73 tackles and half a sack.

Aurora DL Eric Wagner was the Freshman of the Year, leading the NACC with 8 1/2 sacks and also committing 34 tackles and recovering a fumble. And the Coach of the Year was Lakeland's Colin Bruton, leading the Muskies back to the playoffs in his first season as a D3 head coach.

[Ryan Stoppable]

And the Muskies will be at #5 Wheaton in the first round.

Game Day!

A day six years in the making, now just minutes away...

[Captain_Joe08]

Wheaton 55
Lakeland 6

Final

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton 55
Lakeland 6

Final

I doubt it would have changed the winner, but I think the blizzard conditions affected the MOV.  Lakeland couldn't pass in those conditions, and Wheaton's superior OL allowed them to just blast up the middle.  'cause trying to go wide was utterly hopeless.

Some posters insist that 'both teams play in the same conditions'.  True, but it totally ignores that weather can hugely affect the strengths and weaknesses of teams.  IF Lakeland could have passed, they might have had a 'puncher's chance'.  Take that away, and with the line superiority of Wheaton, Lakeland was dead meat.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wheaton 55
Lakeland 6

Final

I doubt it would have changed the winner, but I think the blizzard conditions affected the MOV.  Lakeland couldn't pass in those conditions, and Wheaton's superior OL allowed them to just blast up the middle.  'cause trying to go wide was utterly hopeless.

Some posters insist that 'both teams play in the same conditions'.  True, but it totally ignores that weather can hugely affect the strengths and weaknesses of teams.  IF Lakeland could have passed, they might have had a 'puncher's chance'.  Take that away, and with the line superiority of Wheaton, Lakeland was dead meat.

Agreed. Lakeland's D was very much suspect throughout the year and it showed against a superior opponent.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Great win for Wheaton.  They looked very strong.  Congratulations. 

[formerd3db]

I wish all you NACC'ers an enjoyable and blessed Thanksgiving Day and weekend whatever you are doing.

[Ryan Stoppable]

And the same to you.

With the conference being in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, I suspect the Packers-Bears game will be in a lot of our plans, like it is for me.

[Ryan Stoppable]

Benedictine head coach Jon Cooper has announced his retirement. He retires as the winningest coach in program history, having led the Eagles to a 62-51 record in 11 seasons at the helm, including .500 or better records each of the last seven years. Also included are three playoff berths on the strength of NACC championships in 2010, 2011 and 2014.

And congratulations to the five NACC players who received All-North Region recognition this year:
Second Team - Lakeland WR Kezlow Smith and S Landon Derginer, Wisconsin Lutheran LB Tanner Behnke
Third Team - Wisconsin Lutheran WR Mitch Skarban, Benedictine G Gerald Valenzuela