FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Rhythm21]

What is Aurora doing? They went across the country and took a LB 5 minutes from Salisbury University Campus. Right into the backyard. Good pickup by them.

Don Beebe has really increased the recruiting range for AU. I love the diverse roster he's put together. LB and O-line appear to be the primary positions targeted this offseason.

And Salisbury is making deep runs in the playoff year after year. We're just trying to get to the level you guys are at 

[Captain_Joe08]

https://www.d3football.com/notables/2022/07/lakefront-bowl-comes-to-wisconsin

I like this move here. Feel like the Midwest and NACC more or less have entertaining matchups in non-con play. Good to see a bowl showcasing two leagues that tend to struggle come postseason time.

[Rhythm21]

https://www.d3football.com/notables/2022/07/lakefront-bowl-comes-to-wisconsin
I like this move here. Feel like the Midwest and NACC more or less have entertaining matchups in non-con play. Good to see a bowl showcasing two leagues that tend to struggle come postseason time.

Great move for both conferences. Great for the seniors on a team that just misses out on the playoff AQ. Excited to watch the inaugural game!

[WLCALUM83]

NACC 2022 Pre-Season Football Poll is now out:

https://naccsports.org/news/2022/8/24/aurora-named-favorite-for-2022-nacc-football-title.aspx

[Captain_Joe08]

That first place vote for Rockford.....

[WLCALUM83]

9/1 Final:  Illinois College 38, Lakeland 20

IC:  3 pass interceptions returned for pick-6's, then built up enough of a cushion to hold on for a road win here.

[Rhythm21]

That first place vote for Rockford.....

I'm a big fan of what Rockford's offense has turned into, but the first place vote for this season is pretty wild haha. Who knows though, they are 1 of 2 NACC teams that took care of business week 1. Aurora took their foot off the gas and blew a 10 point 4th quarter lead to Hope in what turned out to be one of the more entertaining games this week (game is on YouTube if anyone wants to watch the replay).

Some notes I got from the game:
*Aurora might have their best Oline in program history. Everyone is gonna talk about Toth at LT, and rightfully so, but Cole at guard and I believe Kickel at the other guard really looked good. The entire line was cohesive and worked well together. Swanson throws a good looking ball and Chretin reads the blocks naturally. Excited for what the offense can be going forward.
*Defense played well in the 2nd and 3rd quarter, but for whatever reason, tackling seemed foreign to them at the finish. The defense has some playmakers though. Jordan is a monster up front and I really like Romious and Bower at LB. Robbie Peterson wasn't out there, which I hope is only precautionary and he'll be ready to go come conference play. Nordmeyer had a great pick, high pointing a deep post and Quin Davis looks like he's adjusted to the physicality since last season.
*Wielgosz is a real boom or bust punter. He had some punts that looked elite, but some that he shanked.

Overall, it would have been nice to wrap that game up and get the W in Michigan. But it looks more like Beebe has AU reloading, not rebuilding, which is very exciting.

[Captain_Joe08]

Best.....new.....trophy....ever.

https://twitter.com/WLCCoachTreske/status/1567180642810470402?s=20&t=Iim_yf-yQ8LBkHU9ntuuPQ

[Rhythm21]

Best.....new.....trophy....ever.

https://twitter.com/WLCCoachTreske/status/1567180642810470402?s=20&t=Iim_yf-yQ8LBkHU9ntuuPQ

100%

[Rhythm21]

NACC conference play opening week, here are the matchups (St. Norbert on a bye this week)

Away        Home
Aurora       Concordia Chicago
Rockford    Eureka      
CUW          Benedictine   
Lakeland    Wisconsin Lutheran

Predictions:
*Aurora over CUC by 20+, extending their NACC winning streak to 23 straight games. CUC has raw talent, but their youth will be exposed by AU's experience. AU's front 7 will shut Daniels and CUC's run game down early and force CUC to go to the air. I expect AU's athletic pass rushers and secondary to have a field day on Saturday.
*Rockford over Eureka by 20+. Rockford's receivers had a case of the drops early on against Greenville, which put them in too big a hole to climb out of. The offense bounces back and gets off to a hot start this week, burying an offensively-stunted Eureka squad.
*(GAME OF THE WEEK) Benedictine over CUW by 10-14. Benedictine pulls away late against a stronger-than-expected 2022 CUW Falcons roster. The winner of this game may very well end up receiving the NACC's bid to the inaugural COUSINS SUBS LAKEFRONT BOWL (or at the very least compete against St. Norbert for that honor later this season.) I think the final score ends up being closer to 49-35 than 21-7.
*Lakeland over WLC by 20+. The last time Lakeland lost to Wisconsin Lutheran was in 2016 (12-3 all-time record.) Last September, Lakeland beat the brakes off WLC, and though the Muskies still have questions to answer at the QB position and on defense, WLC will more than likely find themselves with their 3rd straight blowout loss. Based off the last 2 weeks (14 points scored, 96 points against), WLC's only winnable game looks to be Eureka. Barring an upset in NACC play, WLC could wind up 0-10 at the end of the season.

NACC Week 3 Power Rankings:
(1.) Aurora
(2.) Benedictine
(3.) St. Norbert
(4.) CUW
(5.) Rockford
(6.) CUC
(7.) Lakeland
(8.) Eureka
(9.) WLC

[Captain_Joe08]

Aurora 56 Concordia Chicago 7
Benedictine 55 Concordia Wisconsin 17
Eureka 31 Rockford 14
Wisconsin Lutheran 25 Lakeland 21

[Captain_Joe08]

I think you are overlooking the fact that WLC played two tough opponents in Non-conference. Lake Forest is still receiving votes and Carroll should break into the top half into the CCIW. I think WLC should be fine in conference play.

[Next Man Up]

Predictions:
*Aurora over CUC by 20+, extending their NACC winning streak to 23 straight games. CUC has raw talent, but their youth will be exposed by AU's experience. AU's front 7 will shut Daniels and CUC's run game down early and force CUC to go to the air. I expect AU's athletic pass rushers and secondary to have a field day on Saturday.

*Rockford over Eureka by 20+. Rockford's receivers had a case of the drops early on against Greenville, which put them in too big a hole to climb out of. The offense bounces back and gets off to a hot start this week, burying an offensively-stunted Eureka squad.

*(GAME OF THE WEEK) Benedictine over CUW by 10-14. Benedictine pulls away late against a stronger-than-expected 2022 CUW Falcons roster. The winner of this game may very well end up receiving the NACC's bid to the inaugural COUSINS SUBS LAKEFRONT BOWL (or at the very least compete against St. Norbert for that honor later this season.) I think the final score ends up being closer to 49-35 than 21-7.

*Lakeland over WLC by 20+. The last time Lakeland lost to Wisconsin Lutheran was in 2016 (12-3 all-time record.) Last September, Lakeland beat the brakes off WLC, and though the Muskies still have questions to answer at the QB position and on defense, WLC will more than likely find themselves with their 3rd straight blowout loss. Based off the last 2 weeks (14 points scored, 96 points against), WLC's only winnable game looks to be Eureka. Barring an upset in NACC play, WLC could wind up 0-10 at the end of the season.

Looks like either someone needs to repeat Football Theory 101, or the crystal ball needs polishing. Maybe both?

[WLCALUM83]

That's why THEY do the playing, and WE do the guessing. . . 

[Rhythm21]

Predictions:
*Aurora over CUC by 20+, extending their NACC winning streak to 23 straight games. CUC has raw talent, but their youth will be exposed by AU's experience. AU's front 7 will shut Daniels and CUC's run game down early and force CUC to go to the air. I expect AU's athletic pass rushers and secondary to have a field day on Saturday.

*Rockford over Eureka by 20+. Rockford's receivers had a case of the drops early on against Greenville, which put them in too big a hole to climb out of. The offense bounces back and gets off to a hot start this week, burying an offensively-stunted Eureka squad.

*(GAME OF THE WEEK) Benedictine over CUW by 10-14. Benedictine pulls away late against a stronger-than-expected 2022 CUW Falcons roster. The winner of this game may very well end up receiving the NACC's bid to the inaugural COUSINS SUBS LAKEFRONT BOWL (or at the very least compete against St. Norbert for that honor later this season.) I think the final score ends up being closer to 49-35 than 21-7.

*Lakeland over WLC by 20+. The last time Lakeland lost to Wisconsin Lutheran was in 2016 (12-3 all-time record.) Last September, Lakeland beat the brakes off WLC, and though the Muskies still have questions to answer at the QB position and on defense, WLC will more than likely find themselves with their 3rd straight blowout loss. Based off the last 2 weeks (14 points scored, 96 points against), WLC's only winnable game looks to be Eureka. Barring an upset in NACC play, WLC could wind up 0-10 at the end of the season.

Looks like either someone needs to repeat Football Theory 101, or the crystal ball needs polishing. Maybe both?

Haha, I could not have been more wrong about all of it if I tried! Minus the AU CUC game. WLC was apparently just saving their offense for conference play, run game was on point. Eureka's defense dominated Rockford's high powered O. CUW was not even close to BU's level. Lesson learned: Take non conference results with grain of salt.

That's why THEY do the playing, and WE do the guessing. . . 

WLC Lakeland was easily game of the week in the NACC. I did not see the talent or resilience from WLC in the two weeks prior, but they came out and played 60 full minutes. This could end up being one of the more wild seasons in the NACC in recent history. Excited for next weekend!