FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[d3fan1515]

Congrats to the NAC players of the week and also to the NAC for winning the first ever NAC/MIAA challenge 5-2!

Rockford's Jacob Arnold, Concordia Chicago's Jake Koehler and Benedictine's John Borsellino were named the Northern Athletics Conference Defensive, Offensive and Special Teams Football Student-Athletes of the Week for events of Sept. 10-16.

Arnold (Plainfield, Ill.) made a key interception in Rockford's 28-12 win on Saturday, which snapped the Regents' 23-game losing streak. He intercepted a pass and took it 50 yards for a touchdown to put the Regents (1-2) up 21-6 in the third quarter. The junior defensive back also had four tackles in the win over Olivet.

Koehler (Belvidere, Ill.) led Concordia Chicago's offensive attack that notched a new single-game school record 650 yards in a 63-47 win over Hope. The senior quarterback tied the school record held by him and three other players with five touchdown passes. He was 21-of-29 for 386 yards and ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for the Cougars (3-0).

Borsellino (Oak Brook, Ill.) amassed 162 yards on kick returns, which included a 77-yard return for a score on a free kick following a safety for the game winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles (2-1) rallied for a 32-28 comeback win over Albion.

The three victories helped secure the NAC's 5-2 advantage over the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the two leagues' inaugural "Challenge Series."

[irisheagle]

That is fine, I respect your opinion, but I also disagree with your opinion lol, I do think he is an All American caliber RB! BU was down in a hurry in this game and had to resort to passing the football to get back into the game.  The O-Line was also struggling to get a push against a very good D-Line from Albion.  I don't care who you are, if your O-line is not getting a push it is going to be tough to get many yards up the gut!  Borsellino also only had 7 carries, that is not enough touches to get into a rhythm in the run game, but like I said before due to the score, we had to abandon the run game and start hurling the rock!

Only two games this week in the NAC
Carthage vs. Lakeland, i'm taking Carthage
Milikin vs. Aurora, I'm taking Milikin

After this week it is on to conference play, good luck to the two teams playing this weekend!

I agree with both of you guys at some points. No John Borsellino wasn't a All American RB last year, but in my eyes to be an All American RB you have to have help from your Offensive Line, which is IMO BUs biggest weak spot. I do not think Borsellino has ever had a true oppertunity to become an All AMerican running back and I am afraid he will not get a chance this year either. If he was the running back for a team with a better offensive line such as Wheaton, Mount Union, or even Elmhurst I think he would have a much better chance at being in the running for that All American RB spot.

As for lakland and Aurora this weekend I do not think either will win, I think the only 2 teams that would be able to beat the bottom 2 of the CCIW teams would be BU and WLC maybe CUC on a good day against NP.

[Captain_Joe08]

Aurora (1-1) at Millikin (2-0): Millikin puts this one away early against an up and down Aurora team.

Lakeland (0-2) at Carthage (1-1): Carthage rebounds nicely after getting shut down by Wartburg. Lakeland goes 0-fer in non-con play for the second straight year.

[sflzman]

- Aurora for also making a huge play in the end to come up with the win! (Could someone who was at the game explain the last possession for Alma? I couldn't figure it out based on the play-by-play or the summaries but it looked weird on the play-by-play; a long completion with a fumble with the ball recovered 30 yards behind where the pass was completed?

If nobody explained it to you yet, or you hadn't seen it, Alma tried to lateral it after the completion but Aurora pounced on it.  It actually was on the Aurora 20 (or 30, i can't remember what at this point) but whoever typed in stats mistakenly typed in the Alma side of the field.

[WLCALUM83]

9/22 guesses:

Carthage over Lakeland
Aurora over Millikin

[baseman201]

I am afraid I have to side with Pat here.

Though I love the NAC and graduated from CUC, I don't think really anyone in the conference is an "All American" player, whether they are playing in a big power conference or the NAC.  The competition and talent just isn't up to par with other conferences.  The Bears looked great against the Colts, Cutler looked like an MVP.   Put Green Bay out there and it obviously was a different story.

I know the NFL isn't D-III football, but I think it got the idea across.  Borselinno will put up huge numbers this year against NAC opponents, heck probably player of the year in my opinion.  But until we start winning some playoff games and going far into the post season, I just don't think anyone from the NAC will be considered.

[Captain_Joe08]

As expected

Carthage routed Lakeland 49-9

Milikin handled Aurora 44-20

[irisheagle]

As expected

Carthage routed Lakeland 49-9

Milikin handled Aurora 44-20

I was hoping to see Lakeland keep that one a little closer than it was. I'm exited to see the conference battles this weekend, I think the three teams to watch are BU, CUC, and WLC. But I think hope is their for Aurora as well Bevell is a great QB that was doing great against the two time NAC champs BU and I think they would have pulled of that win without losing him. I still think BU is the conference favorite but if they start to get to big headed It wouldn't surprise me to see them finishing 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th. I remember last year when they were losing to rockfodr for a majority of the game. BUt if they can play like they did against North Park or second half of Albion I can see them beating every team by aat least 2 scores. They have a offense powered by Borsellino and the Shultz twins. And a Defense with Lockton, Sakal, Dickert, Davis, Buonavelanto, Theriot, Carpenter, and Kiel. I think their defense is the best in the conference no doubt and offensively they definitely have the skill players that can make plays when needed.

[Zeus51]

Is it to Early to start Predictions for the Opening Week of NAC play? NO WAY!!!

This Weeks Games:

Benedictine VS Concordia Wisconsin......  I dont pick BenU games, but interested to see what CUW is like this year... This will probably be the closest game of the week!

Aurora VS Maranatha........................... AU wins by 2-3 Scores

Wisconsin Luthern VS Lakeland............. Wisconsin Luthern wins this one, payback from last year!

Concordia Chicago VS Rockford.............. CUC rolls rockford, offense puts up some points!

As always these are only my opinions.... Good luck to all teams and stay healthy!
Let the race for the NAC title begin!!!

[Captain_Joe08]

Benedictine VS Concordia Wisconsin: CUW won't score enough points to keep up with BU.

Aurora VS Maranatha: This could get ugly for Maranatha quickly here.

Wisconsin Lutheran VS Lakeland: If WLC can avoid hurting themselves with turnovers like they did against Adrian, they should win this one handily.

Concordia Chicago VS Rockford: CUC will have a field day against Rockford.

[d3fan1515]

Benedictine VS Concordia Wisconsin: I also do no not predict BU games.

Aurora VS Maranatha: AU

Wisconsin Lutheran VS Lakeland: WLC, I can see this being a pretty close game, however, WLC gets them at home which is a good thing!

Concordia Chicago VS Rockford: CUC

[WLCALUM83]

My 9/29/12 guesses:

Benedictine
Aurora
CUC

Lakeland/WLC:  Somethin's gotta give here. The Muskes will want to redeem themselves after getting hammered by Carthage last week. However, A) its' the Warriors' Homecoming and B) WLC will have more motivation than usual to get out of the gate fast (they were playing from behind vs. Adrian 2 weeks ago.)

Pick-- WLC in a tight one.

[irisheagle]

My pics

Aurora
Cuc
Bu
Wlc

All of these SHOULD be blowouts, benedictine should have a shutout with their defense .. I would be disapointed if they don't.

[Captain_Joe08]

WLC defeated Lakeland 27-17 on Homecoming!

[Captain_Joe08]

Concordia Chicago beats Rockford 48-10
Aurora beats Maranatha Baptist 55-14

Shocker of the day

Concordia Wisconsin upsets Benedictine 6-0