FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

Bad news for WLC --

CUC wins in OT  (so now the Warriors would have to finish ahead of the Cougars in conference standings to have any advantage on them--if it comes to that--)

[Captain_Joe08]

Bad news for WLC --

CUC wins in OT  (so now the Warriors would have to finish ahead of the Cougars in conference standings to have any advantage on them--if it comes to that--)

CUC still has to play Aurora and Benedictine yet. Benedictine has had CUC's number the last few years and since Benedictine could be playing spoiler the next few weeks.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wisconsin Lutheran 28 Aurora 14
Concordia Chicago 47 Concordia Wisconsin 44 (OT)
Lakeland 32 Maranatha 7
Benedictine 28 Rockford 0

Northern Athletics Conference Standings

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

[RFMichigan]

Okay, while I was getting drenched watching Michigan-Illinois I missed some craziness in the CUW-CUC game. I'd like to hear commentary/explanations for the following:

1) After CUC scored a touchdown with 42 seconds to go in the half they got the ball back on a fumble recovery. They got down to the CUW 1 with 19 seconds left and then threw an incompletion. There was then a 5 yard penalty and a 10 second run-off for . . . illegal player participation? (The play-by-play doesn't say.) So they didn't even get off a field-goal attempt.

2) Just explain this:
- Breunig, H. punt -19 yards to the CUW14, Pasley, C.J. return 0 yards to the CUW14, fumble by Pasley, C.J. recovered by CUC Pasley, C.J. at CUW14, Pasley, C.J. for loss of 73 yards to the CUC13 (Castona, Jason).
The only thing I can imagine is Pasley scooped up a blocked punt, fumbled it, and then picked the ball back up and then ran the wrong way toward his own goal line . . . before getting tackled by a CUW player?

3) CUW missed a field goal late in regulation. After CUC took over on the 25 they got a short pass intercepted while on their own 27 yard line. CUW makes a first down and then gets another field goal attempt blocked at the end of regulation. What kind of short pass did CUC try to throw with 30 seconds left in regulation deep in their own end of the field? Tipped pass? Screen pass?

4) CUW got to the 2 in the first OT. On first down, CUC's Matt Rolf (hero of last week's CUC win over WLC) makes an interception in the end zone. Details?

5) On their OT possession, CUC got a run to the 3 called back (for unsportsmanlike conduct), then a TD called back (for holding) before hitting a 44 yard field goal to win.

Some interesting stats:
- Both QB's were 20-37 with two picks.
- CUC's Andrew Maddox ran 40 times for 355 yards to break Khyree Copeland's school record and set a conference record.
- CUC also set conference records for rushing yardage (495 yds.), total yardage (683 yds.), first downs (35), and first downs by rushing (24).

[Look It Up]

RF, I can enlighten you on the first two. On #1, Koehler brought the team to the line quickly to spike the ball, stop the clock and run one more play (probably FG attempt). But the penalty was false start (possibly a receiver not set), and with the clock under 10 seconds, that left the Cougars without any points there.

On #2, Pasley actually fielded the punt on his own 13 rather than CUW's 13. Call that a StatCrew input error which I'm sure will be corrected.

Definitely one of the wildest games I've ever seen, and this after CUC and Hope combined for 1300 yards of offense last month!

[WLCALUM83]

10/19/12 Guesses:

Aurora/CUC:    Going with the Cougars-- their firepower on offense figures to be too much for the Spartans, imho.

Maranatha/Rockford:     Rockford

CUW/Lakeland:    CUW -- although a Muskie win wouldn't be a total shock if the Falcons are flat enough after last week's tough loss.

Benedictine/WLC:   Somethin's gotta give (again):  IL Eagles will be looking for redemption for last year's loss (that may have been a different story had the Eagles' last pass in that game been completed). Will a slow-down of Borsellino by the Warriors be enough this time? Going with WLC in a tight one at home-however if the Warriors get off to a slow start it could be a long afternoon for them--

[CougarNation21]

Rockford
Wisconsin Lutheran
Concordia Wisconsin
Concordia University Chicago 

[Captain_Joe08]

10/20 Picks

Rockford: Both teams duke it out once again for the Nath-con basement. Rockford has a win over a terrible Olivet team, while Maranatha got smoked in every game that they played.

Wisconsin Lutheran: WLC needs to get out strong like they did against Aurora last week. I think they get the job done and contain Borsellino.

Concordia Wisconsin: Big rivalry game between these two. CUW rebounds after nearly forcing a massive tie atop the standings.

Concordia Chicago: For the second consecutive week CUC ekes out a game to stay undefeated. Looking foward IMO CUC could represent the best chance to win the Nath-con's first playoff game. However, their defense could be their downfall.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wisconsin Lutheran 14
Benedictine 2

Final

Sounds like the Warriors D hit the mute button on Borsellino and the Benedictine Offense. Benedictine got a late safety to get on the scoreboard.

Concordia Chicago 38
Aurora 34

Final

Cougars get another late key turnover return for a touchdown which was the difference here.

Rockford 7
Maranatha 7

3rd

Rockford denied Maranatha on a great goal line stand on the last drive.

Concordia Wisconsin 23
Lakeland 16

Final?

[Captain_Joe08]

Wisconsin Lutheran 14
Benedictine 2

Final

Sounds like the Warriors D hit the mute button on Borsellino and the Benedictine Offense. Benedictine got a late safety to get on the scoreboard.

Concordia Chicago 38
Aurora 34

Final

Cougars get another late key turnover return for a touchdown which was the difference here.

Rockford 7
Maranatha 7

3rd

Rockford denied Maranatha on a great goal line stand on the last drive.

Concordia Wisconsin 23
Lakeland 16

Final

Rockford 34
Maranatha 14

Final

[baseman201]

Concerning CUC, when you have an offense that scores 40 pts/game, the defense better help out to get it done.  They did that with a big turnover TD like someone else said, so good to see.

Last test is Benedictine, who has had CUCs number in big games the last few years.

[RFMichigan]

Thoughts from the weekend's games:

- Rockford gets their second win of the season which is the most wins they have had in a season for the past years. It is a good jumping off point on which to build for next season. Maranatha played Rockford tough for the first half but couldn't sustain for the entire game. I wish them blessings and the best of luck in their schedule next year. (Does anyone know what conference, if any, they will play next year?)

- I happened to catch the last few minutes of the CUW-Lakeland game on video, and a wild few minutes it turned out to be. I have to admit that the sight of the TD runback on the kickoff by CUW (right after Lakeland had tied the score but then missed the extra point) in the mud reminded me of watching a 1960's clip of an NFL guy slogging through the mud. For CUW they continue their resurgence and are looking for CUC to lose a couple of games. For Lakeland, they go through the ecstasy of scoring a TD to tie the score late with the prospect of kicking the winning XP, and the then the agony of missing the XP and then having ensuing kickoff run back for the winning score.

- Wisconsin Lutheran is somewhat in the same boat as CUW; they need CUC to lose a couple of games, but are playing quality football right now. Their defense is probably the stingiest in the conference (with arguments from CUW). Benedictine - two games in the conference so far where they haven't scored a touchdown? I'm curious what's going on there. They can play a spoiler in CUC's quest for the conference championship this weekend and have had the Cougars' number for the past number of years.

- CUC continues to find ways to win. Their pass defense looked lost against Bevel who was 27-33. The fumble recovery for a TD was huge, but otherwise the defense . . . yikes.  I mean, why else go for it on 4th and 2 from the Aurora 40 with 2 minutes to go in the game?( /shudder if they don't convert) However, CUC's calling card in offense, and they put up enough points to win. On to BU.
     Aurora, meanwhile, well, they did anything they wanted through the air. They have a chance to close strong and finish with a nice record.

By the way, Baseman, don't tell Lakeland or Maranatha that they aren't a test for CUC! (I know what you mean though. Benedictine has been the thorn in Concordia's side in every big game they have faced them for the past three years.)

[Captain_Joe08]

Thoughts from the weekend's games:

- Rockford gets their second win of the season which is the most wins they have had in a season for the past years. It is a good jumping off point on which to build for next season. Maranatha played Rockford tough for the first half but couldn't sustain for the entire game. I wish them blessings and the best of luck in their schedule next year. (Does anyone know what conference, if any, they will play next year?)

- I happened to catch the last few minutes of the CUW-Lakeland game on video, and a wild few minutes it turned out to be. I have to admit that the sight of the TD runback on the kickoff by CUW (right after Lakeland had tied the score but then missed the extra point) in the mud reminded me of watching a 1960's clip of an NFL guy slogging through the mud. For CUW they continue their resurgence and are looking for CUC to lose a couple of games. For Lakeland, they go through the ecstasy of scoring a TD to tie the score late with the prospect of kicking the winning XP, and the then the agony of missing the XP and then having ensuing kickoff run back for the winning score.

- Wisconsin Lutheran is somewhat in the same boat as CUW; they need CUC to lose a couple of games, but are playing quality football right now. Their defense is probably the stingiest in the conference (with arguments from CUW). Benedictine - two games in the conference so far where they haven't scored a touchdown? I'm curious what's going on there. They can play a spoiler in CUC's quest for the conference championship this weekend and have had the Cougars' number for the past number of years.

- CUC continues to find ways to win. Their pass defense looked lost against Bevel who was 27-33. The fumble recovery for a TD was huge, but otherwise the defense . . . yikes.  I mean, why else go for it on 4th and 2 from the Aurora 40 with 2 minutes to go in the game?( /shudder if they don't convert) However, CUC's calling card in offense, and they put up enough points to win. On to BU.
     Aurora, meanwhile, well, they did anything they wanted through the air. They have a chance to close strong and finish with a nice record.

By the way, Baseman, don't tell Lakeland or Maranatha that they aren't a test for CUC! (I know what you mean though. Benedictine has been the thorn in Concordia's side in every big game they have faced them for the past three years.)

I think Maranatha will be an independent for the time being. Not sure if the UMAC will take them back in.

[Captain_Joe08]

10/27 Picks

Concordia Chicago at Benedictine: Calling the upset here. CUC's offense has been able to outpace others on the scoreboard. However here Benedictine slows down that offensive machine enough while BU's offense takes advantage of that porous CUC defense.

Rockford at Concordia Wisconsin: Over by half.

Lakeland at Aurora: Aurora bounces back from a tight loss to CUC.

Wisconsin Lutheran at Maranatha: Could be just as ugly as the 61-0 smackdown that WLC delivered last year. WLC leads 7-0.

[WLCALUM83]

10 27 guesses:

CUC     (putting my head above my heart on this one-though I wouldn't mind an IL Eagle win here).

CUW
Aurora
WLC