FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Ryan Stoppable]

2018 way-too-early first impressions:

-Lakeland is primed to have a down-year. You don't just replace a Michael Whitley and run right through the NACC. I think the scheme of Lakeland's offense will have to rely more on a running game this season, but I think they have the backs to pull it off. Larry Rivers has first-team All NACC ability. The defense cannot rely on the offense putting up forty points a game anymore, though. They've been Lakeland's kryptonite for years and are going to need to figure it out this year in order to have any chance of staying atop the conference in 2018.

Good point about the Lakeland D. They've allowed over 30 points a game each of the last two years, but for the most part our offense was still able to outscore our opponents. That isn't going to cut it this year.

Also, have a +1 for the thorough analysis

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week Two scores:

Concordia Chicago 25 (1-1)
Olivet 52

Augsburg 27
Concordia Wisconsin 24 (1-1)

Elmhurst 21
Aurora 20 (0-2)

Lawrence Tech 30
Wisconsin Lutheran 22 (0-2)

Martin Luther 28
Rockford 24 (0-2)

Loras 39
Benedictine 20 (0-2)

Iowa Wesleyan 6
Eureka 38 (2-0)

I'm sure these results will strike fear into the dark hearts of those across the pond heading into the MIAA-NACC Challenge next week.

[Captain_Joe08]

Four losses by a combined 16 points.....that's brutal.

For WLC that is two blown second half leads to start the year. They should have beaten Tech but they let them stay in the game the entire time. At the same time I feel that they are a little better than where they were last year.

As for the NACC-MIAA Challenge Series......

I see

Eureka manhandling Finlandia
#17 Trine blasting Lakeland
Kalamazoo handling Rockford
Olivet beating Benedictine
Hope over Wisconsin Lutheran
Alma topping CUW
Adrian defeating Aurora
Albion crushing CUC

Realistic I see it going 1-7. Best case scenario? 4-4

[RFMichigan]

Four losses by a combined 16 points.....that's brutal.

For WLC that is two blown second half leads to start the year. They should have beaten Tech but they let them stay in the game the entire time. At the same time I feel that they are a little better than where they were last year.

As for the NACC-MIAA Challenge Series......

I see

Eureka manhandling Finlandia
#17 Trine blasting Lakeland
Kalamazoo handling Rockford
Olivet beating Benedictine
Hope over Wisconsin Lutheran
Alma topping CUW
Adrian defeating Aurora
Albion crushing CUC

Realistic I see it going 1-7. Best case scenario? 4-4

I generally agree with these picks. I'm curious which three NACC teams whom you see as possibly having an outside chance of a victory. Maybe Benedictine, CUW, and . . . Rockford? 

[Captain_Joe08]

Four losses by a combined 16 points.....that's brutal.

For WLC that is two blown second half leads to start the year. They should have beaten Tech but they let them stay in the game the entire time. At the same time I feel that they are a little better than where they were last year.

As for the NACC-MIAA Challenge Series......

I see

Eureka manhandling Finlandia
#17 Trine blasting Lakeland
Kalamazoo handling Rockford
Olivet beating Benedictine
Hope over Wisconsin Lutheran
Alma topping CUW
Adrian defeating Aurora
Albion crushing CUC

Realistic I see it going 1-7. Best case scenario? 4-4

I generally agree with these picks. I'm curious which three NACC teams whom you see as possibly having an outside chance of a victory. Maybe Benedictine, CUW, and . . . Rockford? 

Lock: Eureka

Maybe's: CUW, BenU, Aurora or Rockford.

Kinda hard to find any W's elsewhere.

[RFMichigan]

I'm not sure what the single game rushing records are for Albion and Concordia, but five minutes into the second half Doug Freeman for Albion has 178 yards and Lance Moise for Concordia has 198 yards.

[Pat Coleman]

I'm not sure what the single game rushing records are for Albion and Concordia, but five minutes into the second half Doug Freeman for Albion has 178 yards and Lance Moise for Concordia has 198 yards.

Don't know for CUC but Moise had 310 yards Week 1 vs. Beloit.

[RFMichigan]

I'm not sure what the single game rushing records are for Albion and Concordia, but five minutes into the second half Doug Freeman for Albion has 178 yards and Lance Moise for Concordia has 198 yards.

Don't know for CUC but Moise had 310 yards Week 1 vs. Beloit.

Due to the miracle of the internet, I discovered Concordia's record is 355 yards by Andrew Maddox in 2012.

[sac]

Albion's is 306 yards by Clinton Orr in 2009 vs Alma

I think its interesting you mentioned Albion's Freeman with 198 early 2nd half and yet he was out-rushed by his teammate (McCoy) in the game 248 - 203

[RFMichigan]

Albion's is 306 yards by Clinton Orr in 2009 vs Alma

I think its interesting you mentioned Albion's Freeman with 198 early 2nd half and yet he was out-rushed by his teammate (McCoy) in the game 248 - 203

Concordia's defensive line is pretty young and not all that large weight-wise. Freeman is a quality back, and by the time the second half rolled around CUC's d-line was sufficiently softened up for McCoy to run through people and then drag more people. He was impressive. 

Crazy that FOUR running backs in the game each individually averaged over 10.2 yards per attempt with a minimum of nine carries. I thought that CUC's average yards-per-carry wasn't too shabby at 6.8 yards; Albion's was 10.6!

Also, the box score stats (248) and Albion's recap numbers (158) don't agree on McCoy's total yardage, but the box score numbers have to be the genuine numbers as otherwise Albion's total rushing yards wouldn't add up to their stellar 560.

[Gestekoe]

Though CUC lost, it's nice to see them scoring points every week (so far at least).  Maybe they will surprise some teams and score enough to win a few in NACC play.  It's been mentioned their Defensive line is young, so hopefully they can improve as the season progresses.

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week Three scores:

Finlandia 12
Eureka 34 (3-0)

Alma 15
Concordia Wisconsin 26 (2-1)

Hope 53
Wisconsin Lutheran 12 (0-3)

#17 Trine 56
Lakeland 6 (0-2)

Olivet 42
Benedictine 16 (0-3)

Albion 57
Concordia Chicago 42 (1-2)

Kalamazoo 23
Rockford 7 (0-3)

Adrian 27
Aurora 5 (0-3)

With Aurora and Benedictine both starting 0-3, and Lakeland likely to join them after they travel to Platteville on Saturday, the NACC seems like it will be even more wide open than people thought before the season. I know everyone starts over at 0-0 come the 29th, but at this point, if Eureka beats the Spartans that day, I think the Red Devils have to be considered the favorites.

As far as Lakeland goes, we knew there would be some dropoff in QB play after Whitley graduated, but if the Muskies continue their stunning inability to complete a pass - O'Neill and Nunnery have combined for a 24 percent clip, the second-lowest in all of Division III through three weeks - it will be a long season up in rural Sheboygan County.

[Rhythm21]

Week Three scores:

Finlandia 12
Eureka 34 (3-0)

Alma 15
Concordia Wisconsin 26 (2-1)

Hope 53
Wisconsin Lutheran 12 (0-3)

#17 Trine 56
Lakeland 6 (0-2)

Olivet 42
Benedictine 16 (0-3)

Albion 57
Concordia Chicago 42 (1-2)

Kalamazoo 23
Rockford 7 (0-3)

Adrian 27
Aurora 5 (0-3)

With Aurora and Benedictine both starting 0-3, and Lakeland likely to join them after they travel to Platteville on Saturday, the NACC seems like it will be even more wide open than people thought before the season. I know everyone starts over at 0-0 come the 29th, but at this point, if Eureka beats the Spartans that day, I think the Red Devils have to be considered the favorites.

As far as Lakeland goes, we knew there would be some dropoff in QB play after Whitley graduated, but if the Muskies continue their stunning inability to complete a pass - O'Neill and Nunnery have combined for a 24 percent clip, the second-lowest in all of Division III through three weeks - it will be a long season up in rural Sheboygan County.

If we want a decent draw for the NACC AQ bid, Eureka running the table is our best bet. I don't see it happening, but no other NACC team has made that "We're the team to beat" statement thus far. Super disappointing non-conference performances from our squads (CUW & Eureka excluded).

And thanks for the +  I'll throw a +1 your way for the consistent score updates that I check out on here every weekend. (Not really sure how the + thing works, hope typing it here gives it to you).

[Gregory Sager]

Rhythm21, if you want to give Ryan a +1, you need to go to his post and hit the [applaud] link right below his karma rating in the upper left corner of the post.

[Pat Coleman]

Rhythm21, if you want to give Ryan a +1, you need to go to his post and hit the [applaud] link right below his karma rating in the upper left corner of the post.

He doesn't have that functionality yet -- it's for starters (200 posts) and above.