FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Interesting that the NCAC gave the D player for the week to Jake Comer of DePauw, while D3 put Michael Ballenger, Jr of Denison as one of it's players of the week.   It was a great Defensive game.  Was hoping D3 would recognize Liam Thompson's spectacular performance, but Liam is probably more interested in winning than getting recognition.

Liam's 490 yard game unluckily happens in the same week Kobe Berghammer has a 571 yard game.  What can you do? We did do a Liam Thompson feature a couple of weeks ago during QB Week which I hope everybody was able to check out. 

[Pat Coleman]

Interesting that the NCAC gave the D player for the week to Jake Comer of DePauw, while D3 put Michael Ballenger, Jr of Denison as one of it's players of the week.   It was a great Defensive game.  Was hoping D3 would recognize Liam Thompson's spectacular performance, but Liam is probably more interested in winning than getting recognition.

There are always lots of great quarterback performances -- both were nominated, we looked at Thompson and Berghammer side by side and it was clearly Berghammer.

[Crawford]

Interesting that the NCAC gave the D player for the week to Jake Comer of DePauw, while D3 put Michael Ballenger, Jr of Denison as one of it's players of the week.   It was a great Defensive game.  Was hoping D3 would recognize Liam Thompson's spectacular performance, but Liam is probably more interested in winning than getting recognition.

There are always lots of great quarterback performances -- both were nominated, we looked at Thompson and Berghammer side by side and it was clearly Berghammer.

Agreed Pat.  I guess it's hard to give a conference honor to a player who is on the losing end of the score, as it is a team sport.  That was a nice article about Liam, thanks for posting that. 

[Whitecarrera]

Okay, it's been three days, and my feelings are a little hurt.  Thought I would get a couple attaboy's for correctly calling Wabash's 45 points. 

[Crawford]

Okay, it's been three days, and my feelings are a little hurt.  Thought I would get a couple attaboy's for correctly calling Wabash's 45 points. 

And you were pretty darn close to nailing the exact U/O too.

[sigma one]

This Saturday in the NCAC-------

WABASH (4-1) at DENISON (3-3)  The BIG RED have so far faced both very good (maybe even some great) and inferior opponents.  Their 
losses are v. teams that are a combined 14-1:  Linfield, DEPAUW, and WITTENBERG (in OT).  Their wins are v.  teams that are collectively
2-14: Capital, OBERLIN, HIRAM.  They have competed well in the losses, holding all three winning teams to 28 or fewer points.  After being injured and not available for the OT v. WITT, Fabrocini returned last week and ran for 86 yds. v. a strong DPU front. WABASH has lost only to Butler, but last Saturday v. WOOSTER had to play hard in the 2nd half after almost giving up a 4 TD lead.  The forecast calls for rain in
Granville this weekend, and that will favor Dension.  Liam Thompson will  have to be on top  of his game for the LGs to win.  A
toss up.
DEPAUW (6-0) at WOOSTER (2-3).  The NEW TIGERS are giving up only 10 ppg.  The WOO defense has been porous surrendering 52 ppg
in their losses, and at least 45 in every defeat.  DPU was challenged last week at home, but that won't be the case on Saturday.  They will 
smother the FIGHTING SCOTS.
HIRAM (0-6) at OHIO WESLEYAN (3-3)  OWU's losses are to UW River Falls, DEPAUW, and WABASH; those teams have lost only one game among them.  Last week, the TERRIERS played WITT tough, losing 21-7.  The BB's passing game will explode, while Hiram will once again have trouble scoring points.
WITTENBERG (4-1) at OBERLIN (1-4).  The two-heading running game of Gross and Anderson is formidable. They simply have too much for OBE to handle.  Coming off a poor showing last week after their OT win at DEN the previous Saturday (understandable), the OLD TIGERS will prevail big time.
KENYON (1-5) is idle with WABASH, DEPAUW, and DENISON on the horizon the next three weeks.


   

[CollegeGolf18]

Just sad how bad Don Morel has wasted a talent like Liam Thompson.

[Li'l Giant]

Just sad how bad Don Morel has wasted a talent like Liam Thompson.

Yep. We will go Liam's entire career and have a single one-and-done trip to the playoffs. What a sad waste. The Don Morel era is all hat and no cattle.

[Crawford]

Depauw, Wittenberg and Wabash if any one of them wins out will win the conference.  That would have been the case even if Wabash had won today.  Congratulations to Dennison on a hard fought win.

[DePauwalum05]

DePauw survives a predicted "under the radar game of the week" (really?) 53-7. Tough rematch in Springfield next week to remain perfect. Will need to put it all together. Go (DPU) Tigers!

[TigerKing]

Long time listener, first time caller.  I mainly just get on here to see the "Wabash Always, but Don Morrel Pretty Much Usually Fights" talk.  DPU offense is above average, and defense is really good.  Wabash Q is really good, but surrounded by a good O, and D is just ok.  This is always the case, but Witt vs. the two Indiana schools will tell us a lot about the Bell game these next two weeks.

[Dr. Acula]

Wabash D is just ok under the current HC.  That was definitely not always the case.  Not even close. The pre-Don Wabash playoff teams were loaded on D and ran the ball.  Times change but the current era is not the Wabash an old OAC guy like me remembers.  As a Mount guy I remember the ER Wabash teams that were physical, tough squads on both sides of the ball.  Didn't have the Liam level talent at qb but they battled.

[wally_wabash]

DePauw survives a predicted "under the radar game of the week" (really?) 53-7. Tough rematch in Springfield next week to remain perfect. Will need to put it all together. Go (DPU) Tigers!

Try to use Under the Radar to draw attention to games that people might not otherwise think twice once about and, quite frankly, the NCAC needs all of the help it can get from an attention standpoint- this isn't a particularly interesting league right now for anybody who isn't acutely attached to one of the teams.  My analysis that it might be close didn't pan out (well done DPU), but sometimes when you talk about games before they happen, you're wrong.  We haven't perfected reading the future yet and Quick Hits wouldn't be any fun if we ever did.  I'll definitely look forward to reading your predictions before the games kick off next week. 

[TigerKing]

When was the NCAC a particularly interesting league for those not acutely attached to one of the teams?  23 years ago when Earlham went 6-4?  This league has had an overwhelming top and a bad bottom for as long as I can remember.  It seems much more interesting to me over the last few years when there have been 4 teams competing for 1st place.

[WAF-WDE]

Can't wait to attend the Wabash-Witt game on 10/28.  As of this writing, the game has conference championship implications, which will hopefully bring out the best in both teams.  Regardless of the outcome, it will be nice to tailgate in Mud Hollow with my fraternity brothers, swapping exaggerations about the good old days.  Unfortunately, my wife of 35 years witnessed many of those events, so I won't be able to get away with some of the more egregious whoppers.  Nonetheless, that story about the semi-trailer full of beer kegs IS absolutely true!