FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

Thanks.  Corrected it.

[sigma one]

#7  KENYON

A huge factor for the OWLS is that Benjamin (All--NCAC RB) is not on this year's roster.  He was one of the top ground gainers in the NCAC last year. 

OOC  1st Bluffton (4-6)   2nd Kalamazoo (5-5)  Should KEN win one (or both) against teams that are competitive, they have a shot at improving on last year's 2-8 record.
RETURNING STARTERS  O-6  D-9  Kenyon's top QB during the second half of 2023 returns (Penrod).  All three WRs are also back (Taylor, Livingston, Carlquist),  They lose their TE and 3 O-linemen, and return 2 O-line starters (Filut, Rutherford),  The K (Bell) is back for another year.
On D, they will benefit from the return of 9 starters, including all the D-backs (Weaver, McCollough, Stewart, Simpson A-ll NCAC).  Two return on the D-line (Canonico All-NCAC, Caress). The 3 LBs are in place (Hollinger, Kerr, Hancock). 
OUTLOOK:  Kenyon has an outside chance of bettering last year's record, but they will probably have to win one of the OOC games to make this possible.  A porous defensive will have to improve for them to move up in the conference.
 

[sigma one]

#8 HIRAM

In its final year in the NCAC before moving to the PAC for 2025, Hiram opens the conference schedule with a Thursday night game.  Hiram has finally posted its roster and the losses appear major.
OOC  1st Heidelberg (6-4)   2nd Mount St. Joseph (9-2 ).  The early schedule does not favor the Terriers  They face the Student Princes from the OAC, and then must take on a team that went to the playoffs a year ago and was one of the top scoring teams in he nation. 
RETURNING STARTERS  O-2  D-6   Last year's starter at QB, a sophomore, is not listed.  Nor are any of the offensive linemen who started. The #1 RB  returns (Quaison-Sackley).  The receiving cupboard is bare, but the TE (Brumbaugh) returns.
they also have to replace the 2023 NCAC 1st team K/P  On D, Teo D-linemeb (Glass, Haugh) and two LBs (Boyd, Cruser All-NCAC) .
will have to shore up the D.  In the back 3 starters are return (Jiminez, Nation, Revis).  Of course the difficulty on both sides of the ball is that coming off a one-win season in 2023, Hiram lost a number of underclassmen who might have been expected to persist into 2024.
OUTLOOK  The Terriers have not much (any?) chance OOC.  They can, maybe,  get a win v. Oberlin (anything more would be a huge upset).  Next year, they will be replaced in the conference by John Carroll--like replacing a walk-on with a 1st round draft choice.

[DePauwalum05]

Thanks for these good previews, Sigma.  Much appreciated.  I'm excited by DePauw's momentum, but you may be inflating expectations a bit by implying 'bash, Witt and Denison are largely in a battle for 2nd.  The NCAC may not be a top league, but it's still a competitive one to win.  I expect it will be a battle among the top four once again.  Eager to see small college football in action this week.  Best wishes to all for a great season!

[sigma one]

#9  OBERLIN
 
With only 7 freshmen on the roster, Oberlin has a difficult task going forward.  The entire roster numbers 42. 
OOC  1st Calvin, a first-year program.  Massey gives Calvin a significant chance to win its first football game.  2nd Anderson (0-10)  This may be an opportunity for OBE to get an early-season win.  If not, the remaining schedule v. NCAC teams (perhaps with the exception of a much-depleted Hiram) gives them little chance.
RETURNING STARTERS 0-8  D-7   
The core of the O returns, beginning with the QB (Nye).  They need to find a new RB.  The TE (OBE calls him a super back) is a bonus (Smith-Rooks).  Three/four return along the O-line (Filippelli, Bailey, Mathis, Gaycheck ?)  Two WRs are back (Castro, Steel).  Defensively, Three linemen are there (Lotinsky, Genger, Cohn) along with all three LBs (Daniel, Green, Hall).  Only one DB is ready (Chojnichi)  They have to find a new K and P.
OUTLOOK:  The prospects are dim.  Las year's O was anemic and the D porous.  There is not much, if any depth, so the Yoemen starters will have little relief, with a few probably playing on both sides of the ball. Though there has been no chatter about the future of the program, the addition of JCU in 2025 will make it even more difficult for any improvement.

[CollegeGolf18]

https://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2024/9/6/Wabash_College_Football_Game_Notes_-_vs_St._Norbert_9-7-24.pdf

Game notes for Wabash.

No surprises for me besides a 5'10 313 freshman starting at LG.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Oberlin's Roster is now up to 49.   Still only seven freshmen. 

[Little Giant 89]

https://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2024/9/6/Wabash_College_Football_Game_Notes_-_vs_St._Norbert_9-7-24.pdf

Game notes for Wabash.

No surprises for me besides a 5'10 313 freshman starting at LG.

There is also a 6'5 405 pound freshman from Greene County on the roster.  I can't imagine having to feed that young man.

[Pat Coleman]

https://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2024/9/6/Wabash_College_Football_Game_Notes_-_vs_St._Norbert_9-7-24.pdf

Game notes for Wabash.

No surprises for me besides a 5'10 313 freshman starting at LG.

There is also a 6'5 405 pound freshman from Greene County on the roster.  I can't imagine having to feed that young man.

That new campus center/dining hall opened this fall, right?

[Little Giant 89]

"You're going to need a bigger boat."

[smedindy]

https://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2024/9/6/Wabash_College_Football_Game_Notes_-_vs_St._Norbert_9-7-24.pdf

Game notes for Wabash.

No surprises for me besides a 5'10 313 freshman starting at LG.

That's a low center of gravity there...

[sigma one]

His name is Timmy Dixon.  He was 1st team 6A first-team all-state last year.   If he was taller, he probably would not be playing D3.  Two years ago Quinn Sholar, Wabash's left tackle, started as a freshman and earned 1st team all-NCAC honors.  He repeated last year as a sophomore.  It will be interesting to see how those two operate as the LT and LG. 

[CollegeGolf18]

His name is Timmy Dixon.  He was 1st team 6A first-team all-state last year.   If he was taller, he probably would not be playing D3.  Two years ago Quinn Sholar, Wabash's left tackle, started as a freshman and earned 1st team all-NCAC honors.  He repeated last year as a sophomore.  It will be interesting to see how those two operate as the LT and LG. 

Yeah, if you're starting as a freshman on the Wabash OL...you are DAMN GOOD.

[wabashcpa]

https://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2024/9/6/Wabash_College_Football_Game_Notes_-_vs_St._Norbert_9-7-24.pdf

Game notes for Wabash.

No surprises for me besides a 5'10 313 freshman starting at LG.

There is also a 6'5 405 pound freshman from Greene County on the roster.  I can't imagine having to feed that young man.

That new campus center/dining hall opened this fall, right?

Unfortunately, not yet.  They have brought in a temporary dining facility currently set up on the tennis courts.  ETA on the new hall is, well, not anytime soon.

[DePauwalum05]

DePauw game notes vs. the Engineers-

https://depauwtigers.com/documents/2024/9/7/DePauw_Game_Notes_-_Rose-Hulman.pdf