FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Looks like crummy weather up in Chicago today.  Hope both sides exercise caution today.  Both teams have a really high ceiling that probably don't need to be gambled on a wet field today. 

[USee]

Thoughts from the Scrimmage today at Wheaton (I posted my thoughts for Wheaton fans on CCIW board)

First some overall observations:
-It started in a downpour. There were puddles on the field, which is very rare with fieldturf. (For Wheaton fans--like Bethel game from 2008). This made it quite hard on both teams to operate offensively.
-The QB's for both sides wore red jersey's and were "off limits". Another inhibiting factor because the referees were extremely quick with the whistle on both sides and both teams employ a running QB at times.
-There appeared to be no significant injuries for either team and it was a spirited scrimmage
-They played it like a real game with 4 quarters but a running clock most of the time.
-The Wheaton starters (and subs who will play) played the entire first half and the first series or two in the second half
-The Wabash starters on defense played 4 series which was the entire first quarter
-The Wabash starters on offense played the whole first half and into the first series or two in the second half.
-There was a 25 play series for each team's young players after the 4 quarters were over. Each offense was on the field at the same time with their backs to each other starting on the +30 yd line.
-There were close to 1,000 penalty flags thrown by the officials.

-Wabash got the ball first and Putko led the charge 3 straight passes and 3 drops resulted in a 3 and out.
-Bash forced a fumble on the first play by Wheaton. after about a 7 yd run Sola Olateju got hammered and coughed it up. Bash recovered at the Wheaton 35. On 3rd and 11 Rice threw an INT on a curl route to the wide side.
-Bash D forces a 3 and out and Putko comes back in. The Mason Zurek machine gets started and he carries for 7 yds, 2 yds and 2 yds and a Wabash 1st down. Then 2 consecutive holding penalties on Sturdivant trying to block Wheaton's Logan McRae, gave Bash a long way to go and they ended up running a draw on 3rd down and punting. The punt was shanked and Wheaton took over at the Bash 35. They went on to score from there for the only scoring of the first half.
-That was Wabash's only first down in the first half. There were at least 5-6 drops by WR's and 3-4 balls on the ground (bad snaps, fumbles, etc) from the rain, and numerous penalties. Putko and Rice were both ineffective. It was a combination of bad weather, miscues, and red jerseys on the QB's so no one could scramble or run on the spread option. Wheaton's defense is also, like the LG's, very very good. Both defenses really dominated play.
-Mason Zurek had 4-5 carries for approximately 10 total yds. The Wabash running game, when it was 1s v 1s, was not good.
-In the 3rd quarter Tyler Downing had a great run for about 45 yds and a TD.
-As an example, Bash got the ball with 2:06 in the half and Connor Rice came in to run the 2min drill. First play was a draw to Shamir Johnson for -1 yd. 2nd play was a spread formation jet sweep to #14 WR Kirby Cox for no gain and on 3rd and 11, Rice put the ball on the money to Satchel Burton on an under route and he dropped it. Punt.
-Wabash Defense was very stout. Wheaton's offense had 5-6 first downs and had the only score on a short field.
-Wabash 2nd team defense punished people. I lost track of the sacks and holding penalties. They ran against the first team Wheaton offense the entire second quarter and the Thunder went exactly nowhere. Mid season form by the Bash D.

I wouldn't be too concerned with the offense. Zurek got very little action and the weather and the flag happy officials made it very tough to get anything going. Wheaton's defense had something to do with it and you won't be facing that very often this year (except every day in practice!).

Wabash came out with the following starting lineups:
OL:  Wes Brown LT, Tre Taylor LG (Jordan Culp subbed for him after 1 series), Kyle Stucker C, Tim Leath RG, Deryion Sturdivant RT
QB: Putko followed by Rice. They alternated every series
RB: Shamir Johnson played most of first half w Zurek getting a few looks. Matt Gibson and Tyler Downing looked good too
TE: Buresh started (I think) and he and Fullenkamp played most of the first 3 quarters
WR: Drake Christan, Sammy Adams, and Matt Dickerson started and I also saw Trenton Brazel, Tom Garrity, and David Boyer get snaps in the first half

Defense:
DL: Rutter and McCullen started along with Jalon Alston I believe.
LB: Buresh and AJ Clark played and I saw Broecker, Karns and Jones play as well.
DB: Pettiford and Allgood were the starting corners with Cmehil and Justin Woods at safety. I don't remember seeing Austin Brown but he may have played sparingly. Brian Parks and Brad Buillinger played a lot with the 2s and Parks saw some action in nickel packages.

There were 2 points of game drama in the second half with the 2's. Wabash had scored with their 2's and were absolutely dominating the Wheaton offense. Late in the 4th Wheaton put together a couple first downs on some hot read's off Bash blitzes. Then they had a 4th and 3 on about the Bash 30. QB scrambled to his left and threw a long pass that was picked off with about a minute left. But there was a flag. Roughing the passer was called. The Bash sideline moaned and it certainly appeared like a bogus call. But the simple fact is there was really one rule out there today, don't hit the guys in the red jerseys and a Wabash defender for some reason decided to dive at the Wheaton QB right as the threw the ball that was intercepted. Wheaton gets new life and on 4th and goal from the 2 they complete a fade route for a TD with 2 seconds left in the "game". Controversy on that play was the sideline official waved his arms incomplete as it appeared the Wheaton receiver may have bobbled the ball but the back judge signaled TD and that is what stood.

Fun day to see two high class programs getting good work in. Classy program in Crawfordsville. That defense is in mid season form.

Good luck the next 3 weeks, big games for the LG's.

[wally_wabash]

Thanks for that report, USee. Very glad to hear the defense was on point.  Really hard to judge the offense in these situations where they kill the play as soon as anybody is within arms length of a quarterback, plus the rain which makes it even more difficult.  Even so, I doubt coaches or players on either side will come away satisfied with what they did offensively.  Should be a focused week of practice for sure.  Most of all, it sounds like both teams walked away healthy which is the top priority. 

Wouldn't mind doing this for real when the weather cools off a bit in a few months.   

[BashDad]

Thank you, USEE.

[chillydigits]

Poor Scotlass would blow a head gasket if she saw how far in numbers and in wins her beloved Fighting Scots have fallen... Even though the Scots never won on Our trips to Crawfordsville, Scotlass and I always enjoyed the atmosphere and the Wabash fans passion for the game...

[oldtiger]

Springfield News-Sun's Witt positions preview and more:

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/sports/college-football/wittenberg-football-positions-preview-jenkins-retu/nnTCC/

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/sports/college-football/wittenberg-seeks-rare-feat-four-peat-in-ncac/nnTCB/

[sigma one]

Terrific summary, Usee.  You mention Brad Buillinger playing at defensive back.  There is freshman DB named Brad Guilinger on the roster   That's a new name to me. Listed as being from Brownsburg, Indiana.  Please don't take my clarification as criticism.  Hard to get everything exactly when viewing through windshield wipers. 
     Again, great stuff.  It's officially first-game week, so let the rumpus begin.  Wabash Always Fights.

[USee]

Sigma One,

It is indeed Guilinger vs Buillinger. It wasn't so much my eyes that failed me this time, although that is not unprecedented, but my fingers. Unfortunately the 'B' and the 'G' are proximal on the keyboard. As for the extra 'L', that was definitely vision related. Apologies.

[sigma one]

Usee, no apology necessary.  Glad you had the gumption to stick out the poor weather.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Usee thank you for your accurate report...I was there an hour early...with the heavy rain and my radar showing it will eventually pass I made for a local Wheaton restaurant after visiting the Billy Graham Museum. I returned in time to see the final minute of the first half...
The Bash defense was looking mid season as you say even without somd starters...Allgood made some particularly good plays...and the 45 yd td run was good...
It was very uncharacteristic of these scrimmages in that both offenses were not producing...all in all no injuries that we know of and the usual hard hitting teams we expect...

[Li'l Giant]

Thanks for the report, USee. +k for that and this little nugget which made me laugh.

-There were close to 1,000 penalty flags thrown by the officials.

Glad to hear the defense is picking up where it left off. I love the Wheaton scrimmage and wish I were closer so I could go see it one of these years.

[sigma one]

This morning chillydigits came back to the topic of how far the Fighting Scots have fallen.  Last week, I asked the question of Allegheny and Wooster, What is going on?  We agree that times and priorities change, and at the time had brief exchange, in which Pat participated, about the topic.
     I've been looking at the Wooster season preview and their 2015 roster.  Given that Wooster generally keeps putting together championship-caliber basketball and baseball teams, why is not the same thing happening with football--a third leg of what many fans would think of the fall, winter, spring trinity?
     This year's roster lists 60 players, 24 freshmen among them.  This is Oberlin and Kenyon territory.  The roster shows exactly two running backs, and they are both freshmen!  I don't want to discount that there are others in the weeds, but they are not shown.  There also appear four linebackers.  Wooster's defense doesn't use as many linebackers as a lot of other defenses, but that's an alarmingly low listing, particularly when linebackers often form the core of special team success.
     Johnson and Congedo, running backs from last year, are not on the roster.  Neither are two good returning wide receivers.
     Of the 24 freshmen only nine are from Ohio.  Only three are offensive linemen.  There are no linebackers listed.  I  could go on about what I see, but the mystery would just deepen.   Suffice it to say that the roster is mighty thin.  The Scots are ranked below 200 on this year's DIII football  list.  On a positive note, Wooster returns a solid group on the offensive line, several experienced defensive linemen, and a good number of experienced defensive backs.  There seems to be a spirited QB battle.  I wonder who will trot out vs. W&J.  Maurosek?
      Can someone who knows more about Wooster render an opinion?
      The NCAC is diminished if another team falls from respectability.


     
       
     

[wally_wabash]

Can't wait to get game notes from around the league this week.  I'm anxious to see who's starting, who's replacing key graduates, and so forth.  Let us lift the fog of camp and see who the players are going to be in 2015!

[wabndy]

This year's roster lists 60 players, 24 freshmen among them.  This is Oberlin and Kenyon territory. 

Ouch.  If this trend keeps up, i have to wonder if some of these schools are going to seriously consider dropping football within the next decade?

[wally_wabash]

This year's roster lists 60 players, 24 freshmen among them.  This is Oberlin and Kenyon territory. 

Ouch.  If this trend keeps up, i have to wonder if some of these schools are going to seriously consider dropping football within the next decade?

I would say very doubtful.   I think football is still too valuable an enrollment tool to just drop it.