FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I know this isn't football related, but in August I also know no one is checking the baseball boards.  I just saw that Oberlin sadly announced the passing of long-time baseball coach Adrian Abrahamowicz.  For those not familiar not only was he an excellent coach he was loved by his players and universally liked and respected in the Ohio baseball community.  Oberlin's run to the NCAA regional (with current Hiram HC Phil Brua on the mound) was one of the most fun postseason runs I've seen.  He did it at a school that's tough to win at and he did it the right way impacting players' lives in a positive way.  RIP Coach A.

[DePauwalum05]

Where did everybody go? Doesn't seem to be much excitement and anticipation for the NCAC football season.  I'm eager to see DePauw's opener and the development of a lot of young student-athletes on the roster along with breaking in a new QB.  Hard to say whether the preseason conference ranking is warranted or more of a reflection of last season.  Tough match up Saturday vs. resurgent Rose.

What's going on up at Wabash?  Should be an interesting couple of opening games for the Little Giants.  Talented QB in Thompson returning.  Can't recall you guys ever being so quiet on these boards.

Would welcome any commentary on the conference -

[Brian]

Where did everybody go? Doesn't seem to be much excitement and anticipation for the NCAC football season.  I'm eager to see DePauw's opener and the development of a lot of young student-athletes on the roster along with breaking in a new QB.  Hard to say whether the preseason conference ranking is warranted or more of a reflection of last season.  Tough match up Saturday vs. resurgent Rose.

What's going on up at Wabash?  Should be an interesting couple of opening games for the Little Giants.  Talented QB in Thompson returning.  Can't recall you guys ever being so quiet on these boards.

Would welcome any commentary on the conference -

DePauw definitely deserves the pre-season top-spot as the defending champ, IMO.  The D-Line was stout last season....are any/most of those guys back?

Optimism and excitement are high at Wittenberg.  Nine starters return on offense and six are back on defense for the new coaching regime.  Wittenberg finished '21 strong but has a very tough road trip to open the season at Cortland and does not play a home game until October when the Tigers host Wabash (what a Homecoming...jeez). That game and a trip to DePauw the next week will dictate a lot about the season.

Good luck to all the NCAC teams in their openers!

[sigma one]

OK
    At mid-week before the season's first games, I'll take a crack at the teams, in the order of the coaches' poll.  I'll do three each day for the next three days.  I'm basing my thoughts on some research on who is returning, plus whatever else I can think of based on the current rosters.  Where's Wally when we need him?

DEPAUW:  Returning All-Conference picks Kauffman OL (HM), Ammons OL (2nd team), Shaw WR (2), Smith  WR (1st team, Newcomer of the Year in the NCAC), Baumgartner RB (2), Sullivan K (1) Gude LB (1), Marsh LB (1)
Two defensive linemen also return, and two more on the offensive line. 
The largest loss is on defense, where all four defensive back starters graduated. 
The likely QB starter is McCahill, a sophomore, who two years ago led Cathedral H.S. to an Indiana state championship.
OOC, the Tigers open with the return of Rose-Hulman (chosen to  be #1 in the HCAC).  DPU defeated the Engineers 26-21 in the first round of last year's playoffs--so they play back to back.  The second OOC game is with Anderson, no big challenge there. 
OVERALL:  the Tigers will once again be tough.  I have them as a very slight favorite in the RH game based on what I saw when Wabash scrimmaged Rose last week.  OFFENSE:  with the two returning receivers and the RB, if McCahill performs (I believe he will) DPU will put up points.  DEFENSE: They need to replace an outstanding defensive lineman and the defensive backs.  LBers will  be a strength.  They may take a small step back from last year, but their D coordinator always seems to find replacements. 

WABASH:  Returning All-Conference selections:  Mullin OL/C (1), Sullivan WR (1), Snyder RB (1), Thompson QB (1, Player of the Year in the Conference), Netting DB (HM).  Also returning is Franco DB, who fell off last year, but was 1st team All-NCAC in 2019.
Several offensive linemen who saw extensive time are also slated to start.
Three defensive linemen  return from the rotation last year.
All four defensive backs return--although that may be good or bad after last season's disappointingly porous pass D.


OFFENSE:  If Thompson, Snyder, and Sullivan play at a high level the Little Giants will be potent.
DEFENSE:  The pass defensive has to improve substantially for the LGs to compete at the top of the NCAC  The D line should be solid.  LB is another big ?, with only one starter returning.  A new defensive coordinator promises that the D will be more aggressive.
OVERALL:  The OOC lineup is key to success. After two tough games to begin, the third game is at Wooster.  I expect  Woo to be much tougher than their pre-season NCAC ranking has them.
OOC:  Wabash opens with Hampton-Sydney (ranked #3 preseason in the ODAC).  Then North Central visits Crawfordsville.  The LGs have substantially the toughest OOC slate in the conference.

WITTENBERG:  Returning All-Conference:  Snurr LB (2), Prospere OL (HM), Anderson RB (HM).
Nine starters return from an offensive that was up and down last year, including four on the OL, three receivers, the RB and QB.
A new coach promises to have them poised to compete for a return to the top of the NCAC.
Saus as a 5th year WR will definitely help.
OFFENSE:  QB production will be key.  The rest of the skill guys give Wit a good place to start.  The RB combo of Anderson and Gross will be strong.  A veteran O Line in front of those backs will allow them to run the ball successfully..
DEFENSE:  By my count 4 or 5 defensive starters return, with several more key backups.  Three of those returners are on the DL.
The big hole to fill is a DB, and with the way the NCAC will  throw the ball around their performance will be crucial.
OVERALL:  how the new coach does is important  He is experienced, with special DIII credentials at Capital during their heyday.  Remains to be seen what the O and D formations will be like.
OOC:  The Tigers start at Cortland, and the Red Dragons defeated them soundly last year.  Cortland is ranked #16 by DIII.  Then they play Hilbert, a first-year program out of NY.  So, the outcome there is known.

Three more tomorrow:  Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Wooster           


. 


   

[sigma one]

Three more today in order of the coaches' poll:   Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Wooster.

OHIO WESLEYAN:  Returning All-Conference picks Henry DL (1), Sanders DL (HM), Biddle DB (HM in 2019).
I was surprised when I reviewed the 2022 roster that several of the underclass starters from 2021 were not listed. The new starters on the recently posted two-deep comprise the majority of the lineup.
OFFENSE:  Three offensive linemen return. OWU will start new players at WR, RB, and QB--although Womack and Buza both played significant snaps last year when Ries was injured. 
DEFENSE:  Four starters return, including two who earned All-Conference honors in 2021.  Also back are one LB, and two DBs.  OWU always seems to find good defensive players; we'll see.

On both O and D there are many returning from last year's squad who saw time on the field.
OVERALL: Since I was surprised by the absence of several starters from last year, so it is hard to gauge the strength of the 2022 team.
I'm guessing that with so many holes to fill, OWU could finish anywhere from 4th to 6th.  I doubt whether the Bishops can match last year's 8-2 record; but, then again, I did not see them having that record before the start of the 2021 season.  Who knows?
OOC:  OWU opens with Otterbein, an OAC team that will pose a significant challenge to an inexperienced offense.  They then travel to Illinois Wesleyan, where they should be tested by a Titans team that faltered last year; but whom I expect to rebound in a tough CCIW.

DENISON:  Returning All-Conference K Stone OL (1), B Stone OL (2), Fabrocini RB (1), Dusendorf DL (2), Moore LB (1).  They also return two good fifth years Dawkins QB and Rooney DB.
OFFENSE:  All the skill players return:  3 WRers, RB, TE, QB.  the Stones provide a good core on the OL, but three positions have to be filled.
Fabrocini is an excellent RB who will likely get more carries with the loss of another good back from 2021.  Dawkins has been up and down, and is somewhat hampered by his lack of size, but who is an excellent runner.  Look for plenty of explosion here.  A bonus is Epps returning at returner.
DEFENSE:  The front six looks solid.  The Big Red has used a three-man front, and they all return.  Moore is an exceptional LBer.  The weak link may be the DBs, where only one starter returns, and Denison lost some very good, multi-year players.
OVERALL:  There is always a significant plus in returning a 5th-year QB--and Dawkins has had two good years.  The Big Red has been on a nice run for the last 5 years competing well against the entire conference.  They will be a tough out for any of the top tier teams. 
OOC:  Denison opens with Capital, one of the bottom dwellers of the OAC.  They should have little trouble there.  They then play Hilbert.  As I noted yesterday, Hilbert is a first-year program.  In fact, to fill their schedule Hilbert is taking on four NCAC teams.  Tall task to expect them to be competitive in their rookie season.

WOOSTER:  All-Conference returning Hissong TE (1, 5th year), Renteria QB (HM, 5th year), Barrett K (2), Pardi (2).   Hissong, Barrett, and Pardi are pre-season choices of DIII Football's  AA team.
The kicking game will be strong, and that's a bonus in close games.   Along with Hissong, Renteria,  Baughman are three other 5th years.  That has to give the Scots a, perhaps unanticipated, boost.  One wonders whether the league coaches knew about all of them when they picked Woo to finish 6th in the conference. 
OFFENSE:  Renteria set Woo records last year at QB, throwing for 29TDs.  Hissong  will give  LBers and DBs fits.  And Baughman, once a good RB, switched in the middle of last season to WR; his receiving skill are exceptional.   Three OL also returrn.  When Baugham moved to receiver, Yaseens came on at RB.
DEFENSE:  the DL will be solid.  Both starting LBers return, including Savaglio for his 5th year.  The Scots alway play multi DBs. and almost all of them are back to solidify the secondary. 
OVERALL:  As I mentioned above, it surprises me that the coaches picked Wooster for 6th in the NCAC.  My strong guess is that they will finish higher than that.  With all the offensive experience and the kickers, they will be a challenge for the entire league and may well compete at the very top.
OOC:  the opening game is with Geneva.  The game was close last year, and the golden Tornadoes triple option is tough to play against.  I   Their 2nd game is v. Hilbert.  I've already said all I can say about them.

Tomorrow, the final three:  Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram.

 
c


   

[Brian]

Three more today in order of the coaches' poll:   Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Wooster.

OHIO WESLEYAN:  Returning All-Conference picks Henry DL (1), Sanders DL (HM), Biddle DB (HM in 2019).
I was surprised when I reviewed the 2022 roster that several of the underclass starters from 2021 were not listed. The new starters on the recently posted two-deep comprise the majority of the lineup.
OFFENSE:  Three offensive linemen return. OWU will start new players at WR, RB, and QB--although Womack and Buza both played significant snaps last year when Ries was injured. 
DEFENSE:  Four starters return, including two who earned All-Conference honors in 2021.  Also back are one LB, and two DBs.  OWU always seems to find good defensive players; we'll see.

On both O and D there are many returning from last year's squad who saw time on the field.
OVERALL: Since I was surprised by the absence of several starters from last year, so it is hard to gauge the strength of the 2022 team.
I'm guessing that with so many holes to fill, OWU could finish anywhere from 4th to 6th.  I doubt whether the Bishops can match last year's 8-2 record; but, then again, I did not see them having that record before the start of the 2021 season.  Who knows?
OOC:  OWU opens with Otterbein, an OAC team that will pose a significant challenge to an inexperienced offense.  They then travel to Illinois Wesleyan, where they should be tested by a Titans team that faltered last year; but whom I expect to rebound in a tough CCIW.

DENISON:  Returning All-Conference K Stone OL (1), B Stone OL (2), Fabrocini RB (1), Dusendorf DL (2), Moore LB (1).  They also return two good fifth years Dawkins QB and Rooney DB.
OFFENSE:  All the skill players return:  3 WRers, RB, TE, QB.  the Stones provide a good core on the OL, but three positions have to be filled.
Fabrocini is an excellent RB who will likely get more carries with the loss of another good back from 2021.  Dawkins has been up and down, and is somewhat hampered by his lack of size, but who is an excellent runner.  Look for plenty of explosion here.  A bonus is Epps returning at returner.
DEFENSE:  The front six looks solid.  The Big Red has used a three-man front, and they all return.  Moore is an exceptional LBer.  The weak link may be the DBs, where only one starter returns, and Denison lost some very good, multi-year players.
OVERALL:  There is always a significant plus in returning a 5th-year QB--and Dawkins has had two good years.  The Big Red has been on a nice run for the last 5 years competing well against the entire conference.  They will be a tough out for any of the top tier teams. 
OOC:  Denison opens with Capital, one of the bottom dwellers of the OAC.  They should have little trouble there.  They then play Hilbert.  As I noted yesterday, Hilbert is a first-year program.  In fact, to fill their schedule Hilbert is taking on four NCAC teams.  Tall task to expect them to be competitive in their rookie season.

WOOSTER:  All-Conference returning Hissong TE (1, 5th year), Renteria QB (HM, 5th year), Barrett K (2), Pardi (2).   Hissong, Barrett, and Pardi are pre-season choices of DIII Football's  AA team.
The kicking game will be strong, and that's a bonus in close games.   Along with Hissong, Renteria,  Baughman are three other 5th years.  That has to give the Scots a, perhaps unanticipated, boost.  One wonders whether the league coaches knew about all of them when they picked Woo to finish 6th in the conference. 
OFFENSE:  Renteria set Woo records last year at QB, throwing for 29TDs.  Hissong  will give  LBers and DBs fits.  And Baughman, once a good RB, switched in the middle of last season to WR; his receiving skill are exceptional.   Three OL also returrn.  When Baugham moved to receiver, Yaseens came on at RB.
DEFENSE:  the DL will be solid.  Both starting LBers return, including Savaglio for his 5th year.  The Scots alway play multi DBs. and almost all of them are back to solidify the secondary. 
OVERALL:  As I mentioned above, it surprises me that the coaches picked Wooster for 6th in the NCAC.  My strong guess is that they will finish higher than that.  With all the offensive experience and the kickers, they will be a challenge for the entire league and may well compete at the very top.
OOC:  the opening game is with Cortland.  The Red Dragons dominated the game last year, and this early test will reveal a lot about Woo's strengths.  I don't expect a win, but I am eager to see how the Scots do against a top-line team who is better than anyone in the NCAC.  Their 2nd game is v. Hilbert.  I've already said all I can say about them.

Tomorrow, the final three:  Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram.

 
c

Your previews are fantastic, thanks!  Doesn't Wooster open with Geneva (not Cortland)?  If that's the case, I'd expect Wooster to open with a "W". Thanks again for the capsules.

[sigma one]

Brian, good catch.  My bad.  I had both Wit and Woo opening with Cortland.  Maybe they could put their two teams together and make a contest of it.  Of course, the Scots start with Geneva; close game a year ago.  I think the Scots will win, but the Geneva triple option is tricky and can give a lot of teams fits.

[WabashDadFromFL]

New member here - what a great site / board!  My son is a freshman d-lineman at Wabash.  Unfortunately tore his ACL on the 20th, so he'll miss all the action this year.  Can't wait for tomorrow and the start of the season!!! 

[Shamrock]

New member here - what a great site / board!  My son is a freshman d-lineman at Wabash.  Unfortunately tore his ACL on the 20th, so he'll miss all the action this year.  Can't wait for tomorrow and the start of the season!!!

Welcome!

[Crawford]

New member here - what a great site / board!  My son is a freshman d-lineman at Wabash.  Unfortunately tore his ACL on the 20th, so he'll miss all the action this year.  Can't wait for tomorrow and the start of the season!!!

WabashDad, welcome to the board. Sorry to hear about the injury to your son.  May he recover fully and may he have a great experience at Wabash.

[sigma one]

WabashDad, please look for a pm from me.  Glad you are aboard.

[WabashDadFromFL]

Welcome!

Thank you!

[WabashDadFromFL]

WabashDad, welcome to the board. Sorry to hear about the injury to your son.  May he recover fully and may he have a great experience at Wabash.

Thank you!

[WabashDadFromFL]

WabashDad, please look for a pm from me.  Glad you are aboard.

Got it!  Look for a response! LOL!

[sigma one]

Today, the final three:  Kenyon, Oberlin, Hiram

KENYON:  all conferencing returning Schnarre WR (2), Lawrence P (2), Leno DB (HM).

OFFENSE:  The Owls (no longer the Lords) should be improved over a group that was competent last year.  In addition to Schnarre, another good WR should be Finn Murray (great name!).  On the O line 3  starters return along with the 2 WRs and top 2 RBs.  The QB who played a lot in the second half of 2021 is also back.  For many years, the running game has been anemic.  If they can improve there, the passing game will be even better than last year.
DEFENSE:  By my count as many as 9 starters may be back,  including 3 on the DL, 3 LBers, and 3 DBs.  The defense has given up a ton of points recently; they must get better if the Lords--er, Owls--are to improve on last year's 3-7 record. 
OVERALL:  Kenyon could be improved--by how much difficult to tell.
OOC:  Part of that improvement will come if the can be 2-0 entering NCAC play.  The opener is with Bluffton in what could be a close game.  (Bluffton will be favorite, I think, But the Owls have a puncher's chance).  Then they get Kalamazoo.  A win there is entirely likely.
If they open strong and win several more, with luck they could be 4-6, maybe 5-5 if they steal another win somewhere (doubtful, if possible).

OBERLIN
For many years Oberlin has had a core of good players, just not enough of them to compete successfully.
They return 17 starters by my reckoning; a good start to improve.
OFFENSE:  As many as 9 starters could be back.  They are all listed on this year's roster.  Only Davies TE returns as all conference; he is back for his 5th year.  All 3 WRs also return, 4 OL, and a productive QB. 
DEFENSE:   Obe started 10(!) freshmen on D last year; yes 10.  They should all return, and the year's experience should help them--by how much remains to be seen. 
OVERALL:  The obvious question is by how much will the Yeomen be better with all those starters back?  Chances are, at least somewhat, but to what degree we'll see.
OOC:  Obe plays what could well be 2 winnable games v. Kalamazoo and Alvernia.  At least, they have a good chance to be competitive OOC.
K'zoo won only once last year, and Alvernia was winless.

HIRAM
At the beginning I need to mention that this morning, one day before the first game, Hiram has yet to post a 2022 roster.  I will work with last year's roster, anticipating that all the starters will return--though I know that probably won't happen.  Still . . . with possible 5th years, who knows?
OFFENSE:  The Terriers could line up with as many as 8 returning players.  All the WRs on last year's roster could return as well as the top RB and QB (who started most games).  In particular, the receivers could challenge most NCAC  DBs. 
DEFENSE:  Hiram usually struggles big time on defense, and the losses here appear substantial.  Five starters will return, but they need to find LBers and DBs. 
OVERALL:  Can the Terriers improve.  They won their opening game last year, then all losses.  If this many O starters return, they should be improved there.  The defense will have to reload. 
OOC :  the opening game is with Bethany.  I think Hiram has a chance to win against a weak team from the PAC,  Not a certainty, but a chance.  Then then play Hilbert.  I've mentioned previously that this is Hilbert's first year.  Is Hiram a team they can beat?  I believe Hiram will win this game.  So, they could go into the NCAC schedule with one, possibly two, wins

I'll mention that these posts on the NCAC are entirely from my own perspective.  I've been surprised before about one or two teams each year.   And any mistakes or errors, as any author will tell you, are my own to live with.
Enjoy the year NCAC fans.