FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Noted that no NCAC teams are even receiving votes in the D3 poll.  Will be interesting to see if that changes.

I think we're going to have to get used to Big 12-style shootouts in the NCAC.

Overall Thoughts:
The Wabash offense can score with anyone and their offensive line looks very good this year. The defense was bad this past weekend but I think will show improvement throughout the season. If they can get their defensive points allowed average under 30 points this year, Wabash could run the table in the conference, the offense is that good.

These statements are all related. 

[CollegeGolf18]

Going to say it again (even though it is against NCC) - Wabash's defense is awful. Completely overmatched, can't tackle, no toughness.

[wabashcpa]

56-12, not unexpected.  104 pts allowed in 2 games.

Guessing the Hard Hat D chant is in hibernation.

[Crawford]

56-12, not unexpected.  104 pts allowed in 2 games.

Guessing the Hard Hat D chant is in hibernation.

Hampden-Sydney only scored 27 today.  NCAC play is going to very interesting this year.

[wabashcpa]

56-12, not unexpected.  104 pts allowed in 2 games.

Guessing the Hard Hat D chant is in hibernation.

Hampden-Sydney only scored 27 today.  NCAC play is going to very interesting this year.

Gonna be a lot of high scores to be sure.  Offense held in check today, but North Central is a top ranked team for a reason.

I actually like our chances in conference, just need to find a smidge of defense.

[Stagg Again!!]

56-12, not unexpected.  104 pts allowed in 2 games.

Guessing the Hard Hat D chant is in hibernation.

Hampden-Sydney only scored 27 today.  NCAC play is going to very interesting this year.

Gonna be a lot of high scores to be sure.  Offense held in check today, but North Central is a top ranked team for a reason.

I actually like our chances in conference, just need to find a smidge of defense.

I like your chances in conference too cpa.   Wabash has a special kid at QB and a lot of talent on the field.  Expecting to see the Little Giants making some noise in the NCAC.  Thank you to the Giant faithful for the hospitality today.  It was certainly a better day than the last time we visited Crawfordsville!! 

[sigma one]

Thanks, Stagg Again!!  Kind words.
Trying to find some consolation--hard as that might be--in yesterday's thumping, I looked up the last year's NCC schedule.  Here is what I found.
          Game 1:  Opponents Total Offense:   219                  NCC Total Offense:  610               Final Score:  64-7
          This was v. Aurora, ranked #21 at the time.  They finished 8-3. 
          Game 2:                                         394                                               471                                   20-7
          Wheaton ranked #5 at the time.   They finished 10-2
          Game 3:                                         189                                               602                                   58-6
          Game 4:                                         221                                               625                                   62-7
          Game 5:                                         218                                               639                                   64-13
          Game 6:                                         129                                               582                                   77-7
          Game 7:                                         202                                               588                                   55-7
          Game 8:                                         252                                               555                                   54-27  (Millikin)
          Game 9:                                         324                                               487                                   59-20  (Washington U.)
          Game 10:                                       109                                               726                                   84-6
     PLAYOFFS:
          1st round:                                      370                                               484                                  34-20    (UW Lacrosse)
          2nd                                                151                                               516                                  55-6     (RPI)
          3rd                                                276                                                374                                  26-13   (Mt. Union)
         
     DIII Championship:  loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor     57-24

     Yesterday v. Wabash                            257                                                542                                   56-12

With 9 offensive starters returning and a defense front that was outstanding all day,  NCC was dominant--but not so much (it was 35-12 at the end of 3 qtrs) to make me give up hope that Wabash can still make some noise in the NCAC.

Wooster this week, then Denison (at Homecoming), then Wittenberg.  Woo and Wit are on the road.  Wabash lost to both last year.  The schedule is really front loaded,  so we will know a lot more in 3 weeks (maybe even after this week), starting with Woo's high-powered passing game v. the LGs so far porous secondary.

 









                                                                                       

         










 
         

[Whitecarrera]

As my kids would say, "Fun Fact"

1893
Wabash - 6 / Illinois - 60
Wabash - 8 / Purdue - 48

This is the last time Wabash gave up 100+ total points in two games in the same season.

[bleedpurple]

As my kids would say, "Fun Fact"

1893
Wabash - 6 / Illinois - 60
Wabash - 8 / Purdue - 48

This is the last time Wabash gave up 100+ total points in two games in the same season.

Yeah, that 1893 Wabash defense was really porous. Just couldn't stop the run! 

[sigma one]

Thoughts after two weeks--mostly OOC.

DEN:  2-0 with wins v. Capital (2-8) last year and Hilbert (1st year program). Two decisive wins, though the Comets scored 31 them.
                 This week they open NCAC play with Oberlin.  They will be 3-0.
DPU:   2-0 with wins v. Rose-Human, a close 17-14 game in a rematch of last year's first-round playoff game, which DPU won 26-21;
                and Anderson (1-9 last year).   The rout of Anderson, 55-0, happened v. a team that has not scored a TD so far in 2022.
                This week in the conference opener it's Hiram.  DPU starts 3-0.
HIR:   0-1 The Terriers have played one OOC game to date, losing to Bethany (1-9 in 2021) 26-16.  They started NCAC play last week with   
               Wooster, losing 49-21.  On Saturday, they are up against DePauw, so it's an 0-3 start.  There's Hilbert on the far horizon.
KEN:  1-1 They opened with Bluffton--a 33-26 win.  Then, they played Kalamazoo (1-9 last year) and came up short, 24-21 (a game that I               
               expected them to win).  This week they get Wittenberg.
OBE:  0-2 The Yeomen start with two losses v. teams they should have had a chance against.  Kalamazoo beat them 21-14; Alvernia (0-10)
               and only 3 previous wins since they began football in 2018.  Could be another long year.  This week--Denison.
OWU  0-2 A disappointing beginning for the Battling Bishops;  losses to Otterbein (1-9) 21-13 (ugh) and Illinois Wesleyan (3-7, but I expect
              a rebound this year) 49-21.  Saturday:  Idle.
WAB  1-1 I've said before that the OOC schedule for the LGs is the most rigorous of any in the conference.  They opened with Hampden-
              Sydney (5-5) 52-48; then fell decisively to North Central 56-12.  The Cardinals came to C'ville ranked #2 in the DIII poll, and have
              jumped to #1.  Wabash started about where I expected, though the points against is astounding.
WIT: 0-1 The Old Tigers lost to Cortland 48-28, a team that will be in the TOP 10 hunt this year.   Idle last week.   Kenyon this week. 
             Wit will be 1-1.  Hilbert, later OOC.
             
WOO: 2-0--1-0 in conference.  OOC win v. Geneva (4-6) 33-25,  then in the NCAC Hiram . They still have Hilbert later.  On the weekend
            Wabash visits.  Best game in the conference on Saturday.  Two veteran, terrific QBs in what should be a shootout.   
           
So, mixed results OOC, with three teams still to play Hilbert after the loss of Allegheny in the off season
This weekend most of the contenders will feed on the lower tier of the league.  Wooster/Wabash will early on perhaps go some distance toward determining the NCAC champion.





k         

[wally_wabash]

Wabash visits.  Best game in the conference on Saturday.  Two veteran, terrific QBs in what should be a shootout.   
           
So, mixed results OOC, with three teams still to play Hilbert after the loss of Allegheny in the off season
This weekend most of the contenders will feed on the lower tier of the league.  Wooster/Wabash will early on perhaps go some distance toward determining the NCAC champion.

Enormous game this weekend in Wooster.  Last year, Wabash rushed for nearly 400 yards and gained 670 yards in total against Wooster - and did not win.  Renteria back for his 12th year isn't great news - his line last year in C'ville:

PASSING   C-A   YDS   LG   TD   INT
Mateo Renteria   28-41   408   38   3   0

Give me the over on 41 attempts on Saturday.  Teams are (correctly) going to continue to challenge Wabash's secondary until they start successfully defending. 

[Li'l Giant]

Renteria back for his 12th year isn't great news

that one made me laugh. +k

[wally_wabash]

Mateo Renteria's career vs. Wabash:
22-35 227 3 1 48-20 L
17-27 222 2 0  24-10 W
28-41 408 3 0 44-41 W
--------------------------
67-103 857 8 1  2-1 record

It's been a hot minute since I can recall one QB beating Wabash three times in a career.  Might have to really dig around to see if I can actually find an answer to that.  It might pre-date my matriculation actually. 

[Whitecarrera]

Jeff Voris? 87-88-89

[sigma one]

Wallly, Renteria back for his 12th year.  Certainly seems like that.  Actually, I thought it was only his 11th, which would have tied him with Rocky Pentello.  His 12th will move him into 1st place.   But Rocky didn't have the COVID advantage!