FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[section13raiderfan]

The knock on D3 football has usually been there are few kickers in D3 capable of winning a game on long field goals. True or false? Anyone remember a kicker winning a game with time running out? I have seen more unsuccessful attempts than game winners. Does D3 not recruit for that position?

[sigma one]

I remember that in 2007/08 a DePauw kicker made a 49/50 yarder as time ran out for the Tigers to avoid overtime when nobody there thought he could kick it that far.  (The game was played at DPU.)  If I recall correctly (please help if I am wrong), it was one of the few (or only) FGs he made that year. 
     Others can probably think of other examples over time.
     You are certainly correct, though, in recognizing that in general D3 kickers do not have range much over 40 yards or so.
     All that being said, I do think that D schools recruit kickers.   
     I'm also thinking that there are many examples of D3 kickers who have made shorter FGs to win a game late or at the horn. 

[sigma one]

Overnight I thought of one more example--and a rare one, (and perhaps never done before)--of an NCAC kicker with a game-winning FG.  In 2016 Will Gingery of Witenberg kicked a total of 4 FGs in a second-round playoff game v. Thomas More.  In overtime Gingery kicked three FGs, the last one from 37 yds to end the game and give Witt the win, 33-30.  One for the books.  Curiously, both Witt and TMU had field goals blocked in overtime (I forget whether it was the 2nd or 3rd) to set up Gingery's winner.  So, Witt outscored the Saints in the extra periods, 9-6.     

[wally_wabash]

I remember that in 2007/08 a DePauw kicker made a 49/50 yarder as time ran out for the Tigers to avoid overtime when nobody there thought he could kick it that far.  (The game was played at DPU.)  If I recall correctly (please help if I am wrong), it was one of the few (or only) FGs he made that year. 
     Others can probably think of other examples over time.
     You are certainly correct, though, in recognizing that in general D3 kickers do not have range much over 40 yards or so.
     All that being said, I do think that D schools recruit kickers.   
     I'm also thinking that there are many examples of D3 kickers who have made shorter FGs to win a game late or at the horn.

That was indeed Jordan Havercamp's first career make.  A 47-yard walk off in the Monon Bell Classic is a heck of a time to get on the board. 

[Pat Coleman]

The knock on D3 football has usually been there are few kickers in D3 capable of winning a game on long field goals. True or false? Anyone remember a kicker winning a game with time running out? I have seen more unsuccessful attempts than game winners. Does D3 not recruit for that position?

There are a number of them every year, really.

https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20221001kakj4v
https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/contrib/20220917ccbcnk
https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2022/boxscores/20221015_xi0s.xml

[Shamrock]

Happy Independence Day, North Coast!

[wabashsid]

The knock on D3 football has usually been there are few kickers in D3 capable of winning a game on long field goals. True or false? Anyone remember a kicker winning a game with time running out? I have seen more unsuccessful attempts than game winners. Does D3 not recruit for that position?

Spencer Whitehead - 41-yard field goal in the closing seconds to give Wabash a 13-10 win at Wittenberg on October 18, 2008. Wabash trailed 10-3 before scoring a TD with five minutes left to tie the score. Whitehead's kick with four seconds remaining gave the Little Giants the win on the way to an NCAC title.

[wabashsid]

I remember that in 2007/08 a DePauw kicker made a 49/50 yarder as time ran out for the Tigers to avoid overtime when nobody there thought he could kick it that far.  (The game was played at DPU.)  If I recall correctly (please help if I am wrong), it was one of the few (or only) FGs he made that year. 
     Others can probably think of other examples over time.
     You are certainly correct, though, in recognizing that in general D3 kickers do not have range much over 40 yards or so.
     All that being said, I do think that D schools recruit kickers.   
     I'm also thinking that there are many examples of D3 kickers who have made shorter FGs to win a game late or at the horn.

That was indeed Jordan Havercamp's first career make.  A 47-yard walk off in the Monon Bell Classic is a heck of a time to get on the board.

I was in the opposite end zone going through the overtime rules with the HDNet sideline reporter (Natalie Allen) when Havercamp nailed that field goal. As he kicked it and saw it headed right down the middle, I told Natalie "Never mind. That kid just won the game."

As I recall, Havercamp transferred from Denison to DePauw. He was the back-up kicker for the Tigers, but starter Brendan Smith has missed a 25-yard kick and an extra point, so DePauw sent Havercamp out to try and kick the game-winner. He was the starter from that point forward.

[sigma one]

The NCAC will post its all-decade teams this year.  This is the 40th anniversary of the conference (1984-2024).  As the new season approaches, I thought it might be fun to think about the best players over the past 10 years (which will include Allegheny). On the 30th anniversary, the conference's all-decade team included 34 individuals.
     I'm trying to put together a guess about this group based on all-conference, all-region,and all-american selections.  I am considering a  team of two athletes at each position.  The NCAC has separated centers from the other offensive linemen, and they have in the past not broken out the line by tackles and guards, just the best linemen over the period.  Also, in the past the conference has included only two WR positions. With the change in offensive philosophies over the last 10 years, I'm putting together 3 WR (that is, a total of six receivers). 
The NCAC has also used 4 LBs (total of 8).  I will stick with that, without trying to decide if a player is an ILB or OLB.  Kickers and punters are, of course included, as are return specialists.
   I'm hoping to be able to roll out my team later this week.  So, if you follow NCAC football and want to try your hand at a partial or full all-decade team, please do.  I won't necessarily take anyone's picks into account as I assemble my own team.  There has not been much action on this board lately; maybe this will kick start some discussion as we look forward to camps starting next week and the beginning of the season a month away.   (Current players are eligible for consideration.  On the last all-decade team, one active player was selected among all the choices.)

[sigma one]

OK no takers so far.  Lack of interest?  Anyway, as I looked at picking the top players over the last decade, I became aware of how tough it was going to be.  So, I've changed my approach.  I'm listing those I consider to be among the best at every position (from whom I hope the NCAC will choose the top few),  Here's what I have.  Please add to the list as you want.

QUARTERBACKS:  Gebele DEN; M. Hunt DPU; Thompson WAB; Jenkins WIT; Muntean WOO
RUNNING BACKS: Fabrocini DEN; Minton DEN; Rogers HIR; Robinson HIR; Avant WAB; Zukek WAB; Hacker WOO   
WIDE RECEIVERS: Victor ALL; D. Brown DEN; Layer DEN; Flynn DPU; Hunca KEN; Witjes OBE; Sullivan WAB; Culvahouse WIT;
                           Cunningham WIT; Stump WIT; Strausbaugh WOO
TIGHT ENDS:  Chaney OWU; Zumdick WIT; Hissong WOO
OFFENSIVE LINE:  Balanquet ALL; T. Dawkins DEN; K. Stone DEN; Zoltan DEN; Bontreger DPU; Bowman DPU; Trudeau DPU; Brackett KEN; 
                           W. Brown WAB; Leath WAB; Riffle WAB; D. Smith WAB; Coeling WIT; Cook WIT; Hodo WIT; Reisinger WIT;
                          Widemon WIT; McCants WOO
CENTERS:  C. Smith DPU; McAtee WAB; Stucker WAB; Nutting WIT
KICKERS:   Sullivan DPU; McKenzie OWU; Tutsie WAB; Gingery WIT
PUNTERS:   Annee WAB; Sobleski WAB; Gingery WIT; Pardi WOO
RETURNS:  C. Balla ALL; A Hunt DPU; Streib OWU; Tiffner WIT; James WOO

More later.  Again, take a look and add if you want.  Thanks.           

[sigma one]

Finishing Up.

DEFENSIVE LINE:  Neufeld DEN; Mitsch DPU; Orrison DPU; Zanca DPU; Mabin HIR; Eaton OBE; Henry OWU; Huddleston OWU;
                           Valentine OWU; C. Buresh WAB; McCullen WAB;  Bannick WIT; Daniels WIT; Ferko WIT; Knock WIT;
                           D. Brown WOO
LINEBACKER:  Moore DEN: Crupi DPU;  Gude DPU; Nicholson DPU; Burchett HIR; Sullivan KEN; Streit OWU; E. Buresh WAB;
                     Akinrabade WAB; Ludwig WAB; Rhodes WAB; Scola WAB: Yeagy WAB; Holmes WIT; Kayser WIT; Leno WIT;  Seay WIT 
DEFENSIVE BACKS:  Downie DEN; Hallinan DEN; Lahoua DEN; Zinkula DEN; Hepp DPU; Hyatt DPU; Kalgren OBE; Broder OWU;
                              Heiden OWU; A. Brown WAB; Franco WAB; A. Hodges WAB; Page WAB; Eby WIT; Holmes WIT; James WOO

A word on my methodology.  I rely strongly on  Players of the Year, all-conference, all-region, and all-American recognition.  With only a very few exceptions. all those on the lists received recognition for sustained excellence  (usually multi 1st team all-conference selections).   To use just one example of a player not on the list, I'll mention Penn Stoller, currently Wabash's tight end.  He was all-region and second team all-American last year, but I have not included him.  If he is equally, or almost so, this year, he's deserving.  There are others who had one outstanding year. and again only a couple of them are here.   Of course, I may have missed someone deserving.  Take a look.
         
                           



                               
                             
                                 














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[wally_wabash]

This is a fun exercise and your methodology is exactly what I would have done.  If this is a list of "finalists", it's hard to find somebody missing.  Narrowing it down to two teams of 11 on 11 is a challenge. 

That tranche of Wabash LBs...good gracious. 

[Shamrock]

Little Giant football players return to campus today.

[sigma one]

yes, this is my list of the finalists for the all-decade team.  Last decade the NCAC chose a total of 34 players for the team.  This time around I'd say that there are some no-brainers who were simply outstanding.  But that leaves a bunch more on the fence, and it will  be interesting to see who gets in and who is left off. 

[Shamrock]

2023 NCAC Football
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank   School (1st place votes)   Points
1.   DePauw (6)   77
2.   Wabash (1)   70
3.   Denison (1)   59
4.   Ohio Wesleyan   57
5.   Wittenberg (1)   52
6.   Wooster   32
7.   Kenyon   26
8.   Hiram   20
9.   Oberlin   12