FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Schwami]

Really enjoyed the trip to Cleveland today.  I rarely have felt as proud to be associated with Wabash as I was when the team came over at the end of the game to lead us in a good old Wabash yell.  They really showed their appreciation to the fans for the great support they provided today.

I bet Case wishes they could have the first quarter to do over again.  Two three-and-outs for Case, and two sustained drives by Wabash to stake the Little Giants to a 14 point lead.  While there were ebbs and flows to the game after that, Case really dug themselves too deep of a hole this time, and the Wabash defense (except for a couple of lapses in the secondary) and offense played too well to let Case get into a position to pull out another close one.  Case sure is a fun team to watch.

Hope Sobecki is OK.  He was outstanding in the first half.  Also Brian Hilts was assisted off the field in the fourth quarter.  Can't afford to be losing offensive linemen at this point.

With Chicago and Wash U on the schedule next year, I look forward to seeing the Wabash march through the UAA continue    If only a trip to Pittsburgh to play CMU were a part of it, but the closest Wabash comes to Pittsburgh next year is Hiram   

But that's next year . . . time to focus on the Warhawks, and making the most of the opportunity that is before us this year.

[BoBo]

Good news is, we're not going to have to worry about coasting or 21 point leads next week. 

If we don't bring it full tilt for 60 minutes, we'll get our Hard Hats handed to us.

I'm interested in seeing how our d-line and linebackers handle the UWW running attack - strength against strength. 

Exactly! +k

Whitewater has performed well against some statistically strong rush defenses all season long.  In the latest game, North Central came into the game as the #7 rush defense in DIII.  Justin Beaver gained 241 yards on 29 carries, including TD runs of 74, 47, and 40 yards. Otherwise, the Cards D did a fairly nice job on him.  MHB contained him pretty well, but he did outgain the Cru's duo that came into that game off that 500 yard rushing effort vs Miss College.

UWW's defense is on a turnover binge as of late.  Keep the name Ryan Orgizovich on the tip of your tongue.  The DE has TD's the past 2 weeks off a fumble and INT. Had a monster game vs NCC.

Should be an interesting game between teams with no history playing each other.  Welcome to all the Wabash fans making the trip to Wisconsin.

[Li'l Giant]

Although, I believe giving us 27.5 points (OAC pick 'em) is a bit much.  I'll take Wabash and those points all day long.

I remember the line set for the Mount Union game in 2002 and thinking the same thing. Yeah, they covered.

If we play hard for 4 quarters I like our chances. But there should be no doubt we're in a for a tough challenge next week against a heavily favored team.


PS: Hey BashBro, how'd ya like that Apple Cup?

[bashbrother]

Li'l Giant - 

Had probably the best day possible.  My Cougs pull out a wild Apple Cup and the Little Giants take care of business in Cleveland.

Great game by Brink and the Cougs!

[Schwami]

Whitewater has performed well against some statistically strong rush defenses all season long.  In the latest game, North Central came into the game as the #7 rush defense in DIII.  Justin Beaver gained 241 yards on 29 carries, including TD runs of 74, 47, and 40 yards. Otherwise, the Cards D did a fairly nice job on him.  MHB contained him pretty well, but he did outgain the Cru's duo that came into that game off that 500 yard rushing effort vs Miss College.

The Wabash run defense was certainly not tested today, but Case made absolutely no effort to establish the run.  The best running back Wabash has faced all year is Jeremiah Marks, and that game did not turn out too good for Wabash.  One thing Wabash has not allowed this year, however, is many runs over 20 yards.  If Justin Beaver has a 200+ yard day again next week, it will be a looooong day for Wabash.

[Schwami]

I think Sobecki got a little dinged at the end of the half.  Don't know for sure but I think I saw him limp off.  Didn't look too bad.

Actually it was Porter who limped off at the end of the first half.  And now that my memory cells are sputtering back to life . . . Sobecki was on the field in the 4th quarter on special teams for the kickoff after the last Wabash touchdown.  He should be fine.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Sounds like the better team won!

Congrats to Wabash.  I'll be rooting for you during the rest of the playoffs.

Hopefully, we'll meet again in the 2008 playoffs!

[wally_wabash]

This is one exhausted wally checking in with some thoughts from today's game...

- That first 25 minutes was quite something...it was men against boys for most of that first half.  I can't remember the last time I saw Wabash just run it down somebody's throat like they did with Sobecki for the first half today, but it was pretty cool to watch.  CWRU's defense was just not ready for that kind of power football.  But they adjusted as all good teams do...but wow that defense was on the field an awful lot in the first half. 

- Wabash's defensive line was as dominant as I've seen this year.  Those guys up front really came with it today and had Whalen in panic mode for most of the afternoon (more on this later).  Coupled with some well timed blitzes, the pass rush was something else today. 

- As overpowering as Wabash's lines were today, it's a pretty big testament to Whalen's athletic ability to have kept as many plays alive as he did.  That kid is a heck of an improv artist and he almost single handedly brought his team back from what looked and felt like a doomed situation.  When you can keep a busted play alive for 8-10 seconds, somebody is going to get loose deep in the secondary which is exactly what we saw on a few occasions today.  Depending on how crippling the loss of Brew and Tiemeier is to that defense, I'll not be one bit surprised if the Spartans can run the table again next year and get another crack at these playoffs (although I'm guessing Wooster will go into the stringer game with a renewed sense of purpose in 2008...should be a good game). 

- That's one heck of a facility they've built there at CWRU.  It's a shame if the student body there doesn't get out and pack that place for home games...if they did they could have one heck of a home field advantage there. 

And lastly...

Really enjoyed the trip to Cleveland today.  I rarely have felt as proud to be associated with Wabash as I was when the team came over at the end of the game to lead us in a good old Wabash yell.  They really showed their appreciation to the fans for the great support they provided today.

This was positively one of the coolest moments I've witnessed in 12 years of following Wabash football.  Seeing the appreciation that we fans have for the team be reciprocrated like that was a special moment. 

On to Wisconsin...and I can't wait! 

[wally_wabash]

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Hudson's day today...after an inconsistent game last week, #14 bounced back with a stellar game today and he earned every bit of it.  CWRU hit him hard a lot today both in the pocket and on scrambles.  Hudson even delivered the best hit of the day when he torpedoed Bott after Bott intercepted a pass toward the end of the first half.  Great game for Matt today.

[FBPurest]

I think Sobecki got a little dinged at the end of the half.  Don't know for sure but I think I saw him limp off.  Didn't look too bad.

Sobecki was fine.  I can't understand why after racking up almost 100 yds in the FIRST HALF he only had a handful of carries in the second.  Football is obviously a momentum game.  Is anyone else tired of seeing these running backs start to get in the groove only to be sat so there backups can get a couple of carries?  It doesn't make any sense.  I know Sobecki and CP have been good compliments to each other in weeks past, but if you have a guy that is running with that kind of authority you have to ride it out until they stop him.

In my humble opinion, if Creighton would have stayed with the running game they would have stepped on CWRU's neck.  I guess I just don't understand the coaching philosophy of...Let's find something that works....and then do something else.

I love to watch this Wabash team and they have had some great victories, but the thing that makes me nervous about watching them every week is their inability to finish.  Week after week they let teams into the game in the second half.  I was at the game and Wabash was clearly the better team but they don't know how to put teams away.  This week they could have done it with the running game.

[wabashpp]

Quick thanks to the Little Giant broadcasters.  Video feed did not run well from Case web to Baghdad, but the audio from Wabash has worked fairly well every week.  Appreciate their excitement and candor with the games and almost feel like I'm there.  Tough task ahead next week...great team...but "Wabash Always Fights".

From Baghdad,

Go Bash

[gobash]

I can't understand why after racking up almost 100 yds in the FIRST HALF he only had a handful of carries in the second.  Football is obviously a momentum game...I guess I just don't understand the coaching philosophy of...Let's find something that works....and then do something else...I love to watch this Wabash team and they have had some great victories, but the thing that makes me nervous about watching them every week is their inability to finish.  Week after week they let teams into the game in the second half.  I was at the game and Wabash was clearly the better team but they don't know how to put teams away.

So very very very true.  I told Wally that that game felt like it had more endings than Return of the King.  We'd stomp down the field, have what seemed to be an insurmountable lead, and then the next series, have them at 4th down, one of our DBs would blow coverage, they'd get the deep ball, and it'd be a game again.  As fun as the first half was to watch, the second half was torturous.  Well, at least it was water boarding.

[BayernFan]

Case's first two touchdowns were the result of Wabash's secondary selling out.  The first one to a wide open Case WR came after the Wabash cb bit HARD on the Case QB  scrambling.  The 4th and 25 that Case converted on at the end followed about a 10 second scramble, and the Wabash secondary got caught again admiring the action in the backfield.  May have been the same guy.... No. 21.

I hope that Wabash gets its secondary together this week.  The WW RB looks to be a good one, so it will be hard for our guys in back NOT to keep on eye down there.  But to leave guys WIDE OPEN like they did yesterday will be killer, imo.

[aueagle]

Just curious....did wally or any of the other faithful see any support from the NCAC schools. Hiram is an hour southeast of Case. I would think that Hiram, OWU, Denison and the other Ohio teams would be there to support their champion. I hope there will be 10,000-13,000 in Wisconsin. Good Luck LG's.

[wally_wabash]

Just curious....did wally or any of the other faithful see any support from the NCAC schools. Hiram is an hour southeast of Case. I would think that Hiram, OWU, Denison and the other Ohio teams would be there to support their champion. I hope there will be 10,000-13,000 in Wisconsin. Good Luck LG's.

I did see a car in the parking garage after the game that had a Witt sticker in the back window.  I didn't see anything obvious inside the stadium...nobody sporting gear from other NCAC schools, but that doesn't mean that they weren't there because I wasn't specifically looking for anything of the sort.  I was pretty focused on what was happening on the field.