FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[Baldini]

Whitewater would be on the short list.

You very well may be correct. I was just thinking a 2 lose MWC winner would be closer to Whitewater and Martin Luther closer to Waverly, but think both are strong possibilities without a doubt. 

[AO]

AO, is there any restlessness with the alumni about the football program or it just to early for that? Martin Luther does deserve credit, but is that sustainable for them? From the outside Northwestern has soo many more resources than most others in the UMAC, it doesn't feel like they should be taking one of the backseats in football. IMHO

Good luck to the women's soccer and volleyball teams playing in their title games on Saturday.

By the way, I tuned into the volleyball last night in the 3rd set and that was a fun watch. Gotta love playoff action.

No I don't sense any restlessness.  For Martin Luther it's definitely harder to sustain their current level as they're recruiting from a pretty limited pool of players.

I thought I was going to get out of the volleyball game early last night, had a match point in that 3rd set.  Kudos to Superior for making it a game.  We've mostly dominated the UMAC in volleyball recently but there is a ton of talent on the other teams.

As for the Knights possible playoff matchups, maybe they'll get sent to Chapman.  I'm sure every highly ranked West team is just hoping for anybody but the Johnnies.

[Baldini]

AO, is there any restlessness with the alumni about the football program or it just to early for that? Martin Luther does deserve credit, but is that sustainable for them? From the outside Northwestern has soo many more resources than most others in the UMAC, it doesn't feel like they should be taking one of the backseats in football. IMHO

Good luck to the women's soccer and volleyball teams playing in their title games on Saturday.

By the way, I tuned into the volleyball last night in the 3rd set and that was a fun watch. Gotta love playoff action.

No I don't sense any restlessness.  For Martin Luther it's definitely harder to sustain their current level as they're recruiting from a pretty limited pool of players.

I thought I was going to get out of the volleyball game early last night, had a match point in that 3rd set.  Kudos to Superior for making it a game.  We've mostly dominated the UMAC in volleyball recently but there is a ton of talent on the other teams.

As for the Knights possible playoff matchups, maybe they'll get sent to Chapman.  I'm sure every highly ranked West team is just hoping for anybody but the Johnnies.

The end of that 3rd set was special. The UW-Superior coach wasn't going to let the team quit, called a timeout like every other point. Was great stuff.

Martin Luther will lose 8 starters on their defense that have played together going back to their 0-10 freshman season. Rebuilding a defense for anyone is tough, might be even tougher with their  recruiting pool.

Interesting thought on Chapman, that is one I had not considered. 

[DuffMan]

Whitewater would be on the short list.

That'll be a brutal bus ride after getting triple stomped.

[Baldini]

Whitewater would be on the short list.

That'll be a brutal bus ride after getting triple stomped.

The only potential brutal bus ride left on Martin Luther's schedule is the one back from MacMurray this weekend. If they lose that one it probably is a tough trip home. Their is no brutal bus rides home for any UMAC football team from a playoff game, they are not delusional. If Martin Luther does win and reps the UMAC, they will and should be very proud of what they have accomplished in the past 4 seasons at MLC. Going from 0-10 four years ago to back-to-back playoffs is something they can carry with pride the rest of their lives regardless of the playoff outcome.     

[DuffMan]

I agree that there is much to be proud of at MLC.  Still, a solid thumping always hurts, and a bus ride from New Ulm to Whitewater is unpleasant no matter the outcome of the game.

[Baldini]

The 4 games this weekend could shape up to be two very good games and two over matched ones.

Westminster makes the 520 mile trip north to face Northwestern in what I think has the making of a good game. QB Wyatt Ellis returned last week for the Blue Jays and their offense again began to score points, he will stress the Northwestern defense on Saturday. But I believe this game will be about Northwestern and their Seniors on Senior Day. Northwestern has had a very disappointing season by their standards and Saturday will be their opportunity to flush all of that from their systems. Westminster's run defense has been good most of the season giving up 103.3 YPG, but I look for Northwestern is set the tone early with their big RB Payton Bowdry. And I look for that talented defense of the Eagles that was tops in the UMAC in both 2017 and 2018 to show up large. One game I will be checking in on.

St. Scholastica travels to Minnesota-Morris to face the Cougars. This is another week that appears to be a bad match up on paper for Minnesota-Morris, the Saints score at a clip of 34.1 PPG and the Cougars give up 36.0 PPG on average. M-M was shutout last weekend and gained only 2 first downs in the process, I do believe they will be much more effective this week at home and against a defense that has given up 376 YPG themselves. The Saints should continue their winning ways this week in fairly easy fashion. Good news for Morris is that the volleyball team is in the conference championship game this weekend, Go Cougars!

Iowa Wesleyan travels to Greenville. This is a huge mismatch on paper and Greenville is playing as well as anyone in the UMAC right now. The Panthers should build an early lead and clear the benches in the 2nd half. Better days are ahead for the Tigers, just not Saturday.

Martin Luther travels the 511 miles to Jacksonville to take on MacMurray. If MacMurray had gotten the win last week again Greenville this game would of been for the conference title, but now the Highlanders can only hope to play the spoiler and help Greenville. The game features the top 2 offenses in the UMAC with MLC at 453 YPG and MacMurray at 449 YPG. The Highlanders will attempt to make this a shootout, the Knights defense who is #1 in scoring (16.3), #1 in rushing (57.5), #1 in passing (164.4) will attempt to slow the high octane MacMurray offense. MLC has a repeat sequence season from a year ago going for themselves. Their schedule is a match of last season with the same opponents in the same order and their bye on the same weekend, both seasons they opened with a lose to Gustavus Adolphus followed by wins in every game until the playoffs. Last season MLC clinched the conference title with a win against MacMurray, does the repeat sequence season continue on Saturday with MLC clinching the title again? Is another playoff visit to St. John's in their future? Their is still work to be done, but something fun to watch none the less. 

Weather today,

Westminster @ Northwestern - Game time temp. 38 degrees, chance of rain showers, slight winds.

St. Scholastica @ Minnesota-Morris - Game time temp. 34 degrees, chance of rain showers, slight winds.

Iowa Wesleyan @ Greenville - Game time temp. 52 degrees, partly sunny, slight winds.

Martin Luther @ MacMurray - Game time temp. 51 degrees, sunny, winds up to 12 MPH.   

[Baldini]

Martin Luther clinches the AQ in the UMAC with a 35-22 win against MacMurray.

[Baldini]

Recapping yesterdays games.

Northwestern came ready to play yesterday and gave their Seniors a good sendoff. On the first play from scrimmage Ryan Flanigan completed a pass to Evan Pruitt for a 75 yards TD and the Eagles built a 17-0 lead which was enough for the defense to keep Westminster at bay for most of the day. The Blue Jays added a TD with 16 seconds remaining to cut the final margin to 10 points in the 27-17 Northwestern victory. Good win against a good opponent. With a trip to Iowa Wesleyan for the season finale the Eagles can still salvage a 4-4 conference season and build some momentum towards next season.

St. Scholastica cruised to the win against Minnesota-Morris as Zach Edwards threw for 400 yards and 4 TD's, but it was good to see the Cougars get their offense rolling a bit yesterday. M-M manage to rack-up over 400 yards in offense and 29 points for themselves, but it was not enough as the Saints take the victory 44-29.

Greenville handled their business to get a 21-0 win against Iowa Wesleyan, but a big tip of the hat to Iowa Wesleyan team and coaches for a very gritty effort yesterday. Their defense battled all day, holding Greenville's potent attack to 243 yards in total offense. Held one of the conferences leading backs to under a 100 yards rushing and held Greenville to only 4 rushing and 4 passing first downs on the whole day. The intestinal fortitude was awesome, hold your heads high today men, you deserve to.

Martin Luther claimed the AQ against MacMurray for the second year in a row. The Highlanders had some moments moving the ball, but the Knights defense came up with 4 TO's including 3 INT's on the day. Martin Luther's rushing attack had another huge day piling up 429 yards on the ground and dominated the time of possession to get the 35-22 win in the end.


   

[Captain_Joe08]

Martin Luther instead gets sent to.....Wheaton. A bit surprised that was the case since the NACC Champ Aurora is heading to St. John's but probably the best to avoid rematches I guess. MLC has their work cut out for them against one of the top defenses in the country.

Final UMAC Standings

1. Martin Luther 9-1 (8-0)
2. Greenville 8-2 (7-1)
3. St. Scholastica 7-3 (5-3)
4. MacMurray 5-5 (5-3)
5. Northwestern (MN) 4-6 (4-4)
6. Westminster 4-6 (4-4)
7. Crown 3-7 (2-6)
8. Minnesota-Morris 1-9 (1-7)
9. Iowa Wesleyan 0-10 (0-8)

[DuffMan]

Martin Luther instead gets sent to.....Wheaton. A bit surprised that was the case since the NACC Champ Aurora is heading to St. John's but probably the best to avoid rematches I guess.

On yesterday's ATN podcast, Catanzaro talked about how they tried to avoid rematches from previous year's brackets.  ML to SJU is a quick jaunt, but I am glad to see a new team in Collegeville.

Congrats to MLC on the league championship!

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks for being a pod listener! Regardless of rematches, Martin Luther is definitely the 8 seed in that bracket and should be sent to the 1 since it's within 500 miles.

[Baldini]

Not disputing for a second that a trip to Wheaton wasn't the right call by the committee for MLC, but I was one of the few people on the planet that was probably pulling for a return trip to Collegeville.

This is not to suggest that MLC would even have the slightest of chances against St. John's, but to me it would of been the best way to judge the progress MLC has made from a year ago. When I tuned into the playoff game last season it was to as much to watch a St. John's team that I had convinced myself was the best team in the country as anything else. But the biggest take I took away from watching the game was how overwhelmed by the moment the MLC players were. From fumbling the opening kickoff to jumping offsides to not even having the right number of players on the field. Unable to preform the simplest of actions. It was a classic deer in the headlights experience for the whole team and got ugly fast. The results more than likely would of been similar if they had drawn St. John's, but as a competitor I would bet that most of the MLC players would of liked a do over of last season just to get that taste out of their mouths. Just a chance to prove 84-6 was not who they were. Just a chance to go out and play with the confidence they play with any other week and let the end result be what the end result would be.



   

[Baldini]

The 2019 UMAC All-Conference honors are out.

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Joshuah Kren, Jr., Martin Luther
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Ian Paulsen, Sr., Martin Luther
Most Valuable Special Teams Player: Drew Shipley, Sr., Minnesota Morris
Most Valuable Lineman: Anthony Esquivel, Jr., Greenville
Coach of the Year: Robbie Schomaker, Greenville

Interesting that last years MVOP was Austin DeNoyer for Martin Luther and he probably had a better season this season than last, but still lost out to his backfield mate in Joshuah Kren.

https://umacathletics.com/news/2019/11/19/football-awards.aspx

[Baldini]

In listening to the podcast today it was good to hear Keith McMillan talk about Hope and the MIAA getting a win this weekend and what it would do for a program and conference. Not every team is going into the tournament with the same ideas of what success is. Some have real hopes of winning it all, others just winning a game is a big step forward and others are just trying to continue to build with a positive showing.

Which got me thinking about Martin Luther College and what in the end will be a positive showing. With what I personally feel is one of the worse possible draws for MLC in ending up with Wheaton and their run defense, I start with these 3 goals.

1.) Score. That may seem like a small and silly goal for some, but Wheaton has shutout 5 of their 10 opponents and allowed a total of 62 total points on the season. North Central's 21 points was the only team to top the 13 point barrier against them.

2.) Rush for a 100 yards on the day. No team has reached 100 yards rushing against Wheaton this season and that would be a goal that MLC could look back at with pride some day. Most are going to react that that will never happen, but MLC runs an offense that is designed to force teams to read and react. It takes away some of the athletic advantages a defensive team may have and keeps them from playing downhill. Play undisciplined and MLC does have a player in Joshuah Kren that can take it the distance. Think of Navy or Air Force and the problems they give major programs at times. MLC rushed for 335.7 yards a game this season which is 2nd in all of D3. Granted their level of competition is not CCIW like, but impressive none the less no matter who a team is playing. 

3.) Keep the margin under 50. I doubt anyone with the program is thinking like that today, but I can because I have no connection to anyone or thing there and I'm just thinking about the positive steps to building a program. This is a program that was 0-10 in this SR. classes first season and the strides made by them and Coach Stein are somewhat remarkable.

I give a tip of my hat to the 8 SR's starting on this MLC defense. All 8 have been there from day 1 and lived through the winless season and the forty and fifty point defeats. They stayed the course to the point that this season they were the #1 defense in the UMAC in scoring defense, total and rushing defense, sacks and interceptions. I don't know if they will even cause the Wheaton offense to break stride tomorrow, but that should not takeaway from how far they have come. This is a program that keeps taking steps and has traveled an amazing distance in four seasons. Play with confidents MLC. I know it is cliché, but play every play as if it is your last and at the end of the day hold your heads high, because you have made one hell of a journey!