FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MonroviaCat]

Congrats Warhawks---I thought we had you guys after the first Quarter....but Cats squandered a few chances and then the Whitwater defense took over.  Good luck vs. MHB--I think you can handle them!

[NewHawk]

Interesting prediction from the D3 guys in the Triple Take that just posted

Listening to their weekly podcasts leading up to this game, I thought they would go this way.

I am not surprised to see their picks either. We have to remember that Linfield is the #2 team in the nation in their poll. We also need to remember that each of these guys picked Linfield to advance through the region at the beginning of the playoffs. I know the guys aren't bound by either of those, but their previous pick of Linfield showed us their perception coming into the playoffs. It's easy to interpret results of a football game in different ways.  These picks simply mean that the previous playoff results didn't alter their perceptions enough to throw them off course. It's like you, 02. You have liked Linfield's chances all year. While you are a little less confident in them than you were earlier (partly due to injuries and partly due to UW-W being better than you thought they were), it all hasn't been quite enough to throw you off the course you were already on.

My perceptions were different than the expert coming into the playoffs were different coming into the playoffs and they are different now. I know more about UW-W than I know about the Cats. What I know is that this defense ranks with the best UW-W has ever had. Their offense takes care of the ball and has receivers who can make plays on anyone. Their special teams are lights out. Their turnover margin is ridiculous. Mentally, they will seize the cold as a home field advantage.

I like the UW-W formula. I know they will be well coached and prepared. Their athletes will make plays tomorrow. I know fans hate to hear "you haven't seen a team like us" so I won't say it. What I will say is that I have seen enough of UW-W past and present to know that it will take a very special team to beat them. Special as in "doesn't come along every year" special. Is that what the Cats have? I don't know. We will find out tomorrow.

UW-W 23
Linfield  13

Warhawks by 6.  Take aways will be the difference.  Grayvold will get another interception and the front four will cause a fumble for turnover

Missed the score by 5 points but Grayvold got the interception and the D-line caused a fumble.  A great game.  Now on to MHB.

[dawgcat]

Hawks,
You earned the right to represent the West Region. Congratulations. Go for it. Play through the CRU to the Mount. They are definitely beatable... 62-59 ?

[WarhawkDad]

Good-bye and good luck.


LILA

I was impressed with Yoder...he's great

02....don't you have something else your want to add?   

[hazzben]

Congrats to Whitewater. You're boys looked really tough today. Good luck next week. Represent the West!

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Props to WW, best of luck on your run to the title. 

Phone that in

GHC

[Pat Coleman]

D3football.com just tweeted the Linfield's No. 1 running back Josh Hill will not play today due to injury suffered last week vs. Hampden-Sydney

Yeah....and for those of you that read closely, DOC actually gave you this information (and more) last night.  Luckily we have some depth at RB this year.

The irony was, after DOC posted it, Pat came on and basically said, non-story...it's football, game on. Then d3football.com sent out a tweet about the injury  So, I guess it was a tweet-able non-story 

Here's the original:

How frisky would a fan from any team be if they lost their defensive front 3, the #1 running back, the #2 quarterback, #1 receiver and a starting linebacker?
Play ball!
No More Injuries....

Whitewater's lost several running backs this season, both of their top receivers have missed time ... it's the way football is.

Both have a point really. It's football, and the playoffs in many ways are a war of attrition, just the way it is. That said, Linfield's definitely taken some lumps this year and it seems they are more banged up coming into today than UWW is.

Which isn't reason for any excuses (not that anyone's making any), but is too bad, this would be even better (how is that possible!) if both teams were fully healthy.

All that to say, good luck to both sides, stay warm and stay healthy!

I actually said that injuries happen and every team has to deal with it. I didn't say it was a non-story! But I promised I would hold it till morning.

[hazzben]

I actually said that injuries happen and every team has to deal with it. I didn't say it was a non-story! But I promised I would hold it till morning.

I'm just giving you a hard time 

[Wildcat'64]

Congrats to Warhawks you have a very impressive team and I think has the potential to go all the way.  As tough as it was to take it on the chin again we know one thing for certain.  Any time these two programs meet it's going to be a hell of a football game.  I thought we had you on the ropes at 17-0 and almost 24-0 but you showed what a spirited tough program you have.  Your defense is the best I've seen all season and as we know defenses win championships.  Great job today.

[GBMAN]

To all the Linfield fans....thank you very much. You have an oustanding program.

[02 Warhawk]

Good-bye and good luck.


LILA

I was impressed with Yoder...he's great

02....don't you have something else your want to add?   

I had my coming out anouncement on the previous page of this board.

WIWA

[bleedpurple]

A great win for UW-W today.  To come from 17 points behind to beat a team like Linfield says a lot about the character and make-up of this team. The Cats had two long pass completions that lead to TD's in the game's first 18 minutes, leading to that 17 point lead. UW-W's second half defense was just incredible.

Linfield's second half drives:

0 yards
7 yards
5 yards
0 yards
34 yards
8 yards

Unreal.  The other stat that just jumps off the page. The Hawks sacked Josh Yoder 8 times. Wow! A ton of credit to the secondary in all that, too. A number of those were coverage sacks.  Also, one of the most important and impressive plays of the game occurred the drive following UW-W grabbing a 21-17 lead. Linfield faced a 3rd and 7 from their own 33 yard line. They ran a beautifully executed screen play with three blockers out front of their running back. Brady Grayvold seemed to be the only player on that whole side of the field. He made an incredible tackle, stopping the play for a 2 yard gain. I know there were a lot of great performances to highlight (Kumerow, Behrendt, etc), but I didn't want that play to get left out. Not many guys make that play.

Many people questioned the Warhawk offense coming into this game. But given the early 17 point deficit today, you don't win this game without the offense playing well. This was not a "just enough offense" kind of day. They executed TD drives of 51 and 84 yards in the second quarter to turn a 17 point deficit into a 3 point game at halftime. Way to go Hawks! WIWA!

[umhb2001]

Looks like we meet again. We certainly will have to play better on O than we did this week. Our D and special teams are tough and gave us a lift today, but we need to get back to what we have been doing all year. See ya soon.

[02 Warhawk]

Wow...still buzzing about the game. Great recap bleed. After getting zero pressure on Yoder in the first half, the d-line just came up huge in the second half. 8 sacks!!! Unbelievable.

I admit, I started to panic when we went down by 17. But after that second UWW TD to pull within three, I thought "Ok, we got this". I never felt so good about a game when TRAILING at the half. You just felt that UWW had all the momentum, and never gave it back. What more can you say about this defense and its ability to make second half adjustments that shuts down the opposition....time, after time, after time, after time. Great sign of an outstanding coaching staff. We're very lucky.

How about Kumerow, just throw it up and he'll come down with it. What an athletic talent. Linfield had no answer for him. I bet emma enjoyed the number of times MB took chances down the field. 

McLin started off as rough you could start a game. But he made up for it with some nice pass breakups in the second half. If there's been a better DB this post season then Gravyold, I would like to hear about him. He's been absolutely outstanding...there's been no one better this playoff.

[Olinemom]

Way to go UWW!! Glad you are still on the road to Salem. What I don't understand is why you always have the harder route there (ie. Playing Linfield & UMHB) than another team thar always seems to have an easier route.  Just saying. .  .  . I sure am looking to seeing you in 2 weeks in Salem,  so play hard!!! Tell the coach(es) that I'll need a UWW pin for good luck, so bring an extra one.  Can't wait!!  Go WARHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!