FB: American Rivers Conference

lorbec47 · October 10, 2005, 01:53:24 PM

Yikes!!
If Coe runs the table, they've definitely earn it. I think it's crazy talk though to say that at 5-0, Coe only has 1 tough game yet. If people honestly feel this way, watch out! With a loss to UD, and a 1-point O.T. victory over Loras last season, anything is possible.

Floyd in Iowa City · October 10, 2005, 02:03:57 PM

Congrats Dutch on moving into the rankings and taking care of business again on Saturday to set up a big game with Luther! I'm not sure how many people before the season would have thought that Central would be 5-1 at this point with a very solid schedule, but I admit that I thought they might be more like 4-2 or possibly even 3-3 at this point since the team looked young to me. The games against Bethel, Augustana, Coe, and Simpson all looked tough.

The thing that Central seems to do better than anyone is to know how to win a close game even if everything is not going your way. That is what separates good teams from others that look the same on paper.

dutchfan1 · October 10, 2005, 07:30:10 PM

Floyd, I have to agree. The Dutch have come on really strong this season -- I was cautiously optimistic at the beginning of the season. McMartin is doing a great job keeping control of the team. The offense has come together -- it's a quicker offense than we have used in the past, and it lends itself to utilizing the depth and versatility on the roster. The defense has looked very strong. Though Central is fielding a very young team, they are proving to be very disciplined. More than anything though, the guys take the field and every week not only want to win, but believe they can win.

Lance Harbor · October 10, 2005, 10:52:51 PM

Lorbec and Floyd in IC - I actually agree partway with both of you. Coe is definitely in the driver's seat, but after last year, they are not overlooking anyone!!

Charlie Kohawk · October 10, 2005, 11:42:23 PM

Does anyone know how this karma thing works?

Floyd in Iowa City · October 11, 2005, 12:26:49 PM

Scores of note from some IIAC preseason foes:

Millikin (beat Wartburg) fell to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the CCIW after losing 41-35 to #23 Wheaton. Millikin is 19-51 passing the ball in conference games and has thrown 4 INTs. The teams that have beaten Millikin (#12 Carthage and #23 Wheaton) are both 1-1 in league action.

Augustana (lost to Central) moved to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in the CCIW after beating #12 Carthage, 7-0. That win makes the Central game look better all the time for the Dutch.

Illinois Wesleyan (lost to Simpson) fell to 1-4 and 0-2 in the CCIW after losing to North Central, 36-14. Both of their losses in league action are to teams that are 5-0.

Augsburg (lost to Wartburg) fell to 0-5 and 0-3 in the MIAC after losing to previously winless Gustavus Adolphus, 42-27. The game this week against Hamline might be their only real chance at winning another game.

Bethel (lost to Central, beat B.V.) fell to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the MIAC after losing to St. John's, 30-9. The Royals have lost to Central, St. Olaf, and St. John's so far, but could still finish as low as 5-5 since St. Thomas and Concordia could be tough games.

St. Olaf (beat Luther) moved to 5-0 after beating Carleton for the Goat Trophy, 44-19. They play Gustavus and Hamline over the next two weeks before getting St. John's. St. John's plays Concordia this week so one of the three undefeated MIAC teams will take a loss. The Oles are averaging 46.4 points per game while having a balanced offense (254.8 yards per game rushing, 265.2 yards per game passing).

St. Thomas (lost to Coe) had a bye and is still 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the MIAC. They play Bethel this Saturday in a crucial game for both teams trying to get back on the winning track.

DutchFan2004 · October 11, 2005, 04:19:34 PM

Floyd,

Do you think those scores bode well for for the IIAC? As a comparison to other conferences or a negative?

DutchFan2004 · October 11, 2005, 04:34:16 PM

Floyd,

With the exception of the Coe game the one thing the Dutch have been doing is not allowing points off turnovers. Simpson also scored their only score off of a turnover. This speaks well of the Dutch D and somewhat the offense for not turning the ball over deep in the Dutch territory. Thats why Auggie and Bethel did gain alot of yards. When the Dutch did turn it over it was deep in the opponents side of the field. Then the D would stop them and force a turnover or force a punt. In conference play they had avoided that. The difference in the Coe game came down to the field goal off the INT. It was costly. I think points off turnovers is a much overlooked stat at times. If the Dutch can keep playing that way (keep the turnovers down and not give up points) I think they will be successful against the Norse.

coocooforcoekohawk · October 11, 2005, 04:47:00 PM

Here's the answer to the question I asked. The best IIAC scenario is for Central and Coe to win the rest of their games. That would give the IIAC it's best shot for two playoff bids. We are in the toughest region, the West. Two Conferences in the West should get two playoff bids.

Floyd in Iowa City · October 11, 2005, 05:26:37 PM

CooCoo,

I agree with you that from a distance the Iowa Conference looks better if Coe and Central do well since they both had a legit win in the preseason and Central had two.

The IIAC should feel good about having a winning record against the CCIW and the MIAC, but the only win that might look good near the end of the season is the Central win over Augustana. Luther missed a good chance against St. Olaf, as the Oles will be 8-2 at worst.

I have a difficult time believing that the IIAC is going to get more than one team this year based on what I have seen. The big reason I have a hard time seeing more than one team is that the race is not over and perhaps there won't be two teams with gaudy records and rankings when the dust clears at the end of the season. There is not a lot that seperates the top five teams in the league on a given day.

DutchFan2004 · October 11, 2005, 07:44:05 PM

CooCoo,

I agree with you. That the best is for Coe and Central to win out. But if that doesn't happen. The next best is for Central to win out and Coe only lose to Wartburg. Coe will get the automatic bid and Central will be 9-1. With that situation I think that the IIAC can still put two teams in. I think the strength of Central's two nonconference wins will help with the selection of them as an at large team. Now for the rest of you this is only a best case senario, Central still has Two very large games and Coe has a big one too. I am not saying it will happen. But looking at the other records if the IIAC will get two into the playoffs this is what will have to happen. Now for the picks this week BV over Waldorf, Im going with Wartburg (homecoming win) over Coe, Central in another close game over Luther, Dubuque over Cornell, and Simpson over Loras. Good luck to all the IIAC teams!

dbljay21 · October 12, 2005, 07:46:31 AM

If the Norse win out, they will be 8-2 with a 7-1 conference record. The two losses coming against two possible conference champs in St. Olaf and Coe. IMO, its still too early to be talking about playoffs. Maybe after the dust settles after Saturday we can start to discuss possible playoff scenarios...and won't that be fun

Now, on to this weeks games.
BV over Waldorf
Dubuque over Cornell
Simpson over Loras
Luther over Central in another close game
Wartburg over Coe. Homecoming at Walston Hoover. The place will be NUTS.

Good luck to all the IIAC teams this weekend

DutchFan2004 · October 12, 2005, 09:27:10 AM

dbljay21,

I didn't mean to leave the Norse out of the mix. They are in the conference race too. CooCoo was asking for best case. I don't see two teams coming out of the IIAC if they have more than one loss. I just don't see it. I hope it happens because I think that the IIAC is a good conference but with all the other good conferences out there I just don't see getting an at large bid with two losses. This question will be settled Saturday. It may take care of it self. It Central can win then it will be over for Luter. If Central loses I think the Dutch are out. I think we can agree on one thing though. I hope there are no injuries Saturday. Good luck to the Norse and may the best team win.

Longtooth · October 12, 2005, 09:31:33 AM

Can anyone tell me what is going on with the Storm Defense.

DutchFan2004 · October 12, 2005, 09:38:14 AM

Longtooth,

I can't speak to last week, but when they played the Dutch they did a good job held them to 10 first half points. The Dutch didn't help themselves with alot of penaties in the second half but thats football. From the box score I'd say it was the O's fault for turning the ball over against Luther. Just my observation.