FB: American Rivers Conference

dbljay21 · October 17, 2005, 08:46:27 AM

Well its sounds like the games this weekend were exciting as usual. Congratulations to the winners this weekend. Special congratulations to Central and Wartburg...big wins in big games. Conference title is still up for grabs for Coe, Central and Wartburg...Looks like Luther is out, unless the 3 teams on top have a collapse. Then again, it is the IIAC and no game is a given

Unfortunately, I think that coocoo is correct in saying that the IIAC will only get one team in the playoffs this year...

DutchFan2004 · October 17, 2005, 08:53:43 AM

dbljay21,

Why do you say that. with 2 9-1 teams you don't think that the IIAC will get an at large? You could be right just asking your opinion and to expand on it. If Coe can win out and Central can win out they will be 9-1 and Central has two good wins against non conference foes.

NorseFan · October 17, 2005, 09:13:10 AM

Dutchfan2004, didn't mean to jump on your statement there. It does look like the Norse D did settle down a bit but to give up those big plays.

One thing I was impressed with was I think the Norse have proven they can win, or at least put up points, without Sherden. That is encouraging. Anyone at the game, how did the offense fair? Did they kick it in the tail in the late 3rd quarter or did the Central d sub in or suffer a let down?

coocooforcoekohawk · October 17, 2005, 09:21:21 AM

dutchfan2004,

Look at where the second place teams in the WIAC and MIAC are ranked. Concordia Moorhead lost last weekend and moved up from #13 to #12 in the rankings. UW-Lacrosse is ranked only one spot lower from #10 to #11 after their loss. Our two highest ranked teams are ranked #23 and #25. The IIAC would get a second team in if there were nine teams in the West Region, unfortunately only eight go. Let's hope Lacrosse loses again, then Central or Coe should get an at large bid depending on who wins the Wartburg game.

Floyd in Iowa City · October 17, 2005, 10:34:27 AM

Congrats Dutch on breaking out the offense on Saturday! I thought the game would be close, but there was no way I thought Central would score 40 points!

I actually thought the Luther Defense would match up better with Central than they did with Coe and Simpson.

I guess that is why they play the games. I also did not think that Luther would pass as well as they did.

The Loras win over Simpson was also caught me a little off guard. For all of those talented Duhawk teams in recent years that that lost to Simpson, that this young offense was the part of the team that got it done is surprising.

Hopefully Luther gets Sherdan back this week since another RB separated his shoulder against Central.

Another crazy week of close games in the deep Iowa Conference!

AnotherJohnnie · October 17, 2005, 11:02:58 AM

Quote from: dbljay21 on October 17, 2005, 08:46:27 AM

Unfortunately, I think that coocoo is correct in saying that the IIAC will only get one team in the playoffs this year...

I was thinking the same thing until I took a look at it really close. If Coe and Central win out, and the WIAC has an upset or two (likely over there), I could see both getting in. I think Central would have had a better chance at 9-1 if Coe had gone 10-0 just from what I can remember historically. Just for laughs I put together what I though was the most likely bracket based on results so far and assumptions about the future, and I plugged in two IIAC teams.

Note that polls don't officially play into the selection process and the NCAA doesn't necessarily have to take 8 teams from the West. I have not yet looked closely at how other regions are doing to see if we might end up with 7 or 9 teams with someone shipped out to or in from somewhere else.

dbljay21 · October 17, 2005, 11:26:37 AM

Quote from: coocooforcoekohawk on October 17, 2005, 09:21:21 AM

Look at where the second place teams in the WIAC and MIAC are ranked. Concordia Moorhead lost last weekend and moved up from #13 to #12 in the rankings. UW-Lacrosse is ranked only one spot lower from #10 to #11 after their loss. Our two highest ranked teams are ranked #23 and #25.

I know that it is possible for the IIAC to get a second team into the postseason and as an Alum from the IIAC, I hope the conference does. But, if you look at the rankings, the MIAC and WIAC are getting more love in the press, and both conferences are tough.

I want to see two IIAC teams in the playoffs, I just think that it probably won't happen this year...but if it does I will be supporting the IIAC teams whole-heartedly.

Walston Hoover · October 17, 2005, 02:00:40 PM

What a fun homecoming in Waverly!!!
You were right about the turf bounces and I mentioned it on the air. If I remember correctly all the bounces on the turf during punts and on the fumble went the Knight's way.
I thought Coe had ample opportunities but dropped passes by receivers killed them. They certainly weren't making Tekippe look good in front of his old teammates. The Wartburg Defense played stellar and Tekippe was sacked 7 times and was dropped and had to scramble a lot more than that. I was a little miffed by the playcalling. I'm surprised with the talent there that they don't line up in the I and run it down people's throat. Northern had only 6 carries for 16 yards and Suckow 8-42.I thought a buddy of mine hit the nail on the head when he said it looks like Raeburn is trying to get the reputation of being an offensive genius when it looks like he's got the talent to just ram it down people's throat. I haven't seen any other games, but that's the way it appeared Saturday.
Oh well, not going to argue with the results-Things are back the way they should be with the Knights in control of their own destiny. Time to get a little payback on the Duhawks.

coocooforcoekohawk · October 17, 2005, 02:14:37 PM

I have a simple question, remember I am a swimmer and never played football.

Is it easier to run block or to pass block?

repete · October 17, 2005, 02:52:26 PM

I don't know if they still do this, and perhaps someone can enlighten, but the IIAC's best bet might be if a 2nd WIAC team (LaCrosse) is shipped to another region as it was a few years ago. At this point, it could win out and finish with two losses (one to Whitewater and another to I-AA scholarship S. Dakota St.)

Another nightmare scenario for the IIAC might be three one-loss MIAC teams, i.e. if St. Olaf beats SJU and Concordia beats STO. Although the top three IIAC teams have wins over MIAC teams, they were all struggles over mediocre (Bethel) or bad teams (St. Thomas, Augsburg).

With five auto bids plus Linfield, my guess is a second MIAC team and WIAC team are how it might play out.

This could be totally off base, but perhaps it willl draw someone in here to clarify.

lorbec47 · October 17, 2005, 03:09:31 PM

Why does it not surprise me that it only took Central two years to get back to the top of the conference? A 3-way jam at the top, although that might hurt the playoff chances, it still makes it fun.

Walston-I'm sure the Knights are pissed at Loras after last season. Sets the tone for a fun afternoon in Dubuque. What's the opinion of Central/Simpson after playin on the new Rock Bowl (Bob Bierie Field)?

CooCoo--I always thought run blocking was easier. My opinion though, easier to get engaged with your opponent, and pass blocking can really leave you on an island sometimes.

Floyd in Iowa City · October 17, 2005, 05:06:39 PM

lorbec,

I am sure Central liked the new Rock Bowl more than Simpson.

Did you go to the Loras-Simpson game? How did the Loras Offense look against the Storm? How would you compare the Simpson Defense to what B.V. offered on defense, or has the Loras Offense progressed since the defensive struggle with B.V.?

Floyd in Iowa City · October 17, 2005, 05:26:44 PM

Augustana (lost to Central) moved to 5-1 and 3-0 in the CCIW after beating Illinois Wesleyan (lost to Simpson), 41-15. Wesleyan is now 0-3 in the CCIW and 1-5 overall. Augustana this Saturday plays Millikin (beat Wartburg) who moved to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the CCIW after beating North Park, 31-24.

Bethel (lost to Central, beat B.V.) beat St. Thomas (lost to Coe), 30-13. Bethel moved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the MIAC while St. Thomas fell to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the league. Bethel still has a good chance at going 6-4 or better. St. Thomas is like Simpson in that a tough schedule seems to have taken a toll on them.

Augsburg (lost to Wartburg) beat Hamline in 2 overtimes, 19-13. A good win for them as they finally got one.

They are now 1-5 on the year and 1-3 in the MIAC.

St. Olaf moved to 6-0 and 4-0 in the MIAC after beating Gustavus, 34-17. They play Hamline this week before the big tilt with St. John's.

dutchfan1 · October 17, 2005, 05:56:55 PM

First of all, big congrats to my Dutch for the win this weekend over a very tough Luther. It's a hard-fought victory, and is a testament to how hard the Dutch have worked this year. Leading the conference after two "down" years is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Question for all of you: how much weight do you think the selection committee puts into the non-conference schedule when deciding playoff bids? Coe and Central are the only two teams right now in the IIAC with one loss overall, incidentally each a conference loss. Do you think that the non-conference losses will play spoiler for teams who have a decent in-conference record?

DutchFan2004 · October 17, 2005, 06:47:08 PM

I don't know it may be a mute point if the Dutch and Kohawks don't tend to business the rest of the way. Wartburg still can play the spoiler and win the conference out right if they keep winning and the Dutch and Kohawks trip. But with the Dutch'e victory over Augustana and the one over a decent Bethel team I think could and should be enough for an at large invitation. If the Co-champs of the IIAC beat your conference champ don't you think that they should get the nod over the second placed team from that conference or will that conference only get on invite for the champ. They have had alot of ranked teams. I have no idea what the selection committee looks for.