FB: American Rivers Conference

[Old Dutch]

My daughter asked me to buy some pretzels for her.  I had thrown a bag of "Old Dutch" pretzels in the cart when I realized Dubuque plays Central this week.  The Old Dutch pretzels went back on the shelf and I bought a bag of Rold Gold pretzels instead. 

As for this weekend in Pella.  I think both defenses will have a hard time stopping the other team, but I think Dubuque gets a few more stops of the Dutch offense than the Dutch defense can find answers for the Spartan offense.

All for the better, the Old Dutch pretzels always create an intense need for a Heineken anyway.  I think I'll stock up for my victory celebration this afternoon.   

[Old Dutch]

Welcome to the board Duhawkin. 

As far as JV, in the past, UD would post their JV schedule with their varsity schedule, and no JV games show this year.  This year, there has been less attrition as there are still 131 on the roster from an original list of 148.  Last year I think they began with a similar number and then there were 118 listed by the beginning of the season and 98 by the end of the season.  This year the guys seem to be sticking it out.  Hopefully they get some sort of JV action, but I don't know.

Central shows a slate of 7 JV games for this year, including a matchup with Grandview.  I think its interesting to see how IIAC matches up with the darling of Des Moines.   They would be the best fit for Conference expansion (media coverage!)

[notlongago]

Welcome to the board Duhawkin. 

As far as JV, in the past, UD would post their JV schedule with their varsity schedule, and no JV games show this year.  This year, there has been less attrition as there are still 131 on the roster from an original list of 148.  Last year I think they began with a similar number and then there were 118 listed by the beginning of the season and 98 by the end of the season.  This year the guys seem to be sticking it out.  Hopefully they get some sort of JV action, but I don't know.

Central shows a slate of 7 JV games for this year, including a matchup with Grandview.  I think its interesting to see how IIAC matches up with the darling of Des Moines.   They would be the best fit for Conference expansion (media coverage!)

Central jv play GV every year, usually twice, and they typically split...GV may hold a slight advantage. But if they join the iiac that would eliminate their recruiting procedures so they would most likely not be as competitive. Plus then you'd have three teams splitting one recruiting area....doesn't sound good for an already thin spread iiac football conference

[warthog]

13-6 @ the half.  Knight defense has one let down on the long td by the Storm, but other than that seem to be playing well. Glad the Knights are holding the 7 point lead, but they will need to address kicking woes. (blocked extra point, blocked field goal, lack luster kickoffs, scarey punting)  This probably isn't something you fix at half-time, so you go with what you have and hope special team play doesn't bite you in the butt two years in a row. 

[Old Dutch]

DBQ up 17 10 at half.  All passing for DBQ and all running for the Dutch.  Dutch d needs to get better.  Boehrn suddenly the starting qb today.  So much for settling on 1 guy for the week.

[hazzben]

Plus then you'd have three teams splitting one recruiting area....doesn't sound good for an already thin spread iiac football conference

you already have that. GV isn't relocating if they join the IIAC, right 

[DBQ1965]

Final ... Simpson 20 - Wartburg 19.

[warthog]

Congratulations Simpson.

Time for Knights to get to the drawing board and figure out how to mend, fix, patch, adjust, redesign, and develope a kicking game.  I'm not necessarily picking on the kickers.  I don't know if they are getting adequate time.  That is something I'm sure the coaching staff will evaluate this week.

Now I become a Simpson/Central/Dubuque fan and hope they come up with combinations where they give one another some losses.

Good thing I went on the Bourbon Tour in Kentucky this week.  I've got a bottle or six I can crack open to make this day go better.  Actually, the first half missed kicks sent me to the liquor cabinet, so I'm enjoying a Four Roses Small Batch shot as I type.

The sun will come up tomorrow.

[DBQ1965]

Final:  Central 31 - UD 24.  Ouch!

[Klompen]

DBQ up 17 10 at half.  All passing for DBQ and all running for the Dutch.  Dutch d needs to get better.  Boehrn suddenly the starting qb today.  So much for settling on 1 guy for the week.

I think we have now settled on one guy for QB and I couldn't be happier that the coaches and I were on the same thought path.  Younger and better potential long term QB, Osborn primary RB.  If I had known we were so in sync, I would have never picked against my Dutch.

[Klompen]

Loras beats Luther, Simpson beats Wartburg, is this my IIAC?  At least Coe came through in my pick-ems and couldn't be happier than an excellent UD team came up short in the stat that mattered most.  OK, I think they may have come up short on turnovers in addition to the final score with the last one - a pick-6 that could have so easily been the winning margin for UD instead of Central.  It doesn't mean much when you are on the short end of the score, but UD is fielding a true contender for the conference again this year.  I don't think Coach Z will let them fold the way UD teams of the past might have at this point.  Hanus was terrific even without young MZ out on the field.  It was a game that went down to the wire and since I was absolutely convinced the guys that called the Packers game were the same ones at Central today, I was thrilled to see the hail Mary bouncing uncaught by any of the 12 or so guys in the end zone as time ran out.  I don't know when I have seen so many penalties and killer calls at that.  Have to say that the refs really blew it when they called unsportsmanlike conduct on Central for an amazing shoulder hit on a receiver in the red zone.  Gave UD an automatic 1st down for a clean, but admittedly brutal hit.  That is the kind of hit that defensive players dream of and it should have stood as it was.

Sorry I didn't see DD and the Mrs. at the game, I was the one in the red and white shirt, don't know how they missed me.     Glad we have that game over with.  Simpson just got a whole lot bigger than I expected.  Bit I don't know that they expected us to win either.  Saw Joyce Schipper at the game, she said it was a completely different team than she saw in Michigan last week.  Thank heavens!

[Old Dutch]

Well Dutch the writings on the wall. You are most likely dogs in 4 of the remaining games and it doesn't take a genius to know 2+4=6 losses. 6 losses would mark the first time in 50+ years central hasn't had a winning/.500 record. Teams with much less talent have helped keep that streak alive....time to sack up, clean up, and win some games.

Ya know for opening week of conference ball, this board is hauntingly quiet....Two very big/ potentially telling match-ups this week. (wart vs. simpson & Central vs. DBQ) You could make a case for every possible outcome of these two games...should be exciting to watch. DBQ and central kinda spiraling down, Simpson flying high over a crappy team and wartburg on a roller coaster so far.

Rumors of the Dutch demise are greatly overrated.  You need to keep the faith NLA!  Once we get the rest of the conference drinking the kool-aid, they can't help themselves.  We let them run up and down the field gaining yards, but then take the ball away before they score.  Like I said, I like it better when we lose the statistical battle., 

Central, Coe, Simpson and Loras winners this week.  #1 and #2 conference picks both knocked off.  Its going to be a fun year, we know DBQ and Warty will also be in the mix, parity is creating some unpredictable results already.

[Old Dutch]

Ahhh, the taste of victory.  While I agree Klompen that its nice to see us use one QB and to think of the future with Boehrm at the helm, I am worried about the passing game at this point.  Not everybody (Wartburg) is going to give up over 300 yrds rushing.  It is great to see the DB's step up and slow down DBQ.  4 picks, and especially the 95 yard pick 6, sure takes some pressure off the offense.

[notlongago]

Plus then you'd have three teams splitting one recruiting area....doesn't sound good for an already thin spread iiac football conference

you already have that. GV isn't relocating if they join the IIAC, right 

Actually if you look at their roster a big chunk of their players come from Texas which they won't get once they Lose the ability to give scholarships

[Klompen]

Ahhh, the taste of victory.  While I agree Klompen that its nice to see us use one QB and to think of the future with Boehrm at the helm, I am worried about the passing game at this point.  Not everybody (Wartburg) is going to give up over 300 yrds rushing.  It is great to see the DB's step up and slow down DBQ.  4 picks, and especially the 95 yard pick 6, sure takes some pressure off the offense.

Yes, we will need to balance things out, but this was the kid's first start, and he did seem to grow in confidence the second half compared to the first.  I sure would have liked to have made a first down at the end of the game so we could run out the clock, but credit UD for great defense, they never gave up the battle.  And while Central gave UD the short stuff letting them go up and down the field, they did the old bend but don't break defense when it really counted.  So nice to see a Pella High grad with the record tying interception return. 

Habitat for Humanity raffled off a autographed football at the game and Brendan Boerhm's family won it.  Nice item to commemorate your son's first college start at qb with.