FB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

The UD/Loras game was also an odd one today. 

In the 1st half Loras missed a chip shot FG attempt with maybe a minute left in the half.  UD ran two running plays and looked like they were running out the clock.  The Spartans then completed a deep ball down to about the Loras 15 with 1 second left in the half.  Dubuque got a TD pass with no time left to take a 21-14 half time lead. 

In the 2nd half the Loras D got a pick 6 and twice stopped UD in the red zone.  With 30 seconds left in the game and the score tied 42-42 UD got a strip sack, picked up the fumble and ran it in for the 49-42 win. 

[doolittledog]

Standings...



Central   3-0   5-0   
Simpson   2-0   3-1   
Coe           2-1   3-2   
Dubuque   2-1   3-2   
Wartburg   2-1   3-2   
Loras           1-1   2-2   
Luther   0-2   0-4   
BVU           0-3   1-4   
NWU    0-3   1-4

Next weeks schedule...

Central @ Nebraska Wesleyan 1:00 pm   
Coe @ Simpson 1:00 pm    
Luther @ Dubuque 1:00 pm         
Loras @ Buena Vista 1:00 pm

[Schipper Strong]

Central had me a little concerned at the start of the game with BV easily marching down the field. Central again did an amazing goal line stand, but a penalty gave an automatic first down at about the 2. They again made them to go 4th down to get the score. Starting behind was not what I had in mind for this game. There were three key defensive starters that did not dress due to injury. Hopefully we just didn't think we would need them and they are minor injuries.

Hawkins was 16 of 17 passing with 4 TDs. Other than passing efficiency and the score i would guess BV had better stats in most areas. Central offense didn't have to be on the field too long to score. Lots of subs with good playing time today. Nice long halftime with a lightning delay. The rain held off until the lightning delay then it poured and stopped again when the delay was over.

Keep taking it one game at a time Dutch. Keep that focus going.

Dutch are wearing number 31 on their helmets to honor former outstanding defensive player Bill Mulder, who spent 20 years in the military as a navy seal and died in 2017. If I remember right he was an all American at linebacker while at Central. Not surprised he made the seals he had that extra something.

[hazzben]

Nice win for Simpson. They impressed me in the game against Bethel. Was wondering how both would stack up in conference play. Sounds like the ARC (weird to type) is gonna be a fun race this year.

[Knights2013]

Definite credit to the Storm for exploiting and taking advantage of the turnovers and opportunities. Wartburg obviously has no choice but to win out at this point for a playoff chance - but has clearly put a few things on film that teams will go after. A large uphill battle for the remainder of conference play for the Knights - but anything can happen. Should be fun to see how the race shakes out!

[Purple Heys]

The last 2-3 times in the decade Simpson has beat Wartburg have all been directly impacted by the PAT unit. Not to say football isn't a team game, but if you can't make PATs or defend from being blocked, you deserve to lose. Really disappointing loss that makes the Central game even more important...if theKnoghts can get through Coe.

*The Knights. Typing on the iphone after a couple of cold beverages and some anger made for some spelling issues! Not a great day for Wartburg.

We've all been there... https://youtu.be/-loQApEJBMc

[doolittledog]

Video of the Simpson "Philly Special" to beat Wartburg.  (Can't see if the QB actually got his feet in)

https://twitter.com/thesethhoward/status/1046183342859845632

Video of the Dubuque last minute fumble return for a TD to beat Loras.

https://twitter.com/willbentley23/status/1046145261792301056

[Schipper Strong]

Thanks for the videos Doolittle. Nice win by Simpson. I was surprised the Key City matchup was that close. Simpson in two weeks might be the big game for Central this year. Rivalry always plays a factor in that one anyway. This week the only game that matters is NWU. Cannot go on the road and lose to a team you should beat, BV last year comes to mind.

[Outside the Crate]

Three to zero on fumbles will get you every time.  Wartburg had lots of individual mistakes rather than poor team play.  Dagnabit!

[Knights2013]

This week in the conference:

Central-NWU
Coe-Simpson
Luther-UD
Loras-BV

Taking Central (42-7), Simpson (28-17), UD (35-7), Loras (28-14).

Could be an interesting weekend weather-wise, but that should not impact too many matchups.

Coe-Simpson is the matchup to watch this week, IMO...everything else seems cut and dry but as we see every year, you never know! Let's see some picks for the weekend!

[doolittledog]

This week in the conference:

Central-NWU
Coe-Simpson
Luther-UD
Loras-BV

Taking Central (42-7), Simpson (28-17), UD (35-7), Loras (28-14).

Could be an interesting weekend weather-wise, but that should not impact too many matchups.

Coe-Simpson is the matchup to watch this week, IMO...everything else seems cut and dry but as we see every year, you never know! Let's see some picks for the weekend!

If you look below General football you will see Child Boards.  You can put you pick-ems in there.  I'm pretty sure my wife took your picks from last week and included them in there. 

One thing I am amazed with is the passing game at Central.  The Dutch were a staunch run first, run second, run all the damn time team not that long ago.  Now it seems they throw for over 300 yards every week.

Luther, once again, gets their bye week the week before playing UD.  I suspect that will be yet another nail biter result.

Coe @ Simpson could be a great game.  That one should be of interest to most neutral observers.

Loras @ BV also holds some interest.  Can Loras shake off their heart breaking last seconds loss to UD and take care of BV?  Can BV overcome their youth and flash the potential they showed the 1st couple weeks of the season?

Is the bye week good for Wartburg as they get 2 weeks to get their minds back on track?  Or will the bye week be horrible for the Knights players as Willis has 2 whole weeks to give them crap about letting Simpson get the win at their house?

[Knights2013]

Coach Willis and the Knights staff do a great job of a few things during bye weeks:

1) Anyone banged up will get some extra time to heal and hopefully be ready to go for the remainder of the season - this is especially true for some of the more seasoned players. This also allows some of the younger guys to get more reps, and hopefully accelerate their development because as we always see, there will be a need for guys down the road who might not necessarily have much of a role right now.

2) Practices during the bye week typically have more of a camp flavor to them. Drill the fundamentals, go over basic fundamental techniques and sharpen the sword for the second half of the season.  We never really worried about who we were playing until the week of the game, so a lot of the times you have some competitive practices going on - 1's on 1's in pass skelly, inside run, two-minute situations, etc.

3) Surely there are going to be reminders at practice this week about miscues over the weekend. Expect those to be drilled until they are corrected (looking at you, PAT team). He's not one to drag out a loss for a couple of weeks, but they will be working on the miscues that appeared versus the Storm.

4) The Knights will get some extra conditioning in, always our favorite part of course.

More than certain the players and coaches cannot wait to be on the field at Coe College - going through the 2 weeks until your next game with a loss in the back of your mind is never fun. There is absolutely no love lost between the two programs, and I expect the Knights to be just as angry as they were after the Monmouth loss (the next week Wartburg beat BV 63-0). Not that I'd expect us to roll over Coe 63-0, let alone on their home turf, but I'm sure Coach Willis and the crew are diligently working on a gameplan.

[Schipper Strong]

One thing I am amazed with is the passing game at Central.  The Dutch were a staunch run first, run second, run all the damn time team not that long ago.  Now it seems they throw for over 300 yards every week.

I remember those Central teams. They used to finish first and tied for first nearly every year. It was fun!

But times change and Central has struggled with the change a bit. Passing has picked up over the years, but we haven't been the team at the top and our playoff appearances have not run deep. Even with the best receiver in Central history. This year's team has the potential to be one of the great ones and to follow this year with even better years. Hawkins is as good as they come and we have found some amazing receivers in the same sophomore class. Hawkins was 16 of 17 Saturday with 4 TDs and over 200 yards passing. With stats like that, 94% completion rate, he was the #2 man listed in the post game story on the Central website, upstaged by a freshman who went 3 for 3. The passing game is alive and well at Central for this year and probably the next 2 or 3 after that at least.

[Schipper Strong]

So they re-ranked the conferences and the ARC slipped from a preseason ranking of 11 to 14.  Now I realize I haven't been around as much the past couple of years, but when the back did we slide all the way to 11th?  Now we are the 14th ranked conference?  I guess that means Central needs to run the table to get ranked by the end of the season.  Then we need to keep Pat from attending any of our games as he tends to only attend games we lose.      Finally we need to make a deep playoff run.  Good thing is we don't need to worry about those last two until the regular season ends. So in keeping with playing the tough competition at the end of the season we better just play a statement game on Saturday.

[Pat Coleman]

So they re-ranked the conferences and the ARC slipped from a preseason ranking of 11 to 14.  Now I realize I haven't been around as much the past couple of years, but when the back did we slide all the way to 11th?  Now we are the 14th ranked conference?  I guess that means Central needs to run the table to get ranked by the end of the season.  Then we need to keep Pat from attending any of our games as he tends to only attend games we lose.      Finally we need to make a deep playoff run.  Good thing is we don't need to worry about those last two until the regular season ends. So in keeping with playing the tough competition at the end of the season we better just play a statement game on Saturday.

I've been to two Central games, I believe. I don't consider that to be a representative sample.

Last IIAARC game I was at, the conference's representative won.

I'll spare the smite and just give you a heavy eye roll. 🙄