FB: American Rivers Conference

Schipper Strong · November 29, 2019, 07:47:43 PM

Both Central and Wartburg are picked to lose tomorrow. I think Wartburg has a good chance of winning and see a higher score than predicted. I think Central will have their hands full tomorrow with a very good team. Again, I think the projected scores might be on the low side. I never count Central out, but the huge Wheaton win over Augustana who pounded Coe has me worried. Then again, that game for Coe may have been like Central's game with Dubuque. Sometimes it just isn't your day. Central has proven they can win games where most don't give them a chance. The game tomorrow scares me, but I also think Central is capable of surprising Wheaton. Good luck to Central and Wartburg, keep on rolling.

Outside the Crate · November 30, 2019, 12:02:24 AM

Central and Wartburg both have a good shot at winning tomorrow...Good luck to both teams!

Old Dutch · November 30, 2019, 07:48:08 AM

NWS forecast for Wheaton is not our friend, rain, maybe thunderstorms 20-25 MPH wind. Might not be able to put the ball in the air as much as we like, Maybe Hopp can have a big day for us. Couldn't get a weekend pass from the wife to get out to Chi-town, so will be looking at the stream, hope its good.

Same for Whitewater v Warty, may be a bit of an equalizer for the Knights, Good Luck to both teams and Go Dutch!

5 Words or Less · November 30, 2019, 10:34:13 AM

Best wishes to all today

Schipper Strong · November 30, 2019, 01:32:21 PM

Yikes! Wheaton is as good as I was afraid they were. Nothing going well for the Dutch. Not much better for Wartburg unfortunately. Hopefully we can learn from today and know what to work on in the off season.

Schipper Strong · November 30, 2019, 03:41:07 PM

Congratulations to Wheaton on their victory today. They clearly have an exceptional team and it showed today. Extremely fast on both offense and defense.

Congratulations to Central on an exceptional season. The draw back to the playoffs is only one team ends with a win. This team accomplished so much and had tremendous senior leadership. Thank you to all of you for a lot of fun. Can't wait for next season already. Today gave a good example of the team you want to be next year. Go out and work hard in the off season to make it happen. Go Dutch!

edolee · November 30, 2019, 03:49:07 PM

The Warts put up a nice battle, but got a little too far behind early... They had a chance to cut the WW lead to 6 with plenty of time in the 4th, but a couple pass rush induced picks ended the day for the Knights.

Nice showing by the ARC. Knocked out the WIAC AQ, and gave Whitewater all they wanted.

Ed

02 Warhawk · November 30, 2019, 03:54:12 PM

Quote from: edolee on November 30, 2019, 03:49:07 PM
The Warts put up a nice battle, but got a little too far behind early... They had a chance to cut the WW lead to 6 with plenty of time in the 4th, but a couple pass rush induced picks ended the day for the Knights.

Nice showing by the ARC. Knocked out the WIAC AQ, and gave Whitewater all they wanted.

Ed

Yeah, UWW likes to make things interesting in the second half. After a first-half blow out they seemed to take their foot off the gas, which always drives me nuts. They did it last week too.

Outside the Crate · November 30, 2019, 05:43:15 PM

Wartburg shot themselves in the foot in the opening quarter, with an interception off a tipped pass and then a fumble on their next possession. So, when you start out down 14 in the first quarter in a playoff game... After that, of course, it was a different story, but forced to pass the Knights had four interceptions. Still, Dodd was 30-58 for 328 yards and three touchdowns.

Kudos to the Knights defense which held UWW to 24 points in the last 3 quarters while Wartburg scored 28. That at least made it interesting. For a while in the 4th I thought the Knights had a shot.

A great season for the Knights and for their co-champion, Central.

I have a hunch UWW will get thumped by MHB. But, what do I know?

emma17 · November 30, 2019, 07:15:52 PM

Congratulations on a great season Wartburg. The second half showed what your team is made of, some skilled players and no giving up.

Schipper Strong · December 03, 2019, 08:13:09 PM

Wheaton's thumping of a good Central team and Norrh Central beating MU in Alliance brings a lot of respect to the CCIW. I was afraid Central's game could go that way looking at the results if Wheaton's games, but them holding Central's offense that much and the number of sacks surprised me. They were crazy fast. Should be a good game with SJU.

Outside the Crate · December 07, 2019, 05:46:31 PM

What do I know? I thought UWW would get thumped by MHB. Guess again, Kemosabe!

All together, a surprising tournament thus far, and it will be nice to get a new champion -- maybe even one who has not been on the top of the podium. Gotta go with the Lutherans, though (Muhlenberg).

5 Words or Less · December 10, 2019, 04:54:47 PM

St Cloud State dropping football
https://footballscoop.com/news/report-d-ii-program-has-decided-to-drop-football-program-and-another-in-league-school-may-follow-suit/

doolittledog · December 11, 2019, 08:59:11 PM

Quote from: 5 Words or Less on December 10, 2019, 04:54:47 PM
St Cloud State dropping football
https://footballscoop.com/news/report-d-ii-program-has-decided-to-drop-football-program-and-another-in-league-school-may-follow-suit/

Yesterday St Cloud St and UM-Crookston dropped football. From that same athletic conference, Upper Iowa announced their football coach was stepping down...to be replaced temporarily (but for the entire 2020 season) by someone currently on staff for the Peacocks. Earlier in the year, Augustana, another school from their conference announced plans to pursue a change to D1.

Talk on different boards that declining enrollment and drops in state funding levels are making things tough for those state schools. I'm curious to see how D3 schools in the midwest will navigate the next decade with enrollment numbers and budgets and so on.

formerd3db · December 11, 2019, 10:46:23 PM

Quote from: doolittledog on December 11, 2019, 08:59:11 PM
Quote from: 5 Words or Less on December 10, 2019, 04:54:47 PM
St Cloud State dropping football
https://footballscoop.com/news/report-d-ii-program-has-decided-to-drop-football-program-and-another-in-league-school-may-follow-suit/

Yesterday St Cloud St and UM-Crookston dropped football. From that same athletic conference, Upper Iowa announced their football coach was stepping down...to be replaced temporarily (but for the entire 2020 season) by someone currently on staff for the Peacocks. Earlier in the year, Augustana, another school from their conference announced plans to pursue a change to D1.

Talk on different boards that declining enrollment and drops in state funding levels are making things tough for those state schools. I'm curious to see how D3 schools in the midwest will navigate the next decade with enrollment numbers and budgets and so on.

Discussions about this have occurred on other boards the last couple of weeks or so regarding DIII. The general belief is that there may well be a number of schools that will go defunct let alone elimination of their football programs. Schools like Beloit, just to name one that is in trouble. You know that St. Joseph (although DII) went under in 2017. Some bleak situations for some, for others not so much. No way to say/predict for sure.