FB: American Rivers Conference

[DriftlessDuhawk]

UD head coach Zweifel retires.

https://udspartans.com/news/2023/11/14/zweifel-to-step-away-as-spartans-head-football-coach.aspx

Wow... I certainly did not see this coming

[Schipper Strong]

Coe nearly got bumped off by .500 Dubuque two weeks ago, should have lost that game...that said, I honestly think Coe/Aurora is a pick em' game.

Yeah I just read the write-up on Coe and groaned with all the we're peaking right now talk after the UD game. Coe is good and if they play like they did against Wartburg and Central, they should be in the game. But if they play liked they peaked against UD watch out. No disrespect meant to UD, but the playoffs are a step up.

[Schipper Strong]

Certainly getting two teams out of the conference is great for the league, but I have no idea how Coe was selected for an at-large bid...

My guess is that Coe had the 'best loss' of any of the at-large schools.

Agreed, in fact Coe lead in the first half.
Wheaton's loss to NCC gets the 'best loss' at-large ribbon for sure.

Not so fast my friend, Wheaton played NC at home and was down 35-7 at half. Coe went on the road and went toe-to-toe with WU, losing 28-21 I believe.  Yes, playing #1 would make you think it was a better loss, but Wheaton was literally never 'in it' as Coe was.

[hazzben]

Coe nearly got bumped off by .500 Dubuque two weeks ago, should have lost that game...that said, I honestly think Coe/Aurora is a pick em' game.

Yeah I just read the write-up on Coe and groaned with all the we're peaking right now talk after the UD game. Coe is good and if they play like they did against Wartburg and Central, they should be in the game. But if they play liked they peaked against UD watch out. No disrespect meant to UD, but the playoffs are a step up.

I didn't read it that way at all. They're saying over the last 5 weeks of football they are playing well, finding ways to win, and think they are peaking at the right time.

While Coe understands it faces a formidable task playing at No. 12 Aurora (10-0), the team believes it's starting to peak at the right time.
"Last game was one of the better games I've played. And, speaking for the offense, we're playing well. We just have to ride that momentum," Maske said. "This is a good time to get hot. This was the expectation before the year – to be in a position to be in the playoffs."
...
"I feel like that's when you play your best, when you're loose and having fun," Maske said. "I don't know if there's a guy on our team that doesn't think we can win this game. We're just trying play loose."
"We've been improving every week," Adelsberger added. "We're grinding and trying to be perfect each week. The only way to get after every single week is to try to go 1-0. That's our mindset."
The team's lone loss came in a 27-21 setback to No. 3 Wartburg on Sept. 30. Since then, Coe won its next five games, including a come-from-behind 23-20 overtime thriller over Dubuque two weeks ago.
"I think toward the end of the year, we've been in a couple grinder games that we've learned to grow through," Adelsberger said. "We've grown as a team and we're playing stronger football than ever. Our mindset has been that we have a chance to really make a splash this year. Getting this at-large bid is really special for us. We're able to step out and show everyone what Coe is all about."

Sometimes peaking looks like blowing teams out. Sometimes it's winning a great game against a very good team. Sometimes it's grinding it out and finding a way to get the W even when you didn't play perfect football. Frankly, Coe is in the post-season because they found a way to grind out a W against UD, and SJU didn't find a way to grind out a W against GAC. Winning tough, closely contested football is what the playoffs are all about for 80% of the field. Aurora is the second-best team they'll have faced to date and better than UD. But the UD result got them to this game, and figuring out how to win ugly isn't a bad lesson to have learned heading into the playoffs.

[Schipper Strong]

I hope you are right hazzben. I would love to see Wartburg and Coe advance on Saturday. It would certainly help bolster our chances in the future.

[Schipper Strong]

Good luck to Coe and Wartburg today. Prove we deserve that greatly disputed invitation to the playoffs for Coe. Hope that Coe gets a little retribution for that narrow victory over the blue and white Spartans of UD by taking it to the blue and white Spartans of Aurora today.

[Schipper Strong]

Coe getting torched in every stat, yet only down 14-0 at the half. Tough Coe defense looks very porous against Aurora. Wartburg up 35-7 with 3 minutes to the half. Wartburg benefits from the top seed ranking giving them the easier opponent. Coe can't get anything going on offense. Defense getting shredded outside of the red zone. Inside the red zone they are hanging tough. Aurora clearly a stronger opponent than Illinois College. Hope Coe can figure something out. Wartburg should move on easily barring a meltdown.

[Captain_Joe08]

Coe trails Aurora 17-7 with 10:37 left.

[Captain_Joe08]

Well the reason this game remains close is turnovers. Aurora has forced 6 Coe turnovers but are guilty of 4 themselves.

[Captain_Joe08]

Aurora 20
Coe 7

Final

[Schipper Strong]

Coe-you have a problem with blue and white Spartans. Wish you had made a better showing today, but Aurora is good. You had a great season. Congratulations to the Spartans and the Wartburg Knights. Next year Central will represent. 

[DriftlessDuhawk]

What Beebe has done at Aurora has been very impressive. I remember 5/6 years ago Loras played Aurora in a home and home nonconference series (losing both in close fashion), during a time when the Duhawks were not competitive. Turning the program into what it is now and winning playoff games has been very incredible. Makes those of us who cheer for teams that have not had that type of success hopeful...

[5 Words or Less]

Luther receives $10M donation

Among the highlights in the preliminary plans for the Gerdin Fieldhouse are a new entrance space for the public, a team meeting space open for use by all teams, renovation of the locker rooms, and a new common area and study space.   https://luthernorse.com/news/2023/11/27/general-luther-college-receives-10-million-gift-from-michael-and-nicole-gerdin-for-athletics-and-wellness-center-renovations.aspx

[emma17]

Looking forward to the game tomorrow- Wartburg has had an amazing season and their games vs UWW in the past have been exciting. The 2023 Knights seem to be the best version yet.
Hoping for a great game w all players making it through safely.

[Schipper Strong]

Good luck Wartburg! Keep it rolling.