FB: American Rivers Conference

[DutchFan2004]

Sportsknight,

You might be pushing K-Mack for his job if you keep that up LOL.  Just kidding K-Mack.  7-2 is pretty good. Considering everyone picked Simpson.  Did any one go to that game.  What happened is Simpson that down?

[DutchFan2004]

Pat,

I just tried to view the pictures from the ST Thomas game.  I am missing the right side of the page.  When I try to register to order I can't as that part of the page won't display.  Got any ideas what may be wrong or what I can do? Thanks

[Charlie Kohawk]

Reality check time after a lovely holiday weekend in central Illinois:

Where are all the Kohawk and Dutch fans? The defending champs pull off tough week one road wins, and all we hear about is Wartburg? I know you're out there. Make some noise!

I have a hard time seeing the negative in Freddy Jackson's signing to the Bills' practice squad. I believe he'll make $4Gs per week, which should sufficiently provide for his new bride and soon-to-be-born child until NFL circumstances warrant his signing to a six-figure contract.

I first heard the news on the sidelines before Coe's game at Illinois Wesleyan and, while I didn't speak to him directly, I know Fred and his Coe fans were pretty darned proud of what he's accomplished. With all due respect to Carey Bender, #5 is at least equally deserving of retirement as a Coe jersey, once Billy is done with it.

As for Coe's 34-21 win over Illinois Wesleyan, I think the Kohawks answered many questions, left a few things in doubt, but prevailed convincingly in a hostile environment. Bobby was solid at QB and, while he's no Tekippe, he has a great supporting cast. Suckow is a gamebreaker for sure and Bobby's only INT would have been a touchdown to Neil if thrown just five more yards. Northern and Rife are simply unstoppable and seem to get better with each touch. I think the jury is still out on the defense, but there is reason for optimism with Breitbach and Bakke at DB, Nosbisch and Hirth (?!) at LB and Jordison and Fowles on the DL. The special teams were not special Saturday, but that will improve. Billy will get his kicks and maybe we'll never have to punt.

[Ryan Coleman]

Pat,

I just tried to view the pictures from the ST Thomas game.  I am missing the right side of the page.  When I try to register to order I can't as that part of the page won't display.  Got any ideas what may be wrong or what I can do? Thanks

DutchFan,
Can you message me off the list because I guess I am not completely understanding the problem. The register link (although it may say right side in the text) is actually on the left in the D3football.com layout but there may be more to this; so please message me off list.

photos@d3sports.com, btw.

[dbljay21]

Sounds like the Norse had a pretty good game against an inferior team.  Next week should be a better test for the Norse.  Sounds like the Knights and Cohawks played well.  What happened to the rest of the conference?

[lorbec47]

Tough weekend for the Duhawks.

Again, more yards, first downs, yards rushing, and LESS points than Ambrose.

Special Teams made some crucial errors and it hurt.

Opening kickoff return fumbled and turned into a 6 play-33 yard touchdown for Ambrose.
Loras scores the first minute of fourth quarter cutting the lead to 14-9. Missed extra point. Next touchdown they can't convert the tying 2-pointer.
Punt late in the game from Ambrose that kept drifting; Loras returner tries to field it and fumbles on the 6-yard line--field goal for Ambrose.

17-15. Pretty sickening for Loras supporters.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

I am really curious about the Simpson game as the Storm look like they were mauled in the trenches.  They ran the ball 25 times for 53 yards while Concordia of Wisconsin ran it 65 times for 285 yards.  The passing yards were about equal even though Simpson threw it 47 times.

For what it is worth, 358 people are listed as having attended the game.

Loras-St. Ambrose looks on paper like it was dominated by the defenses, as usual.  Good to see that the Duhawks held St. Ambrose to the field goal when they got the ball after the muffed punt return.

Show, did you go to the B.V. game?  Any word about why B.V. struggled so bad running the ball or why the Bethel stud RB did not play?  Thanks!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther's next opponent, St. Olaf, looks like they are pretty close to where they were last year at this time.  They beat Valley City State of North Dakota, 31-14, and out gained them 470-278.

It sounds like the only thing that made the game close was that St. Olaf was picked off in the 3rd quarter and it was returned for a TD.  Two backs for the Oles went for over 100 yards.

The Oles return 9 offensive starters from their 8-2 team last year that averaged 506 yards per game.  They did lose the QB and an all-American lineman from that offense.  Overall they return 15 starters, and 12 of them are now juniors.

Turnovers are going to be pretty big on Saturday.  It would be huge if Sweers (QB) got off to another fast and accurate start for the Norse.

[sc_stormchaser]

Floyd,
I believe that SC started two freshman on the O-line and the D-line had to replace a couple of good players from last year's team. One being Ripke (All-American). The game was tied in the 4th quarter and then the wheels must have come off. Hopefully they'll bounce back against Bethel.

I also heard that their starting QB, Tyson Unkrich, (Iowa State transfer) did not play because of an injury, but they're hoping he will be back for the Bethel game.

[dbljay21]

Floyd, you are absolutely right about getting off to a fast start.  Every game that I was around Coach Hefty, whether at Aurora or Luther, when the offense started off fast, they usually had a really good day.  Two years ago, we started off good against St. Olaf and got beat in the second half.  I know that the Norse have learned their lesson from that game.  From what I have heard about the Oles, it sounds like it could be another good game on Saturday.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Thanks SC, I didn't know about the OL or QB situation.

Ripke was very good, but I thought that Simpson still returned a bunch of good players up front?  I am sure Ripke made everyone better by his performances and how much attention he drew, but the Simpson DL looked pretty good in general last year.

Good luck this week against Bethel!  This is a huge game now for the Storm, IMO.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

That loss to the Oles a couple of years ago still has to sting a little for those that take pride in the Norse Defense.  Luther obviously got better in the 2nd half of that season after finding a running game, but I still believe that blowing that lead caused a huge hangover the next week against Coe.  Brannen and Suckow also might have had something to do with the bad loss against Coe.

Luther will not blow another lead like that with the offense that they have this year.  However, I can't imagine the Oles falling behind the way they did two years ago.  I would pay $20 to watch Luther go up 31-0 and see if they can hold on this year.

[oldbeake]

Where are all the Kohawk and Dutch fans? The defending champs pull off tough week one road wins, and all we hear about is Wartburg? I know you're out there. Make some noise!

Dutch fans are here, but for me, at least...if all of the noise is made on the field...that's all that matters.   Hopefully the Dutch are feeling the fall breeze from the coach throwing his hat down in disgust from above this season.

A return to glory is expected...nothing else is accepted.  Go Dutch!

[DutchFan2004]

I think that its just caution.  I don't think the Dutch rolled the Tommies at all.  The Dutch were maybe threatened some, but when the Tommies chose to go for it on 4th down twice inside the 25 it told me they had as much confidence as Bethel does in the kicking game.  That strikes me kind of funny that with all the schools that are up there the MIAC teams have a hard time getting kickers.  Or do Minnesota high schools go for two all the time and not try kicks.  Our defense did a great job and the offensive line really took it to the Tommies in the second half.  The passing game maybe was subpar but it got the job done.  I think the Dutch will do the same as last year take one game at a time, see where that leads them.  I think that the conference is as wide open as ever.  No gimmees anywhere in the IIAC.  Look at what Cornell did.  Way to go Rams. 

[dutchfan1]

Congrats to my Dutch for a solid win over the Tommies this weekend!! I didn't make it to the game, but a friend who made the trip said that the boys from Pella looked very tough, especially for a pre-season game. McMartin is making the right adjustments, and the team is gelling already. From my sources, we need to make a few small adjustments on offense, but the defense looked as tough as ever. This may be the year that the Dutch return to the top of the conference again!

Oldbeake -- Free Beer in the Endzone, Go Team Go! Have you talked to any of your Beake buddies recently?