FB: American Rivers Conference

[sportsknight]

I'll answer my own question...

Duhawks hold on and win 31-14 over Millikin.  Loras did all their scoring in the middle two quarters.

[Thunderbolt]

Lots of rain in Iowa means no ride for doolittle on the lucky lawnmower...Spartans could be on their own to pick up a win in SoCal. 

I am now going to resort to Plan B...eating a lucky bowl of chocolate ice cream!!!  If that ends up working...I will officially be off my diet until after football season!!!  Go Spartans!!!  3 exclamation marks is also lucky 

I also am voting that 5 Words or Less has been hitting the sauce tonight!!!

Nope ... at home with the flu!!!

Flu!!!!  Christ do not tell me its flu season already. 

Both of our girls and most of the kids at my wifes daycare have had the flu in the last couple of weeks.  My wife is just happy they don't have it now so we can make it to the Thomas the Tank Engine day at the Boone and Scenic Railway tomorrow.  So I will listen to the Iowa/ISU game over the radio while driving down there.  Hopefully the radio will also give IIAC game updates.  Get home, get the kids into bed and then watch OSU/USC while listening to the UD/Redlands game. 

Watching USF/Kansas game right now...fun game to watch.  Getting me pumped for football tomorrow.  If IIAC teams can go at least 3-3 tomorrow I have confidence that the 3 later in the season non-con games can be swept by IIAC teams.  Therefore getting the Iowa Conference back to the 10-8 non-con record they had last season. 

The IIAC may well get to 10-8 in nonconference this year, but it was 14-4 last year. Not counting Central's playoff run. Central, Coe, BV, Cornell and Dubuque were all 2-0. Wartburg,Simpson, Loras and Luther were 1-1.

[AO]

Also, it looks like Simpson may have taken a step backwards, only beating Northwestern 9-6 in what I assume was a field goal fest.

If it were a field goal fest, Northwestern would have won as our kicker who was 3-3 last week from 30 and farther missed 2 from within 25 yards.  This game was as even on paper as it was on the field.  I doubt Simpson has taken a step back, they looked solid and made smart plays.  No interceptions thrown..etc..  best of luck the rest of the way to the Storm.

[Klopenhiemer]

PH +karma for a week.  I laughed so hard at your comments regarding cussing at your parrents house I about puked up my lunch.  I was at an Iowa vs. Iowa State party and I got some stupid looks but it was well worth it.  I can just imagine a grown man of your size in his old bedroom screaming into a pillow.  I can appreciate that. 

Sorry to the Cornell faithful regarding the loss.  Sounds as though missed opportunities were the story of the game.  I am kind of disapointed that brother ShowMe has left, but again you and Ash are loyal. 

Great to see the DuHawks take care of buiness against Millikin.  A non conference win is great in my book. 

Simpson??  9-6?  Did they decide to play baseball instead?  Were the field conditions terrible or did Simpson just not play well. 

Coe....it will be interesting to see how they play against Cornell next week.  I am pulling for a Ram win!

Good luck tonight Knight fans....I hope you take care of business. 

Nice post regarding games outside our conference SK.  Sounds like there was an interesting game in Collegeville today. 

[storm_tracker65]

Can we beat Coe?

no, i would like to see it happen, but no
coe is middle of the pack team...again. but no way they drop one to the rams next week. was able to catch some of the webcast. looked like coe was gonna take control but folded. gac interception at the two was terrible decision by coe qb - could have taken it to the house.

congrats to loras for getting the w. been a tough ride but streak is over!!!  looks like loras dominated time of possession and had a good passing attack.

simpson with disappointing outing but a win nonetheless. tough weather conditions affected both teams i presume. looks like rush defense was stellar, but dodged a couple of bullets early with two missed fg by nw - both inside 30 yds. i hope nw is better than i think???

good luck to the spartys and warts tonight. either of these have web video?

[TrainsEqualCrowdNoise]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that we won't see a very high-scoring affair between Cornell and Coe next week.  The defenses of both teams seem to be their strength right now.

Definitely gonna have to agree on this one, I see a 2-0 victory by either team in this battle next week.

I'm glad to hear that Bush has made strides and it seems that the play calling has changed this week with shorter passes versus throwing it deep every play.  That is more his game and hopefully the offense will be able to do a better job protecting the football.  The way Coe has preformed so far this year, I think we definitely have a good shot to win next week.  Of course we have to play solid mistake free football, as Coe has shown that they to seem to like giving the ball over.

I myself didn't cuss when I was checking into the scores, but after watching the 8 fumbles by Michigan and the 4 by Cornell, I unfortunately rediscovered what the Chili-cheese dip I had earlier tasted like.  Never a pleasant experience.

Hopefully, the defense rallies and will gain some confidence this week facing a somewhat lack luster offense in Coe.  Offense is going to have its hands full with the Coe defense, but if the offense doesn't let the defense score, then we will definitely have a chance to win the game.

[Purple Heys]

I have seemingly adopted the DBQ as my "other" IIAC team, since I will have seen two games in weeks of their's...  

I spoke with DF2k4 and we are meeting up for the game.

I think the Spartans are gonna do it and beat the #25 team.

We'll see.

[Walston Hoover]

good luck to the spartys and warts tonight. either of these have web video?

I checked all over Auggie's site and there is only audio. Kickoff in just over an hour!

[Purple Heys]

I was glad to see Jr. more involved.  Can't complain about 10 catches.

Without coming off too heavy handed, I thought there were a couple of times in and around the Carelton 20 that they should've been  dialing his number...but that's just a dad talking more or less.  

[SpeedKills84]

The only thing I like that Cornell did was get Bush more involved running and passing.  Outside of that it was nothing more than complete embarassment.  I know the offense needs to hang on to the ball more but the D did not show up to play in any way, shape, or form.  The two losses thus far from the Rams have not even been against quality teams.  For the first time I'm not looking forward to the Coe/Cornell game.

Well...I only listened on the internet.

But...the fumbles killed, 3 of 4 led DIRECTLY to TD's within 2 plays of the turnover.

So, yeah the defense needs to bow up when the offense fails.  But twice inside the 15 to come away empty for the offense, doesn't help take any pressure off the Defense.

This game could have been a 28-25 win IF the Offense closed the deal and scored with their opportunities....oh and didn't fumble the $#^%* football.

Can't abide by a situation where the defense can't get more than 1 "3 and out" per game.

Cornell has failed to keep a team under 355 yds of offense yet this year. (355 in wk 1, 579 in wk 2)  Turnovers ruined scoring drives I agree, but when a D is playing that dismal it doesn't matter what your offense does.  They have yet to keep a back under 100 yds and are giving up better than a 60% completion rate.  Unless they pick it up, this equals disaster for the Ram season.    

[TrainsEqualCrowdNoise]

Congrats to Loras on the victory. Even though I picked against them I'm glad to see the put 4 quarters together and got a victory.  Always great to see IIAC teams win out of conference.

Also congrats to Simpson on the victory.  I knew that it could be a "trap-game" as Northwestern is not as bad as many people would lead them to be.  They had some quality athletes last year, and a good coaching staff.  I had a feeling this would be a hard fought, close ball game.

As for the DBQ, I certainly hope they do well tonight, would be awesome to see them travel all the way out there and win that ball game.

[TrainsEqualCrowdNoise]

Cornell has failed to keep a team under 355 yds of offense yet this year. (355 in wk 1, 579 in wk 2)  Turnovers ruined scoring drives I agree, but when a D is playing that dismal it doesn't matter what your offense does.  They have yet to keep a back under 100 yds and are giving up better than a 60% completion rate.  Unless they pick it up, this equals disaster for the Ram season.    

Agreed, that kind of production from opposing offenses is something the Rams cannot afford.  They need to do something to gain some confidence that they can shut down opposing teams.  The pass game has always been something the defense has struggled with, but now the run has become an issue too.  I'm for keeping higher hopes this week, that the Rams get up for the rivalry game, and gain some confidence in stopping the Coe offense.

[Purple Heys]

Pregame vs. Coe:

IF(?) we can neutralize the Coe defensive surge to a manageable degree AND keep Tommy Brightback (I know, spelling     ) from taking over on returns and INT's

We have a shot.  We did last year, and Coe was better offensively.  TeKippe was held for 3.5 quarters, but he showed his experience and ability in the last half of the 4th quarter.  Coe does not have that safety net this year.

I don't see us coughing up 4 fumbles again this year...as long as it doesn't rain!  Short passes to the TE involve reduced risk of INT.

One can hope!   

[Purple Heys]

The only thing I like that Cornell did was get Bush more involved running and passing.  Outside of that it was nothing more than complete embarassment.  I know the offense needs to hang on to the ball more but the D did not show up to play in any way, shape, or form.  The two losses thus far from the Rams have not even been against quality teams.  For the first time I'm not looking forward to the Coe/Cornell game.

Well...I only listened on the internet.

But...the fumbles killed, 3 of 4 led DIRECTLY to TD's within 2 plays of the turnover.

So, yeah the defense needs to bow up when the offense fails.  But twice inside the 15 to come away empty for the offense, doesn't help take any pressure off the Defense.

This game could have been a 28-25 win IF the Offense closed the deal and scored with their opportunities....oh and didn't fumble the $#^%* football.

Can't abide by a situation where the defense can't get more than 1 "3 and out" per game.

Cornell has failed to keep a team under 355 yds of offense yet this year. (355 in wk 1, 579 in wk 2)  Turnovers ruined scoring drives I agree, but when a D is playing that dismal it doesn't matter what your offense does.  They have yet to keep a back under 100 yds and are giving up better than a 60% completion rate.  Unless they pick it up, this equals disaster for the Ram season.    

Approximately 210 yards on 3 pass plays

[Purple Heys]

To follow up...given the game situation:

Prior to the Ram fumble that immediately led to a 70 yard TD.

IF the Rams scored (and there is enough basis to make this presumption by how they were moving the ball at the time), then the score would have been 21-13.

Give Carleton the next score.  21-19.. they missed the 2 pt. PAT.

The ensuing drive, the Rams flotched on the Carleton 3.  Say they score there.  28-19.

Give Carleton another score with the PAT  28-26.

The Rams have the ball with a chance...a chance...to run out the clock.

Yeah... a big "woulda, shoulda, coulda"  But this is EXACTLY how teams like Central wins games.  They make those plays and finish the deal.