FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Comet 14]

Well I was at the Elmhurst vs IWU game and kudos to IWU. They put together drives when they had to and stopped Elmhurst when they had to. They ran the ball very well and victimized the Elmhurst corner for slants and quick -outs. It was maddening. To Elmhurst's defense, they were not at full strenghth. Maple did not dress due to an injury and Scardullo spent a majority of the afternoon with his head in a 55 gallon garbage can. This is not taking anything away from the Titans victory, but those 2 are a big part of how Elmhurst stops the run especially between the tackles. Elmhurst started a freshman in place of Maple and he didn't do much to support the run. Elmhurst is going to have there hands full next Sat. and in 2 weeks it should be a great game between IWU and Wheaton.

[79jaybird]

Matblake- The subject of goldenrod was one of our trivia questions a few years ago about what was the original color of the Bluejays.
FYI- Green and White was jnot the original color and Titans was not the original nickname of IWU.  Anybody (other than the IWU fans) have any ideas?  
IWU simply outmuscled us this past weekend and I agree with an earlier poster that Dunlop had a whale of game.  I have never seen #9 run like that in the 3 previous meetings.  Straight up A-Gap between the tackles all game long.  He owes his Center and 2 Guards a steak dinner, they were awesome.  
I also thought our defense again gave the EC offense a chance to compete.  
There is a disturbing trend I have noticed recently and it's the 3rd quarter right out of the gates after halftime.  In the AC/NC/IWU games, the 3rd quarter has been a toughy for Elmhurst, and one which has seen a huge advantage and slide of momentum shift to the enemy.  Comet14 and I discussed this after the IWU game.  The road doesn't get any easier with Wheaton looming next.
IWU is for real and though they have 2 difficult games @NC Wheaton remaining, they are going to be in the hunt come the final week.  Ceisel was unstoppable and it was on the simple 10 yard outs that were working all game long.
I know it's hindsight, but I would have had my corners playing cover 2 man, and have the corners matched up right next to Ceisel.  

[SonsofThunder]

Wheaton may be playing with a 3rd string QB, but look how close all 3 QB's numbers are for the season:

Passing	GP	Effic	Cmp-Att-Int	Pct	Yds	TD	Lng	Ave/G
Norris, Sean	6	171.82	49-76-5	64.5	776	8	69	129.3
Bradley, Kyle	4	169.90	38-60-1	63.3	510	7	62	127.5
Ullrich, Zach	2	154.15	39-60-2	65.0	488	5	73	244.0

Amazing how close the efficiency, completion percentage and long pass numbers are... 
The yards per game would be much closer if the stat didn't take into account games played where they took a few snaps but didn't really play as much - resulting in a much lower average.

It would seem pretty rare at the D3 level to have 3 very capable QB's on a roster.  This to me has been huge reason why Wheaton has been able to keep winning.  With the running game not nearly as strong a component as in years past, the QB play has been much, much more important.  All 3 QB's have step in and performed very well.

It helps also to have a veteran core of receivers to throw to...

It might not be a coincidence that all 3 of Wheaton's QB's played at Wheaton North...one right after the other.   It also could be.[

[matblake]

It helps also to have a veteran core of receivers to throw to...

Definitely.  They all have a lot of varsity experience from last year.  That out route has been money all year long.

[matblake]

They ran the ball very well and victimized the Elmhurst corner for slants and quick -outs. It was maddening.

Ceisel was unstoppable and it was on the simple 10 yard outs that were working all game long.

Those 10 yard routes can be tough to defend when they are running the ball well on your defense.  Looks like IWU had both things working for them, which as a fan would have been maddening.

[wheels81]

RT   Ray Krishock (6-4/295, FR - Wheaton, St. Francis HS)

So Q did you all convert this guy or what?

[Comet 14]

It seems to me that the other coaches are making bitter halftime adjustments than Elmhurst is right now. Either that or they not in as good of shape as they think they are or should be. I know it sounds easier than it is but if a team keeps running the same play against you then you need to adjust to stop it and make them do something different, or they will just keep doing it. It was a slow steady Death Sat.

[rookie11]

I have noticed Augie's struggles.what does exactly there future hold?

[79jaybird]

Rookie11-  Augie has been CCIW champs/co-champs the last 2 years and it is just a down year for them.  I don't think it is fair to say their program is down, rather just a year where some of the other schools are better. I.E. Wheaton/Wesleyan/Carthage.
Augie is one of those teams that you cannot overlook each year, and ultimately factors in the decision of who will be crowned CCIW Champ each year.  Augie had a chance to beat Wheaton, sounds like they had their chances against Carthage, etc.  so just because their record might not indicate it- The Vikings have been right there.

yes, it was painful to watch IWU have there way in the second half against us, but credit Ladd, Dunlop, and Ceisel for making the plays (execution) work. 

[rookie11]

I understand that. But do you think this year will effect the coaching staff?

[Titan Q]

RT   Ray Krishock (6-4/295, FR - Wheaton, St. Francis HS)

So Q did you all convert this guy or what?

This Brother Rice grad is always glad to see a kid from a St. Francis or a St. Patrick's or a St. Rita, etc. down here in Bloomington!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I understand that. But do you think this year will effect the coaching staff?

I can't speak about the assistants, but Barnes has the best winning percentage of any CCIW coach.  If Augie would can him for one down year (and it ain't over; I may still pick them this Saturday), they would deserve to replace NPU for a few years in the wilderness!

[SonsofThunder]

A "down" year for a program like Augie's doesn't consist of only wins or losses.  A guy could average 8 a year for his career....which would be ludacris.....and not be a sucessful coach.  Success in the postseason is what matters to the top tier programs in any division III-I.

[redman04]

Augie is like the Michigan of the CCIW.  They are always good and everyone is gunning for them.  Barnes is a good coach, his record shows it, but like Michigan, 2 losses at the beginning of the year have people calling for lloyd carr's head!  Augie may have 3 losses in conference, but i would bet that they will be back as strong as ever next year. They always seam to. 

Also I hope that the redmen (kids on the team) had 1/8 of the good time that  we had after we beat augie my freshmen year at carthage!  Might of been one of the most fun nights of my life! 

For those of you who did not know the back drop of the game  Augie was 3-0 Carthage was 0-3 Augie was a top 20 team Carthage had won 3 games in 2 years.  It was homecoming at carthage and rucks gave an impassioned speech about winning your homecoming.  About how Carthage had not won homecoming in years and that we would change that!  It was awesome. 

[FormerCard]

Dont look now, but NC QB Fanthorpe is putting together some impressive numbers, maybe competing against Ladd for All-CCIW.  I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised with his game this year.  He is a competitor and even with Sulo putting up All-Conference numbers,  Fanthorpe is still averaging 200 yds passing a game, leading the conf in total offense and has a good TD to INT ratio. 

Conference Stats:

TOTAL OFFENSE      Team Cl  G Rush Pass Plays Total Yds/G
---------------------------------------------------------
1. Fanthorpe, Aaro NCC  SO  4  217  802   148  1019 254.8
2. Ladd, Kraig.... IWU  SO  4   88  900   158   988 247.0
3. Wood, Shelby... NPU  SO  4  -30  963   171   933 233.2

PASSING AVG/GAME   Team Cl  G Att Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds TD Avg/G
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Wood, Shelby... NPU  SO  4 150  82   7  54.7  963  6 240.8
2. Ladd, Kraig.... IWU  SO  4 126  74   4  58.7  900  9 225.0
3. Kudyba, Chris.. ELMH SR  4 149  77  12  51.7  843  5 210.8
4. Fanthorpe, Aaro NCC  SO  4  91  54   4  59.3  802  8 200.5

PASS EFFICIENCY    Team Cl  G Att Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds TD  Eff.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Podulka, Tim... AUGI JR  4  10  10   0 100.0   98  2 248.3
2. Norris, Sean... WHEA SO  3  59  37   4  62.7  570  6 163.9
3. Fanthorpe, Aaro NCC  SO  4  91  54   4  59.3  802  8 153.6
4. Ladd, Kraig.... IWU  SO  4 126  74   4  58.7  900  9 136.0