FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

Key stats from the Wheaton/Elmhurst game:

First downs:  Wheaton 22, Elmhurst 7 (1 by penalty)
Rushing yards:  Wheaton 219, Elmhurst -10
Total yards: Wheaton 476, Elmhurst 126
Turnovers: Wheaton 0, Elmhurst 3
Kickoff yards: Wheaton 531, Elmhurst 116
Time of possession: Wheaton 36:11, Elmhurst 23:49
3rd down conversion: Wheaton 10-18, Elmhurst 2-14

Unlike the desparity in stats for the NPU/IWU game yet the game came down to the wire, this shows how completely Wheaton dominated this game from start to finish - and I don't want to hear it was only 14-0 at half.   

I'm a bit confused by the "kickoff yards".  Wheaton cannot have had 531 yards returning kickoffs, since Elmhurst only kicked off twice!  If you mean 'distance of kickoff kicks' (a stat I've never seen before), Elmhurst probably actually had the higher average, given the disparity in number of kickoffs.  What, pray tell, IS that stat?

[Mugsy]

Key stats from the Wheaton/Elmhurst game:

First downs:  Wheaton 22, Elmhurst 7 (1 by penalty)
Rushing yards:  Wheaton 219, Elmhurst -10
Total yards: Wheaton 476, Elmhurst 126
Turnovers: Wheaton 0, Elmhurst 3
Kickoff yards: Wheaton 531, Elmhurst 116
Time of possession: Wheaton 36:11, Elmhurst 23:49
3rd down conversion: Wheaton 10-18, Elmhurst 2-14

Unlike the desparity in stats for the NPU/IWU game yet the game came down to the wire, this shows how completely Wheaton dominated this game from start to finish - and I don't want to hear it was only 14-0 at half.   

I'm a bit confused by the "kickoff yards".  Wheaton cannot have had 531 yards returning kickoffs, since Elmhurst only kicked off twice!  If you mean 'distance of kickoff kicks' (a stat I've never seen before), Elmhurst probably actually had the higher average, given the disparity in number of kickoffs.  What, pray tell, IS that stat?

It is what it says... yards from Wheaton kickoffs.  531 yards on 9 kickoffs.  Elmhurst had only 2 kickoffs so 116 yards on kickoffs.  If you kickoff 9 times compared to 2, you usually win easily.  It was meant to be an obscure stat, not meant to trip you up too much.

Look at almost any boxscore out there... it is listed as a stat.  Typically something like:

KICKOFF-YARDS: 2-116

And Wheaton did have a better average than Elmhurst: 59.0 yards to 58.0 yards.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg and Bob,

I'm glad that my opening phrasing was given credence, and no one accused me of disrespect for NPU - thanks!  I also meant no disrespect for IWU's effort, but I just don't think players can possibly be expected to be equally 'up' for all games (even if they think they are). 

A parallel is today's Michigan-Minnesota game.  Minnesota has fallen as far behind the Big Ten as NPU perhaps ever was (and is sinking, while NPU is clearly rising) - so much so that even the coaches 'gave in' to what could have been fatal hubris and held out both Hart and Henne (banged up, but able to play).  Result after 20 minutes: Minnesota 10, Michigan 0.  (Eventually the talent disparity kicked in and Michigan scored the last 34 points of the game.)  I don't doubt that the Wolverine players believed they were giving their all; I also don't doubt that they were not, in fact, playing as they would against MSU or OSU.

Nonetheless, I didn't see the game, so I will yield to the HoFers and quit while I'm behind!

[cardinaldad]

                            Team Statistics (Final)
                                    NCC    AUGIE

FIRST DOWNS...................       22       13
  Rushing.....................       13        8
  Passing.....................        6        4
  Penalty.....................        3        1
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      259      108
  Rushing Attempts............       51       42
  Average Per Rush............      5.1      2.6
  Rushing Touchdowns..........        2        1
  Yards Gained Rushing........      284      124
  Yards Lost Rushing..........       25       16
NET YARDS PASSING.............      102      128
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  11-20-1  10-21-1
  Average Per Attempt.........      5.1      6.1
  Average Per Completion......      9.3     12.8
  Passing Touchdowns..........        2        1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      361      236


Total domination. How sweet it is getting the first win in Rock Island in 27 years!
Fanthorpe has total command of this offense. The defense stuck it to Augie.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie out-gained you passing and you call that domination?!

[Mugsy]

                            Team Statistics (Final)
                                    NCC    AUGIE

FIRST DOWNS...................       22       13
  Rushing.....................       13        8
  Passing.....................        6        4
  Penalty.....................        3        1
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      259      108
  Rushing Attempts............       51       42
  Average Per Rush............      5.1      2.6
  Rushing Touchdowns..........        2        1
  Yards Gained Rushing........      284      124
  Yards Lost Rushing..........       25       16
NET YARDS PASSING.............      102      128
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  11-20-1  10-21-1
  Average Per Attempt.........      5.1      6.1
  Average Per Completion......      9.3     12.8
  Passing Touchdowns..........        2        1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      361      236


Total domination. How sweet it is getting the first win in Rock Island in 27 years!
Fanthorpe has total command of this offense. The defense stuck it to Augie.

What about kickoff yards?   

[Mugsy]

When was the last time Augie was 1-4 in conference?

A quick browse of the CCIW history and I would venture a guess of 1961 when Augie went 2-4 for the season.  1970 or 1978 would be a possibilities depending on how the matchups went as they finished 3-5 for the season.

Anyway you look at it... a very, very, very long time.

[mr_b]

When was the last time Augie was 1-4 in conference?

A quick browse of the CCIW history and I would venture a guess of 1961 when Augie went 2-4 for the season.  1970 or 1978 would be a possibilities depending on how the matchups went as they finished 3-5 for the season.

Anyway you look at it... a very, very, very long time.

In 1978, Augie was 3-5 in CCIW play, according to the conference archives:

http://www.cciw.org/pdf/FB_Records.pdf

[Mugsy]

When was the last time Augie was 1-4 in conference?

A quick browse of the CCIW history and I would venture a guess of 1961 when Augie went 2-4 for the season.  1970 or 1978 would be a possibilities depending on how the matchups went as they finished 3-5 for the season.

Anyway you look at it... a very, very, very long time.

In 1978, Augie was 3-5 in CCIW play, according to the conference archives:

http://www.cciw.org/pdf/FB_Records.pdf

Right, but did they start off 1-4?  My point is Augie's season may be reaching a once in 50 year category...  bizarre.

[CardinalAlum]

Wow, what a game today in Rock Island!  I was glad I was there to see it.  NCC fumbled the opening kickoff and basically gave away the first score of the game, but it was all Cardinals after that.  Coaching staff did a great job on both sides of the football(clock managment still needs a little work though).  Fanthorpe was very effective throughout the game and the Defensive front for NCC was outstanding!  Wenger(40), LB,  is a load and Hammers and Kostellic are right there with him.  O-line played great, save for a couple of hands to the face penalties!  Augie was very average.  They didn't look quite ready to play.  Even getting up 7-0, they still seemed like they were going thru the motions.  Great win Cards!!

On a side note:  It was great to see some of the greats from the National Championship Augie teams get inducted into their HOF.  Brad Price, John Bothe and Mike Gray were inducted and very much deserved.  Congrats to them.  

Augie6, any opinion on the game?  TAA will chime in I'm sure!

[cardinaldad]

When was the last time Augie was 1-4 in conference?

A quick browse of the CCIW history and I would venture a guess of 1961 when Augie went 2-4 for the season.  1970 or 1978 would be a possibilities depending on how the matchups went as they finished 3-5 for the season.

Anyway you look at it... a very, very, very long time.

By the looks of this game, this is not the typical Augie team.  NCC controlled the LOS all game long. Augies running backs were not running in their typical hard, second and third effort fashion. Augie never really got after anyone. I was very surprised by this game.

[cardinaldad]

I agree with you cardinalalum. Augie looked as if they were going through the motions. Ditto on the clock management statement. All in all, the coaches called an outstanding, balanced game keeping Augie on it's heels. However, there were two instances were I thought the clock management was horrible.

[cardinaldad]

I think that we can put to rest the discussion of whether or not NPU has improved this season.

Even though the Vikings came up short on the scoreboard, the feeling seemed widespread throughout the fourth quarter that the North Park program was making a statement. In spite of being down 20-0 and not really getting much done on offense, the Vikings rose up and played with immense energy and heart. You could feel the energy in the stands, which was a very weird feeling -- we're just not that used to being up on our feet and cheering in the fourth quarter of a tight game at North Park. Meanwhile, the Wesleyan section at the south end of the field was dead silent, as the green-clad visiting fans looked as though they'd all been stricken with a collective IRS audit.

Wesleyan dominated the game statistically, but make no mistake about it: NPU could have won this game. Let me say that again for emphasis: The final score was not a mirage. NPU could have won this game. A play here and a play there -- there were a couple of serious dropped balls by wide-open Vikings receivers in the fourth quarter, and a dropped INT on an ill-advised third-quarter Kraid Ladd throw in the flat that almost certainly would've resulted in an 80-yard TD for the Vikings defense -- and we're talking about the biggest upset in at least the last dozen years of CCIW football rather than a near miss. And NPU didn't even play a mistake-free game by any means; Shelby Wood threw a horrible pass into traffic in the third quarter that led to a Wesleyan interception and a short-field touchdown, and Chris Durr's fumbled punt on the NPU 45 with 4:38 to go was a massive setback. Nevertheless, the Vikings had a shot at winning this one, but just came up short.

The most impressive thing that the Vikings did today was tackle well. I've been bemoaning all season long their tendency to arm-tackle and to not bring down the ballcarrier with the first hit. Today they were not only wrapping up ballcarriers, they were sticking them. The various IWU fumbles weren't drops; they were the result of NPU tacklers putting serious wood on the ballcarriers. There will be plenty of sore Titans tomorrow.

The second-most impressive thing that they did was make in-game adjustments. Wesleyan just chewed up the Vikings on the ground in the third quarter; Marcus Dunlop carried the ball on almost every down on Wesleyan's opening drive in the quarter, and he ran it at about ten yards a clip through gaping holes. I haven't looked at the stats yet, but I'm guessing that this quarter was where the Titans gained the bulk of their yards. But in the fourth quarter the NPU linebackers appeared to get into the gaps much quicker, and those ten-yard gains by Dunlop became two-yard gains.

Wood and Ladd had similar games. Both made some crucial clutch throws, but both also got caught repeatedly hanging onto the ball too long. Today's game was something of a sackfest.

Wesleyan's a steady and workmanlike outfit that made just enough plays to win the game in the second half. And that defense of theirs is certainly tough. But I'm stumped as to how the Titans are undefeated in conference at this point. They've obviously developed a knack for winning by the skin of their teeth, but I'm surprised at how less overmatched NPU seemed against them than the Vikings have against other CCIW teams this season. I'll be absolutely shocked if IWU wins this conference when the smoke clears. But kudos to the Titans, though; the final score is all that counts, and thus far they've been on the fat end of it in every CCIW game. They've put themselves into position to possibly win the title, and that's all you can ask for.

Scott Pethtel will be the first to tell you how disappointed he was in the final result, and all of NPU's players and assistant coaches will be right behind him on that assessment. Losing never feels good, and moral victories are for teams that have already given up on the idea of winning the real kind of victories. Nevertheless, as someone who has sat through years and years of bury-your-face-in-your-hands football games at North Park, I can tell you that today's loss was one of the most encouraging things I've ever witnessed at Hedstrand Field. Before today I had a suspicion that Pethtel was turning the Viking longship in the right direction. Now I'm sure of it.

But a lot of woulda/coulda/shoulda for Illinois Wesleyan too, Greg.  A missed FG early...a failure to convert on 4th & 1 from NPU's 5...the Ladd fumble that led to North Park having the ball on IWU's 1...the next fumble that give NPU the ball on the 20.

It sounded to me like a game dominated by IWU overall, with North Park given a chance to get in it via IWU turnovers (and then obviously anything could have happened in the final 2 minutes).

Hats off to North Park...sounds like they played great.

And you are right -- IWU is 5-0 in the league.  You won't find any apologies from Titan fans for today's win or where the teams stands.  After the last few years of IWU football, this is a lot of fun.  I'm proud of the coaching staff and the players for getting this turned around...they have all shown a lot of heart and character.

Congrats to NP on a hard fought game. It sounds like the program is improving. Even though the team was statistically dominated, they hung in there and had a chance to win. It appears the only difference between NP and Wheaton is that Wheaton makes the plays when they have to and NP has yet to learn how to do that;D . Seriously, that will come with confidence. I hope they continue to make progress!

[cardinaldad]

Augie out-gained you passing and you call that domination?!

C'mon, they had one more attempt than we did!!!!
I never thought I would see that at a NCC vs. Augie game. What is going on!!!!!

[cardinaldad]

                            Team Statistics (Final)
                                    NCC    AUGIE

FIRST DOWNS...................       22       13
  Rushing.....................       13        8
  Passing.....................        6        4
  Penalty.....................        3        1
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      259      108
  Rushing Attempts............       51       42
  Average Per Rush............      5.1      2.6
  Rushing Touchdowns..........        2        1
  Yards Gained Rushing........      284      124
  Yards Lost Rushing..........       25       16
NET YARDS PASSING.............      102      128
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  11-20-1  10-21-1
  Average Per Attempt.........      5.1      6.1
  Average Per Completion......      9.3     12.8
  Passing Touchdowns..........        2        1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      361      236


Total domination. How sweet it is getting the first win in Rock Island in 27 years!
Fanthorpe has total command of this offense. The defense stuck it to Augie.

What about kickoff yards?   

Kickoffs         No.  Yds  TB  OB   Avg
---------------------------------------
Gibbons, Ryan      3  168   0   0  56.0


Kickoffs         No.  Yds  TB  OB   Avg
---------------------------------------
Aguilar, Ben       6  362   1   0  60.3

Mugsy, we dominated that stat too!