FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[matblake]

Well, the conference takes another step towards a big show down between NCC and Augustana.  However, I think that both teams have the potential to be upset this week.  Elmhurst has been steadily improving and Millikin has Wallick.  

I think this is the week that North Park breaks the streak.  Selfishly, it would be nice to see IWU be the one the Vikings do it against after they reduced Wheaton to spoiler role.  

That being said, congrats to IWU.  I don't think that anybody figured they would win.  The Titans again prove again that every game could be won by either team.  

[redman04]

I am really excited to see how saturday's game at Wheaton plays out.  It should be a great game!

[matblake]

I think the Carthage/Wheaton game will be a good one.  I envision it low scoring and a nail biter to the end.  Does anybody know in general when Wheaton and Carthage use their kickers, also what are their ranges?  I think that could be a possible deciding factor in the game.

[Tailgater]

I think the Carthage/Wheaton game will be a good one.  I envision it low scoring and a nail biter to the end.  Does anybody know in general when Wheaton and Carthage use their kickers, also what are their ranges?  I think that could be a possible deciding factor in the game.

Not sure I understand exactly what you mean when you ask when Wheaton or Carthage use their kickers, but I do know Carthage will use Matt Denny anytime to put three on the board on 4th down when points are needed. Particularly if first down yardage is more than a couple yards. He hit a career long 47 yarder against NCC which would have been good from 50+. He hit three more this past weekend from medium/medium long distances 27, 34 & 44. He has been fairly reliable all season.

[Mugsy]

According to CCIW stats:
Andrew Day of Wheaton is 9/10 on FG attempts (1st miss came this past weekend against IWU) and 27/28 on PATs.

Matt Denny is 10/15 on FGs and 12/13 on PATs.

Both kickers seem to be good, especially for D3.

I'm not sure of Day's range, as his leg strength may not be directly gauged based on the length of his attempts (ie... practice may support he could hit from 10+ yards further than any FG attempted to date).  That said, here are Day's field goals so far this seaons: 26, 27, 20, 32, 30, 30, 41, 32, 37, 44(missed).  So longest made: 41 yards.  I don't know if 44 yard FG was short or wide left/right.

Denny's FG's thus far this season: 24, 42, 46(missed), 43, 21, 23(blocked), 33, 43, 38(missed), 47, 34, 23(blocked), 44, 33(blocked), 27

Looks as if Rucks has a bit more confidence in Denny's length, but 3 FG's have been blocked.

[Mugsy]

For you Redmen alum... interesting read over on the IBC board.

"At CUW we scrimmage Carthage every year before the season begins and we handle them every year. They are a respected team who is no better than the top teams in the IBFC.  The problem is there is little to no compairison between the top and bottom of the IBFC.  There are some pretty bad teams, but there are also some pretty good teams."

Ah... yeah right. CUW is better than Carthage or anyone else at the top of the CCIW?  And the last time a team from the IBC won a playoff game...?Gimme a break.

[Tailgater]

Mugsy:
That's pretty funny stuff. I've been at the scrimmage against CUW the past three years and neither team handled anybody. They fail to remember It's a scrimmage to test new and old parts of their respective football programs. No score is kept, but I do know only one team moved the ball into the endzone this year and that was Carthage. Last year Carthage scored twice and Concordia one time. I can't remember what happened three years ago, but there was no handling going on. CUW is a pretty good team to scrimmage against. They are physical and have some good individual players that can test you and real good team speed. If they were in the CCIW they would most likely be in the bottom half of the standings each of the three years I saw them.

[irish21]

The CUW scrimmage is where my favorite Redman was bitten in the leg. They could be the dirtiest, cheap shot team that I have ever seen. The qb's for both teams were off limits in the scrimmage yet he was speared twice. He threw a punch at their MLB after the second spear and it was an all out brawl. It was the first time I ever saw a qb get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty!

God I miss those days!

Usee...Lyons didn't want to play Friday night so I won't be at the game this Saturday. I was looking forward to meeting you!

[usee]

too bad. i enjoy sitting on the other team's side. i will probably sit on carthage side anyway. i always like to listen to the parents chatter.

[matblake]

Tailgater, Mugsy, et al....thanks for the info on the kickers.  I guess I could have just asked, "What are the stats for each kicker?"  That would have probably gotten me all the information I was looking for. 

[79jaybird]

I was shocked to hear in the pressbox that IWU knocked off Wheaton.  For the first time in 4 years (4 of the last 5 right?)  Wheaton will not win the CCIW.  Congrats to Wheaton on a great streak.
Well, it has developed into a 2 horse race.  Perennial powerhouse Augie and the somewhat shocking NC.  It will be interesting the last 3 weeks.  Honestly, I think if both win out and 1 team finishes 7-0 and the other 6-1, I think both will get in.
Someone mentioned it earlier and it is a well known fact,  there are no easy wins in the CCIW, winning on the road is tough no matter where you're at or whom you're playing, and each week is an emotional roller coaster.  Looking forward to the rest of the season.! 
Wheaton and Alcohol are two nouns that I would never put together. hehe 
That's like  putting the Grinch with Santa.

[redman04]

For you Redmen alum... interesting read over on the IBC board.

"At CUW we scrimmage Carthage every year before the season begins and we handle them every year. They are a respected team who is no better than the top teams in the IBFC.  The problem is there is little to no compairison between the top and bottom of the IBFC.  There are some pretty bad teams, but there are also some pretty good teams."

Ah... yeah right. CUW is better than Carthage or anyone else at the top of the CCIW?  And the last time a team from the IBC won a playoff game...?Gimme a break.

That's not even worth a replay.  Little too much crying on that board

[wheels81]

I probably saw the most sneaky contrived play that occurred during a wheaton game and i belieive they were playing IW.
Wheaton lined up for a punt on 4th down.  The ball was hiked back to the punter who then proceeded to thrown a high arcing pass resembling a punt.  Well like any good punt recieving team they were blocking the release guy all the way down the field and because it was a pass the receiving team was charged with pass interference givng wheaton a 1st down. 
It had to be 5 or 6 years ago and I've been waiting for someone to pull on Wheaton.

I agree with most that this is a conference title for Augie to lose.  NCC has not shown any kind of tough defense esp. against the run.  Milikin is going to give NCC fits and don't be surpirsed if 2nd place team has 2 CCIW.

[79jaybird]

"When was the last time a team from IBFC won a playoff game"  Redman04... I agree and "When was the last time an IBFC beat a CCIW team?
Lakeland and CUW are o.k. but would struggle at the bottom of our conference annually.  Teams like IBC CURF Eureka, etc. are just not at the same level as the 8 schools in our conference.  It's not a put down, it's just a different playing field.

[zorbadagreek]

How will carthages "offense" match up against wheatons defense and vice versa? By the way what type of "o" are the redmen running, i noticed saturday they have the standup TE, what gives?? Do any other schools run this offense?