FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph's article on the IWU/Carthage game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_b59ce84e-afc8-11de-aaaa-001cc4c03286.html

[augiefan]

Augbeats elmhurst 21-3.

[AndOne]

I'm going to be honest, I assumed many would drop NCC to 2nd (or lower?) due to the losses of Wenger and De Sulo.


Losing your 2 best defensive players would normally be cause for concern. Coach Thorne must have some very quality depth to plug in.

No question the loss of Wenger and Sulo hurts NCC significantly on defense.  I just think NCC is so deep and experienced, I'm not sure what to think about Augie and Wheaton is sooo young on defense.

I guess I just don't know much about NCC's depth. I haven't kept up with the roster turnover as much as I used to and obviously my vast expanse of NCC knowledge has turned into a small puddle.

I just wonder if you can contend for a CCIW title (let-alone a national title) when you're missing your 2 best defensive players (1 of which was national preseason defensive player of the year). You're not going to be able to outscore everyone every week. Someone is going to have to step up on D and make a play. Wenger was that guy. Sulo would have been the guy many would pick after Wenger. Now they're both gone. Who is that guy now?

My guess is that person is someone we haven't really need to see yet.  With blowout games v Benedictine & Olivet there hasn't been a situation for anyone to step up defensively at a crucial time.  Those games were never in doubt.  North Central is a good team, and good teams always seem to find someone to plug in.  Alternatively, it didn't seem like North Central had anyone to plug in against Ohio Northern when a defensive stop could have changed things.  Instead ONU controls the clock for like 8 minutes to secure the victory.  Perhaps not a good sign.  

NCC---- 58
Millikin--0

Without Wenger and Sulo.
The "plug-ins" seem to be working.

Perhaps a good sign?

[Gotberg]

I don't follow d3 football to that closely, but does it benefit Wheaton to run up the score like they were trying to do against NP in the beginning of the second quarter?

[WahooThunder]

I don't follow d3 football to that closely, but does it benefit Wheaton to run up the score like they were trying to do against NP in the beginning of the second quarter?

Are you serious? What are they supposed to do? They were only up by 20 points and it was still the first half. You can't assume a lead like that is safe against any team, especially that early in the game. Was North Central running up the score against Millikin too?

If you do want to call it running up the score, it benefits them by getting their players valuable experience against a conference opponent and building a secure lead so they don't come back and pull off an upset.

[Gotberg]

I don't follow d3 football to that closely, but does it benefit Wheaton to run up the score like they were trying to do against NP in the beginning of the second quarter?

Are you serious? What are they supposed to do? They were only up by 20 points and it was still the first half. You can't assume a lead like that is safe
any team, especially that early in the game.

ok

[Son of Tailgater]

Carthage gets trounced during their homecoming game this year. Ouch! I guess it is fitting since Carthage has spoiled IWU's last couple HC's. This brings up two questions: Is IWU for real? or did Carthage play that poorly?

Here is the article taken from the Carthage website:

Carthage Football Falls to Illinois Wesleyan, 42-16, on Oct. 3

The Carthage College football team (3-1, 0-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), opened its CCIW-schedule on Saturday, Oct. 3 with a 42-16 loss to Illinois Wesleyan University (4-0, 1-0 CCIW) at Art Keller Field in Kenosha, Wis.

Illinois Wesleyan rolled up 495 total offensive yards, 154 rushing and 341 passing, while Carthage managed only 183 total yards, 10 on the ground and 173 in the air.  Kraig Ladd completed 21-of-28 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns.  Jack Scalcucci caught 10 passes for 169 yards, while Chris Messina caught eight for 116 yards.  The Titans' Eli Williams rushed for 76 yards on 19 carries.  The Red Men's Evan Jones completed nine-of-15 passes for just 54 yards, and Trevor Beazley completed 11-of-16 for 119 yards.  Each Carthage quarterback was intercepted once.  Red Men safety Marcus Williams collected a game-high 11 tackles.  Carthage travels to Elmhurst, Ill., on Saturday, Oct. 10 to play conference-opponent Elmhurst College in a 1 p.m. game at Langhorst Field.

[Son of Tailgater]

Finals from around the league this week:

Wheaton 41, North Park 6
North Central 58, Millikin 0
Illinois Wesleyan 42, Carthage 16
Augustana 21, Elmhurst 3

Thoughts?

[Mugsy]

I don't follow d3 football to that closely, but does it benefit Wheaton to run up the score like they were trying to do against NP in the beginning of the second quarter?

You gotta be kiddin' me?  Running up the score in the 2nd quarter?  Are you serious?  

That is ridiculous.  It's the 2nd quarter.  There is still half a game left.  So Wheaton is supposed to put their 2nd & 3rd string team in before the half?  NO ONE ever does that and is accused of running up the score.  Typically if the game is out of reach coaches will play the 1st team for the 1st or 2nd series in the 2nd half before subbing.

Do you forget Wheaton has 6 more games and needs to play their starters for at least a half to keep them sharp?  

Need I remind you the score was only 27-0 at half?  

[WahooThunder]

Finals from around the league this week:

Wheaton 41, North Park 6
North Central 58, Millikin 0
Illinois Wesleyan 42, Carthage 16
Augustana 21, Elmhurst 3

Thoughts?

Statement games by North Central and Illinois Wesleyan this week and a particularly disappointing loss for Carthage. I think the jury is still out on Augie and Wheaton, so next week's game will be very interesting. Carthage-Elmhurst will certainly be a big game for each of those teams as well. I think North Central still has to be the favorite at this point, but I expect Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton to give them a run for their money and am curious to see what Augie is made of as well.

[Mugsy]

Finals from around the league this week:

Wheaton 41, North Park 6
North Central 58, Millikin 0
Illinois Wesleyan 42, Carthage 16
Augustana 21, Elmhurst 3

Thoughts?

Pretty much what I expected from Wheaton and Augie.  North Central is obviously still very angry from their loss to ONU.  I didn't think Millikin was as good as their 3-0 record indicated, that is why I had them with a 2-5 CCIW record.

I was somewhat surprised by the margin of victory by IWU.  Clearly Carthage has some weaknesses on defense, though IWU has a very balanced attack.  My primary concern (if I was a Carthage fan) is the unbalanced attack.  Carthage has got to run the ball more effectively to win in the CCIW.  If Jones goes down or if the weather is terrible, Carthage will be hurting IMO.

NCC appears to be the head of the pack.

[matblake]

I'm going to be honest, I assumed many would drop NCC to 2nd (or lower?) due to the losses of Wenger and De Sulo.


Losing your 2 best defensive players would normally be cause for concern. Coach Thorne must have some very quality depth to plug in.

No question the loss of Wenger and Sulo hurts NCC significantly on defense.  I just think NCC is so deep and experienced, I'm not sure what to think about Augie and Wheaton is sooo young on defense.

I guess I just don't know much about NCC's depth. I haven't kept up with the roster turnover as much as I used to and obviously my vast expanse of NCC knowledge has turned into a small puddle.

I just wonder if you can contend for a CCIW title (let-alone a national title) when you're missing your 2 best defensive players (1 of which was national preseason defensive player of the year). You're not going to be able to outscore everyone every week. Someone is going to have to step up on D and make a play. Wenger was that guy. Sulo would have been the guy many would pick after Wenger. Now they're both gone. Who is that guy now?

My guess is that person is someone we haven't really need to see yet.  With blowout games v Benedictine & Olivet there hasn't been a situation for anyone to step up defensively at a crucial time.  Those games were never in doubt.  North Central is a good team, and good teams always seem to find someone to plug in.  Alternatively, it didn't seem like North Central had anyone to plug in against Ohio Northern when a defensive stop could have changed things.  Instead ONU controls the clock for like 8 minutes to secure the victory.  Perhaps not a good sign.  

NCC---- 58
Millikin--0

Without Wenger and Sulo.
The "plug-ins" seem to be working.

Perhaps a good sign?

A very good sign

[oldnuthin]

 Sorry posted this in the updates first I got a chance to go see the IWU Carthage game with a buddy. Wow, IWU looked crisp and Carthage just did not have an answer for anything they were doing. Carthage had a very light D Line, about 230lb average i think, and mounted very little pressure on the QB. IWU QB very impressive but I really liked their RB 31. He hits the hole fast and is very shifty.  After seeing the Carthage QBS stats I expected a much tighter game, but they never seemed to really get going. Millikin will have their hands full next week. thats for sure.

[Carthage Fan]

Ouch!  That one hurt.  This is how it started, Big kickoff return, 2 Titan plays, TD and we are down 7-0 with about :55 off of the clock!  Then a blocked punt for a TD on the Carthage first possession and we are down 14-0 with only 2:30 off the clock.  What?  How did that happen?  I know I will wake up and this will be a dream....NOPE  Anyway it totally deflated Carthage who had already come out flat.  "So, other than that, how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?"   

Titans were up for this game for sure and played very well.  Ladd made some great throws and his receivers were open most of the game.  When we did manage to get pressure on him he broke away and made a play.

Carthage O just not firing on all cylinders and have been hit by the injury bug. Jake Smith starting RB and WR Mike Koeneman did not dress.  Mike's brother Jeff went down on his first catch and was out the rest of the game.  Also we started an O lineman who converted from D lineman this week!  Defense looked confused, got the coverages/formations in late, were out gunned and looked sluggish all game.

So to answer Son of Tailgater is IWU for real?  IWU played very well and Carthage played very poorly, but yes the Titans looked very good.

[ncc58]

What did we learn?

We thought that North Central and Wheaton were the top teams. Nothing to dispute that.

Millikin, Elmhurst, and North Park were thought to be the bottom teams. Augustana seemed to be headed for a down year, for their program. Nothing to contradict that.

Either Carthage or IWU had the possibility of emerging as a contender. The most likely of the two was IWU and that has been verified. However, we won't learn much more about IWU until October 31.

Gotberg, if you think Wheaton ran up the score on North Park, please don't look next Saturday. North Central has scored 182 points in the last three weeks, putting 40 points up in the first half in each game in an incredibly easy and varied fashion.