FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Neverwas]

To further USee's point that they didn't get away with one...
11 more first downs
10+ more minutes of possession
100+ yards of offense
10 more plays run

Unfortunately, shaky kicking reared its ugly head again today. Poor timing.

Unrelated - Dansdill was a monster today.

[GoPerry]

To further USee's point that they didn't get away with one...
11 more first downs
10+ more minutes of possession
100+ yards of offense
10 more plays run

Unfortunately, shaky kicking reared its ugly head again today. Poor timing.

Unrelated - Dansdill was a monster today.

In using the words ". . .feel like they got away with one", I'm referring to the fact that they were up big, subsequently(and a little shockingly) lost that lead but were still able to pull out the win.  But perhaps they felt like they would win all along?  I didn't mean to imply that they didn't deserve the victory, as your stats show, because, as USee stated, Wheaton did make the big plays down the stretch, Bower especially, to secure the W.

I would totally disagree that Wheaton feels like they "got away with one" or were "badly outplayed".

In saying that they were badly outplayed for long stretches, I was referring to the 2nd and 3rd quarters where IWU was suddenly moving the ball and their D was finally making some stops holding Wheaton's offense scoreless.  The 3q especially, I thought the Titans controlled the LOS on both sides of the ball effectively.  WC hadn't given up 17 points to anybody all year much less that many in one quarter.  Yes, the kicking game(or lack thereof) had a lot to do with giving the Titans the short field.

[izzy stradlin]

To further USee's point that they didn't get away with one...
11 more first downs
10+ more minutes of possession
100+ yards of offense
10 more plays run

Unfortunately, shaky kicking reared its ugly head again today. Poor timing.

Unrelated - Dansdill was a monster today.

In using the words ". . .feel like they got away with one", I'm referring to the fact that they were up big, subsequently(and a little shockingly) lost that lead but were still able to pull out the win.  But perhaps they felt like they would win all along?  I didn't mean to imply that they didn't deserve the victory, as your stats show, because, as USee stated, Wheaton did make the big plays down the stretch, Bower especially, to secure the W.

I would totally disagree that Wheaton feels like they "got away with one" or were "badly outplayed".

In saying that they were badly outplayed for long stretches, I was referring to the 2nd and 3rd quarters where IWU was suddenly moving the ball and their D was finally making some stops holding Wheaton's offense scoreless.  The 3q especially, I thought the Titans controlled the LOS on both sides of the ball effectively.  WC hadn't given up 17 points to anybody all year much less that many in one quarter.  Yes, the kicking game(or lack thereof) had a lot to do with giving the Titans the short field.

Wheaton played great today and didn't get away with anything.  They were missing 5-6 starters on offense (2 more added to that list today were potential 1st team all-cciwers RB Olateju and RT Pettway).  IWU is a very good team and winning by 2 scores at their place with the stats mentioned by neverwas exceeded my expectations.   

Overall the defense (Dansdill was everywhere) still played well and giving up points is a function of the entire team's performance especially today with punting/wind, an inability to get first downs at times.

The good news is that Peltz, Olateju, Thorson and Pettway may all return full-time soon.  As USee mentioned, today's game is a credit to Swider and his very young coaching staff in the depth they have brought in during the last few years.

[iwu70]

Congrats to WC on their win, their likely 10-0 season and their CCIW championship.  A very good team, esp. to get through the injuries and still go undefeated.  I hope they go far in the post-season, representing the CCIW well.   If my Titans go 8-2, which I expect, they will have exceeded my expectations for this year, for this team.  My congrats to Coach Norm and all the coaching staff, to all the players on a fine year, especially to all the great seniors who have put in so much time and work for IWU, for the football program.  Some great moments this year.  Thank you.

IWU'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.  Wheaton rises to #5, NCC holds steady at 16, IWU falls out but receives 27 points.

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.  Wheaton rises to #5, NCC holds steady at 16, IWU falls out but receives 27 points.

BTW, I am not surprised that IWU fell out of the poll, but I totally disagree.  A team previously ranked #22 (even playing at home) is SUPPOSED to lose to a team now ranked #5.  And it's not like the Titans were blown out - the game was tied entering the 4th Q.  (On my national fan ballot, Wheaton [4] and IWU [19] both stayed exactly where they were the week before.)  The d3football.com poll is definitely the 'gold standard', but I think a number of voters were pretty lazy this week.

[Pat Coleman]

New poll is out.  Wheaton rises to #5, NCC holds steady at 16, IWU falls out but receives 27 points.

BTW, I am not surprised that IWU fell out of the poll, but I totally disagree.  A team previously ranked #22 (even playing at home) is SUPPOSED to lose to a team now ranked #5.  And it's not like the Titans were blown out - the game was tied entering the 4th Q.  (On my national fan ballot, Wheaton [4] and IWU [19] both stayed exactly where they were the week before.)  The d3football.com poll is definitely the 'gold standard', but I think a number of voters were pretty lazy this week.

IWU didn't move on my ballot because I didn't vote for them, and wasn't going to vote for them unless they beat one of the other two CCIW teams. Franklin might be considered a significant win to a small subset of voters but not to me and I couldn't really find any evidence IWU was Top 25-worthy.

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.  Wheaton rises to #5, NCC holds steady at 16, IWU falls out but receives 27 points.

BTW, I am not surprised that IWU fell out of the poll, but I totally disagree.  A team previously ranked #22 (even playing at home) is SUPPOSED to lose to a team now ranked #5.  And it's not like the Titans were blown out - the game was tied entering the 4th Q.  (On my national fan ballot, Wheaton [4] and IWU [19] both stayed exactly where they were the week before.)  The d3football.com poll is definitely the 'gold standard', but I think a number of voters were pretty lazy this week.

IWU didn't move on my ballot because I didn't vote for them, and wasn't going to vote for them unless they beat one of the other two CCIW teams. Franklin might be considered a significant win to a small subset of voters but not to me and I couldn't really find any evidence IWU was Top 25-worthy.

Fair enough, though I obviously disagree.  I doubted them myself early in the year - they actually entered my ballot later than they cracked the Top 25!  But it just didn't strike me as right that they fell out by narrowly losing to what the same panel of voters thought was the #5 team in d3.  Getting jumped by Salisbury (who beat Wesley) and ETBU (who beat HSU) was no real surprise (perhaps not even Albright, who beat a solid Stevenson team), but by Whitworth, who beat a 2-6 team by FOUR points, and by Franklin, whom we beat by ten on THEIR field??!!  THAT does not compute.

[Pat Coleman]

Franklin all season does not computer but they are only on 10 ballots. Four of them are coaches.

[thunderdog]

Sans a ridiculous individual performance by Artie Checchin in the final 1:10 that included 2 TD catches and an onside kick recovery, Carthage "should've" beat IWU on October 3rd in Kenosha. Carthage held a 34-26 min advantage in TOP, and almost matched IWU in total yardage 338-365. Carthage is 4-2 in conference and I'm sure they'd love to be the only blemish on Wheaton's regular season resume. The Thunder had better be ready for a battle on Saturday.

I'm guessing that #9 JR Ethan Olles (6'2" 190) will start at QB after taking over for #18 Soph Bobby Suchecki (6'3" 230) in week 7, leading the RedMen to 3 straight wins over Augie, Millikin, and North Park. It's pretty clear that Carthage will attempt to establish the run with 381 rushing attempts on the season vs just 247 passing attempts. Looks to me like Carthage has a 3-headed monster at RB. #35 Frosh Lafayette McGary (5'7" 175) leads the team with 592 yards on 95 carries, good for a 5.8 AVG, and 4 TD's. #21 JR London Townsend (5'10" 180) has 556 yards on 77 runs, 6.8 AVG, 3 TD. #8 Soph Tristan Peterson (6'0" 175) has 91 for 406, 4.2 AVG, 4 TDs. Will be interesting to see if the RedMen will show the same commitment to the run against a very, very stout front 7 for the Thunder...

Wheaton finds itself #5 in the country and possibly knocking on the door of their first ever #1 seed for the playoffs. The Thunder players need to block out all that noise and stay focused on the Carthage RedMen and ONLY the Carthage RedMen... I'll say it again, this will be a battle...

[USee]

After this final weekend of games the All conference awards will be given out next week.  The CCIW coaches tend to give as many awards as are deserving which dilutes it for me but the POY awards seem pretty clear to me. 

Adam Dansdill is a virtual lock as a repeat DPOY.  He has been the biggest difference maker on the best defense. Hasn't been many players like him in the league. Other players considered are Logan McRae, Sean Garvey, and Eric Wilson

I think Sam Frasco is the guy for OPOY.  There isn't a player who has meant more to his team the Augie's QB.  And he has done his thing against almost everybody.  The other players in the mix are Andrew Bowers, Artie Checchin, and maybe Austin Breunig. 

[USee]

Sans a ridiculous individual performance by Artie Checchin in the final 1:10 that included 2 TD catches and an onside kick recovery, Carthage "should've" beat IWU on October 3rd in Kenosha. Carthage held a 34-26 min advantage in TOP, and almost matched IWU in total yardage 338-365. Carthage is 4-2 in conference and I'm sure they'd love to be the only blemish on Wheaton's regular season resume. The Thunder had better be ready for a battle on Saturday.

I'm guessing that #9 JR Ethan Olles (6'2" 190) will start at QB after taking over for #18 Soph Bobby Suchecki (6'3" 230) in week 7, leading the RedMen to 3 straight wins over Augie, Millikin, and North Park. It's pretty clear that Carthage will attempt to establish the run with 381 rushing attempts on the season vs just 247 passing attempts. Looks to me like Carthage has a 3-headed monster at RB. #35 Frosh Lafayette McGary (5'7" 175) leads the team with 592 yards on 95 carries, good for a 5.8 AVG, and 4 TD's. #21 JR London Townsend (5'10" 180) has 556 yards on 77 runs, 6.8 AVG, 3 TD. #8 Soph Tristan Peterson (6'0" 175) has 91 for 406, 4.2 AVG, 4 TDs. Will be interesting to see if the RedMen will show the same commitment to the run against a very, very stout front 7 for the Thunder...

Wheaton finds itself #5 in the country and possibly knocking on the door of their first ever #1 seed for the playoffs. The Thunder players need to block out all that noise and stay focused on the Carthage RedMen and ONLY the Carthage RedMen... I'll say it again, this will be a battle...

Carthage will feature the league leader in sacks Terrence Allen (10 sacks) and he will be going against an offense that has just 4 people playing that started at their position in week 1.  Wheaton better prepare for a war. Carthage is the surprise team of the conference this year at 4-2.  They will have an aggressive defense that will attack Wheatons Offense.

[iwu70]

Dansdill and Frasco sounds right to me.

CC could give WC a good game this weekend, though I think WC will prevail, esp. if some of the injured players are back. 

Ready for some basketball -- opening night Friday at the Shirk vs. Benedictine.  Let the chase of Augie begin!

Congrats to the IWU Vball and Soccer women for bids to their respective dances.  Soccer may go far, as last year, to the Final Four. 

'70

[USee]

I am not sure how the final pieces of the playoff puzzle will shape but Wheatons first round game is likely to be one of the following

NACC champ (Lakeland/Bendictine)
MWC champ St Norbert/Monmouth
Franklin
Dubuque
Albion

Some of these are less likely than others. 

[USee]

Wheaton better get their punting in order.  Way more short fields than necessary.   If not for the defense bowing up on real short field after less than 20 yard punts, this game might not have been a W.

Out of 241 ranked teams in D3, Wheaton is 236th in net punting. Since there are only 5 teams worse it's worth noting who they are:

237. Widener
238. Wisconsin Platteville
239. Geneva
240. Gallaudet
241. Carleton

The next best teams to Wheaton in net punting that are playoff teams are UWO 169th, UWW 132 and Wabash 102