FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

Nico Stepina is having a year that puts him in the POY conversation. And Jordan Smith is the best WR in the league, by a pretty good margin. Stepina (aided by a bad call on the final drive  ) are the reason Millikin beat Wheaton. The Big Blue have made dramatic strides in their program in the last two years and they are a very young team.

POY CONVERSATION

Offense

MU's Nico Stepina has indeed had a super year. However, NCC's Broc Rutter has only 68 fewer passing yards, ranks higher in terms of passing efficiency, and is very likely about to lead his team to the conference championship and the conference AQ.
And Stepina's MU teammate, Jordan Smith, is a great receiver who leads in receiving yards per game and, by a wide margin, in TDs.
However, it appears that the most versatile, all-around player might very well be NCC's Austin Breunig. Going into the final conference game, he leads the CCIW in rushing yards with 140 more than his closest competitor. He has a 444 yard lead in all-purpose yards. He has more receiving yards than any other RB in the conference, and is the highest ranked player, other than a QB, in total offense.

Defense

My impression is that the best defensive player in the conference may very well be NPU's Chaun Maiava. The guy literally seems to be everywhere at the same time. He leads the conference in both total tackles, and fumbles forced When NPU played NCC this year you heard his name over and over on the loudspeaker as making the tackle. It shouldn't, but the question arises as to whether NPU's place in the standings will hurt his chances.
Should the award not go to Maiava, two other superlative defenders who would be very worthy of the award are Jordan Hassan of IWU, and Wheaton's Eric Stevenson. They currently rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in total tackles. Both impressed me both in games I attended, and in watching them via streamed games.
Also, because a game can quickly turn on a sack or TFL, I think Wheaton's Chase Greenlee, the leader in both categories, merits consideration.

Broc Rutter is my choice for offense as he is the one that makes it all go.  He's just such a great leader, competitor and QB.   On defense, I have no clue how to choose between Stevenson and Hassan.   Co-DPOY?  They've both been so good.  Maiava has been as well, but the team record hurts his chances.   

[Kovo]

Nico Stepina is having a year that puts him in the POY conversation. And Jordan Smith is the best WR in the league, by a pretty good margin. Stepina (aided by a bad call on the final drive  ) are the reason Millikin beat Wheaton. The Big Blue have made dramatic strides in their program in the last two years and they are a very young team.

POY CONVERSATION

Offense

MU's Nico Stepina has indeed had a super year. However, NCC's Broc Rutter has only 68 fewer passing yards, ranks higher in terms of passing efficiency, and is very likely about to lead his team to the conference championship and the conference AQ.
And Stepina's MU teammate, Jordan Smith, is a great receiver who leads in receiving yards per game and, by a wide margin, in TDs.
However, it appears that the most versatile, all-around player might very well be NCC's Austin Breunig. Going into the final conference game, he leads the CCIW in rushing yards with 140 more than his closest competitor. He has a 444 yard lead in all-purpose yards. He has more receiving yards than any other RB in the conference, and is the highest ranked player, other than a QB, in total offense.

Defense

My impression is that the best defensive player in the conference may very well be NPU's Chaun Maiava. The guy literally seems to be everywhere at the same time. He leads the conference in both total tackles, and fumbles forced When NPU played NCC this year you heard his name over and over on the loudspeaker as making the tackle. It shouldn't, but the question arises as to whether NPU's place in the standings will hurt his chances.
Should the award not go to Maiava, two other superlative defenders who would be very worthy of the award are Jordan Hassan of IWU, and Wheaton's Eric Stevenson. They currently rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in total tackles. Both impressed me both in games I attended, and in watching them via streamed games.
Also, because a game can quickly turn on a sack or TFL, I think Wheaton's Chase Greenlee, the leader in both categories, merits consideration.

Broc Rutter is my choice for offense as he is the one that makes it all go.  He's just such a great leader, competitor and QB.   On defense, I have no clue how to choose between Stevenson and Hassan.   Co-DPOY?  They've both been so good.  Maiava has been as well, but the team record hurts his chances.

But then again NPU was 2-6 in conference when they had their only DPOY.  If he is deserving give it to him.

[iwu70]

My votes would go to Breunig and Hassan.

Big game for the Titans tomorrow -- 41 degrees and partly cloudy.  Should be a lovely day for Senior Day, IWU's last regular season home game.  Gotta have this one.

Go TITANS!


IWU'70

[AndOne]

Austin Breunig has 113 yards and 4 TDs in the first half today at Elmhurst.
As great of a player as Broc Rutter is, Breunig is this year's OPOY.

[Titan Q]

Final:

Illinois Wesleyan 31
Millikin 6

The Titans have won their 15th CCIW title in program history...the first was in 1948.

Really proud of this group.  They are a pleasure to watch because they play very hard and smart.  Congratulations to Norm Eash, who has done a great job with this team, his staff, and the Titans.

Looking forward to the playoffs. Hoping the Titans get a home game.

[CardinalAlum]

Oh no.  Somebody check the Wheaton guys for a pulse after what just went down in the Case Western game.  Wow.    

[CardinalAlum]

Final:

Illinois Wesleyan 31
Millikin 6

The Titans have won their 15th CCIW title in program history...the first was in 1948.

Really proud of this group.  They are a pleasure to watch because they play very hard and smart.  Congratulations to Norm Eash, who has done a great job with this team, his staff, and the Titans.

Looking forward to the playoffs.

Congrats to IWU on a co championship!   Hoping for a long run for the CCIW teams and some help to get Wheaton in. 

[CardinalAlum]

Oh no.  Somebody check the Wheaton guys for a pulse after what just went down in the Case Western game.  Wow.    

Still not over.  OT

[Titan Q]

Final:

Illinois Wesleyan 31
Millikin 6

The Titans have won their 15th CCIW title in program history...the first was in 1948.

Really proud of this group.  They are a pleasure to watch because they play very hard and smart.  Congratulations to Norm Eash, who has done a great job with this team, his staff, and the Titans.

Looking forward to the playoffs.

Congrats to IWU on a co championship!   Hoping for a long run for the CCIW teams and some help to get Wheaton in.

And congrats to NCC and yet another title...quite a run, wow.

[Titan Q]

Also congrats to Norm Eash on his 200th win today.

[SaintsFAN]

Oh no.  Somebody check the Wheaton guys for a pulse after what just went down in the Case Western game.  Wow.    

Still not over.  OT

Unbelievable- they were beaten, but CMU put in a senior backup QB to kneel and he didn't kneel right away.  His OL hit a guy because he got hit.  Stopped the clock and then Case blocked the punt and returned it for a TD. 

[matblake]

The end of that CMU/CWRU game kind of personified Wheaton's season: a penalty, an outstanding play by the opponent, and you leave scratching your head. 

Congrats to Sola Olateju becoming Wheaton's all time leading rusher today. 

Good luck to NCC and IWU in the playoffs. 

[iwu70]

Congrats to NCC and IWU on the CCIW co-championships.  Great work by both teams, 9-1. 

Great game today at TUCCI, another outstanding defensive effort holding the talented MU team, passing attack, to 6 points.  IWU offense also had a good day, Bauer playing well, and running the offense, keeping MU's offense off the field.  Time of possession -- IWU over 41 minutes, MU about 18+.  IWU D played hard and smart, gave up only one really big play, got lucky with another called back on a penalty.  Pretty good pressure on the MU QB, though he's a real good one, made some plays. 

Congrats to the TITANS, to Coach Eash on his 200th, and tying Swede for most in CCIW history, right?  142?

Nice crowd on a cloudy cold day, but warm enough for the TITAN faithful.  Yes, I hope we make the playoffs now and get a home game.  Eureka? 

Thanks to all in our great Titan Pep Band, too -- the best in DIII.  Hand's down.

Have totally enjoyed the season, at home and a few road games this fall, too.  Congrats to the entire team and all the coaching staff, support staff, on a Championship season.

Looking forward . . .

IWU'70

[Lazor3001]

Best case scenario for Wheaton to get in?   I still believe Wheaton is a top 10 team in the country and if they find their way in to the playoffs, they will make some noise.   There isn't a #1 or 2 seed that would want to play them.   Just my opinion.

Ok, here goes:

1) Wabash MUST beat DePauw. Pretty obvious. Right now WC sits #3 within just the North region for a potential pool C. DePauw would need to lose and then be ranked lower than WC, which given the RACs rationale for things so far this year, is no gimme (even though it should be, IMO)

2) DelVal MUST beat Widener. If Widener wins, they steal the AQ from DelVal, pushing DelVal into pool C consideration. Given DelVal is #1 in the East, unless they lost really ugly, they'd still be a very strong candidate for a pool C, hurting WC's chances significantly.

3) IWU MUST beat Millikin. Already discussed the logjam of 8-2 teams if Millikin wins. IWU would need to be the first team up in the North, with WC right behind.

Then I think WC would need at least 1, preferably 2, of these 3 things to happen:

4) Springfield loses to MIT. If Springfield wins, their undefeated. They'd either be a lock for the 2nd pool B bid behind UMBH, or if that goes to Hardin-Simmons, they'd be a virtual lock for a pool C. If they lose, it's possible Springfield misses the playoffs entirely, opening a spot.

5) Case Western Reserve loses to Carnegie Mellon. In the PAC, Washington & Jefferson is in the driver's seat for the AQ, pushing CWR into pool C consideration. If undefeated, they're a lock, if not, they're in the same boat as Springfield, IMO.

6) Frostburg St loses to Salisbury. Currently Frosty is a solid candidate for the last pool C spot, if they lose, they're done.


So, IMO, if the top 3 happen, and 1-2 of the bottom 3 happen, then that gets WC to the table. What happens from there, who knows... But I don't think it's a stretch to consider WC the top 2-loss team in the country. A 4 point loss to IWU in the final seconds, a 3 point loss to Millikin in the final seconds (I've already shared my opinions on both those losses) and then a solid victory over the CCIW's AQ (most likely) in North Central. I don't think any other 2 loss team will have the same quality of win that WC has over NCC.

So given this (through) analysis,  am I correct in deducing that Wheaton has a 0% chance of making playoffs after the results of today?

[CardinalAlum]

The end of that CMU/CWRU game kind of personified Wheaton's season: a penalty, an outstanding play by the opponent, and you leave scratching your head. 

Congrats to Sola Olateju becoming Wheaton's all time leading rusher today. 

Good luck to NCC and IWU in the playoffs.

Congrats to Sola!  What a great football player!