FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

Wheaton had a tremendous team this year.

Given Mount Union's run of 25 consecutive semifinal appearances, I suspect we have never seen a year where none of the four top seeds made the semifinals.  If it has happened, it was a long long long time ago.

In 2005, none of the top seeds made the semifinals.

Thank you.  Was kinda hoping Ypsi would look it up for me, but I knew that was a longshot...

[Stagg Again!!]

A few observations about Del Val's #2-ranked defense from today's game at the B-W:  1) LBs were the clear strength of Del Val's defense.  They moved quickly to shut down the run and eliminate the short passes.  Del Val's DL was not able to get any real pressure on Rutter without LB and CB blitzes.  NCC's OL substantially neutralized Nobile.  2) Across the board, Del Val's defense was EXCELLENT at tackling (perhaps the best we have seen all year), thus eliminating NCC's RAC and big plays.  3) I don't recall seeing any other defense rack up so many senseless unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.  Back-to-back unsportsmanlike penalties on 3rd and 5 in 4Q by Mason and Nobile, extended NCC's drive and lead to another Cardinal touchdown.  4) Depth Chart shows a lot of youth on DL and in secondary.  As this group gains more experience and self-discipline, they will get even better... I am certainly looking forward to watching them from afar next year.  Congratulations to these young Aggies on a fantastic year... they have a lot to be proud of!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Congratulations to the Cardinals!  I expected an even bigger margin of victory, but still a quite decisive win!  The Mules appear to be very much for real (yielding eight lousy points in three playoff games), but I have confidence that Broc and company can outdo that!

Condolences to the Thunder - what a heart-breaking way to lose perhaps your best shot ever at the 'big doorstop' (as Sager would say ).  A tremendous year that ended short of what you had hoped for.

I was really hoping for an all-CCIW Stagg Bowl, but such is life.

[USee]

Wheaton 33
St Johns 34

Wheaton 466 total yds (290 pass, 165 Run)
St Johns 399 total yds (407 pass, -12 run)

Wheaton 2 fumbles, 6 penalties for 65 yds
St Johns 1 INT, 2 penalties for 30 yds

Luke Anthony 29-40 (73%) 290 yds 2 TDs
Erdman 27-38 (71%) 407 yds 5 TDS

Wow. What a game. Congrats to St Johns for surviving this epic first ever showdown between these two programs. I thought St Johns really controlled the LOS the entire first half on both sides and that was a big reason they were ahead 21-7. Erdman was as advertised and it looked bleak for Thunder fans early. But this team has no quit and Wheaton really dominated the second stanza holding Erdman and company to just 140 second half yds (though 80 of them came on 2 TD passes) and controlling time of possession 20min to 10 in the second half.

Disappointed to see some people complain about the officials and missed calls (I didn't see fans of either team mentioning any missed calls that went against the opponent). Overall these teams played a game for the ages with both strengths living up to their billing. Erdman did his thing (amazing strange stat that JE had 407 yds passing and StJ finished with 399 total yds) and Wheatons DLine got home often (3 sacks and multiple pressures) especially in the second half which really limited the ST J offense. The Thunder ran for 115 second half yds and I really thought when St Johns kicker missed the Xtra point that Wheaton would win. What a crazy ending.

Wheaton made enough plays to win that game. Unfortunately they made just enough mistakes to lose it.

Congrats the St Johns and good luck against a very fine UWW team next week. I suspect this game film will be very helpful for Warhawk prep.

[USee]

I did have a question on the final PAT and the penalty ruling. I am not totally sure that on an extra point try, after the 15 yd spike penalty, if the only penalty was for roughing the kicker, where the ball would be spotted. In normal field of play rules I know it would be half the distance. I remember seeing a game somewhere where the subsequent penalty was spotted back at the original extra point spot (2 yd line) but that may have been an NFL game so not sure the college rule there. The obvious spot would be half the distance, but I think the rule may be different for an extra point try, not sure.

[USee]

And congrats to Team Naperville for their advance to the final 4. I suspect Muhlenberg will provide a unique challenge for these Cardinals in their hopes to make it to Shenandoah.

[Not My Nachos]

A couple of thoughts about today:

1) Wheaton losing is more due to the deficit they overcame rather than a senseless call.

2) The main duty (and in my opinion the only duty) of officials are to prevent an unfair advantage for one team over another.

3) What happened with the unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball was NOT a situation that created an unfair advantage for anyone.  In that moment, in that game...look the other way and good refs get that.

I'm anything but a Wheaton fan, so no reason to stick up for them. 

As far as NCC, they will be in trouble this week.  I assume the are going to PA.  This is a very, very good defense which has been getting better, not worse.  Remember, they were a recovered fumble away from being down in todays game (I think it was 17 14 at that point with Del on the NCC 15. 

Still...really impressive stuff from both!

[robertgoulet]

A couple of thoughts about today:

1) Wheaton losing is more due to the deficit they overcame rather than a senseless call.

2) The main duty (and in my opinion the only duty) of officials are to prevent an unfair advantage for one team over another.

3) What happened with the unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball was NOT a situation that created an unfair advantage for anyone.  In that moment, in that game...look the other way and good refs get that.

I'm anything but a Wheaton fan, so no reason to stick up for them. 

As far as NCC, they will be in trouble this week.  I assume the are going to PA.  This is a very, very good defense which has been getting better, not worse.  Remember, they were a recovered fumble away from being down in todays game (I think it was 17 14 at that point with Del on the NCC 15. 

Still...really impressive stuff from both!

They were up 24-14 at that point.

And you can argue the fumble but I'd argue they were a fluky tipped interception away from being up 24-7 and DV not getting that momentum. Game could have been very different.

[Not My Nachos]

A couple of thoughts about today:

1) Wheaton losing is more due to the deficit they overcame rather than a senseless call.

2) The main duty (and in my opinion the only duty) of officials are to prevent an unfair advantage for one team over another.

3) What happened with the unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball was NOT a situation that created an unfair advantage for anyone.  In that moment, in that game...look the other way and good refs get that.

I'm anything but a Wheaton fan, so no reason to stick up for them. 

As far as NCC, they will be in trouble this week.  I assume the are going to PA.  This is a very, very good defense which has been getting better, not worse.  Remember, they were a recovered fumble away from being down in todays game (I think it was 17 14 at that point with Del on the NCC 15. 

Still...really impressive stuff from both!

They were up 24-14 at that point.

And you can argue the fumble but I'd argue they were a fluky tipped interception away from being up 24-7 and DV not getting that momentum. Game could have been very different.

Thanks...couldnt remember.

The point is...this D next  week is better and will most likely be played there. Regardless, great show again today!

[Stagg Again!!]

A couple of thoughts about today:

1) Wheaton losing is more due to the deficit they overcame rather than a senseless call.

2) The main duty (and in my opinion the only duty) of officials are to prevent an unfair advantage for one team over another.

3) What happened with the unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball was NOT a situation that created an unfair advantage for anyone.  In that moment, in that game...look the other way and good refs get that.

I'm anything but a Wheaton fan, so no reason to stick up for them. 

As far as NCC, they will be in trouble this week.  I assume the are going to PA.  This is a very, very good defense which has been getting better, not worse.  Remember, they were a recovered fumble away from being down in todays game (I think it was 17 14 at that point with Del on the NCC 15. 

Still...really impressive stuff from both!

They were up 24-14 at that point.

And you can argue the fumble but I'd argue they were a fluky tipped interception away from being up 24-7 and DV not getting that momentum. Game could have been very different.

Thanks...couldnt remember.

The point is...this D next  week is better and will most likely be played there. Regardless, great show again today!

Nacho, I agree with your main point that the Cardinals have to be much sharper on offense, going forward, than they were today.  Rutter threw a couple of balls high and there were uncharacteristic and untimely drops by NCC's WRs.  I would note, however, that Del Val game into the game averaging 37.3 ppg and the Mules average 41.6 ppg.  The Cardinal's bend-but-don't-break defense was one play away from holding the 11-2 Aggies 30 ppg under their season average.  I would expect that Muhlenberg will find that NCC's defense is not that easy to score on when they make the correct adjustments. 

[hazzben]

A couple of thoughts about today:

2) The main duty (and in my opinion the only duty) of officials are to prevent an unfair advantage for one team over another.

3) What happened with the unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball was NOT a situation that created an unfair advantage for anyone.  In that moment, in that game...look the other way and good refs get that.

2 is just wrong. When does "unsportsmanlike conduct" ever create an unfair advantage?? And yet, it's a rule, and for good reason. Absolutely no official worth their salt would describe their job in the way you did in pt 2. My dad was a HS and college official (umpire) for over 35 years and did tons of playoff and championship games. (He's still a track starter/official, having started dozens of NCAA Championships, USATF meets, etc - aka, he's as experienced a game official as you'll come across). He would have been a B1G official if not for the desire to watch my brother and I play college football. He always maintained several things: you can never have any bias, you can never let a coach or crowd affect how you call the game, you never want to unnecessarily insert yourself into the story (though at times it can't be helped), and your job is to call the game consistently and ensure player safety. His immediate take watching the Wheaton game was that it was absolutely the right call. It's the kind of call you hate to make as an official, but it's not on the official to "not make that call" just because of the situation. (can you tell I'm an officials kid  , I sometimes feel the need to weigh in on their behalf since it's a popular sport to rip them and rarely consistent practice to praise them, yet the game doesn't happen without them. Not to mention their pay rarely even covers their expenses at this level.)

I'm also not trying to pile on the center. I get the emotion of the moment.

[USee]

I have no problem with the call on Hibben. As soon as he did it and saw the flag, I knew it was a penalty.

As I said, Wheaton made enough plays to win the game and just enough mistakes to lose it.

[repete]

You can't help but feel for that kid ... and kids these guys are.

I'm elated for the SJU win over a very good opponent, but still it is a shame that something that freak played a role.

Disagree that officials could keep the flags in their pockets. It was a clear-cut spike and not calling it would be redefining the rules.

[bluenote]

I don't see anyone stopping North Central.... How far are you guys from the LooP? My dad grew up in South Central Chicago on Des Plains Street!   

[CardinalAlum]

I don't see anyone stopping North Central.... How far are you guys from the LooP? My dad grew up in South Central Chicago on Des Plains Street!   

30 miles West of there.