FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

The North Central Two-Deep for this season's opening game at Wabash on Saturday lists new offensive starters at left guard, right tackle, and wide receiver. Defensively, the Cardinals entire front four return, but 2 of three linebackers will be new, as well as both safeties, and one of the cornerbacks.

North Central SID Clark Teuscher and his staff do a tremendous job with Game Notes, Rosters, and 2 Deeps. Here they are for the Wabash game:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2022/9/7/fb_gamenotes_20220910.pdf

Will Ebert at RT is not a new starter. He has more than 20 starts at NCC. Zach Fortier has also been a starter but isn't on the 2 deep, may be hurt?  So 9 starters are back on offense , with transfer Joey Lombardi starting at WR, so really just the freshman LG and the other WR, Braithwaite.

On defense, Julian Bell at safety is also a returning starter for NCC, albeit a couple years removed, and starting corner Antwain Walker is a transfer with a couple years college experience at NIU. Only 3 of the 4 DL are returning starters. Dan Lester played some last year (10 tackles in 8 games) but I don't think he ever started. Looks like 6 returning starters on defense.

Either way, NCC has seemingly filled their holes and are loaded.

Correct in all fronts. Fortier has been banged up in the preseason.

[Next Man Up]

I really am looking forward to the Wheaton/Trinity game.  I think it will be a good test for both teams.  It will be interesting to see how Wheaton handles the travel.

Not just the travel, but it will also be interesting to see how Wheaton handles Trinity too! 
Who'll be the handler, and who'll get handled? 

[cciwman]

Not sure how Wabash can stay close to NCC.  Cardinals return so much on offense and are a year more mature.  Remember the past two seasons played, these players played 8 extra games than most of their opponents.  In blowouts, their backups got plenty of reps and are ready to take their shot.

Wabash gave up 48 last week against a team that only won 5 games last year and never reached that number in 2021.  I predict 40+points in the first half and O/U 60 for the game.  Defense will continue to improve with replacements.  Oh, yeah don't forget about Mr. Hill.  Best back-up running back in the country, who knows if in the new year we get a two back look occasionally.  They both can catch.  Leathal.

[Next Man Up]

Not sure how Wabash can stay close to NCC.  Cardinals return so much on offense and are a year more mature.  Remember the past two seasons played, these players played 8 extra games than most of their opponents.  In blowouts, their backups got plenty of reps and are ready to take their shot.

Wabash gave up 48 last week against a team that only won 5 games last year and never reached that number in 2021.  I predict 40+points in the first half and O/U 60 for the game.  Defense will continue to improve with replacements.  Oh, yeah don't forget about Mr. Hill.  Best back-up running back in the country, who knows if in the new year we get a two back look occasionally.  They both can catch.  Leathal.

Hill is so good it seems almost blasphemous to refer to him as a back-up. I wouldn't bet on a two back look with Greenfield, but the possibility is certainly intriguing. 

[USee]

Mr Mom, who has been picking spreads on the OAC board longer than most on this board have been around, set the Wheaton @Trininty game at Wheaton +6.5. Almost every participant is taking the bait. I think that spread is about right. Given all the questions and inexperience on this Thunder team (1 returning defensive starter, 2 players on defense with any significant playing time, New QB, new WR's, new kickers) and the fact they are playing Trinity, a 9-0 playoff team with 21 returning starters, on the road, I think Trinity should be the healthy favorite.

I am not sure what to expect, not having seen this years version of the Thunder nor any of it's components really. We know Weeks can run and the OL is good. That's about it. I would love for my Thunder to win this game but realistically that is going to be tough. Trinity's QB is really, really good and they have 3 WR's that NCC would be envious to have. They averaged 43 pts a game and had only 6 turnovers in 11 games. Their QBTheir defense only gave up 3.5 yds per play last year and held UMHB to 13 pts in the playoff loss.

Too much uncertainty for me. I don't understand how voters could put this Wheaton team in the top 10 given how little they have returning. Makes no sense to me. I hope they all prove me wrong on Saturday and I hope, for all the inexperience, the Thunder play like veterans in San Antonio.

When's the last time Wheaton had a total of 6 returning starters, fewest in the league and, though I haven't counted, I would bet a lot it's the fewest of any team in the top 25?

[Thunderdome21]

Mr Mom, who has been picking spreads on the OAC board longer than most on this board have been around, set the Wheaton @Trininty game at Wheaton +6.5. Almost every participant is taking the bait. I think that spread is about right. Given all the questions and inexperience on this Thunder team (1 returning defensive starter, 2 players on defense with any significant playing time, New QB, new WR's, new kickers) and the fact they are playing Trinity, a 9-0 playoff team with 21 returning starters, on the road, I think Trinity should be the healthy favorite.

I am not sure what to expect, not having seen this years version of the Thunder nor any of it's components really. We know Weeks can run and the OL is good. That's about it. I would love for my Thunder to win this game but realistically that is going to be tough. Trinity's QB is really, really good and they have 3 WR's that NCC would be envious to have. They averaged 43 pts a game and had only 6 turnovers in 11 games. Their QBTheir defense only gave up 3.5 yds per play last year and held UMHB to 13 pts in the playoff loss.

Too much uncertainty for me. I don't understand how voters could put this Wheaton team in the top 10 given how little they have returning. Makes no sense to me. I hope they all prove me wrong on Saturday and I hope, for all the inexperience, the Thunder play like veterans in San Antonio.

When's the last time Wheaton had a total of 6 returning starters, fewest in the league and, though I haven't counted, I would bet a lot it's the fewest of any team in the top 25?

Even though Trinity has 21 starters coming back from last year, that does not mean that all of the 21 starters were starting the entire season. Trinity graduated their 2nd team all-American safety from last year (Jeremy Irving) and two of their all-region DL players from last year (Campbell Miller and Matthew Willis). 

The big question with last year's game between Mary-Hardin Baylor and Trinity revolved around why UMHB high powered offense only scored 13 pts against Trinity's defense. Trinity folks attribute it to the #2 ranked overall defense in the country from last year.  UMHB folks attribute it to poor QB play by Kyle King (including Kyle King). King was benched the entire following game after his poor performance against Trinity and then was on fire the rest of the playoff run.   I suspect it was a little of both.   

Having watched two of Trinity's games from last year (Birmingham Southern and UMHB) and last week's game against a weak opponent in Sul Ross, their DL seemed more dominant against BSU and UMHB than against Sul Ross but their back seven was just as strong as last year's. Trinity's linebackers are the real deal!   

I agree that this game is going to be tough. Probably will be the toughest game Wheaton has ever played in a early season non-conference matchup.

[USee]

The big question with last year's game between Mary-Hardin Baylor and Trinity revolved around why UMHB high powered offense only scored 13 pts against Trinity's defense. Trinity folks attribute it to the #2 ranked overall defense in the country from last year.  UMHB folks attribute it to poor QB play by Kyle King (including Kyle King).

In my experience the first thing (#2 defense) is highly correlated to the second thing (QB bad day).

AA safety gone? Ok 20 returning starters. Same problem. Same concern. It's gonna be a tough game.

[matblake]

Based off of the comments on the NCAC board Wabash might be suspect on defense, but NCC looks scary good so far.

[CollegeGolf18]

Based off of the comments on the NCAC board Wabash might be suspect on defense, but NCC looks scary good so far.

Suspect? They might be a bottom 10% D3 defense this year. But yeah, NCC looks scary this year once again.

[iwu70]

In a somewhat ragged and flag-strewn affair, IWU over OWU in Bloomington, 45-21.  IWU's defense looked pretty good . . . one pick six and one blocked FG attempt run back for a TD.   IWU's top QB injured on the first series, out for the day.  Looks to be a pretty serious knee injury, so backup QB played solidly the rest of the way.   Quite a few injuries knocking out players on both sides in this game.  Great crowd, lots of energy for the opening day game.  Beautiful day, if a bit hot for football.   It's a positive start for the Titans, with much to improve upon for coming weeks . . .

IWU'70

[Schipper Strong]

Go Wheaton!

[Schipper Strong]

WOW! What a kick!

[iwu70]

Trinity and Wheaton going to OT in Texas.   

[tigerguy]

Been a good hard fought game. Regardless of what happens, I underestimated Wheaton. Thought if we could lock down Weeks in the run game it would be a piece of cake. Will Bowers is a great qb for y'all. Nice to see him playing again - he was great at Southlake Carrol.

[Schipper Strong]

A heartbreaking loss, but what a great game! Congratulations Tigers and Thunder. It was a game for the ages. Utmost respect to the Thunder.