FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Cardinal773]

CCIW Players of the Week Against (CCIWPOTWA):

Team  Total. Off.  Def.  S.T.
MU         3    0    1    2
CC          2    0    2    0
CU          1    1    0    0
EU          1    1    0    0
WaU.    1    0    0    1
WC        1    1    0    0
AC          0    0    0    0
IWU      0    0    0    0
NCC      0    0    0    0
NPU      0    0    0    0

[USee]

In my opinion Wheaton has the skill players to compete with NCC now. What they don't have, and haven't had in a few years, is the dawgs up front to compete. The last two years we have been dominated by NCC's offensive line. There are no Dallas McRae, Jake Holoday, River Shindledecker types on the DL or Ryan Schwartz, Eric Stevenson as LB's. Offensive linemen like Jake Hibben, Paul Fay, Trevor Gabriell, etc.

NCC has consistently put out dominant fronts and during the Thorne years, when Wheaton was the only team with a winning record against NCC, Wheaton had fronts that were just as dominant with guys to complement. We have some guys that can play and can even dominate, but not nearly as many as we used to. 

[Thunderdome21]

In my opinion Wheaton has the skill players to compete with NCC now. What they don't have, and haven't had in a few years, is the dawgs up front to compete. The last two years we have been dominated by NCC's offensive line. There are no Dallas McRae, Jake Holoday, River Shindledecker types on the DL or Ryan Schwartz, Eric Stevenson as LB's. Offensive linemen like Jake Hibben, Paul Fay, Trevor Gabriell, etc.

NCC has consistently put out dominant fronts and during the Thorne years, when Wheaton was the only team with a winning record against NCC, Wheaton had fronts that were just as dominant with guys to complement. We have some guys that can play and can even dominate, but not nearly as many as we used to. 

I completely agree. The dominating defensive lines of those years also made the LB's job easier for all-American talented LBs like Stevenson and Schwartz. Wheaton's O-line was also special during those years, including last year. It allowed a gifted all-American, Giovanni Weeks, to break all of those Wheaton RB records.

I don't know the long history of Wheaton football as you do, but didn't the fathers of several of the linemen you mentioned play for Coach Swider in the 1990s? Is Wheaton missing out on the second-generation players in the trenches since Swider's retirement?   

[USee]

There are plenty of 2nd Gen Wheaton football players (recent players include: Parrish, Johanik, Nussbaum, Tofilon, Greupner, Miller, Nitz, Thorson, Peays, etc). I don't think they are missing out on those players. I am not sure if they just had a dip in recruiting in certain postions but I see signs of it picking up with some of the younger talent on the team now. I know Mikey Swider is a relentless recruiter (as is Jesse Scott).

You have to consider NCC followed up a generational talent at QB in Broc Rutter with another one in Luke Lehnen. Those two guys for 8 years running is a pretty stiff draw.

Since John Thorne took over at NCC in 2002 Wheaton is 12-11 against NCC. Against John Thorne we were 7-6. Against Jeff Thorne we were 5-2 and we are 0-3 against Brad Spencer. The last 10 years Wheaton is 5-5. The problem is we are 0-4 the last 4 years.

[mr_b]

Final from Chicago: North Park 30, Carroll 26

[CarollFan]

Final from Chicago: North Park 30, Carroll 26

Yes it was a back and forth game. Lost track of lead changes. Penalties hurt both teams. The 2 that stick out to me for Carroll are a roughing the punter in 3rd Q and a roughing the passer in 4rth Q on a incomplete pass on 3rd a goal. NPU scored TD's after both those penalties.  Carroll also was settling for FG's. NPUs D did a good job especially in red zone.

Carroll hosts Augie next week. They've played 3 games the last 3 years that have come down to last play so expect another close one.

[CarollFan]

Regarding blowouts, thru 20 conference games it appears to me 60% of the games were blowouts and 40% are not so far.  I guess depends on definition of blowout.

12 out of 20 (60%) have a final margin of victory +21 or more.
NCC 63  Carthage 0        +63
NCC 70 Millikin 14         +56
WashU 65 Carthage 16    +49
IWU 55 Elmhurst 7        +48
NPU 44 Millikin 0        +44
NCC 49 WashU 9           +40
Wheaton 42 Augie 3      +39
IWU 35 Carthage 0       +35
Carroll 49 Millikin 14    +35
WashU 37 Carroll 7      +30
NCC 55 Wheaton 27       +28
Wheaton 42 IWU 21       +21

8 out of 20 (40%) have a final margin of victory +14 or less.
Augie 35 Elmhurst 21         +14
Wheaton 22 Carroll 10        +12
WashU 33 IWU 23                +10
Elmhurst 28 NPU 21            +7
Elmhurst 23 Carthage 17    +6
Augie 24 Millikin 20           +4
NPU 30 Carroll 26              +4
NPU 30 Augie 27                  +3

[Gregory Sager]

Yesterday's seesaw affair at Hedstrand Field was one of the most entertaining football games that I've ever called. It was a great contest between two closely-matched teams. However, North Park and Carroll are a study in contrasts, offensively speaking: the Vikings have their high-octane, down-the-field passing game with Eck lofting bombs to Ombogo and McCloud, the Pioneers have a strong rushing attack with a talented back in Marcus Johnson running behind a big, experienced group of trucks.

What the game came down to, ultimately, were two things. One was NPU's bend-but-don't-break defense. As CarollFan said, the Vikings stiffened and stood up the Pioneers when Carroll reached the red zone, forcing Carroll to settle for four FGs among their six trips inside the NPU 20.
 
The other major factor was Matt Eck's ability to take a hit and keep getting up as though nothing had happened. The Carroll front seven only sacked Eck once, but they punished him time and time again as he was releasing the ball (and on a few occasions after he had released it.) Plus, a Pios DB delivered a particularly nasty hit on Eck as he was sliding to end a run up the middle in the 2nd quarter. Eck just kept bouncing back up and making one play after another while either rolling out or running backwards and dodging onrushing Pios to keep the play alive. His last TD pass to Ombogo was what NPU head coach Kyle Rooker called "a John Wayne throw": Eck rolled left, threw against his body just before he reached the sideline, and Ombogo caught it in the back of the end zone 50 yards downfield from where Eck had thrown it. I realize that it is faint praise indeed to rank players from a program with such a bad tradition, but I'll put Eck right up there with John Love and T.D. Conway among the best North Park QBs I've ever seen. (The great Bruce Swanson was long before my time.)

The biggest play, though, was Jaydin Miller's interception at the Carroll 46 with 00:33 left on the clock, which more or less sealed the deal. As I said on the air, big players make big plays, and thus it was only natural for Miller to make NPU's biggest play of the day.

North Park is now 4-1 for the first time since 1979 (and only the third time ever for a program that dates back to 1932).

[CarollFan]

Yesterday's seesaw affair at Hedstrand Field was one of the most entertaining football games that I've ever called. It was a great contest between two closely-matched teams. However, North Park and Carroll are a study in contrasts, offensively speaking: the Vikings have their high-octane, down-the-field passing game with Eck lofting bombs to Ombogo and McCloud, the Pioneers have a strong rushing attack with a talented back in Marcus Johnson running behind a big, experienced group of trucks.

What the game came down to, ultimately, were two things. One was NPU's bend-but-don't-break defense. As CarollFan said, the Vikings stiffened and stood up the Pioneers when Carroll reached the red zone, forcing Carroll to settle for four FGs among their six trips inside the NPU 20.
 
The other major factor was Matt Eck's ability to take a hit and keep getting up as though nothing had happened. The Carroll front seven only sacked Eck once, but they punished him time and time again as he was releasing the ball (and on a few occasions after he had released it.) Plus, a Pios DB delivered a particularly nasty hit on Eck as he was sliding to end a fourth-down run up the middle in the 3rd quarter. Eck just kept bouncing back up and making one play after another while either rolling out or running backwards and dodging onrushing Pios to keep the play alive. His last TD pass to Ombogo was what NPU head coach Kyle Rooker called "a John Wayne throw": Eck rolled left, threw against his body just before he reached the sideline, and Ombogo caught it in the back of the end zone 50 yards downfield from where Eck had thrown it. I realize that it is faint praise indeed to rank players from a program with such a bad tradition, but I'll put Eck right up there with John Love and T.D. Conway among the best North Park QBs I've ever seen. (The great Bruce Swanson was long before my time.)

The biggest play, though, was Jaydin Miller's interception at the Carroll 46 with 00:33 left on the clock, which more or less sealed the deal. As I said on the air, big players make big plays, and thus it was only natural for Miller to make NPU's biggest play of the day.

North Park is now 4-1 for the first time since 1979 (and only the third time ever for a program that dates back to 1932).

#24 Marcus Johnson is a sophomore out of Hazel Crest, IL. He took over starting role last week. I thought he was going to break one yesterday but that horse collar tackle came up big as Carroll settled for a FG. Marcus is currently #2 rushing back in yardage behind Augie's RB.

One thing I noticed is our Jaydin Miller so to speak LB #0 Damon Loker sat out 2nd half.

[CarollFan]

WashU find a home?

https://x.com/IWUhoopscom/status/1845206890243846488?t=qFJdBTOKj2GD8c68SGXHoA&s=19

[lmitzel]

WashU find a home?

https://x.com/IWUhoopscom/status/1845206890243846488?t=qFJdBTOKj2GD8c68SGXHoA&s=19

I'm inclined to believe Q.

As was said on Twitter, those bus rides are gonna suck.

[CarollFan]

Games this week.
Spreads courtesy of Logan Hansen. https://hansenratings.github.io/

NPU @ NCC -56.6
Wheaton -45.8 @ Carthage
WashU -39.4 @ Elmhurst
Millikin @ IWU -26.4
Augie @ Carroll -12.9

Augie @ Carroll looks like only close game or upset.  Hard to see with the other games.

Next week 10/26 has some interesting games.
The big one Wheaton @ WashU. Battle for second place. Loser most likely gets 3rd place. Playoff, bowl game implications.
Another game that week IWU @ NPU.  NPU wins that they'll be in good shape for not only 6 wins but 4rth place since they'll have beaten all the other teams chasing it. If IWU wins they still have to play Augie, Carroll and NCC.
Finally Carthage @ Millikin, someone gets their first win.

[Gregory Sager]

I realize that it is faint praise indeed to rank players from a program with such a bad tradition, but I'll put Eck right up there with John Love and T.D. Conway among the best North Park QBs I've ever seen. (The great Bruce Swanson was long before my time.)

Incidentally, Eck is now two touchdown passes away from tying T.D. Conway's school record of 62 paydirt throws.

Games this week.
Spreads courtesy of Logan Hansen. https://hansenratings.github.io/

NPU @ NCC -56.6

Honestly, all I care about is that the Vikings leave Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium next Saturday without suffering any serious injuries. I mean, yeah, beating that brobdingnagian -56.6 Hansen spread would be nice, but if NPU loses by nine touchdowns and then boards the buses to return to Foster & Kedzie as healthy as can be hoped, I'll gladly take it. That game a week from Saturday at home against Illinois Wesleyan looms absolutely huge. Win it, and the dream to finally end The Streak can be realized with a win the following week in Kenosha. Lose it, and it's another feel-good 5-5 campaign that will nevertheless cast a shadow of lingering regret over how 6-4 got away.

[Cardinal773]

CCIW Players of the Week Against (CCIWPOTWA):

Team         Total Off. Def. S.T.
Carthage     3        1      2      0
Millikin         3        0      1      2
Carroll          2        1      1      0
Elmhurst     1        1      0      0
IWU               1        1      0      0
N. Park         1        0      0      1
Wash. U.      1        0      0      1
Wheaton     1        1      0      0
Augustana  0        0      0      0
N. Central   0        0      0      0

[Cardinal773]

Looking forward to homecoming this weekend at North Central.  It's a tall task for North Park, but I'm confident those kids will work their tails off and leave it all out on the field.  It's really impressive how Park has performed over the last two years and Rooker is getting a lot out of those boys.  The LB Miller is really something for the Vikings.  He's all over the place making big plays.

We might witness some history this weekend, too.  Lehnen is only 4 TDs shy of the record of 178 and if he throws a TD this weekend, it will extend his collegiate record to 50 consecutive games with a passing touchdown.  It boggles the mind.

On the subject of the consecutive TD streak, consider this: in the 2021 playoffs CMU canceled their 1st round playoff game.  This ultimately denied Luke and company a 15 game season.  No one can say for certain that Lehnen would have tossed a touchdown in that game, but odds are he probably would have.  Either way, if the football gods continue to keep shining upon the Cardinals and they make it to yet another final with that incredible streak intact through 59 games, the door will be cracked open ever so slightly for someone to break it.