FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

That's why I put it on the front page.

[augiedogie]

Pat I have a question for you. 

How long has the CCIW banned "artificial noisemakers"? At the Augie Carthage game tonight, the p.a. came threatened any fan that was using one that they would be kicked out of the stadium or atleast taken away from them. It came at a time right after Augie had forced Carthage to punt from deep in their own zone. 

[Pat Coleman]

Oh, sorry, I have no idea whatsoever. I don't keep up on individual conference rules.

I do know they have been banned at NCAA playoff games by the NCAA for quite some time.

[augiedogie]

JDean:

Augie's qb Matt Roe completed a 17 yard td pass on 3rd to the TE McIntire in the 2nd quarter. He was 2/3 passing and was sacked 3 times trying to get off a pass. One of the sacks took Augie out of field goal range which was critical at the time because the possession before they missed a 39 yard field goal.

[dansand]

Wow,
Huge win for the Vikes. I've been pretty critical of their defense since the pre-season, so I want to give them all the credit in the world for tonight's win. Carthage's two big runners worried me because Augie's had trouble with those type of backs, but they had a combined 54 yards on 24 carries. Great job Viking D! Apparently the Redmen defense is as good as advertised. If you'd have told me they'd hold Augie to 131 rushing yards and 2.2 yards a carry (146 yards and 2.5 per carry when discounting sacks--still very impressive), I wouldn't have figured we'd have much of a chance. However, earlier in the week I said I hoped they'd stay patient with the ground game and Roe didn't have to throw more than a handful of times. It looks like that's pretty much what happened. He threw three passes and was sacked twice--5 pass plays--exactly one handful. A real sense of survival tonight, but with the CCIW as good and deep as it is this year, I think that'll be pretty common.

[augiedogie]

Not a problem Pat. I just had never heard of that rule before.  It just seemed like  they were doing it to annoy the Augie fans, because I don't think I've ever been to a game before where there wasn't a cowbell or some other artificial noisemaker.

[Mr. Ypsi]

My VERY early take on the conference race:

Wheaton obviously cannot be discounted, but they so far have a loss and a triple overtime win - not exactly something to throw fear into other teams' hearts.

Millikin, with two losses, is obviously out, though I still suspect they will be a spoiler.

Elhurst is still undefeated, but I doubt anyone REALLY considers them a contender.

Carthage is obviously NOT out, but how many years has it been since a champion had a HOME loss?

That leaves NCC and Augie.  Augie still has to win AT Millikin and Wheaton; NCC's only remaining away game is Elmhurst - EXCEPT for NCC @ Augie!

It's still a wide-open race, but if you forced me to bet, I'd pick Augie.

[usee]

first, congrats to augie on a huge win in kenosha. those are some incredible stats coming out and winning up there against that defense tells me the vikings are the real deal. I believe carthage is the real deal as well and are well positioned to make a run but they have two huge roadgames starting this weekend in naperville in what will be an awesome game to watch. the cciw title will be won by the team who can win on the road and right now augie is in the drivers set with only a visit to wheaton left on its road schedule.

I can't believe carthage had 1st and goal inside the augie 10 2x in the 4th qtr and didn't score. the 1st time they had first and goal at the 2 and had a dropped pass in the endzone. then later they had 1st and goal at the 7 and had a personal foul against them. any color on that call?

wow. a great weekend for cciw football

[usee]

ypsi- i think wheaton, ncc, carthage, augie and millikin are all extremely close in terms of talent. i will not be surprised to see any one of them knock the other(s) off in any given weekend. if you don't think teams respect/fear wheaton at this point than you haven't been following cciw football very long. that said..........

[Mr. Ypsi]

usee,

I merely said that Wheaton's performance so far in the CCIW is certainly not going to instill fear in anyone - I'm sure that being 3-time champions is not going to make anyone overlook them!

[usee]

the game in wheaton today was an epic battle of augie/wheaton proportions. wheaton had no business winning that game as they were clearly outplayed and outcoached for 3.5 quarters today. millikin coaches and players made some huge gaffs down the stretch that let a resilient wheaton team back in the game.

wheatons plan was to tackle wallick and limit the big plays. they did neither for most of the game. wallick ran off a 45 yd run on the first play from scrimmage and travis was beaten 3x on play action deep balls (so was march) as millikin did whatever they wanted on offense for most of the game. wheaton's offense was stymied by the bump and run coverage by the millikin corners. wheaton had 400 yds of offense in regulation but not many points to show for it. joe chupp fumbled the ball at the millikin 10 after catching a slant and appeared headed for a td that would have cut the lead to 7.

with 8 minutes 32 seconds left and millikin lined up to punt i looked at the elderly gentleman next to me and said "wheaton better score before the 5 minute mark if they want to have a chance. wheaton got sacked and put themselves in a 2nd and 26 with 6.30 left. a screen to bazackas set up a 3rd and 14 and i was worried. chupp to chupp connected on a streak w no safety help for a 61 yd td and wheaton was back in business.

[usee]

millikin got the ball w just over 5min left. wheaton was called for roughing the punter and then a personal foul gave millikin 30 yds of offense and the ball and seemingly the game. wheaton stopped millikin and they lined up for a 40 yd fg w 1.41 left. a delay of game penalty pushed it to a 45 yd fg and wheaton blocked it.

w no timeouts wheaton began its move. a key play was a 35 yd pass to joe chupp which was the exact play they had scored the drive previous (the 61 yder). it seems millikins aggressive corners were playing a trail, man under technique jumping all curl, comeback and stop routes. this usually has safety help over the top, in fact millikin's lone int in the first half happened when fossum attempted a double move, went deep and the saftey was there to catch an underthrown pass. but with the game on the line there was no safety help for the second time in two possesions and wheaton had the ball at the millikin 8 w 40 sec left. a bazacas run to the 1 left 6 seconds on the clock and a daring fullback dive w no timeouts tied the score and sent it to OT.

in the OT both teams delivered knockout blows scoring td's with each possesion. in the 3rd overtime, wheaton had scored and millikin had 3rd and 1 when albin fumbled the snap and fell on it leaving a 4th and 1. wheaton ran 2 extra linemen on the field as millikin was breaking the huddle and this appeared to confuse them. one of these guys penetrated and they stuffed wallick in the backfield to end the game.

millikin threw 2 interceptions in the 4th quarter in situations they should never have been throwing the ball. wallick and co. were dominating and they had a 2 td lead. those decisions on play calling and the two long pass plays were millikins undoing in my opinion.

[usee]

ypsi- wheaton led ncc 20-7 at halftime and gave the game away with turnovers on the road. i am pretty sure carthage and augie will have a pretty healthy fear/respect for wheaton (as wheaton will for them) when they travel there later this season.

watching millikin today proved to me this league is as tough and deep as it ever has been. millikin is a really good team. carthage's win in decatur is really impressive and augie's win today in kenosha is even more impressive. i want to see ncc on the road.

right now i see the best teams in order as: augie, carthage, ncc, wheaton, millikin, elmhurst

[Tailgater]

Congrats to Augie for a big win. Having just returned home from the game I have that empty feeling knowing the Carthage defense, for the most part, shut down augies high yardage and scoring offense allowing only 128 yards or so on the ground and 7 points over 60 minutes. You would think results like that would lead to a victory, but Augie's defense was equal to the task and deserves all the credit for a tough road win.

Carthage had it's opportunities in the 4th qtr. First a successful fake punt pass (the 2nd successful fake punt of the game for Carthage) took Carthage to the Augie 10, but was negated by an illegal man downfield. That possession stalled. Then Carthage worked a drive from a short field ended up 1st and goal from the Augie 2 yard line with just under 6 minutes to play. They failed to convert. The 2nd down pass play hit an open receiver in the hands and was dropped. 3rd down led to a sack at the 5 yard line knocking Qb Mike Sharp out of the game mommentarily. Freshman Qb O'boyle was put in a tough possition having to come into the game cold on 4th down and was unable to locate an open reciever and was also sacked. Carthage again moved the ball form a short field  to Augie's 7 yard with a couple minutes remaining on the clock. On the second down play Carthage was flagged for a late hit. I'm not playing homer on this one, but the hit came from a lineman close to my hart and I know and saw the play was not over. None-the-less Carthage was backed up to 2nd and goal from the 23 yard line. Sharp had re-entered the game and threw a perfect ball to an open receiver in the corner on the Augie 2 yd line which was dropped. 3rd & 4th down pass attemps failed, game over.

It was a solid well played defensive game between 2 tough and talented teams. Unfortunately someone has to loss. Carthage has a lot of character and will bounce back quickly for another big test next weekend in Naperville

[Mr. Ypsi]

usee,

I agree with you, except I would I would put parentheses around Carthage, NCC, and Wheaton (and perhaps even Millikin) saying: these teams in whichever order!

I would probably be wiser if I ALSO included Augie in those parentheses, but I think they are now the clear front-runners.