FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Augie6]

Elmhurst wins 45-42 in OT.  Elmhurst goes nowhere on their possession and kicks a 44 yd FG.  Millikin moves it down inside the 10 and on a 3 and 1 their running back gets the first down, but fumbles on the 1 yd line.  Elmhurst recovers, game over.

[Naperick]

Ok.  I'm not sure if I should be excited for the Bluejays or not.  I like the 6-1 record but they could easily be 3-4. 

I think they could beat North Park and Carthage but I just don't think they can beat IWU.

8-2 won't get them a D3 playoff berth.  9-1 might do it.

[Mugsy]

Elmhurst & Millikin going to OT.  Elmhurst's defense is just not very good.  They've given up ~540 yards to Millikin today.  In 4 CCIW games, Elmhurst has given up 2107 yards, an average of ~525 yards per game.  Any talk of them taking the next step is thoroughly mis-guided based on their defensive play.

You and I are on the same page. 

The only thing Elmhurst fans will point out is that they are still finding ways to win and "who cares about stats, we only care about wins."  I'd point out that against true playoff caliber teams, giving up 550+ yards will result in a lopsided loss, not squeaking out a win (case in point NCC).

We'll see how they do against IWU.

[Titan Q]

Final...

Wheaton 38
IWU 33

After leading for probably 55 minutes of the game (most of the time by two scores), this one hurts.

Congratulations to Wheaton for a great comeback and finish.

[wesleydad]

just finished watching the Wheaton come back win against IWU.  Great and entertaining game.  Excellent job by the Wheaton station and the announcers, high quality video and fair and balanced announcers calling the game.  You could tell they were for Wheaton but did a nice job filling in the information.  Really enjoyable game in all aspects.

[nccfac]

just finished watching the Wheaton come back win against IWU.  Great and entertaining game.  Excellent job by the Wheaton station and the announcers, high quality video and fair and balanced announcers calling the game.  You could tell they were for Wheaton but did a nice job filling in the information.  Really enjoyable game in all aspects.

I saw and listen to the last 8:00 minutes but I would agree with Weselydad. My concern is about Mark Hiben, who is he and where did he come from? Does he recoil from Kryptonite? We need to find his weakness. As the broadcaster online noted, he seemed like Houdini. He did not look like just an above average receiver. I know Wheaton puts their faith in a higher power, has it delivered you a player of extraordinary abilities? Come on, let's keep it fair.

[Mr. Ypsi]

just finished watching the Wheaton come back win against IWU.  Great and entertaining game.  Excellent job by the Wheaton station and the announcers, high quality video and fair and balanced announcers calling the game.  You could tell they were for Wheaton but did a nice job filling in the information.  Really enjoyable game in all aspects.

For some of us, that excludes the final score.

[shepherd]

just finished watching the Wheaton come back win against IWU.  Great and entertaining game.  Excellent job by the Wheaton station and the announcers, high quality video and fair and balanced announcers calling the game.  You could tell they were for Wheaton but did a nice job filling in the information.  Really enjoyable game in all aspects.

For some of us, that excludes the final score.

I don't know how other Wheaton posters feel but I'm glad they one but Wheaton has been sloppy all season long from the top down.  Starting out very slow in the first half just looking out of sorts. Then finally playing the way they should have in the second half.  It just seems very odd.  Not like a normal Wheaton team.  I hope they can play four quarters next week.  I have really been impressed with the way Milikin has been playing and Wheaton cannot keep playing one half and get away with it as they can not afford another loss.  Looking forward to Mugsy and Usse thoughts on the game.

[CardinalAlum]

I'm going on the record that the Wheaties put everything together this week and knock off the Weenies.   Wheaton is too well coached not to bounce back after a disappointing loss.  Granted, Norm is also a great coach, but I'm going with a gut feeling here.  Every game is a must win for Wheaton and they will be fighting the rest of the way.   Considering a trip to Carthage as I've never been there for a night game.  We shall see.

Not going to brag or anything but....... Congrats Wheaties!

[Titan Q]

Here is the Pantagraph's article from the game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/wheaton-rallies-late-hands-titans-their-first-loss-of-the/article_6734fea4-1b2b-11e2-b21b-0019bb2963f4.html


T.J. Stinde did not play tonight due to a shoulder injury.  I'm not sure when he's expected back.

I'm not sure what Rob Gallik's status is after the late knee injury...it didn't look good.

[blue_jays]

No further proof needed: Mark Hiben is best WR in the country. Freak athlete who can catch anything.

[Titan Q]

No further proof needed: Mark Hiben is best WR in the country. Freak athlete who can catch anything.

He's ridiculous.  He has absolutely no business in NCAA Division III...I have no idea how that happened.  And to think he is just a sophomore.

That kid is good enough to play Division I...and maybe not just mid-major level.

[wally_wabash]

No further proof needed: Mark Hiben is best WR in the country. Freak athlete who can catch anything.

He's ridiculous.  He has absolutely no business in NCAA Division III...I have no idea how that happened.  And to think he is just a sophomore.

That kid is good enough to play Division I...and maybe not just mid-major level.

Maybe it was just the 4:3 aspect ratio, but he seriously looks like the 6'3" giant kid on a LLWS team that towers over his teammates and does nothing but hit moonshots.  And then you find out he's actually 15. 

In all seriousness, what I watched of that game tonight, Hiben was all world.  He made some insane plays tonight. 

Quick question for the Thunder fans or anybody else who wants to chime in....during the broadcast the commentary in a couple of places mentioned the offense being out of sync (there was one instance of a weird looking attempt at a screen play) and that it has been that way most of the season.  How much of that do you think is because Wheaton is playing two quarterbacks?  I know both players are very good...basically equally good.  Do you think it hinders the offense to be switching back and forth constantly?

[bluejay4ever]

Elmhurst & Millikin going to OT.  Elmhurst's defense is just not very good.  They've given up ~540 yards to Millikin today.  In 4 CCIW games, Elmhurst has given up 2107 yards, an average of ~525 yards per game.  Any talk of them taking the next step is thoroughly mis-guided based on their defensive play.

You and I are on the same page. 


The only thing Elmhurst fans will point out is that they are still finding ways to win and "who cares about stats, we only care about wins."  I'd point out that against true playoff caliber teams, giving up 550+ yards will result in a lopsided loss, not squeaking out a win (case in point NCC).

We'll see how they do against IWU.

I did expect an exciting game today for the bluejays and a little too exciting however you are right. A win is win. It was the classic game coming after a huge victory the week prior and they just needed to find a way to win and they did. This excites me about the growth of the program as in years past the bluejays found ways to lose these games instead of coming out on top. In the prior years these games have come down to the last drive and playing down there is always tough. As you said 9-1 will get you in and we are all hoping that it comes down to that last game against IWU for that shot.

A ton of credit to the kids at EC and the coaching staff! Congrats to all the winners this week.

[Mugsy]

No further proof needed: Mark Hiben is best WR in the country. Freak athlete who can catch anything.

He's ridiculous.  He has absolutely no business in NCAA Division III...I have no idea how that happened.  And to think he is just a sophomore.

That kid is good enough to play Division I...and maybe not just mid-major level.

Maybe it was just the 4:3 aspect ratio, but he seriously looks like the 6'3" giant kid on a LLWS team that towers over his teammates and does nothing but hit moonshots.  And then you find out he's actually 15. 

In all seriousness, what I watched of that game tonight, Hiben was all world.  He made some insane plays tonight. 

Quick question for the Thunder fans or anybody else who wants to chime in....during the broadcast the commentary in a couple of places mentioned the offense being out of sync (there was one instance of a weird looking attempt at a screen play) and that it has been that way most of the season.  How much of that do you think is because Wheaton is playing two quarterbacks?  I know both players are very good...basically equally good.  Do you think it hinders the offense to be switching back and forth constantly?

First of all Hiben looks large, because he is.  6'4" or 6'5' and 220lbs, runs a legit 4.5 40.  If he stays healthy his numbers will be unreal.  Not to mention what he will do for the other Wheaton WR's when opposing defenses start doubling Hiben.  Hiben is not even the leading WR on the team (of course that is due to Hiben missing two games due to injury).  Morgan Cook has 41 receptions for 600 yards.  Hiben "only" has 40 receptions for just under 700 yards, 9 TD's in 5 games.

Last three games it has been 90% playing time to Jordan Roberts.  Roberts played the entire 2nd half tonight.

It has not been the rotating QB's like 3 of the games this year.  Roberts had a 3 game stint where he was completing nearly 80% of his passes.  That will give you the nod over a pre-season All-American, 5th-year returning Senior QB (Garrett Meador) who was OPOY for the CCIW last year.  At this point I'm not sure if it is the coaching staff giving Meador a series or two to keep him at "game speed" in the event Roberts gets hurt?

     PASSING        GP     Effic      Cmp-Att-Int     Pct     Yards      TD     Long       Avg/G
Roberts, Jordan     7     183.8     135-190-3         71.1     1758     22     60            251.1
Meador, Garrett     4     130.9     31-56-3            55.4     418       4       47          104.5

Should point out that Roberts is only average 251 yards per game because 3 of the 7 games he played 1/2 a game or less.  In the 4 CCIW games he is averaging just around 300 yards per game, 75% pass completion, 12 TD's to 2 INT's.  He only played 1 1/2 quarters against Augustana (17-19 for 263 yards).  Meador played 2 quarters against Augie with 25 passes.

Since the Augie game, Meador has only thrown 16 passes in 3 games.