FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[DadofBashWarrior..]

1st trip to North Park Vikings stadium tonight...what a turnaround...as always...it's always about the coaching...always

It was a great evening watching the Vikings for the first time in their home stadium...Fun to see the NCAA stats today with Conway listed 4th in the nation in passing yards...when was the last time anyone saw a stat like that from North Park...400 yds in the air...wow...actually 397 to be exact...

Done against a team picked to win their conference... not a win but a good showing and can see this team has ...The Will To Win...

Lots of areas need polish and experience...but a very very very exciting thing going on at North Park

[Gregory Sager]

Ugh.  St. Norbert seats the home & visitor's fans on the same side of the field.
http://www.snc.edu/tickets/venues/schneiderstadiumseating.html

This is hardly a big deal. Lots of D3 stadia have seating on only one side.

Like many college stadia with one-sided seating, SNC's Schneider Stadium has separate sections for home fans and for those who cheer for the visitors -- so you needn't have your delicate sensibilities offended by sitting too close to a Green Knights supporter.

NPU's Hedstrand Field has one-sided seating, although the possibility of adding portable stands behind the west sideline is currently being investigated. (Any such stands couldn't be permanent, because that area of the Holmgren Athletic Complex is used for baseball and softball.)

Ugh.  St. Norbert seats the home & visitor's fans on the same side of the field.
http://www.snc.edu/tickets/venues/schneiderstadiumseating.html

So does Il Benedictine and they have one of the best d3 stadiums.  Many people including me who have visited have stated how pleasant an atmosphere it was to watch a game there.  I don't know about  St. Norbert but it may be a good atmosphere also.
http://www.snc.edu/athletics/facilities/schneiderstadium.html

As 79jb noted, Benedictine has great athletic facilities, which the school shares with the village of Lisle. I was very impressed by Benedictine's football stadium.

1st trip to North Park Vikings stadium tonight...what a turnaround...as always...it's always about the coaching...always

It was a great evening watching the Vikings for the first time in their home stadium...Fun to see the NCAA stats today with Conway listed 4th in the nation in passing yards...when was the last time anyone saw a stat like that from North Park...400 yds in the air...wow...actually 397 to be exact...

Done against a team picked to win their conference... not a win but a good showing and can see this team has ...The Will To Win...

Lots of areas need polish and experience...but a very very very exciting thing going on at North Park

Great to see you and shake your hand through the press box window, DoBW! Hope to see you again at another NPU game.

[markerickson]

I am not convinced that Concordia didn't score much in the second half because of halftime adjustments made by NPU.  NPU took the opening second half KO and drove the length of the field for a TD.  NPU forced CU to punt without the visitors gaining a first down, and then the Vikes' second possession lasted into the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, CU continued to run the same 4-5 plays that they ran the entire game.  I do know that the Vikings never adjusted to the three receiver set on one side by repeatedly placing only two defensive backs on that side.  To my chagrin, the Vikes never deviated from the 3-4 D that rarely applied pressure to a very good QB.   Never a blitz.  CU displayed good timing routes, their QB was mobile, and they had a decent running game.  NPU seemed too content to merely contain, but CU was better than that.

NPU's repeated lack of success inside CU's 25 was the demise.

On the bright side, the fan support was FANtastic.  Seriously, I do not recall such spirited support...usually doldrums.

[Gregory Sager]

Mark, North Park had three possessions in the third quarter, not two.

CUW ran 54 plays in the first half for 329 yards, a 6.09 ypp average, and scored 28 points. CUW ran 32 plays in the second half for 156 yards, a 4.88 ypp average, and scored 3 points. More than a quarter of CUW's second-half yardage came on one play, Garrett Wenzelburger's 41-yard catch that he fumbled at the goal line, which was recovered in the end zone by NPU linebacker Joe Butz for a touchback. The Falcons had 22 first downs in the first half, and only 8 in the second half. The only sustained drive that the Falcons had in the entire second half was the final scoring drive, which was facilitated by a Vikings offside penalty that converted a CUW third down without the Falcons having to run a play, and a facemask penalty that put the Falcons in David Gonzalez's field goal range. In other words, I think that there's some pretty compelling evidence there that the NPU coaching staff's halftime adjustments had an effect.

But I'm in complete agreement with you that NPU lost a game it could've won by the repeated inability of the Vikings to convert drives into CUW territory into points. The Vikings came away with four touchdowns on Saturday -- but, as I said yesterday, they also whiffed quite a bit while deep in CUW territory, with two missed FGs, interceptions at the CUW 2 and the CUW 11, a lost fumble at the CUW 13, and I haven't even mentioned yet the two failed fourth-down attempts in CUW territory in the fourth quarter. NPU has the potential to have a very dynamic offense this season. But it needs to learn how to finish drives.

[markerickson]

Greg:  Your micro defenses do not address my macro approach.

[Gregory Sager]

I have no idea what that means, Mark.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the first week of D3 stats are in. Here's where the CCIW's placed:

* North Park is fifth in the nation in passing offense (397 ypg).
* Millikin is fourth in the nation in scoring offense (66 ppg).
* Wheaton is fourth in the nation in third-down conversion percentage (0.7).
* North Park is tied for fourth in the nation in first downs (31). (The team with which NPU is tied, Heidelberg, played NPU's upcoming opponent, Alma, last Saturday.)
* North Park is also second in offensive plays, third in pass completions, and first in pass attempts.

(Hard to believe that just two seasons ago NPU was running the Air Force flexbone option and only throwing about a half-dozen passes per game.)

* T.D. Conway of North Park and his opposite number from CUW, Austin Damaschke, are tied for third in the nation in pass completions (35).
* T.D. Conway of North Park is fourth in the nation in passing yardage (397).
* Artie Checchin of Illinois Wesleyan is second in the nation in all-purpose yards (329).
* Travis Goveia of Millikin is tied for the lead in the nation in tackles for loss (6) with Austin Prusha of St. Norbert, who accomplished it against Carthage.
* Matt Kussman of Illinois Wesleyan tied for the fourth-longest punt in the nation last weekend (66 yds). He is also fourth in the nation in punting average (45.8 ypp).
* Artie Checchin of Illinois Wesleyan had the longest kickoff return in the nation last weekend (100 yds).
* Mike Blakely of Millikin had the fourth-longest punt return in the nation last weekend (75 yds).
* Craig Butler of North Park had the fifth-longest interception return in the nation last weekend (70 yds).

On the other hand:

* Greenville, which was Millikin's opponent last Saturday, is fifth in the nation in rushing offense (346 ypg).
* St. Norbert, which was Carthage's opponent last Saturday, is fifth in the nation in rushing defense (15 ypg).
* Loras, which was Elmhurst's opponent last Saturday, is third in the nation in punt return average (40.67 ypp).
* Maurice Young of Loras tied for the national lead in interceptions with three against the 'jays. And Young's teammate, punt returner Danny Willis, averaged 43.5 ypp against Elmhurst as well.

[79jaybird]

Greg you hit on a couple of points I was just going to post as keys to Elmhurst gave vs. Olivet.  Turnovers and then 3rd down conversions.  Many of EC's turnovers vs. Loras came as Elmhurst was just about to score (or take momentum back).  Focusing on taking care of the football and finishing drives must be emphasized.   Then 3rd down conversions.  Somebody has to step up and make a play to keep the offense on the field.   

[CardinalAlum]

Interesting stuff in the game notes for the Cardinals' first game at St. Norbert.   Dylan Warden and not Tyler Dicken will be the opening day starter.  That's a bit of a surprise seeing as Dicken started a whole bunch of big games three years ago, BUT, Warden gives that added running dimension that isn't as much of a strength for Dicken, so that is something to keep an eye on.  Lots of returning RB's to take the pressure off of the passing game.  The offensive line has a couple of new faces, but they all had considerable time on the field last year.  Defensively, it will be interesting to watch Samuelson as he is the biggest (6'4, 230) MLB the defense has had in some time.  I don't see him making as many side to side plays that some of the past MLB's have made, but I definitely see him making a difference at the point of attack defending the run.  Jimmy Pelnarsh, transfer from the Air Force Academy, will be another to watch as he brings size and skill to the defensive line.   Zavaglia coming in was huge as well as he will handle both the kicking and punting chores.   Looking forward to Saturday at St. Norbert's!

http://northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2014/9/10/fb_091314.pdf

[CardinalAlum]

This was an interesting name I came across going through the Cardinal roster.  Related to the star QB for the Green in the 80's?


16 McKay Moews 6-2 202 DB Fr. Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic

[79jaybird]

If NC is not playing their 3rd and 4th strings by the 4th quarter, I will be surprised.   

[badgerwarhawk]

If NC is not playing their 3rd and 4th strings by the 4th quarter, I will be surprised.   

So will I

[CardinalAlum]

If NC is not playing their 3rd and 4th strings by the 4th quarter, I will be surprised.   

Oh stop, this isn't Loras they're playing.....oops... 

[Mr. Ypsi]

If NC is not playing their 3rd and 4th strings by the 4th 2nd quarter, I will be surprised.   

Fixed it for you.

[robertgoulet]

Interesting stuff in the game notes for the Cardinals' first game at St. Norbert.   Dylan Warden and not Tyler Dicken will be the opening day starter.  That's a bit of a surprise seeing as Dicken started a whole bunch of big games three years ago, BUT, Warden gives that added running dimension that isn't as much of a strength for Dicken, so that is something to keep an eye on.  Lots of returning RB's to take the pressure off of the passing game.  The offensive line has a couple of new faces, but they all had considerable time on the field last year.  Defensively, it will be interesting to watch Samuelson as he is the biggest (6'4, 230) MLB the defense has had in some time.  I don't see him making as many side to side plays that some of the past MLB's have made, but I definitely see him making a difference at the point of attack defending the run.  Jimmy Pelnarsh, transfer from the Air Force Academy, will be another to watch as he brings size and skill to the defensive line.   Zavaglia coming in was huge as well as he will handle both the kicking and punting chores.   Looking forward to Saturday at St. Norbert's!

http://northcentralcardinals.com/documents/2014/9/10/fb_091314.pdf

CA - I thought the same thing when I read that Warden was starting over Dicken. Maybe he'll have the same success with NCC football as Bill Warden had with NCC basketball!

[79jaybird]

Very funny very funny    Course I left the open for that one.   Reality is NC is clearly a few steps above anybody else in the conference right now.   
Yes, the loss @ Loras was very surprising because even though I think Elmhurst is going to hover around 500 this year,  I still thought they were going to have the tools to win this game.  But no matter how good you are,  7 turnovers is going to be tough to overcome.