FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[shepherd]

Just messing with you. 

Go Thunder!

I know.
Its really six of one half a dozen of the other who would be the best starting qb.

[AndOne]

CCIW FINALS

North Park 26
Millikin 7

Augie 31
Carthage 26

Elmhurst 29
Wesleyan 28

[Naperick]

CCIW FINALS

North Park 26
Millikin 7

Augie 31
Carthage 26

Elmhurst 29
Wesleyan 28

Thanks!

[thunderdog]

We can only hope, dog. 

HaHahh.  Was it my wife or my kids that told you to say that? 

Don't worry, it won't happen till the final whistle blows.  I've got a full 60 minutes in me (and OT extras if needed).  You ain't getting off the hook that easy...

[thunderdog]

Just messing with you. 

Go Thunder!

You guys were executing "The Plan" perfectly.  Up till then, AndOne, CardAlum, and the rest of the Napertucky fans were thinking... "They're in turmoil.  In-fighting.  Bickering.  No starting QB.  Quiet McCully Stadium... this one's in the bag"

Get back on script 

[Gregory Sager]

"Napertucky"?

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 26
Millikin 7

T.D. Conway: 29-53, 325 yds, 4 tds, 1 int
Drew Walkington: 17 carries, 92 yds
Filo Langkilde: 11 carries, 73 yds
Devin Childress: 8 catches, 114 yds, 2 tds
Dakota Conway: 8 catches, 44 yds, 1 td
Anthony Burton: 6 catches, 89 yds, 1 td

Nick Pippin: 21-47, 170 yds, 1 td, 1 int
Brady Cufaude: 8 catches, 77 yds, 1 td

This was the breakout game that Vikings fans were waiting for. The Park was totally dominant today, racking up 529 yards of offense and 31 first downs to MU's 284 and 15. In fact, the one tarnish on the game was the fact that NPU's final score was so low. The Vikings should've scored in the forties today, if not the fifties, as they came up empty five times in the red zone (they were also in the red zone when the game ended on a kneeldown). Three times the Vikings turned the ball over on downs in the red zone (once when they had the ball on the one-foot line and T.D. Conway had the ball snapped over his head on fourth down), a fourth trip came up empty when they missed a 25-yard FG attempt, and on a fifth trip to the money end of the field Conway was picked off on one of the very few bad balls he threw all day.

Considering that he was saddled with having three of his first four passes dropped by his receivers, T.D. Conway ended up having a terrific day. He even made things happen with his feet, something you don't see every day from a 6'4, 220 quarterback; in the first quarter, with the Vikings backed up to their own one-yard line he ran a simple sneak play for 13 yards, starting a 75-yard drive that completely flipped field position. And in the fourth quarter he converted a 4th and 1 by faking a handoff to Filo Langkilde and rambling 15 yards. Perhaps this quote:

His QB sneak is practically unstoppable.

... should be applied to T.D. Conway rather than Johnny Peltz.

It feels churlish to complain about all of NPU's blown red-zone opportunities, because it never felt as though Millikin was going to make NPU pay for them. The Vikings D was very stingy all day, and they were bringing the hits as well. It was definitely the best performance I've seen yet from a Mike Conway defense. The Big Blue were just never really in the game at all.

As much as I griped about NPU holding Homecoming so late this year, it turned out to be a fantastic day weatherwise. The stands were packed, the crowd was pumped, and the Vikings broke out the North Park haka (created and choreographed by the team's Samoan contingent) for the first time in public. In fact, after the game they reprised the haka, to the delight of the crowd. Everybody's got a fight song, but how many college football teams (aside from perhaps the University of Hawaii) have a haka?

Sure feels great to finally get that first win.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Looks like IWU70, who earlier was castigated for 'gloom and doom', was too optimistic!  Barring a MAJOR upset against NCC or Wheaton, they seem destined for 4-6 (and even NPU cannot be chalked up as an automatic win).  This will likely be their first losing season since 2006.

Losing your starting quarterback (and not having an adequate backup) is a recipe for disaster.  They already knew that from just two years ago when the starter went down for the season, when undefeated and ranked in the teens nationally, and proceeded to go 0-4 the rest of the way.

Norm has GOT to do a better job of recruiting and grooming 2nd and 3rd string qbs.  Injuries are a part of the game, especially for qbs.

[wally_wabash]

Why again didn't this Peltz kid start week 1?  Baseball?  He looks sharp tonight.  How good could he have been by now with more than a couple dozen snaps all year? 

[Langhorst_Ghost]

EC gets it done again, 4-0 in the cciw.  This time roaring back from 2 scores down late to snuff out the etetnal flame at Tucci for the first time in 30 years. So proud of my Jays and their resiliancy...this is a tough, senior driven squad with a ton of guts.

When the Jays wake up in their dorm rooms Sunday morning, they will be one of just two teams left in conference with a zero in the loss column.

The D was sturdy - after shutting down the NPU attack last week, EC held IWU in check (under 300) today. The ground game was punishing again, rolling up 200 yards.  Most impressive series of the day was an 18 play, 80+ yard drive to open the second half.  Joe Cam was solid, making some clutch plays with his legs and his arm late to rally the Birds.

Regardless of opponent, you can only win the games on your schedule - in conference, EC has done just that. Huge game at Langhorst next week - my kool aid cup will be full.

[markerickson]

Speaking of first wins, I drove my parents down to Cham-pain IL so they could see their grandson and watch the Gophers rout the Illini.  First quarter:  IL 157 yards total O and MN 1 yd total O.  The end result was Illinois winning its first home game in conference play during their latest head coach's three year tenure.  Uff da.

On any given day....how does the CCIW's worst D dramatically reverse course?  Congrats!!!!  And am sorry I missed the game.

[iwumichigander]

Looks like IWU70, who earlier was castigated for 'gloom and doom', was too optimistic!  Barring a MAJOR upset against NCC or Wheaton, they seem destined for 4-6 (and even NPU cannot be chalked up as an automatic win).  This will likely be their first losing season since 2006.

Losing your starting quarterback (and not having an adequate backup) is a recipe for disaster.  They already knew that from just two years ago when the starter went down for the season, when undefeated and ranked in the teens nationally, and proceeded to go 0-4 the rest of the way.

Norm has GOT to do a better job of recruiting and grooming 2nd and 3rd string qbs.  Injuries are a part of the game, especially for qbs.

oh please Mr Ypsi.  You would have Norm recruit for an experienced QB leaving team and school , mono , an appendectomy and an injury!?  I see nothing wrong with the recruiting.  As for development,  hum,  which backup to the backup to the backup QB do I groom in the event I have four QBs go down or out?

[markerickson]

Perhaps next year Park's Polynesian poundage can provide some adequate rushing totals. 

[Gregory Sager]

So 204 yards on the ground and a 4.7 yards-per-carry average doesn't do it for you, Mark?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Looks like IWU70, who earlier was castigated for 'gloom and doom', was too optimistic!  Barring a MAJOR upset against NCC or Wheaton, they seem destined for 4-6 (and even NPU cannot be chalked up as an automatic win).  This will likely be their first losing season since 2006.

Losing your starting quarterback (and not having an adequate backup) is a recipe for disaster.  They already knew that from just two years ago when the starter went down for the season, when undefeated and ranked in the teens nationally, and proceeded to go 0-4 the rest of the way.

Norm has GOT to do a better job of recruiting and grooming 2nd and 3rd string qbs.  Injuries are a part of the game, especially for qbs.

oh please Mr Ypsi.  You would have Norm recruit for an experienced QB leaving team and school , mono , an appendectomy and an injury!?  I see nothing wrong with the recruiting.  As for development,  hum,  which backup to the backup to the backup QB do I groom in the event I have four QBs go down or out?

As I thought I made clear, a 4th string qb who can be effective is an unexpected bonus.  But having three available seems reasonable.

In both 2012 and 2014, even a good #2 seemed unavailable.