FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

NPU staggered to the finish line today. The Vikings were pretty beat up on both sides of the ball, and they got beaten up even more as the game progressed. IWU's huge offensive line really wore down the Vikings, who just aren't all that deep as a team yet. Austin Harrell had a really good day running the ball for the Titans, but he was often passing the linebackers before anybody in white and blue even got a hand on him.

The Vikings, by contrast, had nothing going again on the ground today. The rushing game was just plain anemic for North Park this year, and that is a key aspect that the NPU coaching staff is going to have to address in the off-season, especially with starter Drew Walkington graduating. They need both talent and depth in the offensive backfield.

There were some bright spots for the Vikings today. T.D. Conway set a new North Park single-season record for pass completions (242, breaking the record of 218 he set last season), pass attempts (455, breaking the record of 411 he set last season), and passing yards (2,669, breaking the record of 2,452 he set last season). He also extended his North Park single-season record for touchdown passes to 26, as he completely obliterated the old record of 19 held by Bruce Swanson (1968) and Shelby Wood (2008). He threw his usual three or four head-scratchers, but all in all he had a pretty solid day at the helm for NPU (27-46-2, 287 yds, 3 tds) against a good defense. He became the first North Park player to win the CCIW total offense title since fellow QB John Love did so back in 1990. And freshman WR Devin Childress caught his 14th touchdown pass of the season, tying the single-season school record set by the late Paul Zaeske back in 1968. He also won the CCIW scoring title with 72 points, beating out NCC kicker Dom Zavaglia by seven points and thereby becoming the first Viking to lead the league in scoring since Ed Tankersley did so all the way back in 1974.

As smart as all you gurus and bums are in this room, this game easily could have been 42-14 and then you'll would have owed Dr. Ypsi a bigtime apology.  He would have had his predicted 4 TD smackdown, and Q would have looked "silly."

Pfft. Hardly. The Titans were the dominant team, but they weren't anywhere near the vicinity of 42-14 dominant. And they never led 28-0, either. The fact of the matter is that the IWU starters stayed in almost to the end -- Warner did, in fact, take every snap -- and Eash still had him throwing the ball deep to Checchin in the final four minutes.

Mark, the Viking qb is the younger Conway, not the elder.  TD (what a great name for a qb!) is only a sophomore; Greg (or someone) is Dakota a junior or senior?

Dakota is a junior. He'll be back next year.

And I hope that some of the Norm Eash bashers will note that, well within FG or 'throw to the end zone' range, he had the team take the knee twice.

Once, not twice. And if he had elected to try a FG, it would've been a 45-yard attempt, longer than any that Michael Kelley has kicked this season.

[kiko]

Wanted to mention a couple of things while North Central's playoff fate remains unknown.

One, I've been on record as saying I welcome the tougher out-of-conference slate that the Redbirds have played the past couple of years.  I firmly believe this does more to build the program than scheduling gimmes against middling or bottom-feeder teams from weaker conferences.  Said differently, I'm less interested in North Central being a consistent one- or two-and-done playoff team, and am more interested in seeing the Cards make progress toward the next level of teams above them.  Opinions on this may vary, but I believe the tougher slate helps to facilitate this progress, even if it costs the team a playoff berth here and there.

It's fairly evident that a 3-0 out-of-conference record and then one loss in conference will get a CCIW team into the playoffs just about every year.  When you play a schedule where there's a greater chance you'll tack on an out-of-conference loss, as the Cards did this year, then you essentially put your Pool C hopes at great risk if you fail to run the table in the conference.

That's the exact scenario that has played out this year, and even if the Cards draw the short straw and don't extend their season, I still believe the tougher schedule is the right choice.

---

Two, if the Cardinals don't make the field this year, then we've seen John Thorne's last game as a head coach for the Cardinals.  And I hope Redbird Nation appreciates what he has done in taking a moribund, anemic program and making it one of the most successful and consistent football programs in the D3 landscape.  If you've only been affiliated with the college for the past 10-12 years, it's easy to take for granted that the Cards will inevitably be at or near the top of the CCIW pecking order for football.  But there were decades prior to that where the idea of North Central as a perennial power was simply unthinkable.

There is always tremendous risk of a recency bias when evaluating a coach or player in a historical continuum, but given how badly in the wilderness the program was when Coach Thorne took the reins, and looking at where it is today, he is clearly one of the most important coaches in the school's history in any sport.  Al Carius will of course sit atop any list of this sort for North Central, but you can start arguing in favor of Coach Thorne at any point after #1.

I hope the ride continues for another week or five.  But if it does not, Coach Thorne, thank you for both what you've done and the class with which you've done it.

[FishHack76]

It's going to be razor thin for NCC and it could hinge on whether UW-Platteville remains regionally ranked. I'm hopeful but it could be a bit of a longshot. As a way to make it a win-win, either NCC gets in or Coach Thorne goes out with a victory.

[Titan Q]

As smart as all you gurus and bums are in this room, this game easily could have been 42-14 and then you'll would have owed Dr. Ypsi a bigtime apology.  He would have had his predicted 4 TD smackdown, and Q would have looked "silly." 

Had IWU won the game 100-0, no one would have owed Ypsi an apology.  I certainly wouldn't have offered one up.  If you don't understand why Ypsi was called out for really dumb statements here then I guess you just don't get it.

[CardinalAlum]

As smart as all you gurus and bums are in this room, this game easily could have been 42-14 and then you'll would have owed Dr. Ypsi a bigtime apology.  He would have had his predicted 4 TD smackdown, and Q would have looked "silly." 

Had IWU won the game 100-0, no one would have owed Ypsi an apology.  I certainly wouldn't have offered one up.  If you don't understand why Ypsi was called out for really dumb statements here then I guess you just don't get it.

+K

[USee]

As smart as all you gurus and bums are in this room, this game easily could have been 42-14 and then you'll would have owed Dr. Ypsi a bigtime apology.  He would have had his predicted 4 TD smackdown, and Q would have looked "silly." 

Had IWU won the game 100-0, no one would have owed Ypsi an apology.  I certainly wouldn't have offered one up.  If you don't understand why Ypsi was called out for really dumb statements here then I guess you just don't get it.

Amen!

[Gregory Sager]

As smart as all you gurus and bums are in this room, this game easily could have been 42-14 and then you'll would have owed Dr. Ypsi a bigtime apology.  He would have had his predicted 4 TD smackdown, and Q would have looked "silly." 

Had IWU won the game 100-0, no one would have owed Ypsi an apology.  I certainly wouldn't have offered one up.  If you don't understand why Ypsi was called out for really dumb statements here then I guess you just don't get it.

Amen!

Also, Chuck's "gut hunch" was for a 40-to-50-point IWU win. I'm not sure where iwu70 learned basic arithmetic and/or the rules of football, but four touchdowns =/= 40 points.

[AndOne]

Starting to think about POY and all conference awards for this year. I think it isn't nearly as obvious as years past. Some of the candidates include;

Offense:
Peter Sorenson
Dylan Warden
Johnny Peltz
Luke Thorson
Josh Williams

Defense:
Adam Dandsdill
Logan McRae
Peter Mann
Sean Garvey
Kyle Venhuizen

COY:
Swider
Planz

Who am I missing?

http://napervillesun.chicagotribune.com/2014/11/15/peter-sorensons-option-pass-keeps-north-central-hunt/

Naperville Sun article featuring NCC's Peter Sorenson, the should be CCIW Offensive POY.
I realize I have the advantage of having seen Sorenson play several times this year as opposed to seeing other great players only once. However, if its 4th and goal from the 10 and there is time for only one more play, the sure-handed 6'5" Sorenson is the guy you want to pull in the fade pattern pass in the back corner of the end zone to give you the W.
Peltz was outstanding for CCIW CHAMPION Wheaton, but I'm sorry, I favor the position that says you don't give the MVP to a designated hitter who spends half his time in the dugout or to the player who is out of this world when he plays, but only plays 1/2 of the season. JMHO, and i realize there are other valid opposing viewpoints. 

[USee]

Sorenson is the only competition for POY. It will be him or whomever Mike Swider nominates among Peltz, Thorson and Spencer Clark. I don't have a problem with any of those. Thorson had similar numbers to Sorenson but PS drew double coverage on almost every play.

For Defensive POY I think the only choice is Adam Dandsdill. The leading tackler in the league on the best defensive team.

I think selections are Tuesday.

[USee]

Huge congrats to Mike Swider and the Wheaton program. This is just the 5th time in program history they have finished the regular season undefeated and Swider has now been a part of 3 of those (1995, 2003, 2014). After graduating the largest senior class in history the Thunder reloaded and made a special run. For Wheaton fans, no matter the result in the post-season, most of this team is back next year. I think they graduate just 2 offensive players and 2 defensive players.

[USee]

I was actually pretty impressed with the personnel Carthage has on their team. Their QB is pretty effective and they have some defensive players who are very good athletes. Also a fairly young team, Carthage is another CCIW team that is improving, despite a tough year.

Overall, having seen all the CCIW teams, it makes sense the conference struggled in non conference play. I think all the top teams had large senior classes (24 for NCC, 29 for Wheaton and 32 for IWU). All of these teams started a lot of underclassmen. In addition, Carthage, NPU, and Augie are pretty young overall. All of these teams played better as the season wore on. I expect the CCIW to be much better overall next season.

[USee]

For NCC fans, 5pm central is selection show time. Their chances really hinge on how the regional committees rank the teams. If Platteville stays ranked in the West, NCC has a win over a regionally ranked opponent. If Platteville doesn't, stay in the top 10 out west, NCC is toast. Even then, after all the objective criteria are applied, NCC has to hope things fall right for them to get in. I think they are probably the top ranked 2 loss team but their are currently 8 one loss teams for 6 spots. A couple of those teams are in the same region and will block the others but the fact remains NCC will have to be picked over a one loss team. Last year is one of the only times we have seen that happen (St John Fisher was picked over Wabash).

It is going to be close.

[thunder38]

It is going to be very close for North Central. Yes it depends on if UW-P remains regionally ranked but what the committee decides to do with UW-Oshkosh is also going to be a major factor. If Oshkosh gets in, North Central is likely out. Also it may depend a lot on the East region rankings. St. John Fisher's strength of schedule should they come up against North Central will cause the Cardinals come issues to overcome and other Region chairs may not be crazy about that many at-large bids coming from one region. North Central is essentially in the position Wheaton found itself in back in 2008. Likely out, but a very dangerous team if they're given a chance.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It is going to be very close for North Central. Yes it depends on if UW-P remains regionally ranked but what the committee decides to do with UW-Oshkosh is also going to be a major factor. If Oshkosh gets in, North Central is likely out. Also it may depend a lot on the East region rankings. St. John Fisher's strength of schedule should they come up against North Central will cause the Cardinals come issues to overcome and other Region chairs may not be crazy about that many at-large bids coming from one region. North Central is essentially in the position Wheaton found itself in back in 2008. Likely out, but a very dangerous team if they're given a chance.

With four losses, UWO is not gonna get in.

[iwu70]

Well, it's pretty clear Greg and Q weren't at the IWU-NPU game.  With the one changed INT on the deflection which led to a NP score, the final easily could have been 42-14, not the final which was 35-21.  Greg, the last time I checked 4 TDs is 28 points and had that scored happened the Titans would have won by 4 TDs.  I think most would consider a 35-21 win, surely a 42-14 win a pretty good smackdown.  Anyway, it doesn't really matter, IWU got a good win and was clearly the dominate team.  Both teams kept their starters pretty much in til the final whistle.  Let's be honest about it.  Very few others, save for a few injury replacements, got into that game.  A disappointing season for my Titans, but a good win to send out the seniors. 

IWU70