FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Kovo]

sager and kiko:

Just throwing this in for "fodder" for the discussion.  Regarding the scoring with 59 seconds left in the game, was this by the reserves (i.e. 2nd or 3rd string) or was the starting lineup still in?  But...at least they ran it in rather than passed.   Nonetheless, still taking a knee would have been the more diplomatic decision.

I wonder how they knew that I given my MU alum friend 24 1/2 for our yearly wings and beers wager?! 

[Langhorst_Ghost]

Really good interview with EC HBC Ron Planz - https://youtu.be/2sMa1oyG9i0

3 Kids have taken snaps for the Jays through 4 games - tough to a get a rhythm going offensively.

Finding some balance to take some pressure off the developing O-Line and Williams will be key for the Jays' O moving forward. Some really good skill players surrounding that QB position - Claxon, Kaylon Miller, Sanfilippo - the Jays will need to find a way to open up the field and start spreading things out to help loosen the running lanes for Josh and keep the young EC QBs in manageable  and non-predictable down and distance situations. 

For all the talk about the turn-around by the Viking D this past week (and they definitely deserve the love) - i definitely wanted to recognize the strides this EC defense has made under second-year defensive minded HBC Planz. Augie came into the game scoring 42, 49, and 52 points....held to 9 at home by the Jays. And despite 5 turnovers, EC did not allow the Vikes to score off any of those change of possessions.

Through EC's first 4 games in 2015 - the D has surrendered under 20 points in all contests and under 10 in two. Last year, the Jays gave up 39, 27, 29, and 10 through their first 4 - big time improvement to go along with 8 forced turnovers and 11 sacks - remarkable improvements from last year. To this point, the D has tightened in the 2nd half of ballgames, given up a total of only 13 points in the 3rd and 4th quarter combined. Alot of it has to do with the players' comfort with Planz and his scheme a year deeper and i only expect that group to continue to keep games close the rest the way. 

I do believe this team is pointed in the right direction, and i'm excited to see Coach Planz's football philosophy starting to manifest in the roster, the scheme, and throughout the program.

[Titan Q]

An article on IWU's transfer RB Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/division-iii-no-step-down-for-iwu-s-shoemaker-gilmore/article_359ca084-efbc-5aa2-ab20-d9aae194ffbb.html

[79jaybird]

L-Ghost makes some good points.  IMO, Elmhurst should really focus on solidifying a 2nd and 3rd option in case (when other teams) the rushing game goes quiet.   Augie was a winnable game because the defense did keep Augie in check,  but those mistakes (INT's) really hurt.  Sign of a developing team.   WC/NC/IWU still on the slate who all have solid to above average defenses,   thus EC will need multiple options to skin the cat.    Planz was lucky to inherit a team that has a foundation.  Krohn and perhaps a few others in the past 10-20 years have not always been so lucky.

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton/Augie preview from the Augustana website:

http://www.athletics.augustana.edu/news/2015/10/9/FB_1009151138.aspx?path=football



Of note, Wheaton has an overall winning series record against every CCIW opponent except Augie.   The series is at 29-28-2 in favor of Augie.   Wheaton can even it up tomorrow.   

[Titan Q]

Articles from the Decatur and Bloomington papers on IWU's Homecoming matchup with the Big Blue...

http://herald-review.com/sports/millikin-goes-to-freshman-for-a-big-lift/article_1e00c0c8-9e8a-5c37-9063-3d902555cd89.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/no-iwu-not-about-to-take-millikin-lightly/article_3a0c6fe1-3651-5f85-9253-fb986bd38387.html

[USee]

From Millikin coach Patric Etherton:

"I think Wesleyan is better than North Central," Etherton said. "They have a very talented running back group and they have a big line up front."

But Wesleyan's biggest playmaker is receiver Artie Checchin, who Etherton called the "best receiver in the conference."

[Titan Q]

But Wesleyan's biggest playmaker is receiver Artie Checchin, who Etherton called the "best receiver in the conference."

Hopefully the Titans can get Checchin involved earlier today.  Last week in Kenosha, Checchin had 51 receiving yards in the first 54:09 of the game...and 99 in the final 5:51.

I think they can accomplish that by doing a better job establishing the run.  IWU has a stud RB in Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore, and Austin Harrell is good too.  I'd run it until Millikin proves they can stop it.  Getting something going on the ground should allow plenty of opportunities for the Warner-to-Checchin connection.

I wasn't a big fan of IWU's early down play calling last week.  Looking forward to seeing how the Titan offense attacks Millikin today.

[izzy stradlin]

From Millikin coach Patric Etherton:

"I think Wesleyan is better than North Central," Etherton said. "They have a very talented running back group and they have a big line up front."

But Wesleyan's biggest playmaker is receiver Artie Checchin, who Etherton called the "best receiver in the conference."

Wow.  Of course he says this right after playing North Central and before playing IWU.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 47
North Park 20

[CardinalAlum]

From Millikin coach Patric Etherton:

"I think Wesleyan is better than North Central," Etherton said. "They have a very talented running back group and they have a big line up front."

But Wesleyan's biggest playmaker is receiver Artie Checchin, who Etherton called the "best receiver in the conference."

Oh yeah?  Well, North Park is better than Millikin!   

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton 31
Augustana 14

[USee]

Final from McCully Stadium

Augustana 14
Wheaton 31

After taking a 17-0 lead and shutting out Sam Frasco and company in the first half and extending it to 24-0 early in the 3rd, Wheaton turned it over 4 times and let Augie back into the game. Frasco and co. had a 1st and goal at the 1 with the score 24-14 and the Thunder defense held on downs. to be fair, Augie dropped a wide open TD pass on 4th down. Andrew Bowers then took Wheaton 99 yds for the deciding breathing room.

Wheaton had a great plan to slow down Frasco and for the most part it worked. They played him on every option to pitch or give it and they spied Dandsdill on most passing plays with soft defensive tackles and let McRae and Greenlee go to work upfield. Frasco threw 3 INT's and was 23-41 for 206 yds and 2 TD's. He ran the ball for 139 yds most on broken pass plays and missed tackles. Augie held the ball for 7 min longer than the Thunder and ran 78 plays to Wheaton's 61. Good win for Wheaton but too sloppy with the 4 turnovers that let Augie back into it.

Peltz started but didn't play in the second half. Same for RT Pettway. Those two sat last week against NPU.

[Mr. Ypsi]

While there's still 10 minutes left, the game is also over in Bloomington - IWU up 54-13.  Jack Warner will probably not be throwing any more (not even sure if he's still in the game) so probably his final line is 22 of 26 for 283 yards and 5 TDs - not a bad day at the office!

Update: the IWU QB is now Jack Donegan, who went 2 for 3 for 17 yds; he actually completed all 3, but the third was to the wrong team!

[kiko]

For those of you doing some earlybird watching of the Pool C picture (read as: not North Central fans), Oshkosh took down Whitewater today, 10-7.

Oshkosh is now 4-1 w/ the loss against a non-D3 team, and Whitewater is also 4-1 with one of their wins against a non-D3 team.