FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

Even with my green blood, seeing Whitewater, AT NCC, and AT Wheaton all in the first five games of the season, I never dared even dream of going 4-1!

Once in a blue moon, reality even exceeds dreams!

[Pat Coleman]

Even with my green blood ...

You've never struck me as the coolly logical type, Commander.

[Gregory Sager]

UWW is 1-3 now, so more than a little luster has come off of that opening day win for Illinois Wesleyan.

But that was certainly a big win over Wheaton. Boy, I'd hate to be whichever Wheaton player or coach called that timeout with eleven seconds left.

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana 24, Elmhurst 19
Carthage 55, Carroll 20
Illinois Wesleyan 14, Wheaton 10
North Central 43, Washington (MO) 24
Millikin 30, North Park 15

Next Saturday:
North Park @ North Central, 1 pm
Elmhurst @ Carroll, 1 pm
Illinois Wesleyan @ Augustana, 1 pm
Wheaton @ Millikin, 6 pm

Carthage has the bye.

[Titan Q]

Big tip of the cap to IWU head coach Norm Eash and his coaching staff.  The Titans looked "well coached" today in so many ways.

IWU's run defense was just tremendous today.  The Titans held Wheaton to 73 yards on the ground, a 1.9 yards per carry average.  For perspective, the Thunder ran for 251 yards against Carthage (5.3 per)...and 166 vs Elmhurst (4.2 per).  The Titans looked fast, athletic, and physical on the defensive end.

And a shout out to IWU QB Brandon Bauer.  He doesn't make all the plays all the time, but he is really a "gamer" - I really like him.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Even with my green blood ...

You've never struck me as the coolly logical type, Commander.

In sports, you are quite correct, Commandant.   After all, I'm still a Tigers' fan.

In other spheres, some have regretted that conclusion (e.g., EMU in contract negotiations, or the Ypsi City Council on a variety of occasions).

[And, yes, I caught the Star Trek reference.]

[izzy stradlin]

Pantagraph article on the IWU-Wheaton game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/walsh-s-late-td-grab-gives-iwu-first-win-at/article_f3055930-860a-553f-916d-480653112e45.html

"They scored on a halfback pass, It's a good call, but it's a halfback pass. It's a trick play," said Eash. "Other than that, our defense gave up three points. They (Wheaton) have a great defense, but we're a great defense, too, and they kept us in the ball game."

Wheaton scored a TD on a halfback pass and a FG off an IWU interception where their offense was then quickly stuffed.   Eash and his coaches clearly watched tape on Wheaton and had a great defensive game plan.

With Wheaton's alternating quaterback packages their playcalling has become very predictable.  With Spencer Peterson in they ran right every snap but one (a half back pass that was their only touchdown of the game).  There was one package they used six times all with the same play call.  Wesleyan's coaches and players are good enough to figure that out (it worked the first couple times).  On any third down with McWilliams in, you know they are going to the air.

I think you either have to go with McWilliams all the time or you have to open up things for Peterson when he is in.   Hopes were as high as ever for Wheaton this year but this is in no way a dynamic enough offense to put up points against teams they can't simple overpower.    I think if you reverse roles, there is no way Wheaton makes that game winning drive that IWU made.  Let's hope a tough loss forces some major adjustments.

[emma17]

Congratulations to IWU on a great win. I'm thankful I was able to watch the last drive- clutch plays all around.
I think the luster is brighter than ever.

[CardinalAlum]

Pantagraph article on the IWU-Wheaton game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/walsh-s-late-td-grab-gives-iwu-first-win-at/article_f3055930-860a-553f-916d-480653112e45.html

“They scored on a halfback pass, It’s a good call, but it’s a halfback pass. It’s a trick play,” said Eash. “Other than that, our defense gave up three points. They (Wheaton) have a great defense, but we’re a great defense, too, and they kept us in the ball game.”

Wheaton scored a TD on a halfback pass and a FG off an IWU interception where their offense was then quickly stuffed.   Eash and his coaches clearly watched tape on Wheaton and had a great defensive game plan.

Funny that Stormin Norman is downplaying a trick play against him when that’s been a staple of his for years!   Unbelievable win by IWU.  I didn’t think it would be much of a game in Wheaton’s favor.  Boy, was I wrong.  The Battle for the Little Brass Bell now becomes a must win for the Wheaties and the potential for the differential tiebreaker to come into play again.  I’ll be very interested to get USee’s take on the game.

[AndOne]

I too thought WC would win, so good job by the Green Team. Maybe they can finish 2nd in the conference this year! 
For those that saw the game, would the missing players have made a difference?

[AndOne]

After sleepwalking through much of the opening quarter which saw WashU score 10 quick, unawnsered points, the remainder of North Central's 43-24 win went pretty much as expected yesterday.

Among the important items that contributed much to the NCC win were:

* The Cardinals controlled the ball, winning the time of possession game 38:27 to 21:33
* NCC reached the Red Zone 7 times and scored all 7 (6 TDs 1 FG) times.
* The Cardinal defense recorded 5 sacks, and they intercepted 3 passes.

In only his 16th game, NCC soph QB, Broc Rutter, moved into 4th place in all-time passing yards with 4,344.

[ncc_fan]

I too thought WC would win, so good job by the Green Team.
For those that saw the game, would the missing players have made a difference?

Here's a link to the game video.

[AndOne]

Thanks ncc_fan.
Very nice video production by WC!

What a fabulous catch by the IWU receiver. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

In a couple of weeks Wheaton is going to have a bunch of fans who will be dressed in green. 

[Gregory Sager]

Pantagraph article on the IWU-Wheaton game:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/walsh-s-late-td-grab-gives-iwu-first-win-at/article_f3055930-860a-553f-916d-480653112e45.html

"They scored on a halfback pass, It's a good call, but it's a halfback pass. It's a trick play," said Eash. "Other than that, our defense gave up three points. They (Wheaton) have a great defense, but we're a great defense, too, and they kept us in the ball game."

Wheaton scored a TD on a halfback pass and a FG off an IWU interception where their offense was then quickly stuffed.   Eash and his coaches clearly watched tape on Wheaton and had a great defensive game plan.

Funny that Stormin Norman is downplaying a trick play against him when that's been a staple of his for years!

I thought the same thing, but consider the source.

[thunderdog]

What a fabulous catch by the IWU receiver. ⭐️⭐️⭐️