FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mr_b]

North Park defeats Augie 20-17 in Rock Island on a 33 yard field goal with four seconds left.

[Gregory Sager]

Yup, big big second half, now up 40-15.   Jack Healy with 3 TD catches.

8-1 -- only MU to go now.  9-1 in sight.

IWU'70

Titans finally woke up.  Now up 26-15 late in the third.

Guys, please. There is an In-Games Updates room for a reason. Please use it.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park beats Augie in Rock Island, 20-17, on a 33-yard Alexis Santillan field goal (which was partially blocked, but still managed to wobble over the crossbar) with four seconds left in the game.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 60, Carroll 21

Ililnois Wesleyan 47, Elmhurst 15

[Augie6]

North Park beats Augie in Rock Island, 20-17, on a 33-yard Alexis Santillan field goal (which was partially blocked, but still managed to wobble over the crossbar) with four seconds left in the game.

I've been pretty good about keeping to my commitment about not posting about Augie this year, but today's loss by Augie to NPU sets the program up to have their worst season EVER, when they lose next week to Wheaton.  I'm really at a loss for words to see how the Augie program has become one of (if not the) worst programs in the CCIW.   3 years into Coach Bell's tenure and I don't know how anyone involved can say the program is in better shape than it was before he came in.  Among many issues that they have, there is absolutely no identity to this team on either side of the ball.

[Gregory Sager]

Carthage 45, Millikin 27

[CardinalAlum]

Yup, big big second half, now up 40-15.   Jack Healy with 3 TD catches.

8-1 -- only MU to go now.  9-1 in sight.

IWU'70

Tread carefully.  Millikin is better than you think. 

[Gregory Sager]

That was the most dramatic win NPU football has had since the Vikings snapped their humungous conference losing streak by coming from behind to beat Carthage in Mike Conway's first-ever CCIW contest five years ago. Augustana led 14-3 with five minutes and change remaining in the third quarter, and the impotent North Park offense had only mustered 80 total yards for the game. Even after NPU's Austin Regel had blocked an Augie punt and then recovered the ball himself at the AC 22 in the first quarter, the offense had been unable to put points on the scoreboard. And so Mike Conway swapped out starting QB Anthony DiNardo for freshman Grant Borsch, probably as much out of desperation as anything else.

At that point late in the third quarter, though, Borsch found himself. Even without benefit of a functional running game he managed to find targets downfield, make smart plays by throwing the ball out of bounds when there was nobody open, and got the ball out in a hurry to prevent sacks. He took the Vikings 68 yards down the field in ten plays, culminating in a 13-yard TD pass to Woody Corey with under two minutes left in the third quarter. Then the defense, which had had a lot of trouble containing running QB Alek Jacobs, really stepped up, as Uluao Letuli picked off a Jacobs pass at the NPU 21 early in the fourth to thwart a drive. After an exchange of three-and-outs, it was time for the NPU special teams to step up again, as David Simmons came up with the second punt block of the day for the Park, which set NPU up at the Augie 37.

The Vikings took advantage of the short field, as Borsch hit Corey for their second TD connection of the half, this time from the 3, to give NPU its first lead of the game at 17-14 with 8:23 to go. Augie didn't quit, however, and the hosts converted a fourth-and-nine play outside of field-goal range on a gutsy run off-tackle by Jacobs to move the sticks and keep the drive alive. It led to Jacob Stytz kicking a 39-yard FG with 3:21 to go to tie up the game. That set up the final-drive heroics of Borsch and company, in which they converted a pair of third-down plays -- something that NPU has struggled mightily with this season, even when the original starting QB and RB were healthy -- to set up that final, improbable 33-yard Little Engine That Could of a field goal to win the game.

This is going to be a long, satisfying busride home for the Vikings, who notched their first win over somebody other than Anderson since beating Illinois Wesleyan on the last day of the 2015 season. As CardinalAlum likes to say, the memory of all of those drubbings at the hands of Augustana over the decades means that beating them never gets old ... especially when you do it on Augie's home field.

I've been pretty good about keeping to my commitment about not posting about Augie this year, but today's loss by Augie to NPU sets the program up to have their worst season EVER, when they lose next week to Wheaton.  I'm really at a loss for words to see how the Augie program has become one of (if not the) worst programs in the CCIW.   3 years into Coach Bell's tenure and I don't know how anyone involved can say the program is in better shape than it was before he came in.  Among many issues that they have, there is absolutely no identity to this team on either side of the ball.

This post appeared about thirty seconds after I had posted on Facebook, "The Augustana alumni must be mortified."

Nothing seems to make opposing CCIW football fans want to commit hara-kiri more than when their team loses to North Park.

[iwu70]

Yes, I'm fully aware of how good MU is and have been saying that here and elsewhere for some time.  WW, CC, WC are/were pretty good too. 

Should be a very good final game, senior day at Tucci.  Titans have the bye week now to prepare.  Surely a key reason for IWU's successful season so far, beyond expectations, is that the team has been pretty injury free.

Bauer and Healy had a great game together today -- 3 TDs.  Nice to see Jack Warner in the game for the final several series and for him to get a TD on the ground as well. 

I'm sure MU will give their all on November 11th . . . but I still feel given how IWU is playing D now, 9-1 is in sight.

I've said earlier that I think CC is capable of beating NCC as well.

Congrats to NPU on their win today over Augie. 

IWU'70

[79jaybird]

I've been pretty good about keeping to my commitment about not posting about Augie this year, but today's loss by Augie to NPU sets the program up to have their worst season EVER, when they lose next week to Wheaton.  I'm really at a loss for words to see how the Augie program has become one of (if not the) worst programs in the CCIW.   3 years into Coach Bell's tenure and I don't know how anyone involved can say the program is in better shape than it was before he came in.  Among many issues that they have, there is absolutely no identity to this team on either side of the ball.

*I echo the same sentiments with the current Elmhurst coaching regime.  The IWU game is another example of halftime adjustments (or lack there of) and a close game, becomes a laugher in the 2nd half.  Ugh!   I didn't expect Elmhurst to beat IWU,  but another example of showing signs that the Jays could compete and (possibly) win,  only to get shoved back under water.

First time I had a chance to see Healy and wow!  What a talent.  Finding the open window,  helping his QB when in trouble,  very solid player.

Congrats to North Park! That is a big win. 

(modified by GS for formatting)

[thunderdog]

Very much looking forward to the battle of Kenosha @ Naperville this Saturday. I think I can safely say I speak on behalf of all Thunder Nation when I say...

GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARTHAGE!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Very much looking forward to the battle of Kenosha @ Naperville this Saturday. I think I can safely say I speak on behalf of all Thunder Nation when I say...

GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARTHAGE!

And Titan Nation will echo that!

[thunderdog]

Red Men - Titan - Thunder Nation? 

Kind of like the lions of Voltron uniting to become the defender of the galaxy... is that what's happening here?

[AndOne]

Red Men - Titan - Thunder Nation? 

Kind of like the lions of Voltron uniting to become the defender of the galaxy... is that what's happening here?

More like strange bedfellows whose romance will soon hit the skids, and find the partners going their separate ways! 💔

[Mr. Ypsi]

Red Men - Titan - Thunder Nation? 

Kind of like the lions of Voltron uniting to become the defender of the galaxy... is that what's happening here?

More like strange bedfellows whose romance will soon hit the skids, and find the partners going their separate ways! 💔

But of course!  As of the final whistle on Saturday, I go back to 'detesting' Wheaton and Carthage!

It sure would make for a great final game in B'town if Carthage can pull the upset.  Either the Titans win and gain a totally unexpected AQ, or Millikin wins and likely produces an unprecedented FIVE-way tie for the title!