FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

BU is averaging 5.2 yards per rush. In their one loss, the were held to a 2.6 APR. A 3.4 APR allows you to keep marching down the field so it would appear a goal for the Cardinal D might be to try to hold to BU to 3.3 or less, and force them into (passing) situations which they surely aren't as comfortable with. Obviously, this is much easier said than done. If I remember my history correctly, it seems like, for the large part, NCC football has a pretty successful "next man up" record. In the games that I've both attended and watched this year, I seem to often remember hearing the names of the number 2s on the two-deep called often. As such, perhaps frequent shuttling in of fresh troops, particularly on the D line, might be a option that could be fairly successfully employed to slow down the Bethel Express by continually forcing their O line to face fresh defenders. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Dierking might sometimes employ such a strategy, and what role depth might play in the ultimate outcome.

[hazzben]

NCC is 60/40 Run vs Pass. That’s not gonna change in this game unless they are really behind. They may pass more on 1st down (I would) early in the game to loosen up the defense.

If I were Shane Dierking, I would definitely play an 8 man front and dare Bethel to beat me throwing the ball. You have to take away the other team’s strength if you can.

A 5 point win over Bethel at home in the playoffs would be considered close and would be NCC’s first “close” win of the season (as defined by a one score game).

Bethel doesn’t run it’s offense primarily out of 2 back, 2 TE sets.
They  will put 3 WR on the field. Have a 6’5” TE who is a great possession guy, and Gibas is effective in a decent route tree out of the backfield. If NCC goes with an 8 man front I think they’ll be in trouble. My gut says UST and SJU are both better on D, and in the secondary.

BU has the ability to take the top off a D. Stacking the box like that isn’t the route I’d go. This is the difference between seeing film and seeing stats IMO. One of our best formations has been going empty, 1 TE and 4 WR’s. Roste’s size and speed advantage mean he doesn’t need a lead blocker to run effectively.

One factor will be how effective Bethel’s new T set is in short yardage. Wart had no answer.

I think it’s gonna be a fascinating matchup. And agree that NCC kicking game will be to their advantage.

[USee]

If 3 WR's then 7 in the box, if 4 WR's then 6,etc. Doesn't matter, NCC has to stop the run to win. 6-5 TE is not anything they haven't seen. Don't think they are worried about that.

I think NCC has other advantages besides the kicking game FYI.

[robertgoulet]

If 3 WR's then 7 in the box, if 4 WR's then 6,etc. Doesn't matter, NCC has to stop the run to win. 6-5 TE is not anything they haven't seen. Don't think they are worried about that.

I think NCC has other advantages besides the kicking game FYI.

Like one of the best QBs (could maybe argue the best) in D3?

[hazzben]

I'm not saying NCC isn't a very good team.

But Bethel has seen very good Qb's this year. Sacia, Erdmann, Perra, GAC's qb. I expect Rutter is right up there with the first two.

Should be a good one.

[CardinalAlum]

I'm not saying NCC isn't a very good team.

But Bethel has seen very good Qb's this year. Sacia, Erdmann, Perra, GAC's qb. I expect Rutter is right up there with the first two.

Should be a good one.

Expecting a good one as well.   Do Bethel crowds travel well?

[hazzben]

Typically yes. But thanksgiving weekend, 🤷🏻‍♂️

[USee]

First, let me clarify, I have seen Bethel play 2x this year.  My opinion isn't based on stats.

I suspect Rutter will be the best QB Bethel has seen, by a margin. I have watched those other guys and while they are good, Rutter is operating at a different level. North Central is the best offense Bethel has seen. Bethel's defense is similar to Wheaton's. St Thomas and St Johns have better defenses than NCC, yes, but Bethel scored 14 pts and 16 pts against those two. If the Royals don't score 21-28+ while holding NCC to their lowest output of the year, they will lose.

On the flip side, I am quite certain NCC hasn't seen anything like the level of Physicality Bethel is committed to for a full 4 quarters. The closest they have seen is Wheaton and maybe Carthage. IWU is physical as well. We don't have a team that is 70% run in our league with a fast, physical QB runner like Roste. Spencer Peterson for Wheaton is the only thing close and he plays 5 snaps a game.

Again, this game will be won or lost up front. If Bethel's defense can move Rutter off his spot and stop the running game while Bethels' offense controls the clock and makes NCC's DB's make tackles in the run game, they have a great shot.

[hazzben]

Statistically Sacia is right up there with Rutter. But my gut, having only seen Sacia live, is that Rutter is better. My guy also says Erdmann from SJU is right there with him. That's a compliment, not a knock. And maybe Rutter is just better.

In general though, I agree with your assessment USee.

My sense was that guys felt like Bethel ran Iowa's style of TE heavy, pro style, boring offense. (NB: Iowa's fundamentals up front and how they block inside and outside zone are a thing of beauty)

The reason for all this back and forth is because on paper this should be the best game of Rd 2. 2 excellent teams, two varied styles. As they say, styles make fights.

Here's to a great game and everyone emerging healthy for the winners likely bout with UWW!

[USee]

The reality is if Bethel can rush for their season average of 5.2 yds per rush or the Bethel defense does to Rutter what they did to Sacia and Wartburg, the Royals will easily be moving on. I suspect NCC is a better team than Wartburg but we'll see.

Definitely the best game of round 2.

[robertgoulet]

Bummer for NCC. They return a ton next year. I expect them to be in the conversation for the best of the tier right below the Purples.

[AndOne]

* NCC held Bethel under their average rush of 5.2 yards, but not far enough under. BU still averaged 4.0 yards per rush which allows a team to march down the field, piling up 1st downs along the way.

* Not surprising that the Cardinals had trouble suppressing BU's ground game, but I was surprised the NCC pass defense allowed 3 passing touchdowns, including scoring plays of 43 and 72 yards.

* The Cardinals committed 9 penalties, a couple of which were especially of the "dumb ass"  variety.
Especially detrimental was a 4th quarter misadventure when, after a pass to the Bethel 13, one of the Cards was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct which pushed the ball back to the 28. The next 3 plays were rushes for no gain, and 1 yard, followed by an incomplete pass. This forced a field goal try from 44 yards out which was wide. Pretty significant in a 3 point loss. I sense the result would have been different from 15 yards or more closer if they hadn't been able to register a TD.

* BU, 6 sacks
NCC, 0 sacks

* Time of possession;
   BU, 35:50
NCC, 24:10

[hazzben]

Hat's off to North Central. The game was everything it was billed to be, and then some. That's a Top 10 team IMO, I'm hoping Top 25 voters aren't lazy and just automatically slot any team that makes the Quarterfinals as a Top 8 team. I can't imagine any team from the East is better than NCC.

Undigested takeaways:

• Kilgore went full on Beast Mode. 10 Tckls, 3 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 1 FF fumble, multiple hits on QB. He was everywhere, incredible effort.
• NCC is gonna be really freaking good next year. They are good this year, but sounds like they bring a ton back, including Rutter. They are in my preseason Top 8, before I even look at what anyone else has returning.
• Exceptional halftime adjustments by BU on offense. We spent the first half probing, but not getting much push. Great tweaks at halftime and it was like a totally different game.
• Bethel went all Bethel in the second half, NCC had only 3 plays in the 3rd Q. T formation was the sauce I was hoping it'd be.
• #6 and #1 for NCC on D were some ballers. #55 was a specimen on the Oline. #15 made some great contested catches late in the game to keep NCC in it.
• When Rutter had time, he was surgical. But he spent most of the day under serious duress. Even when the rush didn't get home, they were constantly forcing him to throw off his back foot or out of rhythm.
• Dawson Brown made some nice open field tackles, by and large the whole secondary played well against a really accurate passer.
• Roste played a great game, 15-20, over 200 yds, 3 TD's, some clutch runs. His best day as a passer to date. If he keeps slinging it like this, the whole offense opens up in new ways. He'll need to next week against an elite front 7.
• North Central's play by play and color guy were a treat to listen to. Very knowledgeable, recognized great plays by stud players on both sides. Very unbiased in talking about officiating, etc. Not any undo homerism. Fun crew.
• NCC's camera work on the other hand  I'm guessing it's students, but they were obsessed with the tight field view, showing only the QB and 2/3 of the guys up front. No ability to see the formation or the play develop from that view. Multiple times they never left it and you had zero idea what happened on the play. Then again, it wasn't that long ago we didn't have video. And I will say, their replays were nice, complete with slow-mo, and the ability to reverse a few frames and play it right back.

Again, great game. I was on the edge of my seat all game. I know it's another frustrating 2nd round result, but in a truly balanced bracket I don't think these teams should have matched up until the next rounds (aka, the East got some favorable draws today).

[CardinalAlum]

Hat's off to North Central. The game was everything it was billed to be, and then some. That's a Top 10 team IMO, I'm hoping Top 25 voters aren't lazy and just automatically slot any team that makes the Quarterfinals as a Top 8 team. I can't imagine any team from the East is better than NCC.

Undigested takeaways:

• Kilgore went full on Beast Mode. 10 Tckls, 3 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 1 FF fumble, multiple hits on QB. He was everywhere, incredible effort.
• NCC is gonna be really freaking good next year. They are good this year, but sounds like they bring a ton back, including Rutter. They are in my preseason Top 8, before I even look at what anyone else has returning.
• Exceptional halftime adjustments by BU on offense. We spent the first half probing, but not getting much push. Great tweaks at halftime and it was like a totally different game.
• Bethel went all Bethel in the second half, NCC had only 3 plays in the 3rd Q. T formation was the sauce I was hoping it'd be.
• #6 and #1 for NCC on D were some ballers. #55 was a specimen on the Oline. #15 made some great contested catches late in the game to keep NCC in it.
• When Rutter had time, he was surgical. But he spent most of the day under serious duress. Even when the rush didn't get home, they were constantly forcing him to throw off his back foot or out of rhythm.
• Dawson Brown made some nice open field tackles, by and large the whole secondary played well against a really accurate passer.
• Roste played a great game, 15-20, over 200 yds, 3 TD's, some clutch runs. His best day as a passer to date. If he keeps slinging it like this, the whole offense opens up in new ways. He'll need to next week against an elite front 7.
• North Central's play by play and color guy were a treat to listen to. Very knowledgeable, recognized great plays by stud players on both sides. Very unbiased in talking about officiating, etc. Not any undo homerism. Fun crew.
• NCC's camera work on the other hand  I'm guessing it's students, but they were obsessed with the tight field view, showing only the QB and 2/3 of the guys up front. No ability to see the formation or the play develop from that view. Multiple times they never left it and you had zero idea what happened on the play. Then again, it wasn't that long ago we didn't have video. And I will say, their replays were nice, complete with slow-mo, and the ability to reverse a few frames and play it right back.

Again, great game. I was on the edge of my seat all game. I know it's another frustrating 2nd round result, but in a truly balanced bracket I don't think these teams should have matched up until the next rounds (aka, the East got some favorable draws today).

Kudos to Bethel.  That's a heck of a defense. Kilgore was every bit the beast he appeared to be on film. They made Rutter work for everything today and he hung in there as well as he could. The 3rd quarter was the key to the game.  NCC ran 4 plays in the quarter as Bethel grinded out two long drives.  Their O line was very good in this sequence.   Hard fought and classy game.   Best of luck to Bethel and safe travels.   As far as NCC, I know everyone is disappointed in the outcome.  #6 and the other seniors were amazing leaders and their loss will be felt.   19 returning starters next year should put us in a position to do something special but, for now, this one hurts. 

[Craft_Beermeister]

Both teams played great.