FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Next Man Up]

Well, keep him. I'm sure his IWU experience will reform him. 

[USee]

Article on the front page about the Wheaton D with some quotes about the Central game from Jesse Scott:

https://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2021/wheaton-defense-excited-to-get-after-it

[WashedUpCard]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  There certainly is a lot to be thankful for this year.  I hope you all have a wonderful day surrounded by friends and family!

[USee]

If I am Central, I think their path to wining would look something like this:

Blaine Hawkins gets the ball out of his hands early, taking advantage of Wheaton's soft coverage against slot receivers. Hawkins also is effective running with the ball, both on RPO's and scrambles (ala Lehen from NCC). Through that, Central controls the ball and the clock. Hawkins patiently waits for Wheaton to bring pressure and, when they do, he makes them pay (almost every big play the Thunder have yielded this year has come when they blitz). If Hawkins holds the ball and waits for the vertical pass game to get open, the Thunder are going to get home with the rush without blitzing.

Defensively, Central will need to play man to man most of the game and bring more people to the party vs the Run. Play man vs Wheaton WR with Egli and their other best cover guy and dare the Thunder to try and beat them (which they have been inconsistent at best). Central is not that good agains the run. If they play straight up, the Thunder are going to run it, a lot.

Central's gains in the kick return game last week were more about Bethel's lack of depth than anything special the Dutch do on Kick Returns. Wheaton has excelled at covering kicks all year, so has Central. I expect the kick coverage to be good on both sides. Bickle, Wheaton's punter, is one of the very best in the nation, so he could be a big factor. 

Overall I think Central has an advantage at QB and WR and through that, needs to neutralize the Thunder, who have big advantage on the Defensive line and LB. The Thunder have a smaller advantage through their OLine and TE's and RB Gio Weeks, one of the top RB's in the nation. Central's has an athletic and good tackling secondary and through that can make Wheaton pass the ball more, which might work to their advantage, though that area is coming around the last couple weeks for the Thunder.

[robertgoulet]

I've had this odd worry in my mind about NCC vs UWL. Part of me thinks NCC has entered the UWW/MHB/MU level where they should lose (or even really challenged) by a non Top Team. The other part of me has been concerned about this matchup since NCC's game was cancelled last week.

Seeing the predictions by the D3 folks has not helped the latter feeling.

[USee]

For UWL @ NCC, UWL has some individual talent that is impressive for sure. They have a 1,300 yd rusher in Joey Stutzman, they have a 73 catch 10 TD WR/PR in Jake Simuncak and a strong #2 in Cam Sorensen (43 catches 13 TDs). Their QB(s) are efficient and can make plays. They want to run the ball about 60% of the time and then try to beat you with play action. Their defense is ranked 120th and they give up 100 yds a game rushing and 258 yds passing. But they have some playmakers and athletes on defense. Elijah Alt is their leading tackler (74) and leads their team in INT's with 7. He is a multi facetd DB who is involved in the run game and pass game. Ryan Daines is their second leading tackler and leading sack man at LB. You have to account for those guys.

Overall I see NCC winning comfortably because they are so explosive offensively and the strength of their defense matches up well with what UWL wants to do. I don't understand how UWW v UWL was so close and I watched the game. I thought UWW dominated most of the game but UWL figured out a way to keep UWW out of the endzone a few times and then were scrappy enough to give themselves a chance at the end. I never really thought UWW was in danger of losing until I saw that final pass in the air with the WR in position to catch it (UWW made a great play to finish it out).  That's the kind of team UWL seems to be, they are solid in all phases with a handful of great playmakers. I think NCC's talent overall is better, but so is UWW's. I would recommend not letting UWL sneak up on you late in the game. 

[robertgoulet]

I think my concern coming off the "Bye" last week is a freshman QB playing his 1st playoff game vs much better competition than he normally would have. Concerned a bit about some jitters putting NCC behind the 8-ball.

[Pat Coleman]

I think my concern coming off the "Bye" last week is a freshman QB playing his 1st playoff game vs much better competition than he normally would have. Concerned a bit about some jitters putting NCC behind the 8-ball.

Back in the bye-week days, often non-Mount Union teams would struggle with their first game after the bye.

[D3FLETCH]

If I am Wheaton, I think their path to wining would look something like this:
Wake up
Get to the game on time

[robertgoulet]

I think my concern coming off the "Bye" last week is a freshman QB playing his 1st playoff game vs much better competition than he normally would have. Concerned a bit about some jitters putting NCC behind the 8-ball.

Back in the bye-week days, often non-Mount Union teams would struggle with their first game after the bye.

Thanks for the reassuring words.

[Schipper Strong]

I believe Wheaton has arrived in town, just saw a team in what looked like black and white travel warmups out on the Pella Christian High football field. Welcome to Pella!

[WashedUpCard]

https://lacrossetribune.com/sports/local/college/uw-la-crosse-football-eagles-eager-to-see-what-were-really-made-of-against-top/article_5666bec4-51cb-515d-92f9-e596e856b2f4.html

Is it game time, yet?!?!

[robertgoulet]

https://lacrossetribune.com/sports/local/college/uw-la-crosse-football-eagles-eager-to-see-what-were-really-made-of-against-top/article_5666bec4-51cb-515d-92f9-e596e856b2f4.html

Is it game time, yet?!?!

Yep.

[robertgoulet]

Sorry, clock must have gotten unplugged, plugged back in and not reset.

Nope.

[kiko]

I've had this odd worry in my mind about NCC vs UWL. Part of me thinks NCC has entered the UWW/MHB/MU level where they should lose (or even really challenged) by a non Top Team. The other part of me has been concerned about this matchup since NCC's game was cancelled last week.

Seeing the predictions by the D3 folks has not helped the latter feeling.

I have too much respect for the strength of the WIAC to presume a Cardinal win is a given, let alone that they will roll over UWL.  Happy to be wrong about this, but more often than not the caliber of competition in this part of the country ratchets way up starting in Round 2.  And UWL will be light years better than anyone North Central has faced since September.  I expect this one will be very competitive and that both sides will take their share of punches.