FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[hazzben]

Mount Union was going to win that game even if Roy Hampton quarterbacked.

Don't disagree, but I think the presence of an AA QB makes the score look a lot different. His absence takes the shine off that MOV. And that Trinity team wasn't a top 20 Stagg Runner Up either.

[HScoach]

As someone who saw that Mount season up close and personal, and that game up close too, the only thing Roy Hampton's availability would have done was increase the final score.  The margin would have been the same.  Mount toyed with Trinity in horrible wind conditions and Hampton doesn't change that.

[New Tradition]

Check THIS out:  https://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2022/12/16/atn-podcast-325-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/

If you don't have time to listen to the whole thing, tune to about the 35:00 mark.  I dunno what's more impressive, Pat carrying a tune pretty well in spite of his voice sounding like it's on life support for the past couple of months or Greg providing the super intricate backing vocals.   

[Pat Coleman]

That is all my voice, for what it's worth. No idea if Greg wants to sing on these things but I had to record this at home in my podcast studio.

[wally_wabash]

Absolutely nobody wants me to "sing" on an ATN Original(TM). That's the most certain prediction I've made this postseason. 

[USee]

That is all my voice, for what it's worth. No idea if Greg wants to sing on these things but I had to record this at home in my podcast studio.

It was very impressive! I did realize Pat was singing all the parts.

[rscl70]

That is all my voice, for what it's worth. No idea if Greg wants to sing on these things but I had to record this at home in my podcast studio.

An excellent little ditty.

[USee]

LoganHansen has two interesting data points about tonight's game:

1. https://twitter.com/LogHanRatings/status/1603146589123526656  This type of threat of the QB running is something the Raiders have not experienced from any of their opponents this season. Only Delaware Valley had a QB with a similar number of designed rush attempts as Lehnen, but Lehnen averages twice as many yards per carry.

2. https://twitter.com/LogHanRatings/status/1603149283590639618   If I look at every player (not just QBs) who played against Mount Union & had at least 50 rushing attempts... North Central's top 4 runners (Greenfield, Hill, Lehnen, Sacco) will be the 4 most efficient runners to play against Mount Union this season.

How Mt Union attacks this NCC rushing attack is the biggest variable in the game. They absolutely have to figure out a way to get NCC into 2nd and/or 3rd and long and see if Lehnen can beat them throwing the ball (He still might). If NCC is getting to the LB level on runs before contact, this game will be a blowout in my view. If Mt Union can get penetration and disrupt the Cardinal run game on 1st/2nd down, then they will give their offense a chance to win.

[New Tradition]

That is all my voice, for what it's worth. No idea if Greg wants to sing on these things but I had to record this at home in my podcast studio.

It was very impressive! I did realize Pat was singing all the parts.

Nor did I!!  Holy smokes!!  Very impressive. 

[Next Man Up]

It seems the (very logical) consensus as far as Mount's best chance to win is to stop NNC's machine like running game. Also, that the best way to do so, might be to stuff the box with 7 defenders. However, it would seem inserting a second TE, a tactic the Cardinals often employ, can help negate this strategy. Also, the Cards may have used 3 TEs at the same time on a couple of plays. Not sure this happened or not, but they did use at least 3 TEs—-Robinson, Wolff, and Quinn—in the game. At any rate, Mount's chance of severely shutting down NCC's ground attack isn't something you're likely to get very good odds on. If they can do so their chances greatly improve, and credit to them.
Lastly, when they do have to pass, Luke Lehnen has more often than not, proven very efficient in finding an open man.

Defensively, NCC will likely often need another DB, as while Ruby is fantastic, he by no means is Mount's only dangerous receiving threat.

No defensive or special teams points, no stupid penalties, and win the TO battle.

[lmitzel]

Congratulations to your 2022 Gagliardi Trophy winner: Ethan Greenfield!

[Ralph Turner]

NCC came out strong but the missed FG in the Red Zone was not good.

IMHO, the championship caliber D3 teams should have a kicker who is automatic in the Red Zone. 7 of 11 in the regular season with a long of 39.
Rains is 7-9 in the 39-yard range, with 3 blocked. (The stats do not list the length of the attempts which were blocked, nor extenuating circumstances such a 30 MPH crosswinds.) He was 98-103 on PATs.
https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/stats/2022

[hazzben]

Absolute garbage if they call targeting on that hit. The QB is a runner at that point.

[hazzben]

Hot pile of garbage.

[washdupcard]

Absolute garbage if they call targeting on that hit. The QB is a runner at that point.

Horrendous call!