FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[The Third Division]

NCC led at the half, scored 30 points in the second half, and rushed for 404 yards. The post-game focus was on the failed two-point attempt, but the offense was plenty good enough to win. NCC's 37 points are the most ever scored by the losing team in a Stagg Bowl.

NCC allowed 24+ points seven times this season. Last season, they never allowed more than 21 points in a game.

NCC's offense this season was the most dominating I've seen at the D3 level. Their defense was middling, however, and it ultimately wasn't good enough to win a national title.

NCC lost AA DT Dan Lester early in the season. AA CB Antwain Walker in the early playoff rounds. CCIW DPOY DE Martin Egbo in the quarters. I think it's fair to say any defense losing that type of talent would likely face a steep drop off.

In an alternate universe where all those defensive starters were healthy all season, would we have seen a different outcome this friday?

[Marmac]

If any one of those three players had been healthy on Friday, NCC likely wins. But they weren't, and the defense struggled mightily without them.

[USee]

Antwain Walker, when healthy, was the best cover corner I have seen in D3 in a number of years (I haven't seen everybody—but I have seen a lot of great ones). He almost certainly would have tipped the scales in NCC's direction Friday. Lester (DPOY in the CCIW last year) would have changed it too but he was out all season effectively.

Impressive win by Cortland. They did what they had to do.

[79jaybird]

Congratulations North Central on another strong season.   Brad Spencer is showing he is a players coach and somebody you can really root for.   I especially like he went for the win, and put it in his player's hands to (hopefully) pull out a W.   
I know the result is not what we all wanted to see,  but sheesh!  This was a great game to watch.   

[D3Navy]

NCC led at the half, scored 30 points in the second half, and rushed for 404 yards. The post-game focus was on the failed two-point attempt, but the offense was plenty good enough to win. NCC's 37 points are the most ever scored by the losing team in a Stagg Bowl.

NCC allowed 24+ points seven times this season. Last season, they never allowed more than 21 points in a game.

NCC's offense this season was the most dominating I've seen at the D3 level. Their defense was middling, however, and it ultimately wasn't good enough to win a national title.

NCC lost AA DT Dan Lester early in the season. AA CB Antwain Walker in the early playoff rounds. CCIW DPOY DE Martin Egbo in the quarters. I think it's fair to say any defense losing that type of talent would likely face a steep drop off.

Egbo played in the final.

[robertgoulet]

NCC led at the half, scored 30 points in the second half, and rushed for 404 yards. The post-game focus was on the failed two-point attempt, but the offense was plenty good enough to win. NCC's 37 points are the most ever scored by the losing team in a Stagg Bowl.

NCC allowed 24+ points seven times this season. Last season, they never allowed more than 21 points in a game.

NCC's offense this season was the most dominating I've seen at the D3 level. Their defense was middling, however, and it ultimately wasn't good enough to win a national title.

NCC lost AA DT Dan Lester early in the season. AA CB Antwain Walker in the early playoff rounds. CCIW DPOY DE Martin Egbo in the quarters. I think it's fair to say any defense losing that type of talent would likely face a steep drop off.

Egbo played in the final.

Right but considering it was a lower leg injury that took him out in the quarters, and then only played about a quarter and a half in the semi's (clearly nursing and not explosive) I'd say he was probably well under 100%. I'd have to rewatch but I don't think he played much at all in the 2nd half.

[Marmac]

NCC led at the half, scored 30 points in the second half, and rushed for 404 yards. The post-game focus was on the failed two-point attempt, but the offense was plenty good enough to win. NCC's 37 points are the most ever scored by the losing team in a Stagg Bowl.

NCC allowed 24+ points seven times this season. Last season, they never allowed more than 21 points in a game.

NCC's offense this season was the most dominating I've seen at the D3 level. Their defense was middling, however, and it ultimately wasn't good enough to win a national title.

NCC lost AA DT Dan Lester early in the season. AA CB Antwain Walker in the early playoff rounds. CCIW DPOY DE Martin Egbo in the quarters. I think it's fair to say any defense losing that type of talent would likely face a steep drop off.

Egbo played in the final.

Right but considering it was a lower leg injury that took him out in the quarters, and then only played about a quarter and a half in the semi's (clearly nursing and not explosive) I'd say he was probably well under 100%. I'd have to rewatch but I don't think he played much at all in the 2nd half.

I saw Egbo playing in the first half (when Cortland scored 3 points). I didn't see him out there in the second half, though the stats show he assisted on a special teams tackle when the score was tied at 31. He was trying to gut it out. Unlike just about everyone else on the NCC roster, this was his one chance for a national championship.

[wally_wabash]

I saw Egbo playing in the first half (when Cortland scored 3 points). I didn't see him out there in the second half, though the stats show he assisted on a special teams tackle when the score was tied at 31. He was trying to gut it out. Unlike just about everyone else on the NCC roster, this was his one chance for a national championship.

I did a feature on Martin during the playoffs. He graduated from Concordia in three years and had two years of eligibility upon transfer to North Central.  The rest is also an awesome story that I hope you'll read! 

[Marmac]

I saw Egbo playing in the first half (when Cortland scored 3 points). I didn't see him out there in the second half, though the stats show he assisted on a special teams tackle when the score was tied at 31. He was trying to gut it out. Unlike just about everyone else on the NCC roster, this was his one chance for a national championship.

I did a feature on Martin during the playoffs. He graduated from Concordia in three years and had two years of eligibility upon transfer to North Central.  The rest is also an awesome story that I hope you'll read!

My bad, I didn't realize Egbo has a year of eligibility left. I appreciated your feature on him.

[CardinalAlum]

We're back! 

[The Third Division]

Let's talk about NC vs Aurora for week 1! - the Battle of US route 59!!!

[New Tradition]

Hey, alright!  Nice work, Pat and crew!

[Gregory Sager]

For the first time in program history, North Park football now has a full-time strength & conditioning coach:

https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2024/2/12/brad-guell-promoted-to-north-park-football-strength-and-conditioning-coordinator.aspx

I'd be interested in hearing from veterans and/or insiders of other, more successful programs as to whether or not a full-time S&D coach is a difference-maker in a D3 football program's fortunes.

[The Third Division]

Looks like North Central secured a d1 FCS WR out of drake. Could make a big impact this upcoming season.

https://x.com/flax_austin/status/1760412624808747380?s=46

[Pat Coleman]

Looking into his profile a bit, Flax (listed at 5-9, 175) was not on the roster last year and had 24 catches for 201 and 2 TDs the year before. Biggest game was against D-II Missouri S&T (5-40-1).

He might make a big impact but he was in the Pioneer League, the non-scholarship D-I FCS conference.