FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Augie -22.7 @ Millikin.    Final Augie 24 Millikin 20

Augie had to come from behind with a late touchdown at 4:22 in the 4th in order to stave off the upset. Even then, Millikin drove the ball down to the Augie 35 in the final minute before turning over the ball on downs.

[Cardinal773]

And a punt return TD at that!  Not that those don't count, but it's not like Augie out schemed the Big Blue to win it in the end.  I didn't see a lot of that game so not sure if Augie played down or Millikin played up to their competition.

Just when we thought we had it all figured out the CCIW gives us a week like this!

For North Park's sake, Greg, I hope they learn something and bounce back.  The Streak needs to end.  With Carroll looking as strong as they looked and with an apparently reinvigorated IWU looming, it's going to be tough sledding.

[markerickson]

If NPU finishes 6-4, then the time would be perfect to eliminate football.  If the team continues The Streak, then the time would be perfect to eliminate football.

[Gregory Sager]

For North Park's sake, Greg, I hope they learn something and bounce back.  The Streak needs to end.  With Carroll looking as strong as they looked and with an apparently reinvigorated IWU looming, it's going to be tough sledding.

I think that the Vikings can still have a successful season by NPU's traditionally (very) modest standards. The Vikings have a lot of good talent on both sides of the ball and a fair amount of experience, and they're well-coached. But expectations in terms of the final W-L record for NPU's 2024 season will definitely have to be tailored back after Saturday's debacle.

[CarollFan]

I'm wondering if there will be less blowouts this year then last year. The way the teams are shaping up. Only team I have no idea about is Carthage because they've scored zero points so far this year. IWU is running on people but can they sustain that against better defenses. They'll find out this weekend.

[CarollFan]

Nice feature story from CCIW athletics on our LB Will Campbell. I guess CCIW is doing one of these stories a week.

https://x.com/CCIW_Athletics/status/1840766215309885872?t=Ws33j0fqvUPxnMFKqgTneg&s=19

[CarollFan]

Logan says best chance at Isthmus Bowl matchup is UWW vs. Wheaton.

https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1840752634707230848?t=Q8yE2iOvlWXctDXyx2wUzg&s=19

If we've learned anything from questioning the spreads the first 2 weeks on conference play, he may be right

[WUPHF]

NCC's defense did a great job today though, holding the Bears to 145 yards, sacking Levi Moore four times and forcing a pretty bad passing day. Luke Johnston led WashU's lone scoring drive of the day but also threw a late pick-6 that closed out the scoring.

Not the best game to give our sophomore back-up QB his first career start.  He is versatile on the ground, but will have to do way better in the air if the Bears want a chance at Wheaton.

I am not yet worried about anyone else in the league, but time will tell if I should be.

[CarollFan]

NCC's defense did a great job today though, holding the Bears to 145 yards, sacking Levi Moore four times and forcing a pretty bad passing day. Luke Johnston led WashU's lone scoring drive of the day but also threw a late pick-6 that closed out the scoring.

Not the best game to give our sophomore back-up QB his first career start.  He is versatile on the ground, but will have to do way better in the air if the Bears want a chance at Wheaton.

I am not yet worried about anyone else in the league, but time will tell if I should be.

What happened to Stephen's who started against Carroll? Are they making a switch?

[WUPHF]

Clark Stephens was injured.  I have not had a chance to ask anyone about his status or plans to return, unfortunately.

[NCC2010]

Observations from NCC's home opening win against WashU...

3 games, 3 different starting offensive line configurations.  David Fuchs got the his first start of the season at center this week.  Wondering if Knaperek was out injured, as he didnt play with the 2nd team OL either.

Both Sean Allen and Charles Coleman returned to the lineup which was great.  However, Sacco left the game injured and did not return, not sure if they were just being precautionary or not.  Jack Rummell definitely looks like our best WR and has gotten open behind the defense at least twice in every game thus far.

On defense, both Danny Nuccio and Ethan Groark left the game injured and did not return.  Neither is listed as a starter, but Groark comes in on obvious passing situations to play corner, and they move Roby to the nickel/LB.  Nuccio has been playing more than Angelo Cusamano from what I have seen, so both those injuries are something to keep an eye on.  Still no Jahron Williams either who has yet to play this year.  Defense played great, but as was noted earlier, it was against WashU's backup QB. 

Punt team was disappointing again this week with the long snapper snapping it way over the head of the punter for a safety. 

Should be a very interesting Little Brass Bell game this week, with Wheaton looking very stout on defense this year but not as potent on offense as they were last year.  If i had to guess, Wheaton will come out chucking the ball around as they have not been able to establish Gio Weeks yet and the NCC run defense has been very solid thus far. 

[CarollFan]

Should be a very interesting Little Brass Bell game this week, with Wheaton looking very stout on defense this year but not as potent on offense as they were last year.  If i had to guess, Wheaton will come out chucking the ball around as they have not been able to establish Gio Weeks yet and the NCC run defense has been very solid thus far. 

Watch for the trick plays. They hit us with a couple. Could of saved those for NCC

[CarollFan]

Games this week.
Spreads courtesy of Logan Hansen. https://hansenratings.github.io/

Millikin @ Carroll -31.4
NCC -21 @ Wheaton
WashU -15.3 @ IWU
Elmhurst @ Carthage -13.3
NPU @ Augie -6.6

[Gregory Sager]

I'm interested to see which team is able to bounce back the most from a disappointing Week Four, NPU or Augie. NPU has the incentive of bouncing back from an actual upset loss, whereas Augie can always shrug off last week's near-disaster at Millikin as being not so much of a big deal because the Rock Islanders did manage to leave Decatur with the W. On the other hand, the greater incentive for NPU is likely outweighed by the fact that the exact same scenario that Elmhurst enjoyed last week -- a Homecoming game -- will be in play this week, as it's Augustana's Homecoming weekend.

The NPU football program is no stranger to other schools' Homecomings, of course. In the past I've joked that over the years the Vikings have seen more floats than a soda jerk. But the Homecoming atmosphere really seemed to give the Bluejays an extra oomph last Saturday. NPU needs to make sure that Augie can't activate its Homecoming oomph machine this Saturday.

[Cardinal773]

... and Park get's to attend NCC's homecoming in a few more weeks.  Ouch.

Your coach is going to get them ready for Augie.  That should be a solid matchup.

The 13 points for Carthage is making a rather bold assumption that they're going to score [gulp] points. I hope they do.  They're a better team than that and it's got to be super frustrating for everyone involved.

IWU gets to prove if they're the real deal this week.  WashU is a much better team than last week's result indicated. 

Love that everyone thinks the Cardinals are a 3 TD favorite, but they haven't played a D like Wheaton's.  I worry about this game for NCC.  If the Cardinals win, it's probably not going to be by a lot.  Too much pride and too much to lose for the Thunder.  Oh, man, this is going to be a great game!