FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Augie6]

Jaybird,

Read in the paper that Kudyba went down for the season with a knee injury early in yesterday's game.  Is that the case?  If so, I'm sorry to hear it.  After last season, he seemed primed to have a big year.  Don't know anything about his back-up (I think his name is LaFluer), so how do you think this will impact the team?  Sounds like the defense played very well, although, like Augie's game against Mac, I'm not sure if it tells us much about the season by beating up on weak teams from what may be the worst conference in DIII.  Anyway, regardless of who our teams played, it always good to get through the first game with a win.  Congrats to the Jays.

[Augie6]

I would be curious to here from the Carthage and Millikin faithful about their games yesterday.  Sounds like Carthage will be offensively challenged again this year based on the stats from their game against Carroll.  Is Carroll's defense really that good, or did Carthage's offense perform that poorly?

Don't know much about Illinois College, but I assumed that this was a game that Millikin would win without much trouble.  Would be interested to hear any comments from Millikin fans who saw the game.  With two very tough non-conference games coming up, looks like the Big Blue will need to perform at a much higher level to stay with Wabash and ONU.

[Ditka]

wallick had only 20 touches (note to niebhur--please only give him 20 carries if you want to be 5-5)

Millikin was 5-5 last year giving Wallick 30+ carries every week.  It is tough to hold up over a season when you are a big bruising type back who doesn't avoid hits, but rather delivers them, when you are getting so many carries.  Millikin's offense is a little different than what teams will be used to and I think more balanced, there are a deep group of recievers and a good QB in Decatur.

I think getting the ball to more players will help altough I'm sure he will still get a lot of touches, as many as any back in the CCIW.  Illinois College is not exactly a program like Concordia or Benedictine or Greenville that loses by 30 or 40 with regularity.  They also returned a lot of players including a 1000 yard rusher themselves.  I really never expected a blowout in this game. 

The next two games will be tougher, however, and the defense will have to shake any growing pains getting used to a new system to win those games.

Another thought, Carthage beat Carroll in a low scoring game by 4 points last season.  Not sure why people are so surprised by the same result this year??

[diehardfan]

Another thought, Carthage beat Carroll in a low scoring game by 4 points last season.  Not sure why people are so surprised by the same result this year??

No, I totally agree... I picked carroll in that game for the exact fact that I thought it would be like last year... I just put too much weight on the home advantage (carthage had it last year, and carroll had it this year... and I thought that would cover the 3-4 point spread).

[BashBacker#16]

Usee,

The Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage was pretty even.  Wabash only played their 1s the first half and at half it was 10-7 Wabash.  I think the final was 19-13 Wheaton - 2 of your TDs were long pass completions.  Your QB was impressive (especially moving around in the pocket) and caused problems for the Bash D backfield.  Overall, I was impressed with your team and believe you will have a good year.  Both teams were very physical with some big collisions on both sides.  The QB (a transfer I believe) stood out the most from my perspective.  You also had some receivers make some tough catches.  It was a good test for both teams.

It is pretty cool how tight the staff's are with one another - some strong friendships.  They probably know one another's systems better then any opponents.

[diehardfan]

Usee,

The Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage was pretty even.  Wabash only played their 1s the first half and at half it was 10-7 Wabash.  I think the final was 19-13 Wheaton - 2 of your TDs were long pass completions.  Your QB was impressive (especially moving around in the pocket) and caused problems for the Bash D backfield.  Overall, I was impressed with your team and believe you will have a good year.  Both teams were very physical with some big collisions on both sides.  The QB (a transfer I believe) stood out the most from my perspective.  You also had some receivers make some tough catches.  It was a good test for both teams.

It is pretty cool how tight the staff's are with one another - some strong friendships.  They probably know one another's systems better then any opponents.

Thanks BashBacker... I really enjoy the fact that Wheaton has these close long-term relationships with quality programs across the board... it's a great way to gauge your program each year before the start of the conference title race.

So, I guess it's Zach Ullrich at the QB slot then? Anyone closer to the program know for sure?

Can someone remind me, how does the scrimmage before the first game work... is it the 10 downs each way scrimmage, or a game with quarters, or is it a como of both?

Can you make any comment on our special teams BaskBacker? Did we miss two PAT's? This is probably overly picky of me, but that doesn't seem very good...

[BashBacker#16]

Wabash blocked 2-3 kicks I believe.  The kicker seemed to have a good leg though.  Neither team punted in the first half with both O's moving the ball.  I was impressed with your D front as well - seemed quick and got off the ball well.  Our O should be a strength and appeared to have some problems.

They played game-like with high school quarters - everything with KOs, etc.  That seemed to be the 1 & 2s.  After that, they had special, controlled segments - 2-minute O vs. Wabash D, punting teams, goal line, etc.

Hope that helps...

[RedmenFB44]

DHF -  The Redmen played at Carroll last year too and they only won by 3

Sound like the Carthage vs. Carroll game was not pretty for both teams once again. Carroll is a much more improved team than the Redmen saw in 2004. Carthage only 87 total yards of offense but Carroll only had 134 so that shows that this young defense is off to a great start. Coach Etter, the defensive coordnator, is a great one. He lost quite a few of defensive stars last season but once again he has this defense working well together.

[diehardfan]

BashBacker#16- It does, thanks.

Maybe I'm just spoiled. We did just lose All-American Andrew Day, who set about seven hundred kicking records for Wheaton. When Andrew went to make a kick, even a long field goal, I think most people, thought, "Of course he's going to make it, he's Andrew Day." His replacement is only a sophomore, if I remember correctly, and should be given some breathing room... especially since any play on the football field is not the responsibility of only one player.

Redman FB44- Thanks for the correction. I could have sworn that when I checked the results from last year on the d3football.com team page that the game was played at Carthage, but I'm obviously wrong. Now can you do me a favor and try to figure out how to alter space-time so that you can tell me that important piece of info before I made my pickem selections!?

[usee]

[
Another thought, Carthage beat Carroll in a low scoring game by 4 points last season.  Not sure why people are so surprised by the same result this year??

Last year carthage had a young offense and a stud defense so no surprise. this year is different because they have 10 returning starters on offense. yes !!! 87 yds of offense is a really, really bad sign for a team with 10 returning starters. especially one that has hopes to challenge for a cciw title. there is trouble in kenosha if thats all their offense can do.

[usee]

bashbacker-thanks. thats helpful. appreciate the update. sounds like everyone got out without injuries. i heard that wheaton was playing without 4 defensive starters vs wabash. i am sure wabash held some folks out as well.

Diehard-pretty sure chupp has the lock on the starter job and Ullrich is #2 (#1 in your program but #2 in your heart)

[Tailgater]

Having been at the Carthage game I can say again as I have said earlier, this group of players knows how to create ways to win a game. It wasn't pretty offensively, but in the book it's 1-0. I'd like to give some credit to the Carroll defense. They played very well and deserve more recognition as the reason for the lack of success Carthage had offensively. Carroll is returning 17 starters from last year and that experience showed. Similarly, the Carthage defense stepped up and did an outstanding job limiting Carroll to 137 yds and kept them out of the endzone. A few times Carroll took possession in the Carthage red-zone from fumbles & a blocked punt. They came away with only 3 points. The D looked much improved from their scrimmage the prior week. Carroll did have a TD pass called back due to holding and followed that up with a missed 35 yd field goal to end a scoring opportunity in the third qtr.

Score was 3-0 at half time, 6-0 with 10 minutes left in the game. Carthage blocks a punt around mid field. After a long scramble for the ball  the nose guard (Mark Januszewski) scoops up the ball and rambles into the endzone. 7-6 Carthage. Last offensive possession for Carthage proved to be their best. They moved the ball the length of field and burned some clock.  A fade pass to the corner was dropped, well defended, the receiver did have his hands on the ball he just couldn't secure it. Carthage settled for the field goal. 10-6 with about 3 minutes left. Carroll couldn't create the miricle finish and the rest is history. This game was almost identical to the game last year. Low scoring, tough game with Brett Barnes intercepting a pass deep in Carthage territority with little time remaining to save a 14-10 win for Carthage. I think the Red Men will be fine. They are certainly releived to be 1-0. They have that long anticipated first game under their belt and now will settle down to bussiness. I know they will be well prepared for Lakeland and will take nothing for granted. This match-up has yielded some hard hitting, low scoring games as well over the last three years.

[RedmenFB44]

Tailgater-

Thanks for the great insite on the Carthage game. Since I cant be at all the games, it is great to hear what really happened there. Hopefully I can make it to the home opener.

[washdupcard]

USee,

Agreed.  Very bad omen for Carthage.

[CardinalAlum]

USee,

Agreed.  Very bad omen for Carthage.

Wow, you and Usee agreed on something?