FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mugsy]

 Wheaton was just lucky that they came out good in the second half.  

Good point... the game easily could have been out of reach by half if the defense didn't hold NCC to 2 FG's instead of TD's.

I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to luck that Wheaton came out good in the 2nd half.  I believe it was because they were so flat in the 1st half and NCC was executing so well in the first half.  The coaching staff made some great adjustments by focusing on establishing the run and not panicing.

I used the wrong words.  All I meant that by lucky is that it was good that they were able to turn it around.  I don't think the defense ever looked flat, confused at times because of the NCC game plan and excellent execution, but never really flat, although I do agree with you that there was very little pressure on Kniss outside of Studebaker.  The offense was the ones that were flat, IMO.

Maybe so... I don't mean to be a downer on the defense in the first half.  They did stop NCC when they had too and kept it a game so that they had a chance at a comeback.

Clearly the offense was not great in the first half.  I commented earlier that I thought it was because they failed to focus on establishing the run. 

I just didn't see the fire and enthusiasm that the Wheaton defense has been playing with all year.  They seem "muted" and tired...  probably from being on the field for 21 minutes in the first half.  Plus they did give up almost 300 yards in the first half.  Not a good half.

[Mugsy]

Absolutely crazy finish between IWU and Carthage.  I can't in my memory think of a bigger comeback in the 4th quarter of a CCIW game - though the Wheaton/Millikin game last year comes close.   I can't fathom the absolute shock from the IWU perspective and the "thriller of victory" from Carthage's.

[cardinaldad]

The NCC program is continuing to build and improve.

Mugsy, I wish I had the confidence you do in the future of the Cards.

It doesn't happen over night.  To get to the point where you are reloading instead of rebuilding takes time, commitment, and a bit of luck.  Coach Thorn is a quality coach and he seems to have the backing of the school to build the program.  The facilities are great.

I'm not saying it is a given North Central will get there (or hope they get there  ), but what they have done over the past few years is a step in the right direction.  Of course there are 7 other CCIW teams who all want the same thing.

Wheaton had so many 6-3 or 7-2 seasons before having a breakout CCIW championship season, followed by a few more 7-2 seasons.  Eventually through hard work, continuity of a solid coaching staff and commitment by the school, staff and players, they've been able to go on their recent 5-6 year stretch of either vying for the championship or winning it.

Unfortunately, with success, things have changed in the Cardinal's camp. Unless the ship is righted soon, the future of the Cardinal program is in jeopardy. There is great unrest!

[Tailgater]

Wow what a game in Bloomington!!! Jaybird we had said that last weeks Elmhurst/Carthage game was a great one for footbal fans, this one tops that by far and not simply because the Red Men were on the positive end of the conclusion. I've said it many times, but this Red Men team truely has no quit in them and an amazing ability to create opportunities to win games. Last week they didn't capitalize on their opportunities, this week they cashed in BIG TIME!

The Carthage offense did appear sluggish for the better part of three qtrs, but they were moving the ball. One missed and one blocked field goal and an interception near the goal line ended a few drives. Just not finishing possesions with points. A shout-out to IWU"s Rob Hoyland (noseguard & Oswego boy) who played a great game sealing up the middle of the Titan defense. I don't know his totals, but he had at least 10 tackles, several on back-to-back plays.The Coaching staff challenged the senior offensive line at halftime and they responded to the challenge.

The defense did their part. IWU's first score on the second play of the game was a great run by a quarterback running for his life after being flushed from the pocket, completly reversing direction to an exposed left side and raced down the side-line for 50+ yard td. Another score, in the 4th qtr, was a short possesion, well executed,long td pass. The reciever had beaten the defender and the Titans QB threw a perfect ball. Other than that the defense created turnovers when needed and came up with stops allowing Carthage opportunities to get back into the game.

Special teams came up with another big on-side kick recovery and the punt unit converted a fake punt for a first down to keep a drive alive.

[Tailgater]

OK, in the 3rd qtr the Red Men have basically two possesions, both 3 and out, and never see the ball again until the 3rd is almost over. The Titans score to go up 14-3 more than half way into the third qtr. IWU then attempts an on-side kick which they recover. I'm wondering to myself, why would you risk an on-side kick with a 2 score lead at this point in the game? Hind sight is 20/20 as IWU moves the ball on a drive that burns most of the remaining 3rd qtr and concludes with another TD which puts them up 21-3. I'm starting to think it's over. On their next possession Carthage moves the ball efficiently and scores a TD. The extra point is missed (the third misque for the kick team on the day). IWU leads 21-9. IWU answers the score with a long TD pass, described earlier, and puts what appears to be the final nail in the coffin for Carthage as less than 10 minutes remained in the game with IWU leading 28-9.  Carthage scores again on their next possesion and look like they are finally taking control of the line of scrimage. IWU leads 28-16. Carthage executes it's 3rd successful on-side kick this season and takes control of the ball at their 45 yd line. Another drive rolls into the endzone and Carthage has closed IWU's lead to 28-23 with a hair over 5 minutes remaining in the game. On IWU's next possesion the Carthage defense blows-up an IWU running play as 2 defenders collide with the QB & RB at the point of hand-off. The ball squirts loose and Carthage covers and is in business deep in IWU's territority. A run to the 2 yard line is called back for an illegal shift. On the next play a shovel pass fools the IWU defense (and the video guy) and goes for a TD only to be called back for Holding.The offense is going the wrong direction!! The next play is a 30+ yard TD pass!!! Carthage takes the lead 31-28, but the receiver spikes the ball and Carthage is assesed 15 yards on the kick-off and have to kick from their 20. IWU takes over at mid-field with a little over 3 minutes remaining, more than enough time for a tieing field goal or a winning TD. Carthage INTERCEPTS and returns a long weaving run into the endzone for another score, only to be called back by an illegal block in the back. (Can't expect defensive players to execute open field blocks well every time). That TD would have been an exclamation point on the conclusion of one of the most amazing comebacks I've ever witnessed. Great game RED MEN!! Our hopes are still alive!

[Tailgater]

One last thought, This win by Carthage is, in my opinion, a defining victory for the season. Carthage is alive and still in the hunt for top dog in the CCIW. Other than the Whittier game, Carthage has been in a dog-fight week after week. They have more than proven they can play under pressure. Elmhurst was the only team to crack them so far. I'm not counting these guys out ever again until the final seconds have run off the clock

[TitanBacker]

I'd like to give a congratulations to the Carthage team for pulling out a vitory from what seemed like the clutches of defeat.  Way to fight back from a 19 point deficit and pull one out.

As far as IWU goes, the shake up I was talking about was Panno starting at QB over Cotter.  It seems he did a great job for his first start but gave up a key interception late in the 4th quarter that sealed the fate for the Titans.

For those at the game, did the Titans just have trouble sealing the game and sort of expect Carthage to roll over and die after being down 19?  Or did Carthage up their game and become more passionate as they saw a CCIW championship slipping away by having two losses in conference play?  Sad day for IWU...

RedmenFB44-  Did you hear the score of the Grayslake Central/Grayslake North game?  I can't find it on the IHSA website.  I was wondering who was closer, you or me?  COngrats to Carthage too.  That takes guts.

[usee]

looks to me like the best game this weekend was in bloomington. I heard the 21-3 score in wheaton and thought "too bad for the redmen". how wrong i was.

In wheaton I certainly won't rehash what has been portrayed by mugsy and all. First, I will give kudos to Kam Kniss who is the best quarterback in this conference by quite a margin. He is simply a great player. NCC absolutely dominated every phase of the game in half number 1. Wheaton did the same thing to NCC in half #2. If you remember this was the exact same script from last years game.....

Visiting team dominates in 1st half. crowd thinks they will run away with it. home team wakes up and takes over on way to victory.

Studebaker is the real deal. he took over in the second half and made life tough for NCC. he is as dominant a defensive line player i have seen in this league since Heinzl from IWU. Too bad we don't have any millikin posters because i would be interested in their comparison of Studebaker and Trusnick from ONU who is widely considered the top defensive lineman in D3 coming into the season. 11.5 sacks in 5 games for #90 is just sick.

I will also say Chaz Black is the best running back in the conference. apologies to Wallick but right now no one is running better than #32 from wheaton. His breakaway run for  a td to start the 2nd half was a huge play and a great run. he consistently made yards when none were there and kept the chains moving when he had to. a tough runner with good burst.

wheaton played 2 qbs for much of the game. I thought they pulled chupp after his INT but if you watched it was clear they had a rotation going between them. thats probably ok but long term i think they need to settle on a qb to ride. starting chupp and committing to playing ullrich for a couple series each game is a good idea but one guy has to be able to command the game and run the team IMO.

It didn't look to me like wheaton made any real changes at halftime. they simply came out and played better than they did in the first half. they ran the ball a bit more in the second half but probably because they were having success. also on defense they seemed to go away from the nickel defense and play more 4 man front in the second half. a great win for the thunder. it doesn't get any easier this week though. At Augie on saturday.

[79jaybird]

Congratulations to the CCIW winners this past weekend. 
Very frustrating and disappointing game for Elmhurst.  I sum up the loss on 3 things:  1) Execution- by Augie and lack there of by Elmhurst in key scoring moments  2) Turnovers and what I call "no brainers" 3) 3rd down conversions
There is no doubt in my mind that Elmhurst had equal size and strength to Augie.  I think the interception in the endzone and the inability to score (even a FG!) on first and goal (that's 14 points possibly)  which was the difference in the game. 
The Elmhurst defense deserves a lot of credit holding Augie to 14 points a half. Looking at Elmhurst-  O-Line, very good Augie's front four I think had maybe 1 or 2 sacks the entire game, and the line gave EC a chance on offense.  Running backs- decent.  Not a great day, but decent to keep the offense going.  WR's a gosh, this was a sour pill all day.  Uncharacteristic drops, muffs, etc. that really could have extended the drive(s), and bailed out the QB on occasion.  QB- Freund had a decent afternoon.
D-Line OK, but I knew going in that this defense didn't match up well vs. a run based offense.  Linebackers, not noisy enough.  Secondary- didn't have a lot of work.
Augiedogie- I was getting frustrated from the booth because after Rivers ran the ball for the first TD, it was like he disappeared and the Jays didn't go back to him    Then the quick slants to Terrence Young (80) and Michael Cooley Jr. (17) were working, yet they continued to go to Brechin and Veldhuis, or just didn't look across the middle of the field anymore 
Oh well, give credit to Augustana because they executed and converted 80-85% of their 3rd downs, even a few of their 4th downs, to keep their offense on the field.  With the lead, that is the name of the game.
I think Elmhurst will look this game and say, we are a very good team.  We know what we did wrong, and we just have to work on executing this crucial plays/segments of the game better.  You can't dwell on this frustrating loss because the Bird Bowl awaits in Napervillle next week.
IMO, I don't see any school running the table (7-0) so it's important Elmhurst rebounds with a strong road showing next week.
Tailgater-- I am happy the Redmen were able to come from behind in Bloomington.  That is the sign of a very strong, well coached team to know that no matter the deficit, you can come back and fight.
Augie and Wheaton next week, battle of the 2 unbeatens. hmm

[79jaybird]

One other thing I will mention about Augustana.  I was not as impressed with their running backs (Guzman, McDowell, etc.) as much as I was impressed with their Quarterback.  McGinnis was very effective in running the option off the "wings" and especially in the 2nd half.

[Pat Coleman]

Every damn time you post on here you are trying to ... [remainder deleted]

Um, hey, welcome to the board and all but let's consider a little maturity.

[usee]

thanks Pat. very appropriate action. I don't think this guy is representative of the Cardinal Fans that post on here.

[AUGsportsFAN]

One other thing I will mention about Augustana.  I was not as impressed with their running backs (Guzman, McDowell, etc.) as much as I was impressed with their Quarterback.  McGinnis was very effective in running the option off the "wings" and especially in the 2nd half.

A note on JJ McDowell is that he is playing through injuries right now.  His torn labrum in his shoulder from a season ago is still an issue as it is heavily taped, and has a hamstring that is not 100% either.  Guzman also had a badly sprained ankle early in the season, which has slowed him down some as well.  

McGinnis is looking much better than he did in the Baldwin-Wallace game I saw with the option.  He had some poor pitches in that game, but against the Bluejays, he never forced anything.  For his passing, it helped that he had Jason Kwasigroch as a target (he was injured and didn't play vs. Baldwin Wallace).

[Tailgater]

For those at the game, did the Titans just have trouble sealing the game and sort of expect Carthage to roll over and die after being down 19?  Or did Carthage up their game and become more passionate as they saw a CCIW championship slipping away by having two losses in conference play?  Sad day for IWU.

TitanBacker:
This question might be better answered by another Titan supportor, but as I view it IWU in no way expected Carthage to roll over and die. I think the on-side kick with a 14-3 lead mid-way through the third qtr shows that IWU wanted to or felt they needed to put more points on the board. For sure the Red Men felt their season was slipping away. The senior offensive lineman were challenged at halftime to make something happen and they responded to the challenge. To me, the entire Carthage team stepped up their game as offense, defense and special teams all made big plays that led to the comeback. Each unit fed off the success of the previous unit. Confidence and momentum grew with every series. This is why I stated earlier that this was a defining game for Carthage this season. They proved that they have that next gear to shift to when the game is on the line. I do think the Titan defense was worn down in the 4th qtr as they were on the field a lot during that final stretch.

[Tailgater]

Tailgater-- I am happy the Redmen were able to come from behind in Bloomington.  That is the sign of a very strong, well coached team to know that no matter the deficit, you can come back and fight.

Ah yes young "Grasshopper" your wisdom is correct. If you had followed that knowledge by picking Carthage over IWU this weekend you would have had 9 points instead of 7 in this past weeks pick-ems.