FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

Usee,

I don't think we have disagreed yet....maybe there is hope for peace in Iraq.

I love you too man.

[devildog29]

Some stats for the Carthage/IWU game:

3rd Down Conversions:
Carthage - 7 of 15
IWU - 3 of 11

Titanbacker, you and I have discussed this previously, but 3 of 11 on third down is not going to win you any games.  I know we put some points on the board, but again, we can't keep drives going and run time off the clock to give the defense a rest.  One of the Carthage backers mentioned the IWU defense looked tired at the end.  I know the T.O.P. wasn't too lopsided, but that defense just gets tired and starts the proverbial "playing not to lose instead of playing to win."  Our defense starts trying to prevent plays from happening instead of making plays themselves.  I wish I knew the answer to this problem, but until our offense can convert 3rd downs, I'm afraid we are not going to see things change in the near future.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU simply doesn't have the manpower to stay with other CCIW teams for more than a quarter, or a half at the most against non-contenders. The Vikings have plenty of fight in them, but they're smaller and slower than everybody else at basically every position on the field, and they have no depth that would allow them to rotate players in to keep the starters fresh. The O-line, as usual, got pushed back on every play by Millikin's D-line -- both on passing and running plays. The NPU running backs never had a chance to get anywhere, as they were hit in the backfield on at least half of NPU's running plays.

The Vikings actually played Millikin fairly even in the first half. If not for two ill-advised Shelby Wood throws into heavy coverage on the NPU end of the field, the Vikings might not have given up any first-half points at all. And the 70-yard touchdown drive just before the half, which included two big passes to a receiver not named Brandon Watts (it was Kenny Davis) is one of the big highlights of the season thus far for the Park. But following halftime, it was obvious that Millikin had regrouped and decided to take the obvious course of wearing down the smaller North Park front seven by running it right down their throats with Nathan Wallick. And that's exactly what happened. NPU's defense was on the field for most of the second half, and Wallick's runs were mostly of the five-to-twelve-yard variety in that half -- he gained the vast majority of his 110 yards after the intermission.

(And congrats to him, by the way, for breaking the 4,000-yard rushing mark.)

If the first half was a pleasant surprise for NPU fans, the second half went pretty much according to form. The Vikings just don't have the personnel to match up in this league, and Millikin made them pay the price for it. The current NPU players need to get much bigger and stronger, and the coaching staff needs to seriously ramp up the recruiting, both in terms of linemen and skill-position players.

On the plus side, it was an absolutely beautiful day to be sitting in the stands watching a football game. It'll probably be the last day like it this year, alas.

[TitanBacker]

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.

TitanBacker -

I believe the score in the Grayslake Central/Grayslake North game was:

Central - 38
North - 10

I think I was a bit closer but I haven't checked 

Carthage beats IWU and then you beat me in my own high school rivalry picke ems.  I think i should bury my head in the sand.   

I really have no idea how to explain the problems that IWU is having over the past few years.  It seemes like we just can't get the team firing on all cylinders.  I agree with DD29 that 3 for 11 on third down conversions is not going to win you any games.  Event hough the IWU offense could at one time be described as a big play offense rather than a ball control ofense, I believe we need to sustain a few drives in order to win games in the future.  Also, losing the turnover margin will not win games.  I'm interested with Mr. Ypsi to see if these were takeaways or giveaways for boneheaded plays.

It seems to me that IWU needs to right the ship soon or risk going under for good.

On a different note, as I'm flipping channels last night, i came across the show Two-a-Days on MTV about a bunch of high school football players from Alabama.  The one kid mentions that he hates rainy days (i thought it may be because he'll get dirty in the rainy practice) and then they cut to his team practicing in an indoor facility that would put any D1 schools facilities to shame!!  That's ridiculous and i must say i'm a little jealous.

[lakeshore]

For a young frosh QB a solid running game is vital to his development and maturity.  Unfortunately the Vikes have to rely on the pass for much of their offensive prosuction.  Looking at the stats (26 rushes, 29 passes) they are attempting to create some balance but like u mentioned Greg the o-line just does not get any consistent push.  It is somewhat encouraging to see a lot of young players on the field learning and producing (Wood, Joe Cullotta, Geoffrey Montgomery, Kenny Smith).  If Coach P and his staff can put together 2 more classes like this one and retain these guys they will be much improved and ready to compete in the conference.  Until then........

[lakeshore]

I also agree it was nice to see someone make some big catches other than Watts but in the same breath Kenny Davis drops a 1st quarter td pass that would have put the Vikes up 7-0 and then drops another huge 3rd down conversion pass early in the 3rd quarter. 

[FormerCard]

Usee,

I don't think we have disagreed yet....maybe there is hope for peace in Iraq.

I love you too man.

You two should date.  Then you could post together and eat trail mix.

[Gregory Sager]

You're right about Davis, Lakeshore. And I like Cullotta and Montgomery as the future of the seconday, too, and another defensive freshman that appears to have some potential is LB Breon Moore. The entire D-line appears to be coming back next season (:::crosses fingers::::), and if they could all hit the weight room and put on ten or twenty pounds of muscle ...

I know ... if, if if.

[Mugsy]

Wow... OAC Pick-em's favors Wheaton over Augustana by 9.5 points!

It's in Rock Island and the game is typically goes down to the wire (except last year and 2002).

Interesting...

[usee]

Usee,

I don't think we have disagreed yet....maybe there is hope for peace in Iraq.

I love you too man.

You two should date.  Then you could post together and eat trail mix.

LOL. very funny k+

[usee]

Wow... OAC Pick-em's favors Wheaton over Augustana by 9.5 points!

It's in Rock Island and the game is typically goes down to the wire (except last year and 2002).

Interesting...

that should be no surprise. HS coach is very good at picking spreads. He had wheaton as a 9.5 favorite over NCC and they covered by 2.5.

[79jaybird]

I would not say that Augie has an easy road to the title.  In the upcoming weeks they have Wheaton and Carthage at home, then NC in Naperville.  I am going to say that Augie loses at least 1 of these games.  Wheaton still has to play Carthage and Elmhurst which (while they may be favored, is NOT an easy game).
For Elmhurst, I think the NC game is a must win if they are going to be in the hunt for the CCIW title.
Augie and Wheaton, if they lose in the next 2 weeks, I think they are still o.k. based upon Augie's win at Elmhurst and Wheaton's win vs. NC. 
Still a lot of football to be played and really, everybody is still alive.  Isn't this fun! 
5 of the 8 teams are being talked about to win (or be near) the top of the CCIW, which shows just how competitive it really is.

[usee]

I would not say that Augie has an easy road to the title. 

Has anyone said this? I actually think NCC has an easier road to the title than Augie right now. Carthage may have an easier road also. no matter, Wheaton is clearly the favorite and if they win in Rock Island Saturday it's all over but the crying in my opinion. That leaves Wheaton with games at NP, home v Elm, at carthage and home v IWU. they have to win 3 out of 4 to make playoffs and they will be a good bet to run the table. I don't consider Augie a favorite for anything right now. A win for them in Rock Island and the whole picture changes dramatically.

[usee]

by the way the only teams that have a chance at a pool C bid (and us getting a 2nd team in the playoffs) are elmhurst, carthage and wheaton (if they lose 1 game). NCC and augie can only get in if they win out and they play each other so the loser is done. so if elmhurst or carthage beat wheaton and wheaton wins the balance we would have 2 teams in the playoffs. if augie beats wheaton and then both win out you would see augie and wheaton i would think. it gets really interesting if ncc, augie and wheaton all have 1 conference loss. the only team that has a pool c chance in that group is wheaton. hmmm. the plot thickens.

[Gregory Sager]

I should also mention that the highlight of the game at NPU on Saturday was when a squirrel leaped out of one of the trees behind the stadium and into the grandstands and scurried through the feet of spectators for about ten or fifteen minutes. He was by far more elusive than anybody who suited up for either NPU or Millikin.