FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[fightintitan]

IWU 44
NPU   0
Final

Just got back home from the cold and nobody had updated yet, so I thought I would.  Score may be a little deceiving.  The game was 16-0 into the 4th quarter when IWU got the wind behind them and a couple defensive TD's, one a surprisingly agile fumble return by DT Rob Hoyland.

For the Titans, the biggest flaw I saw was the pass blocking.  In the first half, Panno was running for his life many times, but it was much better in the second half.  Speaking of Panno, this was the first time I got to see him in person and I was really quite impressed.  He's got good quickness, is elusive and throws a pretty decent ball although it was difficult to get a good idea of his throwing with the wind today.

Dunlop looked good today as well.  He had some very nice runs when he got a little bit of a seam and was able to get upfield.  Defense had a great game too.  To my recollection, NP only had one really substantial drive where they moved the ball, but that ended in a fumble.

As for North Park, I had heard that Watts was their main weapon on offense, but for some reason he didn't play today.  Not sure what the situation was, but he was on the sideline, but not in uniform.  I dont know his name, but I was impressed with the RB #12 for NP.  Physical, strong, and I believe the program said he is a freshman.

Overall, I think the Titans played well and it was nice to get out to see them put up a W today.  Congrats Titans! 

[usee]

ncc with 477 yds offense

augie w 122 all rushing ( w 2 ints)

ncc had possession for 36 min to 24 for augie

I would rather play augie 10x than have to face ncc again.

[usee]

ncc with 477 yds offense

augie w 122 all rushing ( w 2 ints)

ncc had possession for 36 min to 24 for augie

I would rather play augie 10x than have to face ncc again.

great job to the two voters who picked ncc by 21+!!

NCC showed today (to me) that they have really stepped up their program and are with the big dogs.

The only question left in my mind for their program is "can they win a big one on the road". they will have a chance in 2 weeks up in Kenosha as the AQ is likely on the line.

Wheaton is playing for a Pool C right now. They also have a huge game in kenosha to keep their chances alive before finishing with a home game against IWU.

If NCC and Wheaton win out I think we will have two very good representatives in the playoffs.

[ncc58]

Today may have been the best game that NCC has played against a top level opponent. Surely, it's the best performance I've seen as a either a player or alum. I live less than 10 minutes from NCC and just got home. NCC totally dominated Augie. If those are the final stats that usee posted --- 122 yards for Augie, WOW. I was going to guess that they had under 150, and Augie didn't have more than 20 in the first half.

Kniss was just surgical today. North Central opens with a TD, the defense shuts down Augie, and then Kniss leads North Central on a 24 play, 75 yard drive and kicks a FG. Augie ran 3 plays from scrimmage in the 1st quarter for 5 yards! Then the crowd began to buzz about the 21 point differential ... Kniss was outstanding and Sulo had another solid game. He caught several passes and his 20 yard run with 2 minutes left ended any chance to lose the 21 point differential. But, as it was against Elmhurst and Millikin, the defense was the key.

I really can't understand how Wheaton lost to Augie. Elmhurst even was a tougher opponent.

[usee]

I really can't understand how Wheaton lost to Augie. Elmhurst even was a tougher opponent.

the only thing I can say is its tough to win in Rock Island. But I agree. As I posted all week, NCC is a substantially better team than Augie. I sure wouldn't want to play NCC in Naperville right now. (or anywhere for that matter)

[ncc58]

NCC showed today (to me) that they have really stepped up their program and are with the big dogs.

The only question left in my mind for their program is "can they win a big one on the road". they will have a chance in 2 weeks up in Kenosha as the AQ is likely on the line.

I'm sure you're going by the CCIW web site schedule which shows the NCC-Carthage game in Kenosha. Both the North Central and Carthage web site show that game in Naperville.

North Central plays at IWU and then home against Carthage.

[vikes35]

NCC fans and players, great game by the Cardinals. They beat Augie from play one and just kept going. The first half was the worst football I have ever seen Augie play. 4 possesions with no first downs. I am not quite sure but I am assuming that Augie had less yards than NCC had first downs in the 1st half (and that stat is staggering). Also the Augie sideline was quiet from 10-0 on as if they thought they were going to lose that early in the game.  I know he came across with poor taste but TrueAugieAlum has a great point about the Augie playbook. On two consecutive drives (if you can call them that) Augie on 3rd and more than 5 went right up the middle with Guzman, and NCC stopped them like they were in the huddle. I don't know who is calling the plays, but something at Augie needs to change and change fast because the lack of creativity in that offense is pathetic and is really slowing down the progression of Augie football. I hate to sound so negative but it was seriously embarassing to be an Augie football fan today (no heart, no grit, no points, and of course no win, all signs that Augie football is going in the wrong direction). Once again, as badly as Augie played, I would like to give credit where credit is due, and NCC showed up to play, and made Augie pay for a flat performance by sticking it to them on both sides of the ball.

[Augie6]

Congrats to NCC on a big win in Naperville today.  They kicked Augie's a** up and down the field.  That being said, today was the most pathetic game I have ever seen an Augie team play.  The were outperformed in every aspect of the game and were completely outcoached.  I thought the game two years ago in Naperville was bad, but today was much worse.  The defense was simply clueless.  The played two safeties in the middle of the field starting 10 yards off the ball with the corners back about 7 yards.  They pretty much stayed this way the entire first half while NCC went up and down the field throwing passes underneath the coverage and racking up huge sums of yardage.  Kniss had all day to throw, Augie was not able to bring any real pressure and they weren't able to contain Kniss (or anyone on NCC's offense for that matter).  After NCC scored their second TD to make it 17-0 in the middle of the 2nd quarter, the defense walked off the field with their heads down and sat on the bench with no one saying a word.  I knew the game was over at that point.  Barnes should strip Augie off the helmets and take it off the coaches hats as well.  Based on the effort I witnessed today, none of them deserve to wear it. 

[ncc58]

NCC fans and players, great game by the Cardinals. They beat Augie from play one and just kept going. The first half was the worst football I have ever seen Augie play. 4 possesions with no first downs. I am not quite sure but I am assuming that Augie had less yards than NCC had first downs in the 1st half (and that stat is staggering). Also the Augie sideline was quiet from 10-0 on as if they thought they were going to lose that early in the game.  I know he came across with poor taste but TrueAugieAlum has a great point about the Augie playbook. On two consecutive drives (if you can call them that) Augie on 3rd and more than 5 went right up the middle with Guzman, and NCC stopped them like they were in the huddle. I don't know who is calling the plays, but something at Augie needs to change and change fast because the lack of creativity in that offense is pathetic and is really slowing down the progression of Augie football. I hate to sound so negative but it was seriously embarassing to be an Augie football fan today (no heart, no grit, no points, and of course no win, all signs that Augie football is going in the wrong direction). Once again, as badly as Augie played, I would like to give credit where credit is due, and NCC showed up to play, and made Augie pay for a flat performance by sticking it to them on both sides of the ball.

One factor was that Augie had the wind in the 1st quarter but only had one possession. Yeah, the play calling was surprising in that all 9 plays in the first three possessions were inside runs, and I think the longest gain was 5 yards. I could understand the reluctance to pass in the 2nd quarter. If you're not a passing team, throwing into the wind is not a good option. And the first time Augie did pass, the receiver had cleared the defensive backs but the ball hung up in the wind and Bellazini was able to get back and break up the pass.

[ncc58]

wheaton fans have now become augie fans. we need augie to get this back under a 21 pt game. it doesn't look good though.

If ncc wins out with at least a 21 pt margin they are in the drivers seat for the AQ in the playoffs and wheaton is fighting for a pool C.

North Central got the ball back with 3:35 to play. I thought I heard screams from Wheaton for Augie to start using their timeouts so the offense would have one last chance to get the game to a 20 point margin. 

[vikes35]

I agree that the passing was pathetic in that game, but the plays calls also had no creativity in the run game as well. They for some reason seem to run less counters and less outside runs this year than I have seen in the time I have followed the team. If Augie has to pass to win games they are in trouble, but the fact that they have done less and less to try to deceive the defense this year is even more distrubing.  I guess from the fan standpoint the last few seasons I had a very hard time following the ball (Roe and others had tremendous fakes), whereas this year even in the stands I have a better idea of where the ball is actually at. I agree with Augie6 about the Augie on the helmet, this game showed that the Vikings need to once again earn that right.

[Augie6]

Vikes35,

You're right on in regards to the play calling.  The first two series, they ran the exact same plays, dive to Guzman on first down, off tackle to the wing (McDowell, I believe) on second down, and on both drives with 3rd and 5, dives to Guzman.  From the two games I've seen this year, they also seem to run a lot of option.  The problem is that their QB does seem to be very good at running it.  As I commented after the Baldwin Wallace game, Augie doesn't seem to have the athletes in the backfield to stretch the defense to the outsides.  If that's the case (as it seems), they need to scrap the wing-t because they will not beat good teams if they can't run the ball around the corners.  Teams will load up the middle as NCC did today and Baldin Wallace did earlier this year and shut down the offense.

[ncc58]

Sulo had 27 carries for 135 yards and 4 catches for 50 yards. Should be a nominee for Player of the Week. Kniss was 23 of 38 for 279 yards. Should be a nominee for Player of the Week.

Augie had 40 rushing attempts for 121 yards. 2 of 8 passing for 0 net yards. Augie had 7 yards in the 1st quarter, 28 yards in the 2nd quarter. The whole NCC defense should be nominated for Player of the Week.

[usee]

Congratulations to the Wheaton Thunder!!!  Chup is starting to look more like the quarterback of two years ago.   I know there were a few interceptions but there were many more great throws.   Also Wheaton has three of the best receivers in the conference.  You can't double all of them.  This team is improving every week.   No balls were thrown in the general vicinity of Pete Ittersagen.  My last comments on the game yodel lay he who record and yummmmmmy brats with mustard and sauerkraut mmm mmm goooood!!!!!!

the three picks were terrible decisions. If elmhurts offense wasn't so bad they easily could have lost the game because of this. NCC would have eaten us for lunch with those 3 picks. YOU CANNOT TURN THE BALL OVER AND WIN A CCIW CHAMPIONSHIP.

[Jim Matson]

Think of this...Wheaton and North Central end up tied.  In head-to-head competition, Wheaton defeats North Central.  Yet, North Central gets the AQ?  I hope this doesn't happen.