FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

bottom line is they play defense at another level in the OAC. NCC is finding that out as well today. Pentello w 5 td passes vs NCC. looks like Sulo is out...no carries since early first half.

congrats to the OAC as we take 2nd in the North again.

[RedmenFB44]

Sounds like MUC buckled down when they needed to and got those INT's.

Congrats to Wheaton on a great year!

[Mugsy]

Snippets below from my keys to the game earlier in the week... not that it takes a expert to figure out.    Unfortunately... all of these did not go Wheaton's way on Saturday.  Wheaton couldn't run the ball at all after the 1st quarter and therefore became a one-dimensional on offense, Chupp threw 2 redzone interceptions in the endzone (Ullrich threw one), along with another inside the MUC 30 yard line. 

Not seeing the plays in person, I can't say anything about the interceptions other than as a QB you can't throw passes in the redzone that can be picked off even by the best players.  If not to your own player, then they should be out of bounds or uncatchable.  I don't mean to discredit the MUC defense at all, because the fact they continually get these turnovers game after game indicates they are pressuring the QB and they have some DB's who can break on the ball and make plays.

And Wheaton did succesfully attempt a fake FG... unfortunately they could only come away with 3 points. (I was a bit frustrated by the 3 pass plays in a row after the fake FG gave them a 1st and goal from the MUC 5)

It has been said over and over again that Wheaton can not turn the ball over like they have done in the past.  You can not give MUC a short field, even then they can strike for a quick, long TD.  Wheaton can not get down in the redzone only to turn the ball over like they have done at least twice on 2 of the 4 meetings against MUC.

...

It goes without saying and is a very tough task, but no big plays from MUC.  MUC will get their yards, but if Wheaton can limit MUC's running game and attempt to make them somewhat 1 dimensional, that will be huge.  Again, much easier said than done.

...

2 of the previous playoff games against MUC, Wheaton has been able to rush the ball relatively well.  Wheaton needs some level of success running the ball to have a chance on Saturday.

...

QB Jeremy Chupp 6'2" 202lbs (Sr.) - 3 year starter, 2nd Team All-CCIW, struggled last year, but otherwise has been a good QB.  Typically has 2-3 risky passes a game and has had interceptions at key times in big games.

...

To beat MUC, Wheaton can not be limited to a one dimensional attack.  They can not turn the ball over like they have in the big games.  You have little chance at beating MUC, if you lose the turnover battle.  I wouldn't be surprise if Wheaton includes a trick play or two on Saturday or takes a significant risk in a key situation.  Coach Swider is willing to take calculated risks from time to time - for example going for 2pt conversion to win game against Augustana a few years ago.

[matblake]

Congrats to Wheaton and North Central on great seasons.  Looks like top of the OAC is better than top of the CCIW yet again.  Both Capital and Mount Union are great teams.  Hope that next weeks matchup will be more interesting than the first time they met this year.  

Wheaton could not control Kmic and the Mount offensive line.  I don't think Wheaton ever adjusted to Mount's speed.  That is a great team and are definitely set to repeat IMO.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Congrats on the great season Wheaton and NCC.

Nice comments about the MUC Student Radio, I am sure they appreciate it.  They usually do an excellent job.  I had to listen to the ONU student radio earlier this year because the MUC link was down and they were horrible.

[Mugsy]

Congrats on the great season Wheaton and NCC.

Nice comments about the MUC Student Radio, I am sure they appreciate it.  They usually do an excellent job.  I had to listen to the ONU student radio earlier this year because the MUC link was down and they were horrible.

MUC radio was excellent.  They presented a mostly unbiased account of the game, gave regular score and yardage updates, along with other pertinent information from sideline reports, etc...  Very well done indeed. 

I listened to the entire game instead of Wheaton's broadcast.  While I respect the effort put forth by Wheaton's broadcast and I know they do the best they can as students, I just couldn't handle the color commentary (or lack thereof). It was brutal - to be honest.  I've listened to them all year for the games I couldn't attend and for that I'm thankful, but the MUC crew just was far better.

[Jim Matson]

Congrats to the OAC for once again proving their #1 status - at least when it comes to the CCIW.  Also, thanks to the MUC radio group for a great call on todays game.

[CardinalAlum]

Congrats to Capital and MUC!  Should be a great game next week.  My people there tell me that Capital was fast, strong and extremely physical.  Sulo and McIntosh were knocked out of the game. Wenger was injured as well.  Looks like we have some work to do to play with the OAC.  Great seasons by the Cards and Thunder.

[79jaybird]

Congratulations to Wheaton and North Central for their exciting and spirited playoff runs.  Congrats also to Mt. Union and Capital for their wins this afternoon.    Tough day for the CCIW this afternoon and as some of you have pointed out already,  the CCIW has to "step it up" for 2007 to really due some damage in the playoffs next year.  Right now the OAC reps are a little stronger than our guys right now.  I hope that changes in the near future.

[nogloves]

I just got back from the Wheaton and Mount Union game.  I must say that Wheaton had their chances and just blew them.  The two red zone picks were killers, but the biggest killer of all was not being able to stop the run.  The QB's didn't do much.  They actually threw a couple of picks, but it didn't matter because MU's running back had 300+ yards rushing!  Wheaton was in the ballgame in the first half, but crumbled in the second half.  It didn't help that Wheatons starting corner (Pete Ittersagen) broke his ankle on the second play and then Wheaton's starting middle linebacker hurt his hand later in the game and had to come out.  Add that with throwing 5 picks, not being able to stop the run and not being able to run and you can begin to see why Wheaton was blown out.  They had their chances, but MU was just the better team.  I must say that MU has some weaknesses and did have a lot of penalties.  They aren't as crisp as I have seen them in the past, but they are a handful.  By the way, Wheaton didn't actually try a fake field goal.  It was actually a muffed snap/hold that went Wheatons way.

Congrats on a great season to the Wheaton Thunder!

[robertgoulet]

bottom line is they play defense at another level in the OAC. NCC is finding that out as well today.

usee - I don't know if it was the defense that really hurt North Central, they had 270 total yds and only 1 TO at halftime. What hurt was:

1) Pentenello

2) Pentenello

3) Not getting TD's on the first half possessions that ended up being FGs.

4) Pentenello


Sad to see the Kam Kniss era come to an end at North Central. I don't know how the legs are on this one....but I have heard that this may not be the last time we see a Kniss starting at QB for North Central......

[dansand]

First of all, congratulations to Wheaton and North Central for their fine seasons.

I listened to a little of the Wheaton-MUC game today and was struck by the similarities to last year's Augie-MUC contest. the most obvious, of course was the inability to stop Nate Kmic. 654 yards and seven touchdowns in two games against playoff-caliber defenses--unbelievable.

I'm sure the Wheaton folks felt like the Thunder were in pretty good shape down only 14-0 at the half despite turning it over deep in Raider territory twice. I felt the same way with under two minutes left in the first half of last year's game. Augie had turned it over twice (once deep in Raider territory), missed a field goal, and were getting shredded by Kmic and were still only down 13-7 and were going to get the ball to start the second half. Then-bang! MUC returns an Augie kick into Viking territory and Kmic scores a minute later to make it 20-7 at the half. Augie fumbled on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and the rout was on.

As far as Wheaton's quarterbacks go, I'm not sure a quicker change would have made much difference. Ulrich might be a little safer, but from what I saw of them this year, Chupp seemed to be a little more of a play-maker. I think against a team as good as MUC, you have to take your best shot even if it's a little riskier. We always say that you have to play just about a perfect game (from the standpoint of limiting TO's, key penalties, etc.) to beat them, but the reality is you have to do that just to have a chance to beat them.

As Usee said, the (top of) OAC plays defense at a whole 'nother level. I think that's really true in all phases. I don't think there's anything schematically that makes them superior (or else we could all just copy them and be competitive), I think their talent level is just better than the CCIW's at this point.

[usee]

bottom line is they play defense at another level in the OAC. NCC is finding that out as well today.

usee - I don't know if it was the defense that really hurt North Central, they had 270 total yds and only 1 TO at halftime. What hurt was:

1) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE

2) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE

3) Not getting TD's on the first half possessions that ended up being FGs.

4) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE


Sad to see the Kam Kniss era come to an end at North Central. I don't know how the legs are on this one....but I have heard that this may not be the last time we see a Kniss starting at QB for North Central......

somebody was on the field for NCC when Pentello was doing all that.

[bushman]

Congrats to Wheaton  on a well fought game.  As always the Thunder played hard, tackled and blocked  with enthusiasm and were well coached.  Hope to see you again next year and Good Luck for next season.   

[robertgoulet]

bottom line is they play defense at another level in the OAC. NCC is finding that out as well today.

usee - I don't know if it was the defense that really hurt North Central, they had 270 total yds and only 1 TO at halftime. What hurt was:

1) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE

2) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE

3) Not getting TD's on the first half possessions that ended up being FGs.

4) Pentenello VS THE NCC DEFENSE


Sad to see the Kam Kniss era come to an end at North Central. I don't know how the legs are on this one....but I have heard that this may not be the last time we see a Kniss starting at QB for North Central......

somebody was on the field for NCC when Pentello was doing all that.

usee - I understand that, but wouldn't that mean they play another level of offense in the OAC? I thought you were saying that the D in the OAC was played at another level, meaning that Capital's D was too much for North Central to overcome. Apparently this is not what you were insinuating.