FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WahooThunder]

Way too much excitement in Naperville tonight.  North Central earned my respect.  I still think Wheaton is definitely the better football team, but not by as much as I thought.  The North Central defense really impressed me tonight as did Fanthorpe with his mobility in the pocket.  Wheaton's offense really stepped it up in the second half and it took Norris awhile, but he finally found his rhythm and hopefully that will carry over to next week, because it looks like the success of this offense is going to hinge on quarterback play.  The defense did a great job all night, especially in the red zone, and considering how long they were on the field.  North Central came away with 3 points in their first three red zone opportunities.  If Wheaton doesn't make those stops, the game would've been over by halftime.  They did struggle again stopping the quarterback on the run, but they shut down Sulo in the second half.  I am concerned about the Studebaker injury, though I haven't heard anything about the severity of the inury, just that it was an ankle.  Finally, you have to give credit to Pete Ittersagen for coming up with two big punt returns in the fourth quarter.  Without the field position he gave them, I'm not sure they would've been able to pull it out.  All in all, not the most encouraging night for the Thunder, but we escaped with a victory and kept the bell, so I guess its a pretty good night nonetheless.  Should be a great game against Augie next week!

[WahooThunder]

I will add that both NCC and Wheaton seemed to have settled on 1 quarterback. Fanthorpe for NCC took all the snaps and I thought he did a great job managing the game. he took some monster hits and stayed in there to throw the ball. the 60 yd td was a lot poise because he got killed as he threw it. he also made some big plays, particularly on 3rd downs.

For the Thunder, they appear set on Sean Norris as the trigger man and he made many plays with both his feet and his arm. I like the choices as norris made several plays by turning bad plays into good plays.

Norris is definitely a playmaker.  The INTs and slow start worry me though, he can't do that against Augie and expect to win.

Fanthorpe really impressed me with his mobility too, but like Norris he made a few poor decisions and his interceptions were both very costly and may in fact have cost NC the game.  He has lucky not to have a couple more picked off too.

[Tailgater]

Very entertaining game in Kenosha unfortunately not the outcome desired by Carthage faithful. Congrats to IWU. This is a very good offensive team. IWU has taken a lot of knocks on this Board this season , but I believe IWU is a team who will compete very well with anybody in the CCIW this year. The IWU defense is not formidable, but the offense has the capability of putting a lot of points on the board. Kraig Ladd was impressive and played like a 1st team All-CCIW candidate completing 27 of 37 attempts for 404 yards and 5 TDs. IWU's receiving core may be one of the best in the conference. Tall receivers with soft hands that out-leaped many Red Men DBs. The IWU offensive line did a great job protecting Ladd giving him ample time to survey his receivers. I recall only one time in the game when the Carthage d-line put pressure on Ladd as he released a pass and it resulted in a INT. IWU did not have a very effective running game today, but who needs it when your QB is picking apart the opponents secondary like fish in a barrel.

On the bright side for Carthage, their running game, on the legs of Andy Bures, was evident and effective. Bures gained 137 yards on 18 carries with a 7.3 yard per carry average. The Carthage offense looked pretty good all day and were able to rally to put Carthage temporarily in the lead in the second half. This was done with a make-shift line due to medical and health issues. 2 Freshmen started on the line and the center was 3 deep in the depth chart. The defense was flat out porous in the secondary. I can't recall seeing a game in the past 5 seasons where the Red Men D looked so incapable of stopping their opponent (with exception to the 2004, 35-0 drubbing by Augie). The secondary played a cover 3 zone most of the game and they were picked apart by Ladd. I'll give most of that credit to Ladd and his receivers and not poor coverage. The Carthage DBs were always around the receivers, but just couldn't deny the receptions.

Carthage now becomes a team looking to be a spoiler in the CCIW and I do believe they have the capability of doing so. This is a good team even though their conference record shows no success to date. It's off to North Park next week (oh-oh) and I'm looking to see Carthage take out their frustration on the Vikes.

[matblake]

IWU 35
Carthage 31

Big, big win for the 2007 Titans and the program.

Agreed.   Although it sounds like Ladd was on fire, from your updates it appears that the Titan defense continues to win games for you.  Because of special teams miscues and turnovers sounds like Carthage had opportunities to put touchdowns on the board and had to settle for field goals.  You have to get into the end zone when given good field position.  Interestingly enough, the post just above gives a different perspective.  So, kudos to the offense too!   

Given the win over Augie, I think people are starting to notice.  It will be interesting to see if they can keep it up in the next several weeks (Millikin, Elmhurst, North Park) before they travel to North Central on November 3rd.  

[Titan Q]

While the Titan offense was very impressive yesterday, I believe the defense is the heart and soul of the team.  IWU's D was not as good overall yesterday as it has been (they gave up 31 points), but with the game on the line in the 4th quarter, they stepped up and secured the victory...just like they did last week vs Augustana.  They had a few huge sacks and stops in that 4th Q with the game very much in the balance.  Also consider the position the punt team leaves them in -- the opposition seems to always start from IWU's 35 or 40.

The Titans don't have a ton of size on the defensive side of the ball, but they're very quick and they have a bunch of play makers.  Even with the offense settling in, I think it's IWU defense that will determine the Titans' fate.

[football2007]

Carthage needs a little heighth in the back field.  Tall receivers from IWU had a field day.  Also notice backs never turn to look at the ball, lost chances for interceptions IMO.  Frustrating day, boy can Moore punt though.    

[2getherwewin]

Theres no question NCC came to play last night.  But, this game was almost an exact replay of last season.  Last year, 2006 season, NCC up 13-0 at halftime just battering Wheaton in almost every aspect.  NCC comes back the second half and scores 6 the entire half while Wheaton scores 31, Wheaton outscores NCC in the second half 31-6.  Last night NCC up 17-0 at halftime just battering Wheaton in almost every aspect.  NCC comes back the second half and scores 7 the entire half while Wheaton scores 28, Wheaton outscores NCC in the second half 28-7.  For the past 2 seasons Wheaton has outscore NCC in the second half 59-13, ridiculous.  Wheaton comes out of the half with all these adjustments NCC has no answers for.  NCC is getting entirely out coached by Wheaton after the half.

[football2007]

Theres no question NCC came to play last night.  But, this game was almost an exact replay of last season.  Last year, 2006 season, NCC up 13-0 at halftime just battering Wheaton in almost every aspect.  NCC comes back the second half and scores 6 the entire half while Wheaton scores 31, Wheaton outscores NCC in the second half 31-6.  Last night NCC up 17-0 at halftime just battering Wheaton in almost every aspect.  NCC comes back the second half and scores 7 the entire half while Wheaton scores 28, Wheaton outscores NCC in the second half 28-7.  For the past 2 seasons Wheaton has outscore NCC in the second half 59-13, ridiculous.  Wheaton comes out of the half with all these adjustments NCC has no answers for.  NCC is getting entirely out coached by Wheaton after the half.

The best coaches are the ones that can make that half time adjustment when their team is done.  Did not see the game but appreciate the updates on the web, made you feel like you were there.  Kudos to the wheaton staff for the adjustments.  Wow

[usee]

Augustana rushed for 470 yards on 77 carries vs elmhurst. Augie also had the ball for 44 out of 60 minutes. Thats a lot of possession time

[Titan Q]

IWU's receiving core may be one of the best in the conference. Tall receivers with soft hands that out-leaped many Red Men DBs.

Through 2 conference games, IWU's receivers have been very good...

Martin Ceisel (6-4/205, Jr, Deerfield) - 15 rec, 165 yards, 2 TD
Tom Almanzo (6-0/195, Jr, Elk Grove) - 9 rec, 111 yards, 0 TD
Jack Scalcucci (6-2/205, So, Batavia) - 8 rec, 171 yards, 2 TD
Matt Sandrik (6-4/180, So, Riverside Brookfield) - 3 rec, 36 yards, 2 TD

[matblake]

Augustana rushed for 470 yards on 77 carries vs elmhurst. Augie also had the ball for 44 out of 60 minutes. Thats a lot of possession time

That makes for one tired defense.  The box score looks exactly like a typical Augustana game.  Tons of time of posession and consistent scoring in each quarter. 

-2 yards rushing for the Bluejays.  Not good.  Having a decent rushing attack is so important to beating the Vikings.  You have to be better than 2 of 10 on third down too.

[matblake]

The game ended with the North Central coaching staff receiving an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Anybody know the nature of this penalty?  Thorne runs a good ship there at North Central, I was very surprised at this.  I'm sure it was just the result of the heat of the moment and the fact that we are all human.

[New Tradition]

The game ended with the North Central coaching staff receiving an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Anybody know the nature of this penalty?  Thorne runs a good ship there at North Central, I was very surprised at this.  I'm sure it was just the result of the heat of the moment and the fact that we are all human.

I'm not 100%, but I believe that it was because one of the coaches ran too far out onto the field yelling about Wheaton having 12 men on the field for one of the last plays.  I know the coach and he is usually very calm and collected, but I'm sure emotions were running high and he just got excited.

[usee]

The game ended with the North Central coaching staff receiving an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Anybody know the nature of this penalty?  Thorne runs a good ship there at North Central, I was very surprised at this.  I'm sure it was just the result of the heat of the moment and the fact that we are all human.

I think someone said the NCC coaches thought wheaton had 12 men on the field for the last play AND they thought Sulo caught the 4th down pass. There was chaos on the 4th down play so I am not sure if either happened. clearly the NCC coaches were upset at the height of a very emotional game for both sides. A lot of things happened in the final minute.

[matblake]

The game ended with the North Central coaching staff receiving an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Anybody know the nature of this penalty?  Thorne runs a good ship there at North Central, I was very surprised at this.  I'm sure it was just the result of the heat of the moment and the fact that we are all human.

I'm not 100%, but I believe that it was because one of the coaches ran too far out onto the field yelling about Wheaton having 12 men on the field for one of the last plays.  I know the coach and he is usually very calm and collected, but I'm sure emotions were running high and he just got excited.

[I think someone said the NCC coaches thought wheaton had 12 men on the field for the last play AND they thought Sulo caught the 4th down pass. There was chaos on the 4th down play so I am not sure if either happened. clearly the NCC coaches were upset at the height of a very emotional game for both sides. A lot of things happened in the final minute.

That makes complete sense.  It was a tense situation for everyone.  Thanks guys.