FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WahooThunder]

Great win for the Thunder, excellent play in all three phases of the game. The new three-headed monster (Norris, Gingg, Pokorny) took it to a great defense on the road today, and the Wheaton defense backed it up with an excellent 2nd half as well. Two down and five to go!

[usee]

Okturnoverfest in kenosha.

Elmhurst scores to take the lead 27-26. 9 total turnovers (5 for elmhurst 4 for carthage).

[gordonmann]

Ha!  Okturnoverfest!

+K 

[usee]

it continues. 5 for each team. Elmhurst leads 29-26 with the ball at the carthage 49. 3rd and 4. last timeout by carthage.

this will decide the game.

[usee]

Kudyba with the keeper for 17 yds and Elmhurst will run out the clock and win in Kenosha.

[Gregory Sager]

This wasn't a game to paste in the NPU scrapbook, such as it is, but the Vikings played better than the 35-15 final score indicated. Both the offense and the defense played right up to the extent of their limitations, and I think that North Central left the field realizing that NPU isn't as easy to push around as it used to be. First downs were almost even (NCC-17, NPU-16), and the Cardinals didn't beat North Park in total yards by a vast amount, either (393-300). And the final score should've been closer, as an egregiously bad call by the side judge took away a Sam Lialos touchdown catch late in the second quarter when NCC was leading 7-0 (the ruling was that Lialos slid out of bounds before the catch was complete, but he was a good two yards from the end-zone sideline when he caught the ball in mid-slide).

Nevertheless, North Park's limitations are significant, and they kept the Vikings from staying with North Central for four quarters. The Vikings just don't have the personnel to generate an effective running game against a run defense as good as NCC's, as NPU gained a mere 32 yards on the ground. That meant that Shelby Wood had to spend the entire afternoon airing it out again, and while his game and that of his primary receivers continue to improve week by week, the Vikings offense is thus just too one-dimensional to stay with a team like NCC. The other big limitation NPU has is depth of talent; it was telling as the second half wore on and the first-team Vikings defense began to drag in the heat and miss tackles. NPU just doesn't have enough effective backups to keep the defense fresh. And it was really apparent in special-teams play, as North Park just doesn't seem to have the manpower to put together effective punt coverage and kickoff coverage teams. Combined with a weakness in the kicking game itself, NPU's inability to keep NCC returners from gashing the Vikes for big returns meant that NPU averaged a mere 15 net yards in punt coverage and 23 yards in kickoff coverage. Those are abysmal numbers, and they play a big role in explaining why North Central had an average drive start at its own 48 yard line.

Dominic Sulo was the big difference in the second half. NPU's inspired play in the first half, and NCC's correspondingly sloppy effort, apparently got Coach Thorne's attention and was undoubtedly the focus of his halftime speech. NCC very effectively trap-blocked for Sulo in the third quarter, and with his quick burst he was able to rattle off a bunch of 10-to-12-yard gains. That, and the consistently short field with which the Cards were blessed on offense, allowed the Cards to pull away.

It was an encouraging effort by NPU, though, and against a lesser opponent I could see this type of effort leading to the Vikings being in a ballgame this season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Given the promising showing of NPU against NCC, and the utter demolition of Millikin by IWU (IN Decatur), I will now go on record: the Vikings' conference losing streak WILL end in two weeks when they host the Little Blue.

(Of course, I reserve the right to chicken out before the actual pickems! )

[Gregory Sager]

Given the promising showing of NPU against NCC, and the utter demolition of Millikin by IWU (IN Decatur), I will now go on record: the Vikings' conference losing streak WILL end in two weeks when they host the Little Blue.

Great. The only thing worse than a gypsy curse is a Ypsi curse.

[New Tradition]

I will give Kudos to NP for hanging with the Cards and playing a tough game, but nobody has mentioned NCC was playing with 1 hand tied behind its back as the CCIW OPOY did not compete in the contest.

Also, I didn't see it, but I was told by several people at the game that Lialos was CLEARLY in bounds when he caught the ball in the endzone.

[orsky]

Augie came out with a lot of emotion on their homecoming and played well in the first half.  Pudolka (?) gave the Wheaton D fits in the first half.  Very quick, elusive and throws from all angles.  Wheaton simply wore down the Augie O and D lines in the second half.  Wheaton O line in particular drove the Augie D backwards in the 4th quarter.  Norris played extremely well running and throwing the ball with little pressure from the Augie D line.  Gingg was a beast and gained many yards after initial contact.  Fun game to watch, but didn't feel comfortable until the 4th when Wheaton finally began to salt the game away.

[Gregory Sager]

I will give Kudos to NP for hanging with the Cards and playing a tough game, but nobody has mentioned NCC was playing with 1 hand tied behind its back as the CCIW OPOY did not compete in the contest.

"One hand tied behind its back" might be a little extreme. NPU wasn't going to win the game no matter who was playing QB for the Cardinals, as Sulo proved to be more than enough of an offensive weapon to put away the Vikes. And Kniss didn't do a bad job at all. He made some good throws, and he proved to be a very effective runner in the second half once NPU started keying on Sulo on every down. North Central's biggest problem on offense was drive-killing penalties, and most of the penalty calls against the Cardinals were motion calls and false starts on the receivers. I don't see how Fanthorpe's presence would have changed those penalties.

[usee]

Quoting Coach Tim Rucks on the Oct. 11 Elmhurst Loss:  "This loss was hard to swallow and hard to understand.  Key penalties and key times and turnovers killed us.  We shot ourselves.  We snuck by Illinois Wesleyan playing this way, but it can't go on forever.  Maybe this will wake us up.  Elmhurst deserves all the credit.  They hung in there and played hard.  They're a good football team, and they took advantage of our turnovers and mistakes.  Danny O'Donnell may have broken his hand, and that loss really hurt us in the second half.  We have to bounce back, and we have to fix this.  There are no other options."

[Tailgater]

Turnovers, penalties, 2 possessions inside the 5 yd line with no points (not because of defensive plays, but IMO questionable play calling) . Enough said. Congrats Bluejays. You hung around long enough for Carthage to hang themselves. Regardless it was a beautiful day for a football game in Kenosha.

[cardinaldad]

This wasn't a game to paste in the NPU scrapbook, such as it is, but the Vikings played better than the 35-15 final score indicated. Both the offense and the defense played right up to the extent of their limitations, and I think that North Central left the field realizing that NPU isn't as easy to push around as it used to be. First downs were almost even (NCC-17, NPU-16), and the Cardinals didn't beat North Park in total yards by a vast amount, either (393-300). And the final score should've been closer, as an egregiously bad call by the side judge took away a Sam Lialos touchdown catch late in the second quarter when NCC was leading 7-0 (the ruling was that Lialos slid out of bounds before the catch was complete, but he was a good two yards from the end-zone sideline when he caught the ball in mid-slide).

Nevertheless, North Park's limitations are significant, and they kept the Vikings from staying with North Central for four quarters. The Vikings just don't have the personnel to generate an effective running game against a run defense as good as NCC's, as NPU gained a mere 32 yards on the ground. That meant that Shelby Wood had to spend the entire afternoon airing it out again, and while his game and that of his primary receivers continue to improve week by week, the Vikings offense is thus just too one-dimensional to stay with a team like NCC. The other big limitation NPU has is depth of talent; it was telling as the second half wore on and the first-team Vikings defense began to drag in the heat and miss tackles. NPU just doesn't have enough effective backups to keep the defense fresh. And it was really apparent in special-teams play, as North Park just doesn't seem to have the manpower to put together effective punt coverage and kickoff coverage teams. Combined with a weakness in the kicking game itself, NPU's inability to keep NCC returners from gashing the Vikes for big returns meant that NPU averaged a mere 15 net yards in punt coverage and 23 yards in kickoff coverage. Those are abysmal numbers, and they play a big role in explaining why North Central had an average drive start at its own 48 yard line.

Dominic Sulo was the big difference in the second half. NPU's inspired play in the first half, and NCC's correspondingly sloppy effort, apparently got Coach Thorne's attention and was undoubtedly the focus of his halftime speech. NCC very effectively trap-blocked for Sulo in the third quarter, and with his quick burst he was able to rattle off a bunch of 10-to-12-yard gains. That, and the consistently short field with which the Cards were blessed on offense, allowed the Cards to pull away.

It was an encouraging effort by NPU, though, and against a lesser opponent I could see this type of effort leading to the Vikings being in a ballgame this season.

I agree with everything you say here Gregory. Well said. And, I have to admit, that was a TD by Lialos. He had a real nice day today! I was REAL impressed with NPU today!!

[cardinaldad]

Given the promising showing of NPU against NCC, and the utter demolition of Millikin by IWU (IN Decatur), I will now go on record: the Vikings' conference losing streak WILL end in two weeks when they host the Little Blue.

(Of course, I reserve the right to chicken out before the actual pickems! )

Mr Ypsi, I'm disappointed you beat me to it! I wanted to be the first to go on record saying that NPU will beat Millikin this year. Having already seen both teams play, I say NPU will win that game! Don't be affraid!!!!