FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Maybe he'll send Franklin instead.

[matblake]

Maybe he'll send Franklin instead.

Maybe, but he smoked when he was younger, so I don't think he has the power. 

[robertgoulet]

80 1/2 hours until kickoff.

Boy this day is crawling, and the lack of action on the CCIW message board isn't helping at all!

[New Tradition]

80 1/2 hours until kickoff.

Boy this day is crawling, and the lack of action on the CCIW message board isn't helping at all!

Calm before the storm

[usee]

OK here's some food for thought for the big game (I'll give my thoughts on the other games later too):

The best players on the field at any given time are going to be: Ittersagen, Fanthorpe; Wenger, Norris; These guys are all playing well ( I could argue ittersagen is playing the worst of all four but I won't) and I think we can all expect them to have a major impact. Looking at last year's game these guys were all huge players and this year they are even more focal points. I think Norris is playing at Fanthorpes level (which is saying a lot) and Fanthorpe is actually playing at or just above his POY production from last fall. The Naperville defense is also playing above where they were a year ago and that is in large part to Wenger.

This next group of players, in my mind, is the key to the game. Who will step up and make a play or a mistake at a key time: Pokorny, Gingg, Ellis; Sulo (cb), Treglown, Swanson. Sulo (rb), Hlavac, MacIntosh, Thiessen, Kuenzle, Pagh, Langs.

Of course the biggest factor will be the ability of each Line to control the LOS. I am making the assumption that yards on the ground for each team will be very hard to come by. I would expect a game where both teams have below their season average in Yds. The team who can rush for 125 yds will win this game and those yds may come from the qb position--most defenses don't account for the qb and both of these guys can run. How will the young Wheaton OLine handle the front led by Lb's Wenger, Treglown and Swanson? On the other side you have a great Dline (the key to their defense IMO) in Thiessen, Kuenzle, Pagh and McKinney (Theobald is an awesome DT but he may not play?). These guys are going against a banged up Oline without Welnack, having moved Delancey to Guard and starting a frosh at tackle. If the Thunder can control the LOS and limt Sulo while pressuring Fanthorpe with 4, they will control the game.

If this game is a cleanly played game and all the stars show up, I would give the edge to Wheaton based on their experienced DLine against a banged up Oline. I think Wenger is the star of the defensive front for Naperville but the rest of their Dline don't have a significant advantage in experience to take advantage of the young Wheaton front.

If there are turnovers and/or big penalties that go one way--all bets are off.

I think the first team to 28 pts wins it in my book.

Wheaton 31 Naperville 26

[Dennis_Prikkel]

80 1/2 hours until kickoff.

Boy this day is crawling, and the lack of action on the CCIW message board isn't helping at all!

oy - get a life mate - dgp

[robertgoulet]

80 1/2 hours until kickoff.

Boy this day is crawling, and the lack of action on the CCIW message board isn't helping at all!

oy - get a life mate - dgp

Oh I've got one, unfortunately I work in banking...I would assume you're up on the state of the economy and banks nowadays? Let's just say that I haven't been drowning in work recently.

[robertgoulet]

OK here's some food for thought for the big game (I'll give my thoughts on the other games later too):

The best players on the field at any given time are going to be: Ittersagen, Fanthorpe; Wenger, Norris; These guys are all playing well ( I could argue ittersagen is playing the worst of all four but I won't) and I think we can all expect them to have a major impact. Looking at last year's game these guys were all huge players and this year they are even more focal points. I think Norris is playing at Fanthorpes level (which is saying a lot) and Fanthorpe is actually playing at or just above his POY production from last fall. The Naperville defense is also playing above where they were a year ago and that is in large part to Wenger.

This next group of players, in my mind, is the key to the game. Who will step up and make a play or a mistake at a key time: Pokorny, Gingg, Ellis; Sulo (cb), Treglown, Swanson. Sulo (rb), Hlavac, MacIntosh, Thiessen, Kuenzle, Pagh, Langs.

Of course the biggest factor will be the ability of each Line to control the LOS. I am making the assumption that yards on the ground for each team will be very hard to come by. I would expect a game where both teams have below their season average in Yds. The team who can rush for 125 yds will win this game and those yds may come from the qb position--most defenses don't account for the qb and both of these guys can run. How will the young Wheaton OLine handle the front led by Lb's Wenger, Treglown and Swanson? On the other side you have a great Dline (the key to their defense IMO) in Thiessen, Kuenzle, Pagh and McKinney (Theobald is an awesome DT but he may not play?). These guys are going against a banged up Oline without Welnack, having moved Delancey to Guard and starting a frosh at tackle. If the Thunder can control the LOS and limt Sulo while pressuring Fanthorpe with 4, they will control the game.

If this game is a cleanly played game and all the stars show up, I would give the edge to Wheaton based on their experienced DLine against a banged up Oline. I think Wenger is the star of the defensive front for Naperville but the rest of their Dline don't have a significant advantage in experience to take advantage of the young Wheaton front.

If there are turnovers and/or big penalties that go one way--all bets are off.

I think the first team to 28 pts wins it in my book.

Wheaton 31 Naperville 26

Good synopsis, You-Si. I really wish I would have been able to get out and see a couple games this year prior to this so I could give an educated opinion rivaling yours, but the cards (no pun) haven't fallen that way. Don't people know not to get married on Saturdays during football season? No respect, I tell ya.

[ncc58]

Nice analysis Usee, I wouldn't fallen off my chair if you have predicted a victory by North Central College over the Crusaders. 

However, there's a facet to the game that you omitted. One of the intriguing matchups is Puchylowski vs. Ittersagen. North Central has enjoyed an advantage in the kicking game throughout this season. Last week, for example, Puchylowski averaged 45 yards per punt (compared to Cathage at 33) with a couple inside the 20. In last year's games, Ittersagen had a couple very good returns that changed field position.

If the running game for both teams is stymied, we may see a half dozen or more punts on both sides.

[Mugsy]

Nice analysis Usee, I wouldn't fallen off my chair if you have predicted a victory by North Central College over the Crusaders. 

However, there's a facet to the game that you omitted. One of the intriguing matchups is Puchylowski vs. Ittersagen. North Central has enjoyed an advantage in the kicking game throughout this season. Last week, for example, Puchylowski averaged 45 yards per punt (compared to Cathage at 33) with a couple inside the 20. In last year's games, Ittersagen had a couple very good returns that changed field position.

If the running game for both teams is stymied, we may see a half dozen or more punts on both sides.

Nice point.  Field position will be a more predominant factor if weather conditions aren't optimal.

[robertgoulet]

Nice analysis Usee, I wouldn't fallen off my chair if you have predicted a victory by North Central College over the Crusaders. 

However, there's a facet to the game that you omitted. One of the intriguing matchups is Puchylowski vs. Ittersagen. North Central has enjoyed an advantage in the kicking game throughout this season. Last week, for example, Puchylowski averaged 45 yards per punt (compared to Cathage at 33) with a couple inside the 20. In last year's games, Ittersagen had a couple very good returns that changed field position.

If the running game for both teams is stymied, we may see a half dozen or more punts on both sides.

Division III's version of the Devin Hester factor? How about the flip side of that? Wheaton's punter V. the NCC returner?

[Dennis_Prikkel]

80 1/2 hours until kickoff.

Boy this day is crawling, and the lack of action on the CCIW message board isn't helping at all!

oy - get a life mate - dgp

Oh I've got one, unfortunately I work in banking...I would assume you're up on the state of the economy and banks nowadays? Let's just say that I haven't been drowning in work recently.

ditto (I feel your pain - i'm in fund-raising) dgp

[Mugsy]

Nice analysis Usee, I wouldn't fallen off my chair if you have predicted a victory by North Central College over the Crusaders. 

However, there's a facet to the game that you omitted. One of the intriguing matchups is Puchylowski vs. Ittersagen. North Central has enjoyed an advantage in the kicking game throughout this season. Last week, for example, Puchylowski averaged 45 yards per punt (compared to Cathage at 33) with a couple inside the 20. In last year's games, Ittersagen had a couple very good returns that changed field position.

If the running game for both teams is stymied, we may see a half dozen or more punts on both sides.

Division III's version of the Devin Hester factor? How about the flip side of that? Wheaton's punter V. the NCC returner?

Wheaton's punter is the QB Sean Norris.  He has 14 punts with an average of 35.1 ypp.  5 of 14 punts have been inside the 20, 2 have been fair caught, 1 was a touch back.

Looking at the DIII national stats, it looks like NCC's primary returner is Joe Schneiderbauer who is 27th in the nation with a 12.07 avg return.

[ncc58]

Division III's version of the Devin Hester factor? How about the flip side of that? Wheaton's punter V. the NCC returner?

If North Central returns punts like they did last week, add 10 yards to every Crusaders punt for the holding or block in the back call that will result.

[wheels81]

Division III's version of the Devin Hester factor? How about the flip side of that? Wheaton's punter V. the NCC returner?

If North Central returns punts like they did last week, add 10 yards to every Crusaders punt for the holding or block in the back call that will result.

Wheaton's put big $$ in PR with the name change and all, we don't need anyone thinking we're anti-Muslim   
It would be like referring to North Park University as North Park COLLEGE