FB: Northwest Conference

[Bearcat Press]

Willamette @ L&C:

Triple take this week - Surprisingly close game.
Pat Coleman: No. 22 Willamette at Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark has been putting some points on the board lately behind quarterback Keith Welch, scoring 34 vs. UW-Platteville and 21 vs. Pacific Lutheran, both teams we believe to be better than Willamette. It's not a stretch to see the Pioneers scoring enough points to make the game surprisingly close.

Meanwhile, over at AD-Catdome:
The offensive show for Willamette will continue this season as the Bearcats roll up to the Hill.  L&C's offense is more pass heavy with Welch looking to get the ball out fast and he loves the middle of the field.  That will play right into the strength of the Willamette defense (DB's).  I'm expecting L&C to play hard for the whole game but Willamette has too much firepower for the Pio defense to contain.  Look for lopsided score in this one.

Two points: 1) I'm not sure yet if PLU is better than Willamette. I think next Saturday will be a pretty even match-up, and we face a stiff challenge tomorrow.  2) I think 11 has this one called better than Pat.  L&C will likely put up some points....but look for Willamette to score a bunch.  Maybe something like 52-28?

And see, to me, 52-28 would be surprisingly close.

Good point, Pat.

So I guess 56-30 qualifies (?)

Nonsense.  We beat Pat's spread by two points.  LOPSIDED.

[d-train]

Willamette @ L&C:

Triple take this week - Surprisingly close game.
Pat Coleman: No. 22 Willamette at Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark has been putting some points on the board lately behind quarterback Keith Welch, scoring 34 vs. UW-Platteville and 21 vs. Pacific Lutheran, both teams we believe to be better than Willamette. It's not a stretch to see the Pioneers scoring enough points to make the game surprisingly close.

Meanwhile, over at AD-Catdome:
The offensive show for Willamette will continue this season as the Bearcats roll up to the Hill.  L&C's offense is more pass heavy with Welch looking to get the ball out fast and he loves the middle of the field.  That will play right into the strength of the Willamette defense (DB's).  I'm expecting L&C to play hard for the whole game but Willamette has too much firepower for the Pio defense to contain.  Look for lopsided score in this one.

Two points: 1) I'm not sure yet if PLU is better than Willamette. I think next Saturday will be a pretty even match-up, and we face a stiff challenge tomorrow.  2) I think 11 has this one called better than Pat.  L&C will likely put up some points....but look for Willamette to score a bunch.  Maybe something like 52-28?

And see, to me, 52-28 would be surprisingly close.

Good point, Pat.

So I guess 56-30 qualifies (?)

Nonsense.  We beat Pat's spread by two points.  LOPSIDED.

Surprisingly close prediction by d-train right there.

[D O.C.]

I chastise LINFIELD and Occidental for charging movie theater prices to watch a Division III sporting event.

At least in a movie theater when something goes wrong with the film you can lobby for your money back from the management. Good luck lobbying either the school or the internet carrier when the picture buffers constantly,
or the sound goes off.

[river]

Did not follow the Pacific-PLU game, but the Boxers gave the Lutes all they could handle.  The Boxer pass rush sacked Lute QB Ritchey 4 times, the Lutes fumbled 3 times and lost 1, and while Ritchey completed 22 of 31 pass attempts for 269 yards, he did not pass for a TD.  The Lutes pulled it out with a 20-yard field goal with two seconds left to win 17-16.  Great effort by the Boxers.

[river]

If the Bearcats can mount a decent pass rush, they might be able to force the Lutes into a one-dimensional rushing offense.  According to the preview of the Pacific game:  "While PLU is historically known for a big-play passing offense, the Lutes currently rank second in the conference with 876 total rushing yards. Their 5.5 yards-per-carry average leads the NWC, while their average of 175.2 rushing yards per game ranks third. Niko Madison has been the big producer behind the Lutes' success on the ground, topping the NWC with an average of 96.2 yards per game while averaging 7.1 yards per carry."  Against Pacific, Madison had 11 attempts for 42 yards.  For the game, the Lutes had 32 rushes for 76 net yards.

[purplecat]

I have a Linfield, whitworth, plu and willamette helmet, and a Mt Union ball cap,  I was asked at the 2004 Stagg Bowl to trade for my Wildcat cap.....So it is off the head of a true Mount fan! I know someone had posted they were working on there D3 man cave.......Let me know it's all free. I am down sizing and my man cave is going away.

[D O.C.]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

[speedybigboy]

I have a Linfield, whitworth, plu and willamette helmet, and a Mt Union ball cap,  I was asked at the 2004 Stagg Bowl to trade for my Wildcat cap.....So it is off the head of a true Mount fan! I know someone had posted they were working on there D3 man cave.......Let me know it's all free. I am down sizing and my man cave is going away.

That would be Swede.

I wouldn't mind having the PLU helmet if he doesn't take it all.  personal message me and I'll send you my address. 

[speedybigboy]

Did not follow the Pacific-PLU game, but the Boxers gave the Lutes all they could handle.  The Boxer pass rush sacked Lute QB Ritchey 4 times, the Lutes fumbled 3 times and lost 1, and while Ritchey completed 22 of 31 pass attempts for 269 yards, he did not pass for a TD.  The Lutes pulled it out with a 20-yard field goal with two seconds left to win 17-16.  Great effort by the Boxers.

I listened to most of the game on the internet.  I agree, great effort by the Boxers.  After the first two drives they forced the Lutes to punt over and over until late in the 3rd Q when the Lutes failed to get in the endzone and missed a FG.  That happened again in the 4th quarter.  And then finally on the 3rd try we knocked one thru.

PLU held its #17 spot in the polls (link to week 6 is up yet so I can't tell if they lost votes).  Willamette moved up one spot and Pacific appears to have gained points and moved up even in the loss (deservedly so in my opinion).

This week another BIG GAME for the Lutes.  Unfortunately this time AT Willamette.  I don't know if my Lutes can keep up with that Bearcat offense.  So the Lutes defense needs to show up and slow them down in order for PLU to get the win.  With the game in Salem, I'd say the Bearcats are slight favorites.

[speedybigboy]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

Are there enough slots available for the MIAC and NWC to get two bids.  I gotta think the WIAC will get two for sure.

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

Are there enough slots available for the MIAC and NWC to get two bids.  I gotta think the WIAC will get two for sure.

That's a tough call.  Barring wildly unexpected upsets, the OAC and CCIW will probably get one C each - so if the MIAC, NWC, and WIAC each get a C, EVERYONE else is out of luck.  And although the committee is supposed to just focus on teams, not conferences or regions, somehow it seems unlikely to me the the North and the West would get ALL FIVE slots.

[swede]

I have a Linfield, whitworth, plu and willamette helmet, and a Mt Union ball cap,  I was asked at the 2004 Stagg Bowl to trade for my Wildcat cap.....So it is off the head of a true Mount fan! I know someone had posted they were working on there D3 man cave.......Let me know it's all free. I am down sizing and my man cave is going away.

My friend speedybigboy could have the Lute helmet.

[MonroviaCat]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

Are there enough slots available for the MIAC and NWC to get two bids.  I gotta think the WIAC will get two for sure.

That's a tough call.  Barring wildly unexpected upsets, the OAC and CCIW will probably get one C each - so if the MIAC, NWC, and WIAC each get a C, EVERYONE else is out of luck.  And although the committee is supposed to just focus on teams, not conferences or regions, somehow it seems unlikely to me the the North and the West would get ALL FIVE slots.

I think things will sort themselves out....likely there will be a no loss team and a 1 loss team in the NWC and the other two will end up with 2 losses and probably won't make it. 

[speedybigboy]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

Are there enough slots available for the MIAC and NWC to get two bids.  I gotta think the WIAC will get two for sure.

That's a tough call.  Barring wildly unexpected upsets, the OAC and CCIW will probably get one C each - so if the MIAC, NWC, and WIAC each get a C, EVERYONE else is out of luck.  And although the committee is supposed to just focus on teams, not conferences or regions, somehow it seems unlikely to me the the North and the West would get ALL FIVE slots.

I think things will sort themselves out....likely there will be a no loss team and a 1 loss team in the NWC and the other two will end up with 2 losses and probably won't make it.

I agree.  The trouble is there will likely be a 1 loss and two loss team in each of the NWC, MIAc, WIAC, CCIW, and OAC.  And all the one loss teams will be ranked in the top 20 (I know thats not a true criteria but its an indicator of quality).

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch PLU and St. Johns in the playoffs again?

Are there enough slots available for the MIAC and NWC to get two bids.  I gotta think the WIAC will get two for sure.

That's a tough call.  Barring wildly unexpected upsets, the OAC and CCIW will probably get one C each - so if the MIAC, NWC, and WIAC each get a C, EVERYONE else is out of luck.  And although the committee is supposed to just focus on teams, not conferences or regions, somehow it seems unlikely to me the the North and the West would get ALL FIVE slots.

I think things will sort themselves out....likely there will be a no loss team and a 1 loss team in the NWC and the other two will end up with 2 losses and probably won't make it.

This year, it is EXTREMELY unlikely any two-loss team will get a C.  Both the CCIW and OAC are virtually guaranteed 1 (or more) 9-1 teams; same with the WIAC unless UWSP can pull off the upset they came within 40 seconds of doing to UWP.  There will almost certainly be some VERY worthy 9-1 teams going (staying?) home early.

IMO, the Tommies are toast.