FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DoubleO]

Holy Moly-

First and foremost, Congratulations to a VERY tough and well coached Linfield team. That was a heck of a battle. Hats off to your club.

Secondly, I know they're students, but the commentary...COME ON. Just a bit of advice if I may fellas, the dead air you're trying to avoid is OK! Hopefully there is some game film reviewed in the journalism department. On behalf of all associated with UST, apologies for that.

As for the game, so much for protecting the pill. 5 to's and you don't deserve to win in my book. Don't know if it was nerves or what, but Tracy looked very uncharacteristic today. Have to believe that the majority of that was forced by a stout Linfield D. Steady pressure, excellent secondary coverage-well done boys. Tracy stepped up and redeemed himself nicely in the double ot. It's a good thing the defense stepped up the way they did. Offense should be treating them to dinner tonight. Don't have the stats, but Tommy Becker played a WHALE of a game and seemed to be all over the place. Linfield obviously had one heck of a game plan and I'm proud the Toms responded the way they did. Very sloppy ballgame, BUT it was a nice team effort.

I saw one Tommie being helped off the field, but didn't see/hear who it was. Any help? How did we get through the game injury wise?

Congratulations to Bethel-way to represent! See you on Saturday!

[Mugsy]

Classic playoff battle, nice game and season Wheaton.

Key stats

Time Of Possession: BU 37:50 - WC 22:10

3rd Down Conversions: BU 7 of 19 - WC 3 of 12

4th Down Conversions: BU 3 of 5 - WC 0 of 1

BU:81 total plays, 62 rushes, 3.9 per play - WC: 51 plays, but 4.2 per play

I'd say the Defense & Logan won the game for us. They had us shut down very well in the first half and had incredible field position. Something like 3 possessions that started in BU territory, but came away with 0 pts. The D kept it up in the 2nd half and BU O kept pounding away. It eventually wore them down. Their QB is going to be very good, only a sophomore. Our O-Line really struggled in pass pro today - having back-up LT in really hurt us - but we had more problems than just him today. Wheaton had a big D-Line and stacked the box all game. Their D was tough up the middle and very fast on the edge. Again, good game Thunder.

Gonna be a battle in St. Paul next week! Congrats Tommies on a big Win

Agree with your assessment of the game.  Very impressed with the physical nature of Bethel's play.  Very tough at the point of attack.  Hard hitting, stout defense.  Flannery is a beast.

Very hard fought game, as were the other 2 games in 2008 & 2009.

I almost ( ) would have felt guilty if Wheaton somehow pulled this one out.  That would have been 3 straight where the stats imply one team won the game but the scoreboard showed the opposite.

Congrats to the Royals and the MIAC.

[DoubleO]

One more thing and a bit of armchair qbing,

I thought the underneath middle of the field was EXTREMELY under utilized today by both teams. Most of the time both teams had their inside backers up on the los showing blitz and the majority of the time at least one came. Even when they didn't they did not seem to get much depth in coverage. UST ran 1 underneath pattern across the middle (for a big play late in the game to Tobin) that I can recall.. I felt like the back out of the backfield or the tightend should have exploited the short to medium routes across the middle. Kept waiting to see Wartman or Tobin on a delayed scat route.

Just my 2 cents.

[warthog]

Based on the results of last week's games, I'll have to cheer for the winner of the Bethel/Wartburg game over the winner of the St. Thomas/Coe game. 

Regardless who wins next week, please represent the west region well.

[usee]

Congratulations to Bethel on a much deserved victory in Wheaton today. It was a great football game to watch and I thought these two teams were very evenly matched. In the end Bethel and Flannery made one more play than Wheaton did. I was very impressed with Flannery as he worked his tail off to get 141 yards on 30 carries. He made some great plays to convert some key 3rd downs. Big win for the Royals. Good luck in your rematch this week!

[CamCat]

Congratulations Tommies,

It was a great victory and a hard fought game.  I don't think Linfield is any worse than we were last year but you guys are definitely better.  You  deserve the victory.  Best of luck from here on out.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Congrats to UST--Best of luck on your run.

GHC

[hazzben]

Coppage for UWW is just unreal: 38 carries for 304 yards and 3 TDs! Makes you wonder what his totals would be if they faced more close games during the regular season and didn't have two such great backups to spell him  Anyone planning to beat the defending champs will have to find a way to stop the beast.

Great matchup next Saturday between NCC's rush defense and the UWW running game. The great debate over the #1 seed will now officially be decided on the field!

[Life Long Tommie]

As I wrote last year after the Linfield/UST game, the Cat Fans are 2nd to none! Thanks to those who braved the cold and attended the game & respect given the DIII posters from you fan of the Cats sent.

If it weren't for the Tommies Defense you guys would be playing in McMinnville next week...

LLT

[bennie]

Maniac- I am so sorry to hear about your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[DuffMan]

Duff, so which is the lesser of two evils for you?

I'm hoping for some type of miracle in which both lose 

[stanbob]

Sorry for your lose miacmaniac.  condolences to you and your family.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Duff, so which is the lesser of two evils for you?

I'm hoping for some type of miracle in which both lose 

If you can arrange that, I'm sure Wheaton and Linfield would be happy to do a special play-in game to go to the semis!

[hazzben]

miacmaniac, you and your family are in our prayers. God Bless.

[sjusection105]

Apparently the Sports Editor over at the Star Tribune reads MIACPP, because they did pick up the news wire story on the Bethel-Wheaton game. The Tommies still received over twice the coverage as Bethel and last time I checked they are both playing on Dec. 4 in the Regional Final.That being said, the High School 4A champions,Totino-Grace, received more coverage than both Division III games combined.