FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bleedpurple]

The smell test says SJU is a heavy favorite on Saturday, but I don't know much about Lake Forest. There are no common opponents between SJU and LF, but there are some common opponents of opponents.

LF beat Wisconsin Lutheran 27-10. Martin Luther beat Wisconsin Lutheran 42-28. SJU beat Martin Luther 55-7.

LF beat Monmouth 24-10.
Wartburg beat Monmouth 44-3.
Gustavus beat Wartburg 24-18.

Lake Forest beat Ripon 42-7.
Ripon beat Augsburg 46-38.
SJU beat Augsburg 50-0.

By using shaky assumptions from these results, maybe we can expect LF to play at a level somewhere between GAC and AUG?

On the statistics side, I saw that LF defense has given up only 689 rush yards in 10 games compared to 1,572 pass yards allowed (SJU has given up 908 rush and 1,604 pass, albeit against tougher competition).

Offensive yardage for LF is pretty evenly split at 1,916 rush and 2,013 pass.

Any one else have any insight? When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

Lake Forest may well have the most talented player on the field in WR/PR A.J. Jackson.  Dude is no joke. Punt to him at your own risk.

[SagatagSam]

When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

It's been a while, but back in the day, the MWC was a fairly common playoff matchup.

2005 - Monmouth (62-3 SJU)
2003 - St. Norbert* (38-13 SJU)
2001 - St. Norbert (27-20 SJU)

*No longer in the MWC.

2003 was the year a St. Norbert's player--their stud tight end, I think?--turned and flipped off the entire SJU crowd on his way back to the SNC bench. He later wrote an apology in the CSB-SJU Record.

[faunch]

When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

It's been a while, but back in the day, the MWC was a fairly common playoff matchup.

2005 - Monmouth (62-3 SJU)
2003 - St. Norbert* (38-13 SJU)
2001 - St. Norbert (27-20 SJU)

*No longer in the MWC.

2003 was the year a St. Norbert's player--their stud tight end, I think?--turned and flipped off the entire SJU crowd on his way back to the SNC bench. He later wrote an apology in the CSB-SJU Record.

And late in the fourth quarter one of the Rat Pack stood atop a snow pile and played Taps!!

[Retired Old Rat]

When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

It's been a while, but back in the day, the MWC was a fairly common playoff matchup.

2005 - Monmouth (62-3 SJU)
2003 - St. Norbert* (38-13 SJU)
2001 - St. Norbert (27-20 SJU)

*No longer in the MWC.

2003 was the year a St. Norbert's player--their stud tight end, I think?--turned and flipped off the entire SJU crowd on his way back to the SNC bench. He later wrote an apology in the CSB-SJU Record.

There were at least two students on the sideline "talking" to him the whole game.  The two I know for sure are former posters here, TC and Mr. Shoes.  In those days they allowed the fans to get almost right up to the field.  He was more flipping them off than the crowd.  That dude was a stud. 

[SagatagSam]

When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

It's been a while, but back in the day, the MWC was a fairly common playoff matchup.

2005 - Monmouth (62-3 SJU)
2003 - St. Norbert* (38-13 SJU)
2001 - St. Norbert (27-20 SJU)

*No longer in the MWC.

2003 was the year a St. Norbert's player--their stud tight end, I think?--turned and flipped off the entire SJU crowd on his way back to the SNC bench. He later wrote an apology in the CSB-SJU Record.

There were at least two students on the sideline "talking" to him the whole game.  The two I know for sure are former posters here, TC and Mr. Shoes.  In those days they allowed the fans to get almost right up to the field.  He was more flipping them off than the crowd.  That dude was a stud.

Ah yes, those were the days. I remember a few games standing right on the restraining line around the field that is typically reserved as a buffer line for photographers.

[DuffMan]

Ha, I'd forgotten about that. 

Too bad the Rat Pack does nothing but pal around with the student section these days.

TC and Mr. Shoes were recent grads at that point. 

[carletonknights]

The smell test says SJU is a heavy favorite on Saturday, but I don't know much about Lake Forest. There are no common opponents between SJU and LF, but there are some common opponents of opponents.

LF beat Wisconsin Lutheran 27-10. Martin Luther beat Wisconsin Lutheran 42-28. SJU beat Martin Luther 55-7.

LF beat Monmouth 24-10.
Wartburg beat Monmouth 44-3.
Gustavus beat Wartburg 24-18.

Lake Forest beat Ripon 42-7.
Ripon beat Augsburg 46-38.
SJU beat Augsburg 50-0.

By using shaky assumptions from these results, maybe we can expect LF to play at a level somewhere between GAC and AUG?

On the statistics side, I saw that LF defense has given up only 689 rush yards in 10 games compared to 1,572 pass yards allowed (SJU has given up 908 rush and 1,604 pass, albeit against tougher competition).

Offensive yardage for LF is pretty evenly split at 1,916 rush and 2,013 pass.

Any one else have any insight? When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

Lake Forest may well have the most talented player on the field in WR/PR A.J. Jackson.  Dude is no joke. Punt to him at your own risk.

I watched one of their games in person this year and I agree, he was their best player. They had a couple guys on defense who impressed me too, but there's no way it should be a close game.

[DuffMan]

Yeah, he's got 8 punt returns for TDs in his career and is averaging 30 yards per return.  You'd be stupid to kick to him.

Lots of AZ kids on their roster...

[OzJohnnie]

Yeah, he's got 8 punt returns for TDs in his career and is averaging 30 yards per return.  You'd be stupid to kick to him.

Lots of AZ kids on their roster...

If he returns 8 on Saturday then the Jays will be in trouble, that's for sure.

[faunch]

Yeah, he's got 8 punt returns for TDs in his career and is averaging 30 yards per return.  You'd be stupid to kick to him.

Lots of AZ kids on their roster...

If he returns 8 on Saturday then the Jays will be in trouble, that's for sure.

If we punt 8 times we will be in trouble.

[DuffMan]

Best scenario is that we don't need to punt. 

[OzJohnnie]

Before we get too deep into the playoffs hoopla, I want to acknowledge the achievement of Mr Man of the Moment, Chris Backes. He steps in after years at the number two spot and leads the Johnnies to victory in the highest pressure, highest stakes conference game I can recall.  Can anyone else think of a game for the conference championship that was played away, in the last week, against such strong competition in a snow storm?

And he didn't just win it, but he won it with a Magic-filled 25-yard scramble to keep a 71-yard, eight play drive alive with no time outs and only 1:59 on the clock when the Johnnies got the ball. It was a drive for the Ages.  And it was a drive that not only won the conference championship but earned the Johnnies a #1 overall seed in the post season, something that hasn't happened for at least 15 years. Maybe longer.  I can't actually recall the last time the Johnnies were seeded to host a semifinal.

So now he sits atop a teams with extreme talent on offense and defense. Will these Johnnies go far in the post-season?  I do not know. But I do know that Backes will make sure the Jays leave nothing on the table. They will give it their all this year and do us all proud.

I'm stoked. I'm ready for some Magic. And I think these boys have what it takes to deliver some.

[SJU13]

The smell test says SJU is a heavy favorite on Saturday, but I don't know much about Lake Forest. There are no common opponents between SJU and LF, but there are some common opponents of opponents.

LF beat Wisconsin Lutheran 27-10. Martin Luther beat Wisconsin Lutheran 42-28. SJU beat Martin Luther 55-7.

LF beat Monmouth 24-10.
Wartburg beat Monmouth 44-3.
Gustavus beat Wartburg 24-18.

Lake Forest beat Ripon 42-7.
Ripon beat Augsburg 46-38.
SJU beat Augsburg 50-0.

By using shaky assumptions from these results, maybe we can expect LF to play at a level somewhere between GAC and AUG?

On the statistics side, I saw that LF defense has given up only 689 rush yards in 10 games compared to 1,572 pass yards allowed (SJU has given up 908 rush and 1,604 pass, albeit against tougher competition).

Offensive yardage for LF is pretty evenly split at 1,916 rush and 2,013 pass.

Any one else have any insight? When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

Lake Forest may well have the most talented player on the field in WR/PR A.J. Jackson.  Dude is no joke. Punt to him at your own risk.

Article on his for anyone interested: https://www.d3football.com/columns/features/2021/lake-forest-aj-jackson-punt-return-extraordinaire

They've had a few games where it looks like they chuck it around otherwise they're running it with a 200 lbs RB, their QB, and a 230 lb RB. A.J. is going to be the primary target in the air, along with a smattering of TEs and a few WRs. Line play will be important in stuffing the run and keeping the QB contained.

They're the best punt return team, and their defense has a +18 (2nd nationally) margin with one DB snagging half their INTs. 15th in scoring offense despite being 70th in yardage. Seems they win the field position battle and make the most of it. I like our odds if we force this team to have to go 75+ yards.

[DuffMan]

Just perused the Forester's stats for a bit.  They're going to be a tough team. It should be a fun game!

Interesting tidbit--they averaged 622 fans per home game. 

[Thunderdome21]

The smell test says SJU is a heavy favorite on Saturday, but I don't know much about Lake Forest. There are no common opponents between SJU and LF, but there are some common opponents of opponents.

LF beat Wisconsin Lutheran 27-10. Martin Luther beat Wisconsin Lutheran 42-28. SJU beat Martin Luther 55-7.

LF beat Monmouth 24-10.
Wartburg beat Monmouth 44-3.
Gustavus beat Wartburg 24-18.

Lake Forest beat Ripon 42-7.
Ripon beat Augsburg 46-38.
SJU beat Augsburg 50-0.

By using shaky assumptions from these results, maybe we can expect LF to play at a level somewhere between GAC and AUG?

On the statistics side, I saw that LF defense has given up only 689 rush yards in 10 games compared to 1,572 pass yards allowed (SJU has given up 908 rush and 1,604 pass, albeit against tougher competition).

Offensive yardage for LF is pretty evenly split at 1,916 rush and 2,013 pass.

Any one else have any insight? When was the last time SJU played a team from the MWC?

Lake Forest may well have the most talented player on the field in WR/PR A.J. Jackson.  Dude is no joke. Punt to him at your own risk.

Article on his for anyone interested: https://www.d3football.com/columns/features/2021/lake-forest-aj-jackson-punt-return-extraordinaire

They've had a few games where it looks like they chuck it around otherwise they're running it with a 200 lbs RB, their QB, and a 230 lb RB. A.J. is going to be the primary target in the air, along with a smattering of TEs and a few WRs. Line play will be important in stuffing the run and keeping the QB contained.

They're the best punt return team, and their defense has a +18 (2nd nationally) margin with one DB snagging half their INTs. 15th in scoring offense despite being 70th in yardage. Seems they win the field position battle and make the most of it. I like our odds if we force this team to have to go 75+ yards.

Their QB, Trae Stewart, is a transfer from Wheaton. Most likely left because he got buried on the depth chart at Wheaton behind a couple of D-1 transfers at the QB position.  He's got a canon for an arm and has alot of mobility.