FB: Midwest Conference

[WW]

Well, hoping SNC can get its act together this week and do something no MWC school has done since 1935 - beat a WIAC school.

SNC beat a WIAC school (Platteville, IIRC) in 1983, but it was the year before the Knights joined the conference.

That's quite a factoid, puck. Makes those two recent OT misses vs Point and EC sting a little more if you're a Knight fan.

Eat Claire might be a tougher matchup than they look on paper. They put a pretty good thump on a Loras team that was respectable in 2018. And I think SNC is to some degree a victim of its success this season. Graduating 37 seniors is an accomplishment of which they should be very proud, but that means a bunch of starters AND their backups are gone. There's an experience gap, especially defensively, left in their void, and it looks like it showed last Saturday. I'd assume Eau Claire would be better equipped to exploit that gap than Aurora, and they exploited it plenty.

But one thing I liked from last week's stat line was Staehling's 200 yards. Last year's RPO leaned heavily R... looks like Freddy Poorman has the confidence to air it out.

Anybody got any Ripon insight? Sure expected a better showing out of them last week, too.

['95 Blugold]

Well, hoping SNC can get its act together this week and do something no MWC school has done since 1935 - beat a WIAC school.

SNC beat a WIAC school (Platteville, IIRC) in 1983, but it was the year before the Knights joined the conference.

That's quite a factoid, puck. Makes those two recent OT misses vs Point and EC sting a little more if you're a Knight fan.

Eat Claire might be a tougher matchup than they look on paper. They put a pretty good thump on a Loras team that was respectable in 2018. And I think SNC is to some degree a victim of its success this season. Graduating 37 seniors is an accomplishment of which they should be very proud, but that means a bunch of starters AND their backups are gone. There's an experience gap, especially defensively, left in their void, and it looks like it showed last Saturday. I'd assume Eau Claire would be better equipped to exploit that gap than Aurora, and they exploited it plenty.

But one thing I liked from last week's stat line was Staehling's 200 yards. Last year's RPO leaned heavily R... looks like Freddy Poorman has the confidence to air it out.

Anybody got any Ripon insight? Sure expected a better showing out of them last week, too.

I was at the EC game last year and honestly, SNC had no business even taking that game to overtime. One of the worst run out the clock end of game play calls I have ever seen along with a meltdown on defense and special teams. I'm sure SNC will be out to take a win on their home turf this year.

As far as this year, I have to admit I'm a bit nervous as a UWEC fan. I realize SNC was pretty senior heavy last year so this year's team probably isn't on the same level as last year. On the flip side we have a new head coach and offensive system and had some growing pains in their first game last week against Loras. One of our TDs came on pick 6 and the offense really had to rely on the big play. I can't remember a nice sustained drive that we had for score the whole game. I think the box scored showed a better offense than what we looked. On the defensive side we do return 8 of 11 starters and was a strength last season and once again in the opener last weekend against Loras. Should be a good game Saturday and hopefully I'll be able to catch it on line via stream.

[fulbakdad]

Lake Forest up 24-0 on Grinnell in the 2nd.  Grinnell is VERY shorthanded....

[fulbakdad]

Lake Forest wins going into the Bye week, 44-0.

[gbpuckfan]

Final
UWEC 21
SNC 27

['95 Blugold]

SNC defends a pass in the end zone from the 5 to preserve the win. Despite my Blugolds coming up short a good game to watch.

[WW]

SNC game was big fun. I'm not sure who will emerge as QB1 but for better or worse, McClanahan can sure throw a bullet. Defense looked better than I expected to see. Got some young guys in there but growing up quick.

[TheGreenKnight920]

SNC game was big fun. I'm not sure who will emerge as QB1 but for better or worse, McClanahan can sure throw a bullet. Defense looked better than I expected to see. Got some young guys in there but growing up quick.

Has anyone figured out what the deal was with the QB situation? McClanahan looked light years ahead of Poorman, in this game anyway, but they were used interchangeably. The commentators posited that maybe one was in for running situations and the other for passing situations, but that is perhaps the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard as you would basically be telegraphing your plays.

I see no reason SNC doesn't run the table if they beat Monmouth next week, though, the defense looks suspect enough that I don't know how confident I feel about them winning another playoff game this year.

[WW]

SNC game was big fun. I'm not sure who will emerge as QB1 but for better or worse, McClanahan can sure throw a bullet. Defense looked better than I expected to see. Got some young guys in there but growing up quick.

Has anyone figured out what the deal was with the QB situation? McClanahan looked light years ahead of Poorman, in this game anyway, but they were used interchangeably. The commentators posited that maybe one was in for running situations and the other for passing situations, but that is perhaps the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard as you would basically be telegraphing your plays.

I see no reason SNC doesn't run the table if they beat Monmouth next week, though, the defense looks suspect enough that I don't know how confident I feel about them winning another playoff game this year.

No inside dope there but Poorman went the distance in the opener and put up 380 yards, 4 tds and no picks despite the loss. You're right about McClanahan passing the eye test, though. Team moved better with him Saturday, and I think if I gave him a doe tag, a football and a stand, we'd have snack sticks by Thanksgiving. Poorman is a junior (?) and been in the program a couple years. McClanahan is a multi-school senior transfer. Don't know if he was here for spring practice or not... if he just got here in August, it makes sense that he's earning time. I would add that the OC appears to favor a strong runner at the position over a passer, based on last season. That's my take

[fulbakdad]

I agree Green Knight, no reason at all you don't just run the table.  Maybe we should just not even play the rest of the season so you can get ready for the playoffs?

Your first game, looked bad.  Your second game, you beat a team that is from a strong conference, but went 1-9 last year, 3-27 over the last 3 years!  And you only beat them by 7 points.  You might want to hold off some on your championship claim.....

[Pat Coleman]

Last year they didn't even win that game, but still won the championship.

[WW]

The dueling QB thing isn't that unusual. Whitewater opened with alternating QBs, although one appears to have taken the reins. Oshkosh is still giving two guys series. Since no media covers SNC regularly, I guess we won't get an answer from McCarty on whether or not that's a long-term approach or just an extended audition. Hey, here's a tip for the livestream crew -- get three minutes with the coach pre-game or post-game to find out this kind of stuff!

I dunno, 920.... SNC is still my pick in the North, but I wouldn't bet my milk money on it. The Foresters will definitely have something to say about it, and even though I'm yet to be impressed by Ripon, this might be the year they have a shot at the Green (VERY green) Knights. The upcoming SNC-Monmouth game is actually non-league and virtually meaningless since neither of these teams have a pool C shot that the outcome could affect. That said, there's some juice to this game, given their recent history. And Monmouth needs to right its ship. Both their outings have been ugly so far. As of now, I'm picking Chicago to represent the South in the MWC championship game. Heck, they've been ugly too, but less ugly. Definitely could be looking at two new characters in the MWC final this season.

[sncdangler]

I agree Green Knight, no reason at all you don't just run the table.  Maybe we should just not even play the rest of the season so you can get ready for the playoffs?

Your first game, looked bad.  Your second game, you beat a team that is from a strong conference, but went 1-9 last year, 3-27 over the last 3 years!  And you only beat them by 7 points.  You might want to hold off some on your championship claim.....

Eau Claire went 4-6 last season and had wins over Platteville and Oshkosh, but nice try on that one. They also have a running back and a linebacker that are better than anyone currently playing in the MWC. No matter who represents the north in the title game I would guess that St. Norbert playing Eau Claire will help the Knights get ready for the rest of the season way more than voluntarily playing Grinnell in a nonconference game will. (My understanding St. Norbert playing Grinnell again this year is part of a mandated crossover. I can't imagine either side would agree to play that game if not required to do so.) That said SNC has another tough challenge ahead playing Monmouth on the road.

[SpartanHouse]

Any notes on Monmouth? 0-2 vs two quality opponents but bad scores. Are they down?

[WW]

Any notes on Monmouth? 0-2 vs two quality opponents but bad scores. Are they down?

They replace AC RB DeAndre Wright and the QB Nelson offensively. The passing game so far has generated more touchdowns for the other team (2 pick-sixes) than for Monmouth (1). The offense showed a few signs of life vs Wartburg but vs Wheaton, 3 first downs, 56 total yards... yikes.

Safe to say they're "down" but in this league they're still a contender. They always have the numbers, just need a few kids to grow up fast.