FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Podcast is out and they pick the Johnnies over BU this coming week, which is no surprise.

Unfortunately, I'm of the same opinion.  The defense is good, but not great - I think they'll hold up for a bit, but end up on the field way too much, as I really don't think the offense is yet in a place to generate much traction against a team like SJU.

Like you said - they can gain a lot of good experience this year, and have 3 more seasons with Call starting.

I actually disagree here. I think the D looks very good. The offense was a mess with Bolt and Geebli getting hurt, they were on the field all game against Wart. Starting corner goes out for a play, Wart attacks the backup for a huge gain late. Otherwise they played a really good game against a very good, legit Top 5 Wartburg team.

Offense showed signs of life with a new QB. He's still settling in, so not expecting a points explosion Saturday, but I think the O is trending up and the D is good enough to keep them in every game.

[BiggieSmalls]

Podcast is out and they pick the Johnnies over BU this coming week, which is no surprise.

Unfortunately, I'm of the same opinion.  The defense is good, but not great - I think they'll hold up for a bit, but end up on the field way too much, as I really don't think the offense is yet in a place to generate much traction against a team like SJU.

Like you said - they can gain a lot of good experience this year, and have 3 more seasons with Call starting.

I didn't catch any of the game. The box score looks pretty lopsided. The offense can't be that terrible if they put up 429 yards total--or is UWEC's defense that bad?

From looks of it, UWEC defense wasn’t that good. Bethel offense is still learning how to play with new QB. He got full 4 quarters of snaps instead of 2H only vs Wartburg. QB got more comfortable as UWEC game progressed, but that’s different then against Johnnie D on the road. Bethel Offense starting 11 has 1 senior listed.

OL - Sr, 2 Jrs, and 2 Soph
QB - Redshirt Frosh
RB - Jr (Soph starter out for season after breaking leg vs Wartburg)
TE - Jr
WR - 3 Jrs

[DuffMan]

I'm banking on a nice Monkey Stomp^TM by the Johnnies this weekend and will be enjoying the game from the softball fields at Wayzata High School.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Podcast is out and they pick the Johnnies over BU this coming week, which is no surprise.

Unfortunately, I'm of the same opinion.  The defense is good, but not great - I think they'll hold up for a bit, but end up on the field way too much, as I really don't think the offense is yet in a place to generate much traction against a team like SJU.

Like you said - they can gain a lot of good experience this year, and have 3 more seasons with Call starting.

I actually disagree here. I think the D looks very good. The offense was a mess with Bolt and Geebli getting hurt, they were on the field all game against Wart. Starting corner goes out for a play, Wart attacks the backup for a huge gain late. Otherwise they played a really good game against a very good, legit Top 5 Wartburg team.

Offense showed signs of life with a new QB. He's still settling in, so not expecting a points explosion Saturday, but I think the O is trending up and the D is good enough to keep them in every game.

That's a fair assessment! 

My optimist side hopes that they can at least keep it respectable on Saturday - then assuming they take care of the rest of the MIAC slate, have a chance at really competing if they were to get to the championship once they've had a handful of additional games under their belt.  Of course SJU will improve over the year too...

[SagatagSam]

WEEK 3

Gustavus (+3.5) @ UW-Stout - Gustavus took a half to truly get started on offense, ending the half with four punts, two turnovers on downs, and two missed field goal attempts (one blocked). By the time they finally put points on the board with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter, the spread was nearly out of reach. An early fourth quarter Stout touchdown erased any remaining doubt as Gustavus falls, 24-7 in Menomonie, and Stout covers the spread by 13.5 points.

#18 Bethel @ UW-Eau Claire (+28.5) - The Bethel defense did what it had to do to ensure the spread was covered, allowing no points, turning the Blugolds over three times, and only allowing the Blugold offense into Bethel territory once all day. The young Bethel offense scored a touchdown in every quarter, but didn't quite have the mustard to cover. Bethel prevails, 24-0, but UW-Eau Claire beats the spread by 4.5 poitns.

Martin Luther (+50.5) @ Augsburg - Augsburg continues to be an absolute phenom against the spread. Is there a spread they can't beat or cover? History over the past year says "seldom, if ever." The trend continued in the beatdown of Martin Luther. The 21-0 halftime score made spread watchers wondering if the dogs would get called off too early to cover the spread, but the Auggies poured it on, scoring 28 points in the third quarter to put the game within 1.5 points of the spread. Jordan Doe reeled in a Ryan Harvey pass with 11:32 remaining in the fourth quarter to push the Auggies past the spread and the defense continued to dominate, allowing Martin Luther in to Auggie territory just once all day. Augsburg wins, 62-0 and covers the spread by 11.5 points.

Crown (+35.5) @ St. Scholastica - The Saints surged out to a 38-0 lead early in the third quarter, but Crown was able to stop all of the Saints fourth quarter drives with the Saints starters on the bench. Crown scored on three of its last four drives. St. Scholastica wins, 38-18, but Crown beats the spread by 15.5 points.

Carleton @ Minnesota-Morris (+35.5) - The Cougar defense, which broke plenty in the first half, allowing Carleton scores on all but two of its six first half possessions, buckled down in the second half. The Cougars forced three turnovers on Carleton's last three possessions and eeked out just enough offense. Carleton wins, 38-12, but UM-Morris beats the spread by 9.5 points.

St. Thomas (+21.5) @ Harvard - The Crimson opened the game on a 79-yard touchdown run and had the spread all but covered after its first three possessions. The game and the spread were all covered easily before halftime. The Toms managed a few scores in the second half, but it wasn't even close as Harvard forced three turnovers. Harvard wins the game, 45-13, and covers the spread by 10.5 points.

#22 Susquehanna (+14.5) @ #10 Cortland Cortland looked to have this one, both the game and the spread, in hand until Susquehanna scored 17 unanswered points in the final five minutes of the game to take the game, 38-35, and beat the spread by 17.5 points.

[SJU13]

Kidder and Niewald accounted for >60% of the offensive yard total plus 2 of the touchdowns against UWEC which included a 76 yard TD catch. Hoping we stay focused in the secondary to avoid those guys in open space 20 yards downfield.

Only been 2 games, but our 3rd down defense has been rough. Gonna need to get BU behind the sticks and limit their ability to chew up clock.

Hoping the couple of weeks to prepare, heal injuries that aren’t season enders, and playing at home will see the guys come out swinging. Would much rather make BU play catch up than the other way around.

[BiggieSmalls]

Kidder and Niewald accounted for >60% of the offensive yard total plus 2 of the touchdowns against UWEC which included a 76 yard TD catch. Hoping we stay focused in the secondary to avoid those guys in open space 20 yards downfield.

Only been 2 games, but our 3rd down defense has been rough. Gonna need to get BU behind the sticks and limit their ability to chew up clock.

Hoping the couple of weeks to prepare, heal injuries that aren’t season enders, and playing at home will see the guys come out swinging. Would much rather make BU play catch up than the other way around.

Wow! I had to look at NCAA stats to get an idea. Johnnies 3rd down defense conversion % is 0.720. This is 239 out of 239 D3 teams. With that said, played very tough opponents and it’s only 2 games so have to keep it in context. Bethel’s 3rd down defense conversion % is 0.240 for 26th out of 239. Wartburg offense is highly regarded, with UWEC less so.

Bethel’s rushing offense is 181st at 89.0 YPG. If they’re going to have success, they’ll need to do better than this. I’d guess they’ll need to give themselves 3rd and manageable. Otherwise, it could be tough sledding for the Royals.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EMS
WEEK 3 STANDINGS

WEEK 4
Conference: 3pts
#19 Bethel (+10.5) @ #8 St. John's
Concordia @ St. Scholastica (+24.5)
Gustavus @ Augsburg (+9.5)
Hamline (+24.5) @ Carleton
Macalester (+10.5) @ St. Olaf

Other games: 1pt
Morehead State (+16.5) @ St. Thomas
#17 John Carroll @ Heidelberg (+10.5)

[faunch]

MIAC PICK-EMS
WEEK 3 STANDINGS

WEEK 4
Conference: 3pts
#19 Bethel (+10.5) @ #8 St. John's
Concordia @ St. Scholastica (+24.5)
Gustavus @ Augsburg (+9.5)
Hamline (+24.5) @ Carleton
Macalester (+10.5) @ St. Olaf

Other games: 1pt
Morehead State (+16.5) @ St. Thomas
#17 John Carroll @ Heidelberg (+10.5)

Until this SJU team can string together more than 7-10 minutes of good football I wouldn’t lay a dime on that spread.

[SagatagSam]

Until this SJU team can string together more than 7-10 minutes of good football I wouldn’t lay a dime on that spread.

My key on Saturday is the Johnnies third down defense. If they can get off the field on third down, I think they cover. If Bethel is converting 50%+ of its third downs, I think the Johnnies run the risk of losing this one at home. The Bethel defense is tough. Giving up only 16 points to a very good Wartburg offense is all I need to be convinced of that.

[faunch]

Until this SJU team can string together more than 7-10 minutes of good football I wouldn’t lay a dime on that spread.

My key on Saturday is the Johnnies third down defense. If they can get off the field on third down, I think they cover. If Bethel is converting 50%+ of its third downs, I think the Johnnies run the risk of losing this one at home. The Bethel defense is tough. Giving up only 16 points to a very good Wartburg offense is all I need to be convinced of that.

Agreed...my hope is that we will make adjustments and the level of competition we had the first two weeks has us well prepared.

[Ice Bear]

Until this SJU team can string together more than 7-10 minutes of good football I wouldn’t lay a dime on that spread.

My key on Saturday is the Johnnies third down defense. If they can get off the field on third down, I think they cover. If Bethel is converting 50%+ of its third downs, I think the Johnnies run the risk of losing this one at home. The Bethel defense is tough. Giving up only 16 points to a very good Wartburg offense is all I need to be convinced of that.

Agreed...my hope is that we will make adjustments and the level of competition we had the first two weeks has us well prepared.

Right on Sagatag I think that's a great point, +k. I'm fearing the Royal D will be on the field too much, especially if, to your great point, the Johnnies D shuts the door on third down conversions.

I'm honestly glad to see Alex Call getting the nod as the younger guy. I do feel badly for Bolt, but to me, and I am certainly no expert, it looked like he just didn't have "it" last year when he came in for Roste. I was hoping that was because most anybody would look that way next to Roste, but unfortunately I think I was right. Hey, I like Bolt, but being the QB at Bethel is a tall order, and if you can give a talented kid like Call time and real game reps to develop in a great league like the MIAC, that's a recipe for success.

I also think the loss of Geebli hurts us as well. He's so dynamic. Ellignson and Gritz showed some grit last week and are not a bad one two punch but again, Geebli is just so dynamic. Also Kidder is a beast. I just wanted to say that.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great week and this is such a great rivalry maybe one of the best in D3, and even college football for that matter. Honestly, I am really starting to enjoy this rivalry, and the MIAC, after watching it all from afar over the last couple of years from here in Schenectady, NY.

Johnnies 24
Royals 10

[bleedpurple]

Until this SJU team can string together more than 7-10 minutes of good football I wouldn’t lay a dime on that spread.

My key on Saturday is the Johnnies third down defense. If they can get off the field on third down, I think they cover. If Bethel is converting 50%+ of its third downs, I think the Johnnies run the risk of losing this one at home. The Bethel defense is tough. Giving up only 16 points to a very good Wartburg offense is all I need to be convinced of that.

Agreed...my hope is that we will make adjustments and the level of competition we had the first two weeks has us well prepared.

Right on Sagatag I think that's a great point, +k. I'm fearing the Royal D will be on the field too much, especially if, to your great point, the Johnnies D shuts the door on third down conversions.

I'm honestly glad to see Alex Call getting the nod as the younger guy. I do feel badly for Bolt, but to me, and I am certainly no expert, it looked like he just didn't have "it" last year when he came in for Roste. I was hoping that was because most anybody would look that way next to Roste, but unfortunately I think I was right. Hey, I like Bolt, but being the QB at Bethel is a tall order, and if you can give a talented kid like Call time and real game reps to develop in a great league like the MIAC, that's a recipe for success.

I also think the loss of Geebli hurts us as well. He's so dynamic. Ellignson and Gritz showed some grit last week and are not a bad one two punch but again, Geebli is just so dynamic. Also Kidder is a beast. I just wanted to say that.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great week and this is such a great rivalry maybe one of the best in D3, and even college football for that matter. Honestly, I am really starting to enjoy this rivalry, and the MIAC, after watching it all from afar over the last couple of years from here in Schenectady, NY.

Johnnies 24
Royals 10

Wow, when you adopt a team, you go all in. Even to the point of going all first person and everything! Nice!

[OzJohnnie]

Johnnies 24
Royals 10

I think you pick the Royals score well but after seeing them stiff Wartburg and then blank UWEC in Eau Claire, I don't the Jays will put up 24.  I'm going 17-10, Jays.

Massey, by the way, calls the game 28-11 to the Johnnies.  I don't think the scoring gets anywhere near that high.

[sju56321]

You think Bethel’s D is that much better than UWW? I think SJU scores 28 and probably gives up 24.