Forcucci, who threw for 5 TD's vs Millikin, broke the Wheaton career TD passing record on Saturday that had stood for 40 years. Keith Bishop (son of then head coach JR Bishop) led the "Air Bishop Express" back then, starting for 3 years and setting a lot of NCAA records at the time when Wheaton would routinely throw for 400-500 yds in a game.

Millikin @ Wheaton kick was moved from 6pm to 12pm because of weather forecast.

Maloney needs to be more aware of his running. He took way too many hits as a runner last week considering his importance to this offense. He is a great running threat but go out of bounds and slide at the end of those runs.

Quote from: bleedpurple on September 11, 2026, 03:40:08 PM

Quote from: The Third Division on September 11, 2026, 10:44:36 AMSo brian stanton is off the UWW roster now?

https://x.com/JoshGolberg/status/2098381869532275140

This is new and I'm not in a position to provide information, but with the internet being what it is, I feel compelled to make one thing clear. This has nothing to do with legal trouble or anything like that. Just didn't want his reputation tarnished by unwarranted speculation.

Commence unwarranted speculation........

Coaches film is available to the refs which is three different angles. There is also the Webcast replay. Wheaton coaches have sideline camera and both endzone cameras. I have seen all the tape and the Caldwell play in the endzone was definitely not a catch and the Kortenhoeven 4th and 4 play was questionable at best (the endzone camera is a pretty good look. Don't think there was anywhere near enough evidence to overturn that one).

Quote from: hsbsballcoach7 on September 06, 2026, 02:00:07 PMIt really does look like the referee made a poor call against Mount on the pass on the end zone.... https://x.com/d3football/status/2096314898548457740

Definitely not a catch though it should have been.  You can't see it on the video on X but the ball was on Deandre Caldwell's body as he lands on the ground but wasnt secured. When he rolls to his right side the official who puts up the TD sign is block by the defender's body. As Caldwell roll to his right side he is trying to bring the ball up from his waist area and as he rolls the ball comes in contact with the ground as he secures with is right arm and shoulder. This one was challenged by Dartt and was upheld via replay.

Caldwell dropped two other TD's by my count. A slant in the early 2nd quarter would have been a 65 yd TD, hit him in the hands and then a long skinny post where Maloney threw a great ball and Caldwell tried to one hand it when he should have used both hands (and easily could have). That kid's gonna be good but he didn't help his QB on Saturday as he should have had 3 TD's.

I think Wheaton's defense will struggle with those two big OT's from UMU. Mount likes to run the ball 60% of the time and if they can establish the ground game it's gonna be a tough day for the Thunder. Maloney is special and will do his thing so Mount's ability to complement his skills with a run game will be a key. Wheaton's best hope is for a shootout and their offense is capable if Mount doesn't force turnovers.

A lot of folks forget Mount never subbed their defense last year so Wheaton's production was legit. Mount did force a couple turnovers, both outright and on downs, so if Wheaton wants to compete today they have to eliminate empty drives because Mt's offense is going to produce.

Quote from: cuyahogacuse on September 04, 2026, 12:53:02 AM

Quote from: USee on September 02, 2026, 12:18:34 PM-WR Brayden Harris: He is from Northfield OH and was teammates with backup QB Charley Levak (who is younger bro to S Ricky Levak). He only played in 7 games last year (injury?) but caught balls for 230 yds and 7 TD's. Tall, athletic WR who makes a lot of contested catches. Looks like a great get for the Raiders

Those are 13-game numbers.

Not according to Brayden: https://x.com/BraydenHar13

Wheaton Mt Union moved up to noon central time.

Greg, I can't speak for everyone, but the three of us who have been here for a decade or more are probably too old to remember anything, let alone a discussion on youth football attrition.

A few key freshman recruits for Mt Union appear to be set to get significant playing time and could make an impact for the Raiders this season:

-RB Bo Bokman: played at a 6A school in MN and got to state semis. He ran for 720 yds and 11 TD's and had receptions for another 460 yds and 5 TD's. Bo is an explosive and versatile RB who lined up in the slot, caught a lot of balls and had 2 Punt Return TD's this past year. He also played in the Minnesota state all star game

-WR Brayden Harris: He is from Northfield OH and was teammates with backup QB Charley Levak (who is younger bro to S Ricky Levak). He only played in 7 games last year (injury?) but caught balls for 230 yds and 7 TD's. Tall, athletic WR who makes a lot of contested catches. Looks like a great get for the Raiders

-OL Cole Cook: Cook is set to start at RG for the Raiders which is saying something for a school that wins on the backs of talent in the trenches. Dartt obviously played and coached OL so his specific area of expterise suggests he thinks highly of this kid who went to one of the larger schools in Houston (The Woodlands), was 1st team all district and his team was 12-1 last year.

-TE Justice Taylor: 6-6 230 lbs from Dayton's Trotwood-Madison. He was teammates with presumed starting Soph DE Keymaurie Henderson. Justice is athletic and long. He had originally committed to Alabama A&M (had other offers like Central Mich) before ending up in Alliance. Looks like a matchup nightmare in Maloney's arsenal

If these guys are indicative of the talent coming to Raider country, the rumors of the Raider's demise may be a bit premature.

Wheaton will start 2 OL that haven't started a game previously. They will have a veteran QB, RB and WR room that all contributed significantly throughout the playoffs last year. If the OLine can gel, this has a chance to be one of the better offensive units Wheaton has had in a while. Defensively 3 of the front 4 have started games (Kroger, Maxton Leathers, Owen Downing) and a Junior at DE Ethan Brunner. 3 of the 4 DL backups are seniors and I believe the Thunder will play 7-8 guys on the DL in true platoon style. At LB they return Zeke Harris, an AA at MLB and 2 guys with playing experience in Luke Hegge and Brett Dieter. In the secondary they have AA Colin Moore at safety and all three other spots are juniors with at least some experience in Harvan, Reeves and Haas.

Mt Union's biggest question mark appears to be WR where they return just 20 receptions of production from last years team. Mikey Maloney is a stud at QB (31 TDs, 3 INT, 71% completion avg and ran for 480 yds--most of it against Wheaton!). Their RB, Minner, is a returnng co-starter at 6.8 ypc and they have a dynamic freshman named Bo Bokman who can run between the tackles, catch the ball and return punts for good measure. he will likely have a large role in the offense.  Up front they have 3 returning starters and will rely on a freshman and a soph with 7 games of exp at the other two spots. On defense Mt Union is replacing a lot up front. They have Gabe Ganelli and Corey Gibson back at DT and Bandit and they get Jackson Harris who was a starter  at DT in 2024 back. They are starting 2 sophomores at the othe 2 DL spots. At LB and Spur they have 2 soph's and a Jr in those spots Gavin Ehrhardt is the most experienced LB returning (53 tackles in '25). In the secondary they have 2 soph corners and Levak and Adelman are the returners at safety.

Mt Union's Qb is the real deal and if they can answer the WR question they will be tough again on offense. Mt Union, despite the headlines of their QB, is 60/40 run pass.

Last year the Mount offense got going off the jump and the Wheaton offense stalled until the 2H. Wheaton will have to start fast against this group as they don't want to be playing catch up for a second time.

The NCC v Bethel game kicks at noon Central and Wheaton v Mt Union is at 1pm so folks can catch the beginning and/or end of whichever game they prefer (or stream em both online!).

Quote from: GusD on August 31, 2026, 06:28:32 PM

Quote from: USee on August 31, 2026, 12:14:48 PMI would put NCC as a 2-3pt favorite specifically because of home field advantage. NCC has a lot to replace (which they have done consistently in the past) vs Bethel who has a lot returning. Bethel has more experience in this game (80% of Off/Def production returning vs NCC at 62%).

For Mt Union @Wheaton I don't know what to make of Wheaton as a 6.5 pt favorite vs a team they have NEVER defeated and it hasn't been particularly close. This is the first time they play at McCully Stadium but that's a small difference in spread. The Raiders are replacing 15 starters and have 2 new coordinators but like NCC, they have typically had no problem reloading and Mt Union's QB, Mikey Maloney (2nd team preseason AA), crushed the Thunder last September in Alliance. The Thunder do bring back 7 starters on offense including their Gagliardi semifinalist QB but are replacing 2-3 OL and will be starting 3 new players in the defensive backfield while trying to replace one of the nations best in TFL on the DL (Johanik). I would have Mt Union as a single digit favorite in this game.

A single digit such as 1, or a single digit like 9 or close to it? 🤗 😉

Yes! 

I'll take Bethel and the points. Anyone? Anyone?

Underdogs, sure. Hansen has the Raiders as a dog but that's almost entirely based on returning production for both teams and is simply quantitative. As a Wheaton fan, I'll make it a pickem and take the Raiders. Anyone want the other side?