BTW I don't remember seeing it mentioned but the officiating crew Saturday in Naperville was a WIAC crew. 

Oz-Thanks for chiming in. I don't mind at all. And I don't think I've ever suggested people shouldn't post whatever they want. This board is the leader of d3boards.com in that regard. Most Bethel supporters I know (and being a Wheaton Alum, my ties are many) accept the loss as you suggest. And I also don't think there has been a single poster, me included, that doesn't think Tentgate was a total debacle and a failure on many fronts. We are all in agreement.

My only pushback, and perhaps this should die here and now, was on the idea that the game would have been different if that play stood. I saw a Bethel team that had 2 more plays before the half and couldn't score followed by 3 consecutive possessions to start the third quarter that yielded nothing, during which time their opponent extended the lead and effectively ended the game.

I understand the emotion, particularly after the ending of last year's season so I have no complaints. I wish my Bethel friends nothing but the best and I fully expect them to be back in the playoffs next year with the team they had.

Separately, I also watched Conant in a few games this year and he was a huge difference maker and it was hard to see him not be able to go at full strength. He will be back next year with a vengeance

I listened to Podcast #400 (Congrats Pat!). Coach Walker at UWRF is a class act. I like him a lot. I also liked his post game presser Saturday where he told his guys they weren't allowed to go sleevless because it was stupid.

He assessed the Wheaton/UWRF game pretty accurately in stating RF was 5-5 in the redzone and Wheaton was 2-5 and that was the story of the game. I couldn't agree more. Wheaton couldn't finish drives and UWRF scored every time they got down there. A lot of that had to do with RF's making some great stops. The 4th and 1 tackle that Gage Timms makes on Crider was as good a play as I have seen. Very tough to make that tackle from a MLB position. UWRF took that and scored which was the biggest turning point in the game for me.

River Falls is going to be a very tough out and while I want to see a Stagg vs NCC, I am looking forward to the two games this weekend as all four teams have a solid profile that will challenge their opponents.

Quote from: CHUBBS PETERSON on Yesterday at 04:12:40 PM

Quote from: USee on Yesterday at 02:42:35 PM

Quote from: CHUBBS PETERSON on Yesterday at 02:31:00 PM

Quote from: USee on Yesterday at 02:10:59 PMThe play did not affect the outcome nor the momentum IMO.

That's a laughably indefensible position to take, but it's your luxury to do so.

The better team won. How we got there wasn't great and should not be allowed to happen again. Both things can be true, and they are.

Seems to me NCC had a convincing win and some of you guys just don't want to accept it. Believe me, I was not rooting for NCC either!

You're arguing with your own straw man; carry on, by all means.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story......

Quote from: CHUBBS PETERSON on Yesterday at 02:31:00 PM

Quote from: USee on Yesterday at 02:10:59 PMThe play did not affect the outcome nor the momentum IMO.

That's a laughably indefensible position to take, but it's your luxury to do so.

The better team won. How we got there wasn't great and should not be allowed to happen again. Both things can be true, and they are.

It's indefensible to suggest that play had anything to do with giving up 312 yds on the ground and 35 pts. You want to argue that a fluke TD by an OLineman somehow stopped Bethel's momentum? Sure looked like the NCC defense is what did that. After Tentgate, Bethel still had a first down despite the referees mistake and couldn't score and then went 3 and out on the next possession of the game (to start the 2nd half). What part of that is the referees fault?  Seems to me NCC had a convincing win and some of you guys just don't want to accept it. Believe me, I was not rooting for NCC either!

Now we can move beyond Tentgate and onto the Semis. JCU has a stiff defense. I just wonder if they have the firepower to score enough to keep up w NCC.

I was told that guy was not a coach by someone who would know.

The play did not affect the outcome nor the momentum IMO. Rather than a fluke, unearned TD on a fumble to an OL, Bethel got a first down and was unable to score. They also got the 2nd half kickoff and went three and out. NCC ran the ball for 312 yards because they could and that's who they are, a run first team. Had nothing to do with the score.

Bethel ran the ball more effectively than anyone did (WashU was the only other team to get over 100 yds I believe) and the ground game was impressive. I went into the game saying Bethel needed to score more than 21 and keep NCC under 30. Bethel's D was the best shot at limiting the NCC ground assault this playoffs and they couldn't do it. I don't think there is anyone left who can slow them down, not even UWRF. John Carrol has a stout defense for sure but I don't think they have the firepower to score enough. UWRF will have to outscore NCC to win.

I think the UWRF v JHU game is at River Falls?

There was never any coach in the tent. Didn't happen. The AD was there, who was in charge of the whole thing, and an operations guy who helped set it all up. Refs clearly messed up the call but that had nothing to do with NCC folks making sure the technology was working.

Quote from: RoyalsFan on December 14, 2025, 01:28:51 PM

Quote from: sju56321 on December 14, 2025, 11:45:39 AMWatching ncc and uwrf(twice) it is apparent that SJU needs to run the ball next year-get a RB or commit to who you have and run the darn ball. Interesting how both games were close-bethel game closer-at half and how ncc and uwrf pulled away. MIAC has work to do-schedule tough non-conference games.

Unfortunately that is a double edged sword when it comes to getting an at-large bid. Win/loss record seems to be more of a factor than strength of schedule when determining at-large bids. It is fine if you happen to win those non conference games, but if you lose them it really hurts IMO.

This is no longer true w NPI.  In fact it seems the tougher your non conf opponent the better your chances of an at large bid.  Take Wheaton. Last year they scheduled Oshkosh and lost. Finished 8-2 (w losses to NCC and UWO). Didn't get in. This year they replaced UWO w Mt Union. Same result. 8-2. Easily got in.  The reality is weaker non conference opponents hurt your NPI. You can actually lose a road game to a strong opponent and increase your NOI more than a home win against a weak team

Congrats to UWRF on a much deserved win and trip to the semis. Great team.

Congrats to NCC. Pretty convincing win over an excellent team.

River Falls front's are huge:

OL Heights: 6-9, 6-5, 6-3, 6-6, 6-4,
TE: 6-5
WR: 6-5, 6-5, 6-3, 5-11
QB: 6-2
RB: 6-2

DL: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
LB: 6-1, 6-0, 6-1
DB: 6-0, 6-5, 6-1, 6-0

1 starting player that's not 6'+

Even the Kicker and punter are 6-1

I'll be shocked if this is a track meet. JP Sullivan is the most unblockable Defensive player in the country and Bethel is gonna struggle with him like everybody else. Against Wheaton we got shut out and ran for -2 yds. That's almost exclusively because of JP Sullivan. On the other hand, I think Bethel is well suited to stymie the NCC offense and if they win it's a low scoring affair. Conant and Williams are playmakers. If NCC scores 30 I don't think Bethel has a chance. But I have been wrong many times before.....

Quote from: bleedpurple on December 12, 2025, 07:57:07 AMI have no idea how much the bitter conditions will affect the midwest games, but to me (irrespective of Hansen Ratings type data), there is about a 20% chance NCC will be eliminated in the playoffs before Wheaton. I do think River Falls will win, but that's probably because I saw them play in person and have not seen Wheaton. They are big and fast, but more than that their execution was brilliant when I saw them. I'm probably the only one, but I truly think Bethel/NCC is a toss up.

That's the thing w football right? You see a team and they play well and that shapes your view. The problem w football is we have such a limited data set its hard to predict. Heck there are certain Mt Union posters who thought Grove City was better than Wheaton. To be fair, they never played so who knows. People who watched Wheaton win at Wartburg are thinking, Wow they are good. Those who watched them lost to UMU think they aren't any good. UWW  had a very impressive win v UMHB and then DePauw beat them in Janesville.....etc, etc. Wheaton beat NCC in 2019 and was a top seed. NCC made it as one of the last teams in the field as a pool C. Wheaton loses on a penalty at home at the end vs St Johns and NCC wins the Stagg with a single loss to Wheaton. Going into the playoffs, Wheaton was very much one of the favorites for the Stagg. NCC was an afterthought.

There are few things that travel well. We all know Blaha is elite as he is consistent across multiple seasons. We all know the LOS wins games. UWRF has 1 player (Blaha) who can take over a game. They a bunch of other great players as well but I don't think they have others at the level of Blaha in terms of difference makers.

NCC had Lehnen and an elite offensive line the last 4 years. Those players were a cut above even other team's great players. NCC doesn't have that on offense this year. They are great, but they don't have a Lehnen type or an OL with guys like Maples and Pryor (Cortez is close). They have an elite WR in Skokna. On Defense they have a guy who is a superior player in JP Sullivan. the kid is virtually unblockable (remember Kleppe?). They also have 2-3 other AA types on defense. I feel pretty confident that Bethel is gonna struggle with JP Sullivan. Everybody does. Bethel seems to have 2 difference makers among many great players on defense. Conant and Williams make plays against everybody (Conant was hurt last week).

I would be shocked if Bethel wins in a shootout because I don't think they can score 28+ pts on NCC. I do think they can hold NCC to a low output on offense and can win a lower scoring game. If NCC puts up 30+ it's over in my opinion. But I have been really wrong before so who knows........these games are when the next Lehnen's are born (Zac Boyes anyone?). For Wheaton I'm hoping Mark Forcucci is the next Boyes. That's the beauty of these playoffs.

I think Bethel has as good a chance as anyone in the field to beat NCC.