FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

CarollFan · September 27, 2025, 06:59:01 PM

A couple upsets in top 25.

Alma 29 #15 Hope 26
Christopher Newport 41 #13 Susquehanna 27

CarollFan · September 27, 2025, 07:53:54 PM

I predict NPU will set a record this season for returned blocked kicks run back to the house. They blocked xtra pt last week ran it back for 2 pts. In first half tonight they blocked a FG, ran it back for a TD and blocked a xtra pt and ran it back for 2 pts.

cuyahogacuse · September 27, 2025, 10:42:54 PM

Quote from: CarollFan on September 27, 2025, 06:21:01 PMI didn't catch why Wheaton's starting QB didn't play today. I'm guessing no issues as he was on the sideline, looked like ready to go. Maybe just resting for next week. I go into the game worried about WR's #4 and #11 and #18 has a career day (10 receptions, 125 yds).

Wheaton did have some turnovers, obviously want to avoid those next week.

You mean #18, the former All-American?

Yeah, he might have been worthy of some attention.

Gregory Sager · September 27, 2025, 11:26:42 PM

Quote from: CarollFan on September 27, 2025, 07:53:54 PMI predict NPU will set a record this season for returned blocked kicks run back to the house. They blocked xtra pt last week ran it back for 2 pts. In first half tonight they blocked a FG, ran it back for a TD and blocked a xtra pt and ran it back for 2 pts.

Plus, there was the now-infamous "high-five touchdown" in the opener at Ripon in which the Vikings ran back a Redhawks fumble at the NPU 7 for a touchdown, only to have it reduced to a 41-yard gain after the scoop because the player running it back high-fived a teammate next to him in the middle of the run, inciting a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In all four instances the player who took the ball nearly the length of the field to the house was the same guy: NPU preseason All-American Ben Butler. I've never seen a player run back three blocked kicks and a fumble all the way, each one covering 80 yards or more, in the span of three games. Oh, and he also had an interception tonight for good measure. Butler truly is Mr. Excitement.

Both of his runbacks tonight are up on X: https://x.com/VikingsNPU

CarollFan · September 27, 2025, 11:37:49 PM

Quote from: Augie6 on September 21, 2025, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: Crusader92 on September 20, 2025, 10:01:14 PMNo problem for Wheaton in Rock Island - 50 to 7.

Was down in Rock Island for an Alumni golf outing during the day and went to the game last night. Augie was completely overmatched against a Wheaton team that, while solid, is certainly not one of their better teams in the past 10+years. Not much to say about Augie, a couple of good drives to start the game, but after throwing the batted pick six and then failing to pick up a first down deep in Wheaton territory on the next drive, despite having it 3rd and 1, it was all over after that. Didn't bother to stay for the 2nd half as there was no chance of a comeback.
The transfer QB has some ability and Breyden Smith is a pretty good receiver, but, beyond that, there isn't much there. The defense is just bad. Augie will be very lucky to win 4 games this year and I'll honestly be surprised if they do. It will be interesting to see how they fare next week against Millikin, who seems to have turned it around, somewhat, this season.

If you model out that teams outside of the top 3 will all lose to the top 3, Augie actually has the best chance to end up over .500. Next weeks game against NPU will be interesting.

I'm not sure about your assessment of Wheaton. We'll find out more about them next week.

Gregory Sager · September 27, 2025, 11:43:39 PM

North Park 34
Elmhurst 6

Sophomore Caillix Dillon, based upon the spark he gave the Vikings at the end of last week's dismal performance in Decatur, got the nod tonight to make his first career start at QB. He had his ups and downs, as one would expect given his situation, but he showed lots of promise. More to the point, the Vikings O-line was outstanding -- a phrase I've never typed or uttered much over the past 45 years -- and gave him the time he needed to make his reads and to find some holes when he decided to call his own number.

Between Butler, the guys in the middle of the line who were blocking the kicks, and freshman K/P Drayden Wilcox, who had a fine evening in all phases of the kicking game, special teams were outstanding for the Vikings. Defensively, NPU was gashed for massive gains on a couple of first-half occasions by the one real weapon the Bluejays have left with Mason Leach out, RB Jeffery Elms; he had over 150 yards on the ground in the opening half. In the second half he ran the ball five times for five yards. It was indicative of good halftime adjustments made by the Vikings, as Dillon definitely improved from one half to the next as well.

Elmhurst is going to have a real uphill battle trying to beat anybody in the league this season. I suspect that losing by four touchdowns tonight will actually turn out to be one of the Bluejays' closer margins when it's all said and done for 2025. Elmhurst simply does not have the personnel to compete in this league right now.

Gregory Sager · September 27, 2025, 11:48:55 PM

All five of today's games were double-ups. The average scoring margin was over 31 points, and the smallest margin (IWU over Carthage) was 24 points.

As I've said many times before, if you're an aficionado of close football games, this is not the league for you.

CarollFan · September 28, 2025, 12:07:35 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on September 27, 2025, 11:48:55 PMAll five of today's games were double-ups. The average scoring margin was over 31 points, and the smallest margin (IWU over Carthage) was 24 points.

As I've said many times before, if you're an aficionado of close football games, this is not the league for you.

I don't think there is 5 double ups next week. We'll see. In the long run yes definitely more blow outs but might as well enjoy the closer ones when we get them.

CarollFan · September 28, 2025, 12:43:27 PM

Logan has his predictions out.

https://hansenratings.github.io/2025%20Week%205.html

Gregory Sager · September 28, 2025, 04:16:14 PM

Quote from: CarollFan on September 28, 2025, 12:43:27 PMLogan has his predictions out.

https://hansenratings.github.io/2025%20Week%205.html

And, yes indeed, he does predict an actual close game next week in the CCIW:

Augustana 28, North Park 25	(AC 58.5%, NPU 41.5%)
Carroll 30, Millikin 14	(CU 86%, MU 14%)
Carthage 31, Elmhurst 18	(CC 80%, EU 20%)
Washington MO 36, Illinois Wesleyan 22	(WUSTL 82%, IWU 18%)
North Central 45, Wheaton 21	(NCC 93%, WC 7%)

Home teams in bold.

CarollFan · September 28, 2025, 07:59:07 PM

Updated top 25

https://www.d3football.com/top25/2025/week4

Wheaton moves up to #14.

A couple other top 25 matchups this week.

#5 UWL @ #9 UWW
#11 UWRF @ #15 UWO
#4 St. John's @ #12 Bethel

CCIWFan69 · September 29, 2025, 08:56:15 AM

I tried watching the NCC/WashU game on Saturday but as others have mentioned, the camera was so far zoomed out that I couldn't really see much. I turned it off after the 1st qtr, assuming NCC was going to roll.

In looking at the stats to see how the rest of the game played out, it looks like Ashiru got a bunch of snaps but only going 2-7 for 9 yds but added a 50+ yd run. Was Wilson replaced due to the 3 ints?

Also, I recall NCC going 3 and out on their first possession but the play by play shows Allen with a 35 yard run on 2nd and 46!!! I definitely would have remembered if a team lost 36 yards on the first play of the game. This was followed up 2 plays later with a punt from the WashU 35 to the NCC 38. So NCC punted the ball backwards? I don't recall this either. Is this just a case of the play by play and ultimately the stats being wrong? Just trying to get a sense of how the rest of the game played out since the video was unwatchable.

Looking forward to this week. Perhaps Wheaton pulls it off.

CarollFan · September 29, 2025, 09:32:32 AM

Quote from: CCIWFan69 on September 29, 2025, 08:56:15 AMI tried watching the NCC/WashU game on Saturday but as others have mentioned, the camera was so far zoomed out that I couldn't really see much. I turned it off after the 1st qtr, assuming NCC was going to roll.

In looking at the stats to see how the rest of the game played out, it looks like Ashiru got a bunch of snaps but only going 2-7 for 9 yds but added a 50+ yd run. Was Wilson replaced due to the 3 ints?

Also, I recall NCC going 3 and out on their first possession but the play by play shows Allen with a 35 yard run on 2nd and 46!!! I definitely would have remembered if a team lost 36 yards on the first play of the game. This was followed up 2 plays later with a punt from the WashU 35 to the NCC 38. So NCC punted the ball backwards? I don't recall this either. Is this just a case of the play by play and ultimately the stats being wrong? Just trying to get a sense of how the rest of the game played out since the video was unwatchable.

Looking forward to this week. Perhaps Wheaton pulls it off.

Yes play by play stats all messed up. Seems to have field flipped. Here's a replay of the game.

https://washubears.com/watch/?Archive=432&sport=2&type=Archive

CarollFan · September 29, 2025, 09:40:11 AM

See this is why I listen to the ATN podcast.

Today I learned if you fumble the lateral on the hook and ladder it's an incomplete pass. I would have never figured.

RE: Alma vs. Hope

Also mentioned, NPU's Ben Butler getting game ball at 25:40 mark for the returned blocked kicks.

NCC2010 · September 29, 2025, 09:44:50 AM

Quote from: CCIWFan69 on September 29, 2025, 08:56:15 AMI tried watching the NCC/WashU game on Saturday but as others have mentioned, the camera was so far zoomed out that I couldn't really see much. I turned it off after the 1st qtr, assuming NCC was going to roll.

In looking at the stats to see how the rest of the game played out, it looks like Ashiru got a bunch of snaps but only going 2-7 for 9 yds but added a 50+ yd run. Was Wilson replaced due to the 3 ints?

Also, I recall NCC going 3 and out on their first possession but the play by play shows Allen with a 35 yard run on 2nd and 46!!! I definitely would have remembered if a team lost 36 yards on the first play of the game. This was followed up 2 plays later with a punt from the WashU 35 to the NCC 38. So NCC punted the ball backwards? I don't recall this either. Is this just a case of the play by play and ultimately the stats being wrong? Just trying to get a sense of how the rest of the game played out since the video was unwatchable.

Looking forward to this week. Perhaps Wheaton pulls it off.

Ashiru entered the game immediately following Wilson's third interception, but he was only used situationally from that point forward. Wilson still played after that point, with Ashiru mainly coming in for quarterback run plays. Ashiru also had a nice 25-yard touchdown run that was called back due to a penalty. I would expect a similar sprinkling in of Ashiru this week, but with Wilson playing more overall snaps, as we have seen thus far this season.