FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

So after having to use my best deductive thinking to figure out who and what team #98 plays for and who he may have faced named Maples in 2023 I figured out you are talking about Wartburg DT Jake Walker and NCC OL Jeske Maples and the NCC v Wartburg Matchup from 2 yrs ago.

I am well aware of Jake Walker as he leads the team in sacks and TFL (along with fellow DL Conner McDonald). They were both 1st team all ARC for a reason and those two lead the way for a disruptive and dominant DL. Believe me when I say they are the two guys I'm most worried about though MLB and DPOY Keenan Tyler is in that group. When Wartburg subs in their nickel defense the two DL that stay in are those two and Keenan Tyler plays DE. To be honest, I'm hoping he doesn't catch my attention too much on Saturday.

[hazzben]

@USee hit the nail on the head. Not to oversimplify, but Wartburg is like Iowa with a competent passing attack. Super disciplined zone D, great up front, great tacklers, don't make mistakes. Force you to execute long drives and wait for their D to make a play or you to make a mistake. A team that is run heavy will struggle against Wart, similarly if you can't stop the run. Their PAP game is opportunistic, and they will pound away at 2-5 yd gains, watching for when your safeties start to creep into the box prematurely. And then they'll go for a PAP deep shot. The passing O is more than just that, but those can be where the break tight games open.

I like Wheaton in part because they're so efficient throwing the ball. You'll have good line play on both sides, and you've seen great line play against Mount and NCC. Wart's D front especially is up there. But the Thunder won't be blown away by an OL or DL drastically better than what they've seen in their biggest games this year. The fact you can spread the D out and pass so well is a key. So while it is "good on good" with Wheaton's O vs Wart's D, I think the edge goes to Wheaton. The passing attack is capable of stirring the drink for you offensively. It's what Bethel was able to do last year in Waverly with balanced O. The "best" part of Wheaton's offense is going against the "more vulnerable" part of Wart's D, relatively speaking.

[USee]

Regarding the Wheaton–Wartburg matchup, Logan's model isn't the only one that favors the Thunder. Massey has them as a 3-point favorite in Waverly. If the offensive line can hold Wartburg's front four at bay, I think they have a good chance of moving on.

Wheaton will need their "dudes" to show up in Waverly on Saturday. 2 yrs ago up at Whitewater we had a few dudes and they played out of their mind to give Wheaton a shot against UWW, whom most thought would be the main challenger to NCC that year (Wartburg had other plans). Wheaton put up 42 pts against a top 10 defense and their QB , Ben Thorson was 26-41 for 402 yds and 5 TDs. Their AA WR Bonga was covered all day by UWW's 1st team AA DB Egon Hein and he made him look silly, combining with Kortenhoeven for 14 catches, 207 yds and 3 TDs. And Gio Weeks, Wheaton's AA RB had 21 rushes for 128 yds and 1 TD. It helped that Wheaton had one of their better OL's in recent memory.

The Thunder won't be intimidated playing in Waverly, where Wartburg has only lost 2x at home in 5 seasons under Chris Winter, both in the playoffs (Bethel last year and NCC in 2023). Wheaton has played @Mt Union and @NCC this year. In those games, QB Mark Forcucci was held to 54% completions vs Mt Union and sacked 3x and 57% vs NCC and sacked 5x. He will have to play better for the Thunder to win. That's almost half the sacks for the year in those two games. Kortenhoeven caught 11 balls for 102 yds and 2 TD's vs Mt Union and 2 for 27 yds vs NCC. Peter Johanik has generally played well on defense in those big games. Vs Mt Union he led the defense with 12 tackles and added a sack and vs NCC he had 7 tackles and 1.5 TFL. All these guys will have to play at the top of their games for the Thunder and at least 1 or 2 other guys will have to become "dudes" this week to advance.

[GusD]

With as talented a roster as Wheaton has, there is no reason whatsoever for them to be intimidated in any way at Wartburg despite their almost spotless home record.
Against NCC, wasn't Forcucci just returning from injury?
Important considerations will be how much snow is on the field during the game AND how the snow, combined with the wind, will affect performances. Will the conditions limit rushing or passing attacks more and which, if either, team will suffer more as a result.

[Ccrfer]

The Illinois State High School Association just postponed 4 State Championship games scheduled to be played tomorrow at Illinois State in Bloomington.  Have any D3 playoff games ever been postponed?

[GusD]

The Illinois State High School Association just postponed 4 State Championship games scheduled to be played tomorrow at Illinois State in Bloomington.  Have any D3 playoff games ever been postponed?

As all the playoff games are at noon, all the visiting teams are likely already at the game sites today. As long as they're there, it's pretty doubtful would be postponed unless large amounts of snow couldn't be removed from the field. Cold and snow during the game isn't going to stop things. Visiting teams trips home might be a real adventure though.

[GusD]

According to the Weather Channel, it's supposed to begin snowing in Naperville at 3AM tomorrow morning and continue until 3AM Sunday. 2.4 inches are supposed to fall by game time at noon, with an additional 1.7 inches by the end of the game. Total for the 12 hour window is predicted to be 8.4 inches. 🌨 🤪

[robertgoulet]

That's a lot of snow in Naperville.

[GusD]

Wheaton beats Wartburg 28-24! ⭐️
So much for the wonderful NPI analysis/rankings 🤪 🤯

[robertgoulet]

Wheaton beats Wartburg 28-24! ⭐️
So much for the wonderful NPI analysis/rankings 🤪 🤯

Just as I picked in my bracket challenge!

[USee]

#19 Wheaton 28
#5 Wartburg 24

Wheaton 340 yds; 112 rush, 228 pass
Wartburg 348 yds; 180 run; 168 pass

Mark Forcucci 19-32-1 60%
Whit Jewett 9 rec 113 yds
Seth Kortenhoeven 4 rec 47 yds
M. Crider 21 rush 67 yds 3 TDs



An incredible game in Waverly, IA where the Thunder made just enough plays to win. Wartburg loses at home for just the 3rd time in the last 6 years. 2 of those wins are by CCIW teams.

Stat of the game was Wheaton converting on 8-12 3rd down conversions and 2 of those became 4th down conversion (2-2 on 4th down). Wheaton was incredible in the clutch. Forcucci, Crider and Jewett made some incredible plays in a game that saw multiple lead changes and Wheaton survived a hail mary on the last play to secure the win.

Wheaton sacked Leo Dodd 2x and Wartburg didn't sack Forcucci at all and the Knights DL was largely held in check.

Great win for the Thunder and the CCIW. @DePauw next week who beat UWW

[D3fanboy]

Big time road W for Wheaton.  Is Wartburg the new Linfield?  Or just a corn-fed Hardin-Simmons?

[GusD]

While the field was swept prior to the festivities today, NCC employed the Shovel Brigade to keep the field playable during the game. Whenever there was a timeout, and as other opportunities such as changes of possession, walking off penalties, etc., presented themselves, the Brigade would run out on the field and shovel at 5 yard intervals - 5 yard line, 10, 15, and so on in order to keep the field as playable as possible. Each yard line seemed to have its own shoveler, so there was a sizable force involved. 
I was advised that the shovelers were freshmen members of the team that did not dress today. I live about 5 minutes from the stadium and when I got home I found we had already gotten about 5.5-6 inches, so their efforts were invaluable as far s keeping the field as playable as possible. The Brigade should get next Saturday off as the forecast for Naperville is sunny and 75!

[CardinalAlum]

So happy for the Thunder win today over Wartburg!  Congrats and way to represent the CCIW!  Keep it rolling!  NCC game had the worst field conditions I can recall for a turf surface at BW stadium!  Kudos to everyone doing their part shoveling, including the President of NCC!  Cards wore Hanover down eventually but the field conditions made for a crazy day!  Happy with the win and ready for a great opponent in LaCrosse next week!

[USee]

Big time road W for Wheaton.  Is Wartburg the new Linfield?  Or just a corn-fed Hardin-Simmons?

More like Grove City, who some think is better than Wheaton.