By John Regenfuss
D3sports.com
Once more, the WIAC is proving that one can never predict the unpredictable, that the unexpected should be expected, and that no week is an "off" week in the nation's most capricious and cutthroat conference. Saturday, three "favorites" (although it is typically a fruitless task to assign that label to any WIAC team in any given week), including two nationally ranked teams, were upset, thrusting the WIAC title-race picture into its annual murky and muddled mess.
After the wild weekend, UW-Whitewater and UW-Eau Claire share first place with unblemished 2-0 records. UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, and UW-Stout are knotted in a four-way tie for second-place with 1-1 marks. UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls are sitting in the league basement with identical 0-2 records.
Eau Claire and Stout scored the biggest shockers. The Blugolds, who have already accumulated two tough non-conference losses this year, entered their game with No. 3 La Crosse knowing that its only ticket to the postseason was a WIAC conference crown. Perhaps, motivated by that fact, Eau Claire knocked off the highly touted Eagles at home 24-21. Stout quickly got over the previous week's crushing 15-7 defeat to Oshkosh by exploding offensively for 37 points in its 37-27 stunner over No. 9 Stevens Point. The Pointers' second consecutive conference defeat could end their WIAC title aspirations.
So-called upset No. 3 was posted by Platteville. Seemingly reeling from back-to-back losses to Augustana and Whitewater, the Pioneers recovered nicely to beat previously undefeated Oshkosh, 20-17. Oshkosh, who had won its four opening games of the season while playing at home, failed in its first foray away from Titan Stadium in 2003. Circumstances will not get any better for the Titans in Week 6, as they will face an angry and cornered La Crosse squad on the road.
The Warhawks of Whitewater are flying under the conference radar, quietly earning their way to the top of the WIAC standings with wins over Platteville and River Falls. However, Whitewater's day of reckoning is close at hand, with matchups with Stout and Eau Claire looming in the next two weeks.
So, what do these unforeseen developments mean for the 2003 WIAC title chase? Your guess is as good as mine. One thing is for sure, the remainder of the season will be most definitely be exciting and, most likely, as unpredictable as the first two weeks. But don't think that these upsets point to the WIAC being overrated or replete with mediocre teams. Think that the league is just that competitive.
Falcons flying high
Concordia (Wis.) made a statement loud enough to be heard throughout the IBFC, announcing the Falcons' flight to the top of the conference standings with their 41-20 homecoming pounding of fellow contender Lakeland. The Muskies' loss comes just one week after they made a declaration of their own by blasting two-time defending IBFC champion MacMurray 53-7.
The win was Concordia's fourth consecutive and the third in a row in which the Falcons tallied 40 or more points. It also vaulted the Falcons into sole possession of first place in the IBFC and into the conference driver's seat with a clear path to the its first championship. The lone road block to the crown may be MacMurray, who Concordia will face in the final week of the 2003 season on the road in Jacksonville.
Elsewhere in the IBFC, MacMurray and Aurora were victorious and staked their claim, along with Lakeland, to a share of second place in the league standings. MacMurray got by Greenville 21-13 while Aurora crushed Concordia (Ill.), 48-10.
It looks as though Greenville, Eureka, Benedictine, and Concordia (Ill.) will battle it out for the bottom four spots in the IBFC.
Thunder rolls
Fifth-ranked Wheaton withstood a major test by beating undefeated CCIW foe Millikin at home, 43-29, last Saturday. The Thunder offense, led by running back Dan Price, continues to be impressive, averaging 34.6 points per game. However, Wheaton's defense has struggled thus far and could be its eventual undoing. Only CCIW lower-echelon team North Park has allowed more points per game this season.
Augustana also remained unbeaten in the conference and tied with Wheaton for first place in the CCIW by topping Illinois Wesleyan on the road, 20-17. After losing their first two games of the season by a combined seven points, the Vikings have notched three wins in a row. Augustana has the opposite concern than Wheaton does, as its offense is only averaging 17.8 points per game while its defense allows just an average of 14.4 points per contest.
As it should be, the CCIW's top two teams, Wheaton and Augustana will meet in the final week of the 2003 season with the conference crown likely on the line.
However, Elmhurst, Millikin, and Illinois Wesleyan may have something to say about that matchup before it takes place five weeks from now. That is especially true for the Augustana entry, as the Vikings have yet to play the very dangerous Elmhurst and Millikin. Elmhurst, Millikin, and Illinois Wesleyan are currently tied for second place with 1-1 records and are very much in the thick of the title race.
Where the Midwest ranks
A check of the NCAA Division III statistics (as of Oct. 11) reveals a number of Midwest teams and individuals prominently featured in the rankings:
Teams
Yards Per Game: 6. Hanover, 467.4
Rushing Offense: 5. UW-River Falls, 326.8 yards per game
Rushing Defense: 4. Mt. St. Joseph, 49.8 yards per game, 8. Augustana, 69.0.
Passing Offense: 1. Anderson, 367.5 yards per game, 2. Hanover, 342.8.
Turnover Margin: 2. Concordia (Wis.), Plus-3.2 per game.
Pass Efficiency Defense: 2. Westminster (Mo.), 60.3 yards per game.
Total Defense: 9. Mt. St. Joseph, 220.6 yards per game.
Individuals
Rushing: 2. Dante Washington, Carthage, 202.8 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: 6. Scott Krause, UW-Stevens Point, 167.0
Receptions Per Game: 4. Denny Kimmel, Anderson, 8.3
Receiving Yards Per Game: 3. Eric White, Illinois Wesleyan, 141.2
All Purpose Yards: 9. John Peterlik, UW-River Falls, 196.8 yards per game.
Sacks: 3. Jason Boehlke, UW-Oshkosh, 1.8/gm.
Tackles for Loss: 3. Jason Boehlke, UW-Oshkosh, 2.9/gm.
Total Offense: 2. Joel Steele, Anderson, 363.3 yards per game., 3. Brett Dietz, Hanover, 352.4 yards per game.
Notes
MWC: Defensive end Ryan Blaine recorded 4.5 sacks to lead the Ripon defense in the Red Hawks' 22-12 win against Illinois College. ... Beloit scored 22 unanswered points, after being down 20-7 in the first half, to beat Carroll 29-27. ... Monmouth and Grinnell combined for 964 total yards of offense, despite rainy conditions, in their Saturday meeting that the Scots won 30-20. ... Receiver Zach Michael of Lawrence caught 10 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns, as the Vikings put a scare into MWC titan St. Norbert before falling 28-24. ... At the famed Knox Bowl in Galesburg, Ill., the Prairie Fire came within a few yards of upsetting defending MWC co-champion Lake Forest but could not convert on a late two-point conversion, dropping the contest, 13-12.
HCAC: Hanover scored 50-plus points for the second consecutive week in its 55-38 whipping of Defiance, marking the first time the Panthers beat the Yellow Jackets on their home field since 1989. ... Anderson quarterback Joel Steele continues to post eye-popping passing numbers this season, throwing for 386 yards and five touchdowns in the Ravens' latest game, a 42-28 victory over Bluffton. ... Bluffton running back Ben Dodds was a warrior for the Beavers in the loss to Anderson, carrying 40 times for 188 yards with two touchdowns. ... The Mount St. Joseph defense held Manchester to just 36 total yards of rushing in the Lions' 28-6 triumph over the Spartans.
WIAC: After allowing 78 second-half points through its first four games of the season, UW-Eau Claire held UW-La Crosse to zero in the Blugolds' 24-21 ambush of the third-ranked Eagles. ... Blugold receivers Erik Ferguson and Matt Evensen had phenomenal games in the win, catching 11 passes for 177 yards and 10 balls for 142 yards, respectively. ... Blue Devil running back Luke Bundgaard ran for 176 yards on 38 carries, helping UW-Stout to score on six of its first nine possessions, in its 37-27 stunning of UW-Stevens Point. ... UW-Platteville defensive tackle Matt Lee, who hauled in two touchdown passes as a receiver in the Pointers' preseason game in Germany, put that experience to good use by catching a key 15-yard pass on a fake punt in its 20-17 win against Oshkosh. ... With his 81-yard rushing effort in the Warhawks' 32-28 win versus UW-River Falls, UW-Whitewater running back Chad Wurth is just 52 yards shy of becoming the school's all-time leading rusher.
CCIW: Augustana rolled up 343 yards rushing versus Illinois Wesleyan and featured four backs who rushed for 50-plus yards. ... Carthage amassed 413 total yards of offense, including 185 rushing yards by Dante Washington, but could not post a single point in the Redmen's 21-0 loss to Elmhurst.
IBFC: Benedictine quarterback Brad Berry accumulated 241 yards of total offense (122 rushing, 119 passing) in the Eagles' 28-26 loss to Eureka. ... After giving up 40-plus in consecutive games, Aurora has scored 40-plus points in its back-to-back wins over Benedictine and Concordia (Ill.).
In addition to the five nationally ranked Midwest region teams, five other squads are receiving votes in the latest D3football.com poll: UW Whitewater (51), St. Norbert (26), Hanover (12), Augustana and Millikin (6). ... My new and expanded top 10 Midwest region teams through six weeks: 1. UW-La Crosse (4-1), 2. Wheaton (5-0), 3. UW-Stout (3-2), 4. UW-Eau Claire (3-2), 5. Stevens Point (3-2), 6. UW-Oshkosh (4-1), 7. St. Norbert (6-0), 8. Concordia (Wis.) (5-1), 9. Hanover (4-1), 10. Augustana (3-2).
Games of the Week
No. 25 UW-Eau Claire (3-2, 2-0) at No. 23 UW-Stevens Point (3-2, 0-2), 1:00 p.m., Stevens Point, Wis.: The basic fact surrounding this contest is that Stevens Point must win this game if it has any designs on a WIAC championship this season. With two conference losses, though, it may already be too late for the Pointers. To gain its first WIAC victory, Stevens Point most needs to get its defense back on track. After giving up just 22 points in their first three games, the Pointers have allowed 61 combined points the last two weeks. The Blugolds are also susceptible on defense, as they are yielding 27.6 points per game this year.
UW-Oshkosh (4-1, 1-1) at No. 8 UW-La Crosse (4-1, 1-1), 4 p.m., La Crosse, Wis.: Oshkosh may be rushing headlong into a buzzsaw as it enters La Crosse to face the Eagles. UW-L, now ranked No. 8 nationally, figures to be out for blood after incurring its first loss of the season last weekend versus then-unranked Eau Claire. The Titans, though, must also have redemption in mind, as they are coming off a tough loss to Platteville. A win keeps either team in the thick of the WIAC title race and a second conference loss severely damages any championship hopes Oshkosh and La Crosse may have. History is on La Crosse's side, as the Eagles have beaten the Titans 18-consecutive times.
UW-Whitewater (4-1, 2-0) at No. 17 UW-Stout (3-2, 1-1), 1 p.m., Menomonie, Wis.: Will Whitewater maintain its current tenuous grip on first place in the WIAC standings? Will Stout gain some consistency, stop its roller coaster ride up and down the national polls, and stand tall as a true WIAC contender? Those questions and more could be answered at the conclusion of this key contest. If the game unfolds in recent historical fashion, the game will be extremely close. The previous three meetings between the teams have been decided by three points or less, with Stout winning two of the three.
Elmhurst (4-1, 1-1) at Millikin (4-1, 1-1), 1 p.m., Decatur, Ill.: Most certainly, a CCIW conference championship elimination game. The victor will forge on with one league loss while the defeated will accrue its second and will likely have no shot at capturing the 2003 title. Both teams will bring potent offenses to the battle. Millikin is scoring 35.4 per game on average while Elmhurst is averaging 32.6 points per game. The Big Blue has outscored the Bluejays 143-40 in their previous three meetings, all Millikin victories. Elmhurst last defeated Millikin in 1999.
