2005 Around the Midwest columns

November 16, 2005 Favorites, underdogs get set for playoffs Many teams opened training camp with August with several goals, including having a winning seasons and capturing their conference titles. But there is an old saying which goes: “Be careful what you wish for.”

November 8, 2005 Augustana, Mount St. Joseph complete comebacks One team is nationally ranked and has gone undefeated through the gauntlet of a tough conference that featured three other nationally ranked teams at one time.

November 1, 2005 Monmouth, Lakeland in the dance With the NCAA playoffs merely a few weeks away, two Midwest teams are already savoring successful seasons and their first-ever trips to football’s big dance.

October 26, 2005 Separated at graduation Saturday’s game between Elmhurst and No. 19 Augustana will be something special to Augustana’s Matt Roe and Mike Ziefert and Elmhurst’s Eric Luna.

October 18, 2005 Defying the odds The YellowJackets from Northwest Ohio captured one contest last year and lost their first two games this year. So how in four short weeks did Defiance go from the predicted sixth place team in the seven-team Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to leading the league?

October 11, 2005 Playing hungry At the beginning of the season, Lakeland was picked to be the team at the top of the heap when it was all said and done. No one knows better than Lakeland coach Jim Zebrowski that his team needs to make its statement.

October 4, 2005 Hanover back in driver's seat Did anyone see outside of Hanover see Hanover’s 41-35 overtime victory over Mount St. Joseph coming? Well, Wayne Perry, coach of the Panthers, said he did. He said his players did, too.

September 28, 2005 One game not enough to decide CCIW For Carthage and Wheaton, from the Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, one would think everything is building up to their showdown at Wheaton on Oct. 29.

September 20, 2005 Scots ruin Knights' day Monmouth players should be walking a little taller, smiling a little wider, and hugging friends and loved ones a little tighter this week.

September 14, 2005 Willing to mess with perfection Cincinnati’s Mount St. Joseph had its most successful football season in history last year, going a perfect 10-0, winning the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and making it to the NCAA playoffs.