2012 Around the Midwest columns

November 14, 2012 Heartland hung on Victory Bell Another brick was laid in the battle for the Victory Bell. For the second time in three years, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title was on the line when Franklin met Hanover.

November 6, 2012 A dream season When teams have played Mount St. Joseph, there has been little surprise who would be carrying the ball. Yet, James Clay is having the kind of season most would dream of.

October 31, 2012 Hanover stepping up When coach Joe Austin left Hanover in February to start a football program at Division III Southwestern, Steve Baudendistel went into action.

October 23, 2012 Long road back For North Central, wins over the next two weeks against No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan and rival Wheaton would go a long way to erase its opening season loss to UW-La Crosse.

October 16, 2012 Lake Forest putting past behind it For coach Jim Catanzaro, it’s the past that has helped drive Lake Forest to its success this season. Not living in the past, but reminding the players it’s a place they don’t want to go back to.

October 9, 2012 Concordia Cougars on a roll The Concordia-Chicago Cougars have seen this for the past three seasons – a big conference win followed by rising expectations. Then the big crushing conference loss that would leave it bridesmaids once again at the Northern Athletics Conference altar.

October 3, 2012 Monmouth remains grounded How do you move on after losing an All-American quarterback who set school and conference passing records? Make sure Trey Yocum gets the ball early and often.

September 25, 2012 Franklin showing a little bit of Mattitude Football, like life, can take sudden turns that can take a team or person in directions never expected. That happened the second game of the season for Franklin linebacker Matt Walker.

September 18, 2012 A change in direction Benedictine did an about-face at halftime Saturday night, scoring 25 second-half points to rally past Albion. And they did it with an all-conference running back at receiver.

September 11, 2012 The humble big man on campus Elmhurst's Scottie Williams is an academic All-American and about to be the school's all-time rushing leader. But you wouldn't know it to talk to him.

September 4, 2012 Blueboys have target on their back Coaches seem to have a pretty good idea of that watershed moment when his team seems to start believing all the things he’s been telling them.

August 29, 2012 10 games to watch for 2012 While the CCIW and HCAC champion might come from the usual suspects this season, the MWC and NATHC could see some new faces.