Chad Braun knows this rivalry well, but enters as head coach for the first time. Photo courtesy Monmouth Sports Information

Before the Midwest Conference split into the North and South divisions, St. Norbert and Monmouth would play for a de facto championship game sometime in October. If it didn't directly affect the title, the contest seemed to always have some sort of implication on who would win.

Now, in the MWC’s second year of split divisions, there is little surprise that St. Norbert (9-0) and Monmouth (8-1) find themselves in the conference championship game after going undefeated in their respective divisions.

And while the names are familiar, two first-year head coaches are leading both squads in St. Norbert's Dan McCarty and Monmouth's Chad Braun.

Braun was a longtime defensive coordinator under former Monmouth coach Steve Bell and remembers the rivalry well.

"I have a lot a lot of tough moments against St. Norbert during my coaching career," Braun said. "I have learned some great lessons coaching against Jim Purtill and his offensive staff. I know Coach Purtill is no longer there but a lot of his offensive staff is still around.

"I have great respect for their program and Coach McCarty and his staff. They are having an outstanding seasons are a great team. I have also experienced some of my greatest moments as a coach against St. Norbert. We have played some great games over the years and it looks like on paper that we are headed for another one of those great games.”

McCarty, who is new to the rivalry, said he is looking forward to breaking into one of the long-time premiere matchups in the MWC.

"Being new to SNC, I don't have the perspective on the St. Norbert-Monmouth series as some of our other coaches that have been around here for a while," McCarty said. "I know two good football teams are playing for the Midwest Conference championship on Saturday. 

"It will be a great day with quality football being played. I'm excited to for the opportunity to compete our butts off for a conference championship on our home turf at Schneider Stadium.”

Both coaches said the game will likely come down to turnovers and staying composed over the three hours the game will be played.

"In order for us to be successful we are going to have to take care of the football," Braun said. "St. Norbert has done a great job of forcing turnovers this year. They are an explosive offense and very good defensively so we can't afford to give them extra possessions."

McCarty said his team will be focused on the details of getting the little things right, which he hopes will add up to big victory.

"We will approach this game just as we have the previous nine games of the season with an attention to detail, knowing it's the little things that make a difference," McCarty said. "We need to continue to play physical football on Saturday, eliminate the negative plays that we have control of with no ignorant penalties, and continue to play great in all three phases of football with our offense, defense, and special teams."

The MWC title game will be played at St. Norbert at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Benedictine travels to Lakeland for NACC title

In another case of familiar foes playing each other with the conference title on the line, Benedictine will travel to Sheboygan, Wis. to take on Lakeland for the NACC crown. With identical 7-2 records and 5-0 in conference play, it is really simple: the winner takes the NACC automatic bid to the playoff and the loser hangs up their cleats for the season.

"I think the rivalry has grown because we have been the two most consistent programs in the NACC over the last three years," said Lakeland coach Colin Bruton. "We are 15-2 in the span, and BU is 14-3, I believe. Playing the last game of the season the last few years has also helped, as we have known what was at stake. We have tremendous respect for BU, they have been the best program overall in the NACC since the league's creation, so we understand to get to where we want to be we will need to go through them."

Incentives abound in this game. Benedictine needed to beat Lakeland by more than 15 points to force a three-way tie for the NACC title and win the conference's playoff bid in this game last year. The Eagles beat the Muskies 16-0. Kevin Doherty, who coached Lakeland then, is now the offensive coordinator for Benedictine.

"The good thing about this game is that we don't have to win by 16 points again," Benedictine coach Jon Cooper said, who added that he did not think having Doherty on his staff this year will give his squad an edge over Lakeland.

"Actually, I think it creates some real motivation for Lakeland," Cooper said. "Coach Bruton was one of Kevin's assistant for many years and he's a Benedictine alum, so you've got some interesting dynamics going this game. I don't think having Kevin here gives us any kind of advantage. They’re running something different offensively than what they did last year. Kevin is running our offense with stuff he and I were involved in during our days at Aurora."

With so much that has been on the line for both teams the past three years, Bruton said it will be the team that's able to keep its emotions in check that may have the edge.

"Both teams will be emotionally ready to play on Saturday," Bruton said. "The key will be the ability to execute on both sides of the ball, while still maintaining that level of emotion. I also think our ability to respond to adversity will be key.

"In last year's game, BU scored on a long TD run on the game's first play, and we became a little rattled. We have done a better job of responding to adversity this season. Both teams will make plays, the ability to respond will be important. I also expect the home crowd will be a factor, as we are expecting one of the biggest crowds in Lakeland history for the game.”

Cooper pointed to his young team's ability to bounce back from adversity as a key. For example, the Eagles found themselves down 17-0 to Aurora in the first quarter, only to roar back to win the game 32-24.

"I'm happy with what we've been able to overcome this season," Cooper said. "Young teams normally don't have that kind of poise but this one has. We've been able to keep improving and keep getting better."

Wheaton, Franklin to close out season with playoff tickets in their pockets

In suburban Chicago, the Wheaton Thunder will be preparing for its final regular season game after grabbing at least a share of the CCIW title for the second year in a row, beating then-No. 22 Illinois Wesleyan on the road 40-27. The Thunder, now 9-0 for the season and 6-0 in conference play, has won 14 straight CCIW contests dating back to the end of 2013.

"Winning the CCIW title is awesome," Swider said. "It's very difficult to do. It's a tremendous conference and highly competitive. To be able to beat North Central (now ranked No. 16) and Illinois Wesleyan on the road is a real accomplishment."

Even though the Thunder has already punched its ticket to the playoffs, Swider said that Saturday's regular season finale at home against Carthage is still very important to them.

"As far as the playoffs, we're not worried about that," Swider said. "We want to go 10-0 and get as high a seed as possible. We don't think about it as (preparing for) the playoffs. We look at it as going out and winning our next football game."

Swider said that not only games against North Central and Illinois Wesleyan, but every game in the conference has helped the Thunder get tournament tough this year.

"I think the conference has prepared us extremely well," Swider said. "We've had a couple of wars in conference play. Whenever you're able to do that, it can really help you get battle tested for the playoffs when they do come."

Wheaton, which went 11-1 before losing to John Carroll in the second round last year, 14-11, will be making consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2002 to 2004 when the Thunder made three straight playoff appearances. Wheaton went 10-2 in 2002, 12-1 in 2003 and 10-2 in 2004.

For the Franklin Grizzlies, it will be their sixth straight trip to the playoffs representing the HCAC, after coming back to beat Rose-Hulman in the fourth quarter for the second year in a row on Oct. 24 for a 42-35 victory. The Grizzlies, which have not lost after dropping their first two contests to Illinois Wesleyan and Butler, have won the last seven games in a row.

"This never gets old," said Franklin coach Mike Leonard. "This will be not much different but start to look at cutting the roster back to playoff numbers. The 59th and 60th guy will not be able to dress out the following week."

With all the questions now being answered about if first-year starting quarterback Chase Burton would be able to keep the streak of successful Franklin quarterbacks going, Leonard said he was pleased that Burton, teammates, and coaching staff were able to rise to the occasion.

"I give our coaches a lot of freedom. I delegate most everything. The only decision I make is whether we're going for it on fourth down,” said Leonard. “I'm glad that we've been able to have continued success with all the changes at the various positions."

Franklin will wrap up its season in the annual Victory Bell game against rival Hanover. Leonard said beyond his team trying to win that contest again, he has not worried about where the Grizzlies will end up with the selection committee.

"I have no control over that," Leonard said. "We just love being in that room on Sunday night and seeing what the committee has decided. Getting the win (against) Hanover is the big thing for us right now. A couple of coaches on our staff, including me, are Hanover alums. It's a special game. It's a friendly rivalry. I'm happy that it's a very respectable rivalry."