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| Jeremiah McKibbins had to
stand by and watch last year as Chapman went 8-1. Chapman photo by Larry Newman Photography |
When he tore his ACL and knee cartilage during training camp a year ago, it was difficult for Jeremiah McKibbins to stand by while his teammates went on to match the best season in Chapman history.
But the running back has returned to the gridiron and the Panthers appear poised to make a run at their first SCIAC title.
“It’s good to be back,” McKibbins said.
Last season’s injury devastated McKibbins, who had high hopes for the 2013 season has he rushed for 1,190 yards the year before. He was right to be optimistic as Chapman went on to finish 8-1 overall and place second in the conference standings.
But he never got to suit up during the regular season due to the injury sustained in the first days of camp.
“I was probably in the best shape of my life last season,” McKibbins said. “I was really excited about the season. And once that happened – I can’t really describe it – it just really sucked.”
“Two years ago, Jeremiah was a guy that averaged 6-plus (yards) a run,” CU head coach Bob Owens said. “Then to wake up without that guy, it’s a shock to your system. It certainly was a shock to mine and to the rest of the football team.”
McKibbins still spent a lot of time at practice, focusing his energy on encouraging other players and offering advice to Chapman’s running backs.
“I felt Jeremiah was remarkable. He’s a special human being and a terrific leader on the football team,” Owens said. “From a leadership standpoint, Jeremiah was voted a team captain and just continued to conduct himself in that manner.”
McKibbins said he gained a deeper understanding of the game and learned to be grateful for his time on the field.
“The injury, itself, humbled me,” McKibbins said. “I definitely had to appreciate my body a lot more and things around me a lot more. I think all those things tied into me becoming a better person, and therefore, becoming a better leader.”
It took nearly a year for McKibbins to get back on the field. After four to six months, he could jog but he could not sprint or cut until the 10- to 11-month range.
“The ACL recovery process really depends on the person,” McKibbins said. “It was a lot more difficult for me to handle mentally than physically.”
At this point in the season, things look promising for the 5-7, 185-pound back. He is averaging 84.5 yards per game and has three multi-touchdown efforts.
“So far, so good,” said McKibbins, who has 249 yards rushing on 51 attempts. “I’m not where I used to be a few years ago, in terms of play and everything. But I can see, as the weeks are going, I’m really starting to get back in the swing of things.
“I’m still hungry. I know I can do better.”
He knows he has to be patient in order to find his previous form.
“I’m doing whatever I can to help the team,” McKibbins said. “I know it’s going to come, it’s just a matter of when.”
McKibbins has scored seven touchdowns in the last three weeks. Owens believes that is a sign that his running back is continuing to improve.
“His impact has certainly been felt. No question,” Owens said. “Jeremiah is a remarkable player. Just to have him back in the lineup and being a major contributor, we all realize that we’re fortunate to have that.
“Each game we watch, his instincts, his quickness, his explosiveness just get better.”
The Panthers have won three straight games after dropping a seven-point decision to fifth-ranked Linfield.
Chapman is coming off a 58-0 win over Pomona-Pitzer and has a matchup this week with SCIAC co-leader Occidental.
“We know that Occidental is going to come in and give us their best. And we’re going to give them our best, so it’s going to be a very, very good game,” McKibbins said.
A win Saturday would keep the Panthers on course to vie for their first SCIAC championship. However, Chapman is looking past any opponents on the schedule.
“We haven’t got there yet, so we try not to get ahead of ourselves in our thinking,” Owens said. “But it would be more than gratifying for this year’s set of seniors to be able to look back over their lifetime and be able to walk away from this university as a conference champion and stand in the winner’s circle. That would be awesome.”
“We have a lot of potential,” McKibbins said. “In order for us to reach the goals that we set, we have to do the necessary things.”
New look, same result
While debuting new home uniforms, Linfield rolled to a 59-0 win over George Fox on Saturday.
It was the Wildcats’ first modification to their uniforms since 1998 and the first game played on Maxwell Field’s new playing surface. The game also marked the first time Linfield and the Bruins met on the gridiron since 1942.
Linfield returned two interceptions for touchdowns – Mike Nardoni ran one back 32 yards for a score and Skylor Elgarico took a pick 14 yards to the house – in the victory. The defense held George Fox to 82 yards of total offense and just five first downs.
Quarterback Sam Riddle threw for two scores and ran for another as Linfield built a 45-point lead at halftime.
The Wildcats will host Northwest Conference foe Whitworth this week while celebrating homecoming. With a win, Linfield would clinch its 59th consecutive winning season. The Wildcats’ streak is a record at all levels of college football and is the longest active streak.
The rest of the West
Dylan Jones rushed for a school record 350 yards and three touchdowns — including a school record tying 75-yard romp — but it was not enough for Willamette to stay undefeated. Duke Degaetano rushed for 141 and three touchdowns to guide Whitworth to a 61-45 win. … Central scored 26 unanswered points to give Luther its first loss of the season, 47-7. Josh Osborn scored three touchdowns and racked up 115 yards rushing for the Dutch in the win. … Leeland Lauti scored his second touchdown of the day during Gustavus Adolphus’ 20-point second quarter as the Gusties improved to 6-0 with a 37-29 win at St. Olaf. … UW-Oshkosh scored two late touchdowns in less than two minutes to defeat UW-La Crosse 21-18. Two costly mistakes late cost La Crosse a chance to retake the lead before time expired. … Kwame Do had 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns to keep Occidental’s SCIAC record a perfect 2-0. … Dalton Ritchey completed 11-of-12 pass attempts and tossed four touchdowns in Pacific Lutheran’s 44-7 win at Lewis and Clark. … Wartburg remained undefeated and held rival Coe to 2.9 yards per play in a 43-0 shutout. … Greenville scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to put away Crown and stay unbeaten in the UMAC standings. … UW-Stevens Point’s defense caused two turnovers and Jay Kuenster returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown. The Pointers are now 5-0 following their 30-3 win at UW-Eau Claire. … Nick Waldvogel rushed for three scores as St. Thomas jumped out to a 35-point lead and defeated Augsburg 45-27. … After a hot start, Simpson fell to 0-2 in IIAC play. Zach Fry threw four touchdown passes, including two to Tyler Rutenbeck as Dubuque topped the Storm, 44-10. … Pacific remained unbeaten in NWC play, scoring 30 straight points to overcome a three-point halftime deficit at Puget Sound. The Boxers forced four turnovers in the win. … Andy Puccini rushed for three touchdowns in UW-Platteville’s 24-14 win at UW-River Falls. … Redlands started both halves strong and defeated Cal Lutheran 59-27 to retain the Smudge Pot trophy. … Bryce Marquardt caught eight passes for 131 yards and two scores in Bethel’s 38-14 win at Hamline. … St. Scholastica continued its strong start to the season with a 55-7 win at MacMurray.
Number of the week
99 — as in the number of career victories by UW-Whitewater head coach Lance Leipold. The Warhawks shut out UW-Stout, 37-0, at Williams Field Saturday, which improves Leipold’s career record to 99-6. If UW-Whitewater defeats UW-Eau Claire Saturday or UW-Oshkosh the following week, Leipold will reach 100 wins faster than any other football coach in NCAA history.
Currently Gil Dobie holds the record. He won his 100th game in 108 tries, improving to 100-5-3 when Cornell (N.Y.) beat Colgate, 14-0, on Oct. 21, 1922. George Woodruff (100-9) reached the 100-win mark in 109 games, Bud Wilkinson (100-8-3) did it in 111 games, Fielding Yost (100-10-4) hit the century mark following 114 tries, Knute Rockne (100-12-5) needed 117 games to reach the plateau and Urban Meyer (100-18) accomplished the feat in 118 games.
Rank ’em
The West Region features 10 teams ranked in this week’s Top 25.
UW-Whitewater and Linfield are still ranked in the top-five with the Warhawks sitting No. 1 and Linfield checking in at No. 5. Wartburg moved up one spot to No. 6.
Bethel will spend another week ranked No. 11 while WIAC rivals UW-Stevens Point and UW-Platteville were vaulted three positions each to Nos. 13 and 14, respectively.
Pacific Lutheran also rose three spots to No. 18. The MIAC trio of Concordia-Moorhead, St. John’s and St. Thomas are ranked Nos. 21, 22 and 23, respectively.
Chapman (51), Gustavus Adolphus (14) and Willamette (13) received votes this week.
Looking ahead
No. 13 UW-Stevens Point travels to No. 14 UW-Platteville this weekend as both teams look to stay undefeated in WIAC play.
Undefeated Chicago will visit No. 11 Bethel Saturday in an intriguing non-conference matchup. Also in MIAC play, Gustavus Adolphus will face its toughest test of the season when the Gusties host No. 22 St. John’s.
Dubuque will play at IIAC leading Wartburg while Luther looks to bounce back from its first loss at Buena Vista.
The UMAC features a matchup between Greenville and host Northwestern (Minn.). The Panthers are looking to remain unbeaten. Also Westminster (Mo.) at Iowa Wesleyan square off with identical 4-1 UMAC records.
No. 18 Pacific Lutheran will battle Northwest Conference unbeaten Pacific. Redlands hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in an interesting SCIAC matchup.
Be heard
Do you have a story idea for the Around the West column? Contact me about approaching milestones, broken records, break-out players or any other storylines in the West. Or just drop me a note and let me know what you like or don’t about the column. All ideas and feedback are welcome. Email me at josh.smith@d3sports.com or follow me on Twitter at @DU_Josh_Smith.
