By John Regenfuss
D3sports.com
Last week I championed the cause of the WIAC as the nation's overall top conference. While that still holds true, the CCIW can claim top honors for this week based on last weekend's performance. The supporting numbers are indisputably impressive. The conference went a perfect 7-0 last week. Granted, none played a ranked opponent but going undefeated for a weekend remains noteworthy, especially with six games on the road.
Headlining that group of winners was the league's lone ranked team, No. 3 Wheaton, which knocked off Rose-Hulman of the SCAC 29-10. Elmhurst and North Central notched shutouts. Elmhurst blanked Chicago, 24-0, while North Central held Colorado College scoreless, beating the Tigers 21-0.
Millikin and Carthage each scored dominating victories. The Big Blue racked up 355 yards of first-half offense en route to crushing Aurora, 48-13. The Redmen, on the strength of a potent rushing attack, steamrolled Benedictine, 44-14. North Park, which went 1-9 in 2002, won its second game by topping Eureka 23-21. Illinois Wesleyan used its powerful passing offense to reach .500 with a 24-21 victory over Washington U. Augustana was idle.
The top of the CCIW standings is crowded after three weeks with Elmhurst, Millikin, North Central, and Wheaton tied with 2-0 records. However, contenders and pretenders will quickly be distinguished as conference play is just two weeks away.
IBFC and HCAC struggle
While the CCIW thrived in Week 3, the IBFC struggled mightily. Of the seven teams that took the field on Saturday in non-conference competition, Concordia (Wis.) was the only squad to earn a win, edging Wisconsin Lutheran 21-16. Greenville, Concordia (Ill.), Aurora, and Benedictine were on the receiving end of blowouts, again. Eureka was working towards its first victory of the season but its bid fell short to North Park. Lakeland incurred a heartbreaking four-overtime defeat at the hands of UW-Oshkosh. From all indications, competition for the 2003 IBFC title will be a three-team battle between Concordia (Wis.), Lakeland and MacMurray, in deference to recent history.
The HCAC also did not have a weekend to remember with just two league teams securing wins. Not included in that group, most notably, was 15th-ranked Hanover who was upset by DePauw on its home field, 39-20. Anderson cruised to victory while Defiance narrowly gained its first win of the season.
La Crosse and Platteville impress, Oshkosh survives
For a WIAC team to beat a Division II is not uncommon but to beat a Division II top 25 team is a much bigger deal. On Saturday, UW-La Crosse did just that. The Eagles toppled 23rd-ranked and previously unbeaten South Dakota 28-24 at home in Veterans Memorial Stadium in the schools' first-ever meeting. The win provided UWL with its first 3-0 start since 1996 and the program's 200th home win. It also wraps up what could arguably be the nation's most grueling non-conference schedule.
"You always think you can win, but you never know what your football team is made of until they get out on the field and compete," UW-L head coach Larry Terry told the La Crosse Tribune. "With the way these guys have played, they've said a lot about themselves over our first three games."
The fact that a WIAC team beat Division I-AA non-scholarship Drake is hardly a surprise (the conference is .500 against Drake the last five seasons) but which squad pulled it off in Week 3 is quite a shock.
UW-Platteville, chosen seventh in the WIAC preseason poll, knocked off Drake, 21-20, on Saturday at Pioneer Stadium. Down at one point in the second half, 20-7, UWP rallied, using both strong offense and defense. Running back Damian Dressler plunged in from 1 yard out and kicker Jason Borchardt converted the extra point to give the Pioneers their winning margin with 5:15 remaining. The Platteville defense then shut down the Bulldogs, not allowing them a single first down in the fourth quarter, to secure the stunning victory.
"Any time a Division III program beats a Division I, it's a feather in our cap," Pioneer coach Mike Emendorfer said. "This win shows how far we've progressed as a program."
The win may have served to introduce a new player on the scene for this season in the already parity-replete WIAC. Stay tuned for what should be another outstanding and unpredictable year of football in the nation's best conference.
UW-Oshkosh escaped the weekend with its perfect record intact, but it was hardly easy. The Titans knocked off Lakeland 26-23 in a quadruple overtime marathon in their third consecutive home contest. UW-O kicker Mike Kinateder nailed a 20-yard game-winning field goal in the fourth extra period for the win. In the first overtime, Kinateder made good on a 37-yard field goal attempt. A balanced offensive attack was the winning formula, as the Titans posted 194 rushing yards and 202 passing yards.
Top offensive performers of the week
Top Performers of the Week
Brett Dietz, QB, Hanover: 33-for-57, 334 yds., 3 TD, 44 yds. rushing.
Steve Lucas, QB, Illinois Wesleyan: 28-for-49, 343 yds.
Brent Luebke, QB, Lakeland: 30-for-53, 301 yds., 3 TD.
Joel Steele, QB, Anderson: 29-for-49, 409 yds., 4 TD.
Tom Stetzer, QB, UW-Platteville: 38-for-51, 405 yds., 1 TD.
Justin Berrens, RB, Lawrence: 29 carries, 141 yds., 2 TD.
Immanuel Mills, RB, Concordia (Wis.): 28 carries, 173 yds., 2 TD.
Dante Washington, RB, Carthage: 34 carries, 275 yds., 3 TD.
Shaun Berhand, WR, Lakeland: 12 rec., 158 yds., 3 TD.
Eric White, WR, Illinois Wesleyan: 12 rec., 203 yds., 2 TD.
Notes
Running backs Casey Meehan and Aljay Wren of St. Norbert recorded 100-plus-yard rushing efforts in its 38-15 victory against Monmouth. The St. Norbert defense forced seven turnovers, including five interceptions by five Green Knights. ... Hanover's 39-20 loss to DePauw snapped its 14-game home winning streak and halted the Panthers' four-game win streak versus their in-state rival. ... Anderson's offense gained 563 total yards, converted on all five of its forays into the red zone, threw 35 consecutive passes but none in the fourth quarter of its 55-6 pummeling of Concordia (Ill.). ... In Elmhurst's 24-0 blanking of Chicago, the Bluejays held the Maroons to 73 yards of offense and four first downs. ... North Central has yet to allow a point this season, shutting out its first two opponents 55-0 (Benedictine) and 21-0 (Colorado College). ... Concordia (Wis.) held Wisconsin Lutheran to 11 yards rushing in its 21-16 win. ... The four teams at the bottom of the IBFC standings, Aurora, Benedictine, Concordia (Ill.), and Eureka, are a combined 0-11. ... Principia yielded to Minnesota-Morris its first win in 47 games in a big way, as the Cougars won 61-28. ... Washington's 24-21 defeat by Illinois Wesleyan was the Bears' first home-opening loss in 11 years. ... Random question: How do you justify dropping UW-Stout three spots for losing to a Division II team on the road? ... My top five Midwest region teams through three weeks: 1. UW-La Crosse; 2. UW-Stout; 3. Wheaton; 4. UW-Stevens Point; 5. St. Norbert.
Games of the Week
Anderson (2-1) at Millikin (2-0), 1 p.m., Decatur, Ill.: This contest features a HCAC top contender facing a CCIW title hopeful. Anderson has bounced back nicely from its Week 1 thrashing by Capital with two consecutive wins, thanks, in large part, to the exploits of golden-armed quarterback Joel Steele. Millikin has rolled to victory in its first two games of the season, beating Franklin and Aurora. A possible high-scoring shootout could be the name of the game but expect Anderson to air it out and Millikin to pound the ball on the ground.
Kalamazoo (2-0) at Mt. St. Joseph (2-0), 1 p.m., Cincinnati: Undefeated Mt. St. Joseph will face its sternest test of the season, as the Lions host unbeaten Kalamazoo of the very competitive MIAA. The Hornets opened the season with a 28-21 upset defeat of Wabash followed by a 54-7 dumping of Kenyon. Mt. St. Joseph will use its final non-conference game to prep for HCAC play, which begins next week. In 2002, Kalamazoo topped the Lions 27-13.
UW-Platteville (2-0) at Augustana (0-2), 1 p.m., Rock Island, Ill.: A matchup of teams that have experienced contrasting fortunes thus far. Platteville has won its first two games by a total of four points while Augustana has lost its opening two contests by a combined seven points. Augustana has had a week off to get ready for UWP while the Pioneers are flying high, coming off a statement win against I-AA Drake. The contest will also feature a clash of strengths, as Platteville boasts a potent air attack while Augustana's signature is stout defense.
Butler (0-3) at No. 10 UW-Stevens Point (2-0), Stevens Point, Wis.: Can a WIAC team knock off a Division I-AA team for the second consecutive week? Getting a Bulldog squad at home that has been outscored by a combined 129-33 makes the prospects more likely. Stevens Point won't be looking past Butler, but its critical WIAC opener versus No. 4 La Crosse looms next week. Last year, Butler won the interdivisional matchup in, 43-29, in Indianapolis. Butler is 4-1 against D-III schools the past four years, but 1-1 on the road.
