1. Northwestern finds itself in the driver’s seat in the conference after a gutsy win over St. Scholastica. The Eagles beat the Saints at their own game and were the more physical team, imposing their will and forcing the Saints into uncharacteristic mistakes. It wasn’t always pretty, but they made the plays when it came down to crunch time. For example, QB Josh Balzer did not have a very good game until the game winning drive where he somehow escaped what would have been a 20 yard sack and found RB Josh Sinnen who in turn somehow found a way to turn the play into a huge gain. Hats off to that Northwestern defense that refused to yield an inch and forced the issue led by LB’s Joey Baumman and Kendal Sommerlot. Games like this define a team’s season, but it’s not over yet. Eureka and Northwestern have exchanged blowouts the last two years and Greenville has had the Eagles number lately. But it sure looks like this Northwestern team is poised to claim the conference championship and a trip to the playoffs. Their fate is in their own hands.
2. St. Scholastica. I don’t want to hear about how they lost their two best players on offense, RB’s Jake Jensen and Travis Nehowig, to injury in the first half. Or how they stopped Northwestern for most of the game, how WR Brian Lecheler’s kickoff return was lucky, or any other bullcrap. The Saints had opportunities to put the Eagles away and instead settled for field goals or turned the ball over. The Saints had better field position for most of the game and just could not get the job done. They even had plenty of time to score some points after Northwestern’s touchdown, but instead turned the ball over once again. When it’s all said and done, the Saints did not make the plays they needed to and the Eagles did. The season is not over by any means. While Northwestern’s schedule faces the tougher portion of their competition, the Saints will enjoy much easier opponents to close out the season. Still, they will have to hope for an upset late in the season.
3. Greenville escaped with a win on Saturday. Only beating MacMurray by 7? Seriously? The Panthers/ Tiger-look-a-likes will only be able to go as far as their defense carries them and on Saturday it was a little too close for comfort. It didn’t help that they turned the ball over two times. The dream is still alive for Greenville because Northwestern won, but they need to start performing much better and Martin Luther is a very difficult place to play.
4. Eureka is also still alive in the conference championship race. They beat a tough Martin Luther team and are now in a three-way tie for second place and they still have to play Northwestern and Greenville. Consistency has been an issue this season, and they won’t be able to beat Northwestern or Greenville without spectacular games from QB Sam Durley and a big improvement from their defense. I think they are good enough for an upset, but not consistent enough to run the table. They had better worry about Minnesota Morris this week or their dreams of finishing in the top three in the conference are over.
5. Minnesota Morris is another team that is not very consistent and we have documented week in and week out why. If Westminster QB Joe Plassmeyer does not throw three interceptions, I’m not sure the Cougars win this game. The problem that I have with this win is that it will give Morris some sort of confidence that the 2-QB system will work. They might get lucky against bad football teams, but it will never work against the top teams in the UMAC.
6. Westminster just can’t turn the ball over. Or plan on running for -5 rushing yards. RB Chris Starkey had 10 rushes for -3 yards for a -0.3 avg per carry. I’m sorry, but maybe they should hand the ball to someone else or get a new offensive line. None of that will come in time against an angry team from St. Scholastica.
7. Crown. It’s like in the movie What About Bob. Baby Steps against Presentation…Baby Steps against Northwestern? Ok, I never said taking Baby Steps meant winning.
8. Martin Luther all of the sudden is throwing the ball 36 times. Welcome to the 90’s! Or should I say 2012.
9. MacMurray. The countdown is 4—that is 4 games to win a game and avoid their second “defeated” season in three years.
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