Early wake-up call
|
|
Wartburg, three-time defending IIAC champion and perennial playoff contender, lost 34-7 to Millikin.
The Big Blue gave Wartburg a taste of their own defensive medicine allowing just 55 yards of offense for the Knights in the first half. Last year, Wartburg dominated the first half leading Millikin 36-0 at halftime.
Millikin attacked Wartburg from all angles with 137 yards rushing and two touchdowns from running back Sean Harrington and 207 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Joe Albin. The offense hit on eight of 13 third-down conversions while winning the first down battle 19-9. Defensively, the Big Blue picked off Wartburg quarterback Reed Hoskins twice and held him to 89 yards passing.
Similarly, Willamette opened 2005 with a thud after making the playoffs in 2004.
Division II Western Oregon shut out Willamette 35-0 as the Bearcats struggled on both sides of the ball. They accumulated just 172 yards of total offense and were a measly 1-for-15 on third down. Western Oregon sacked Willamette quarterback Cameron Walton three times and denied the Willamette offense all three times it reached the red zone. The Wolves reached the red zone four times and scored four touchdowns.
Things don’t look any easier in Week 2 for Willamette as they welcome No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor to town. If the Bearcats can replicate their 2004 performance against UMHB, they may be able to right the ship and get back to being a playoff-caliber team.
While Week 1 was full of surprises in the West Region, few things opened eyes more than these two losses.
The good news is the season is young, but unless the reasons for these losses are addressed, this season could be less than what Wartburg and Willamette are accustomed to.
Hey rook’, nice game
Freshman Brennan McCarron brought a nice football résumé with him when he enrolled at Loras. With 3,239 yards, two second team all-state selections and two first team all-conference selections, he graduated as the most decorated running back in Dubuque High School history. He is the city’s all-time leading rusher and holds the single season records for touchdowns (26) and rushing yards (1,930) from his senior season.
In his first game at Loras, he added to this list of accomplishments. The 5-6, 170 pound back made defenders miss all day as he dodged and darted for 128 yards on 17 carries including four touchdowns in the Duhawks 48-3 victory over Concordia (Ill.) His fourth straight touchdown, a 54-yard dash in the second quarter, opened up a 28-0 lead for Loras.
For his efforts he was rewarded with the IIAC offensive player of the week award — just another line on the résumé.
Battling for the bridge
Dubuque and UW-Platteville kicked off the latest official rivalry in Division III with the Battle of the Bridge on Saturday. With Platteville’s 26-0 dismantling of the Spartans it looks like it might be a couple years before a true rivalry evolves.
Dubuque quarterback Jermar Jackson was likely looking for a bridge to hide under as the Pioneers defense swarmed him all night long. They tallied 12 sacks on the evening, the most in Division III since 2001. Jackson rushed the ball 25 times for minus-33 yards.
Block party hat trick
Trailing 35-7 late in the third quarter, the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds mounted the most unusual of comebacks against St. John’s. With just over two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blugolds defense swarmed St. John’s punter Zach Reif deep in his Johnnie territory blocking his punt and recovering it in the end zone for the touchdown.
On the very next possession, the Blugolds reached Reif again, blocking another punt and recovering it in the end zone to cut the lead to 35-21 with just over 14 minutes to play.
Two series later, the Blugolds completed the hat trick blocking Reif yet again and setting up a touchdown from 12 yards out. Trailing 28-35, the Blugolds were eventually stopped on the Johnnie 23-yard line on downs with eight seconds to play.
Down to the wire
La Verne and Pomona-Pitzer have a history of playing it close. The Leopard-Sagehen contest has been decided by five or fewer points in five of the last seven contests. With Saturday’s 20-17 victory, La Verne now holds a 41-30-1 edge in the all-time series between the two schools.
Engine stalled
Several defenses on Saturday turned their opponents rushing attacks into little more than stalled engines. St. John’s held UW-Eau Claire to five yards rushing on 28 rushes in their 35-28 triumph. UW-Stout allowed just 24 yards rushing on 35 carries in a 49-14 victory against Division II Upper Iowa. UW-Platteville held Dubuque to 27 yards on 29 carries in shutting out the Spartans 26-0.
Finally …
Carleton won its season opener for the first time since 1999 when it beat former MWC conference foe Beloit 35-28. It was their first meeting since 1981. The Knights amassed just one win from 2000 to 2002 and a total of five over the past two seasons. With their largest roster since World War II, the Knights look poised to threaten that total this season alone.
Conference Recaps
Around the MIAC
St. John’s outlasted UW-Eau Claire 35-28 withstanding three blocked punts by the Blugolds in the second half, two were returned for touchdowns. … Concordia thumped Moorhead State (Div. II) 29-12 behind a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mark Halley. … Bethel pulled away from Buena Vista 38-21 outscoring the Beavers 18-0 in the fourth quarter. … Carleton outlasted Beloit 35-28 behind 167 yards rushing and two touchdowns from R.J. Jackson. … Gustavus tripped at Valley City State 10-3 as quarterback Jordan Stolp went 16-for-44 for 122 yards and one interception.
Around the IIAC
Buena Vista lost to Bethel 38-21 behind three lost fumbles and one interception. … Central stunned Augustana 25-24 by going for two on their final possession in overtime to claim the win. … Coe dominated Westminster (Mo.) 49-7 behind three touchdowns from Neil Suckow. … Cornell nipped Aurora 21-14 by overcoming three lost fumbles and forcing the Spartans into 0-for-10 on third down conversions. … UW-Platteville shut out Dubuque 26-0 to win the inaugural “Battle of the Bridge”…Loras dumped Concordia (Ill.) 48-3 behind 127 yards and four touchdowns from freshman running back Brenna McCarron. … Luther beat up on Martin Luther 55-21 led by Tyler Sherden’s 127 yards rushing and three touchdowns. … Simpson slipped by Illinois Wesleyan 20-14 behind brothers Trent (touchdown) and Dusty (2 pt conversion) Kain…Millikin throttled Wartburg 34-7 behind two touchdowns apiece from Sean Harrington and Chris Katzmark.
Around the WIAC
Hardin-Simmons beat up on UW-Stevens Point 38-12 after outscoring the Pointers 31-9 in the first and fourth quarters. … South Dakota State defeated UW-La Crosse 42-13 behind 183 yards and three touchdowns from Anthony Watson. … UW-Oshkosh held off William Penn 31-29 thanks to running back Andy Moriarty’s 179 yards rushing. … UW-Whitewater crushed St. Norbert 45-7 with three touchdown plays over 40 yards. … UW-Stout trounced Upper Iowa 49-14 after jumping to a 49-0 lead. … UW-Platteville shut out Dubuque 26-0 thanks to 12 sacks from the defense.
Around the SCIAC
La Verne beat Pomona Pitzer 20-17 in one of the few conference games in Week 1.
Around the NWC
Western Oregon (Div. II) shut out Willamette 35-0 behind 167 yards passing and four touchdowns from quarterback Mark Thorson.
Games to Watch
Central at Bethel, Arden Hills, Minn., 1:00 p.m.
Both Central and Bethel struggled a bit last year finishing lower in their respective conferences then they are accustomed to at 5-3 and 6-4 overall. The Dutch knocked off Bethel in Pella, IA, in overtime 21-20, last season. Both teams opened 2005 with a victory and should battle down to the wire again in 2005.
St. Olaf at Luther, Decorah, Iowa, 1:00 p.m.
Last season, the Oles spotted Luther 31 points before coming back to win 32-31. While that excitement won’t likely be replicated in 2005, it should be a great battle between two teams on the rise in their respective conferences.
Linfield at Western Oregon, Monmouth, Ore., 1:30 p.m.
All eyes are on Linfield as they start their quest to repeat in 2005. They dominated WOU last season 58-17 but the Wolves are coming off a 35-0 blanking of Willamette. Look for the Wildcats offense to be hitting on all cylinders as they find answers to several questions on defense.
Reminder
One guy covering five conferences means I could always use your help on story ideas. If you have feedback on a story, have a human interest story idea or want to email me for any other reason, I can be reached at adam.johnson@d3football.com.