Locey says eyes on Saturday only
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Since taking over the Wildcat program in 1996, Locey has tallied a 74-17 record including 7-2 in the playoffs. After clinching their 50th straight winning season in Week 7, sights turned toward a repeat as national champions.
It will be anything but easy this season as seven of the eight teams in the West are ranked in the Top 25 — five of the eight ranked in the top 10. The expansion to 32 teams this season means the Wildcats won't be rewarded with a bye for their undefeated regular season or 21 straight wins. Instead, they draw No. 6 Occidental in the first round, a team they defeated 56-27 last season in the NCAA quarterfinals.
I sat down with Locey — via telephone — to discuss the upcoming playoffs, his quarterback, St. John's and whether or not he thought the West region final was essentially the Stagg Bowl.
Q: What's the biggest difference between fighting for your first national championship and defending your first national championship?
A: Well, we've been through this and we have the experience. Our only concern right now is Oxy and maintaining our focus. I think everyone is fighting to get to the championship so we don't really have a target on our backs.
Q: Was playing only eight games (due to Lewis and Clark's cancellation) a benefit or hindrance?
A: It's how the cookie crumbled. We think it's a positive because Week 10 was a good time to have a bye and get some guys healthy. The health factor will definitely help us.
Q: Is the Linfield defense better this year?
A: Last year we were pretty young and it took us a while to come around. The leadership on this year's defense has been wonderful. The guys have matured and are playing really well.
Q: How important is the home field advantage, especially in the loaded West region?
A: Like most people you like to play at home. We know, with the turf, that the field will be good regardless of the weather. We only had three home games this season (Lewis and Clark would have been their fourth) so it's nice to be able to get more games at home.
Q: In what ways has Brett Elliott improved this season?
A: Brett has been real steady for us. He's only been sacked twice this season and that's because our O-line, our receivers and our quarterback are all working well together. They work hard together and have fun together and they have really gotten to know each other better.
Q: St. John's is back in the playoffs after a year off. Would you like a crack at them after going 0-2 in your career?
A: We're trying to keep our blinders on. Our focus in on this game against Oxy.
Q: Is there a kicking controversy at Linfield?
A: We're still trying to sort it out but we're blessed with two kickers (Garrett Wales and John Dailey) that are both pretty gifted. Some might call it a controversy but I call it a 'pretty neat deal'.
Some have said the national championship is the West region final this year. Do you agree?
A: I don't think about it. People not in the coaching ranks can prognosticate all they want. There are great teams in other regions and we just need to stay focused. The neat thing is we are the only division that has 32 teams all competing for a national championship.
Cal Lu-ses out
After finishing at 8-1 this season and winning 14 of their past 15 games, the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen were left out of the 2005 playoffs.
“It's disappointing,” said coach Scott Squires. But we're focusing on the positive — a very successful 2005 season and the anticipation of repeating it next year.”
The Kingsmen finished with a rank of 40 in quality of wins with their only loss a convincing defeat to Occidental, 41-9. Three teams with worse quality of wins rankings and overall records (John Hopkins 8-2, ranked 48th, Lakeland 8-2, ranked 54th and Albion 7-3, ranked 60th) made the playoffs.
What these teams have on Cal Lutheran is the automatic qualifier. It allows poor teams who win their conferences to automatically make the playoffs. For example, one of Lakeland’s two losses is to No. 2 UW-Whitewater 73-12.
Cal Lutheran has not made the NCAA playoffs since the entire athletics program shifted to Division III status in 1991.
Kicking records aside
Concordia kicker Brian Halverson finished off his year-long attack on the Cobber record book in Thursday’s defeat of UM-Morris. With his 18-yard and 24-yard field goals he now has 31 for his career. He holds the Concordia record for most field goals in a career, most points in a career, most consecutive field goals, most extra points made in a season and a career, field goals made in a season and field goal percentage in a season. He’ll look to add to these records on Saturday as the Cobbers host Coe in the first round of the playoffs.
Keeping up with the Jones
Nobody was able to keep up with Occidental’s Josh Jones on Saturday. The senior wide receiver hauled in nine catches for 199 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-16 thumping of Claremont Mudd Scripps. Jones caught 15 touchdowns and 958 yards in nine games this season. The Tigers now face Linfield in the first round of the NCAA playoffs matching the NWC’s best receiver in Casey Allen against the SCIAC’s best in Jones.
Oh brother, they’re good
Two brothers from UW-Eau Claire ended their careers on Saturday but not before writing their names in the Blugolds record book. Quarterback Jesse Krzyzanowski ended his career holding the teams’ single-season record for pass completions in a season with 214. The old record was 199 by John Clark that stood for 16 years. Krzyzanowski also broke the school’s single-season record for pass completion percentage completing 64.7% of his passes on the season. The old record was held by Sean Hoolihan who had a completion percentage of 60.9% in 1998.
Jesse’s brother, Darin Krzyzanowski, also ended his career as a Blugold breaking the school’s single-season record for receptions in a season with 61 catches. The old record was 60 receptions by Eric Ferguson in 2003.
Notes, scribbles, jots and dots …
->Simpson wide receiver Dusty Kain finished his career as the most prolific receiver in Storm history with 233 receptions, 3,210 yards and 27 touchdowns.
->St. Olaf collected its first eight-win season since 1982.
->An NFL scout was in the press box watching Linfield’s Brett Elliott on Saturday.
->UW-Whitewater finished 10-0 for the first time since 1990.
->Concordia notches their first back-to-back nine win seasons in program history.
->The Carleton Knights, 4-6, finished with their highest win total since the 1996 club finished 6-4.
->Casey Allen’s 89-yard touchdown catch was the longest pass play in Linfield history.
->Coe’s Neil Suckow scored two touchdowns on Saturday including a 99-yard run.
->After winning a share of its record breaking 27th IIAC title on Saturday, the Central Dutch held a ground breaking for a $2.5 million renovation of A.N. Kuyper Stadium..
->Dubuque beat Loras, 20-18, for the first time since 1984.
Games to Watch
No. 6 Occidental at No. 1 Linfield, 12 pm, McMinnville, Ore.: Look for a lot of points to go up in this rematch of last year’s quarterfinal game, won by Linfield, 56-27. This game features some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the west, if not the nation. Occidental will rely on their Andy Collins to Josh Jones connection while the Linfield Wildcats will look to counter with the All-American connection of Brett Elliott to Casey Allen. Both teams’ defenses are improved over last year and could limit the scoring a little bit. Mike Bryant leads the Occidental defense while Brandon Olson anchors the Wildcats defense.
No. 20 Central at No. 2 UW-Whitewater, 12:00 pm, Whitewater, Wis.: In the opposite one dimensional style, this game should be decided on the ground as both teams boast one of the best backs in the country. UW-Whitewater is led by Justin Beaver who led the nation is rushing this season and tallied 17 touchdowns. Central will counter with Vance Schuring who piled up 16 touchdowns on the season. UW-Whitewater quarterback Justin Jacobs is better than Central quarterback Timothy Connell but the specials teams of the Dutch should continue to be the X factor.
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.