The road to Iowa supremacy
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The road from Iowa to a first-round matchup in Minnesota is a bit tougher and Central is learning that by the day.
Even with Saturday’s dismantling of three-time defending IIAC champion Wartburg, the Central Dutch have not clinched the conference title and will still need a little help from conference foe, Simpson, to catch and pass Coe.
Coe, who beat Central earlier this year 17-14, controls its own destiny. If they can beat Simpson at home on Saturday they will seal the IIAC’s Pool A bid. Last year, it took two overtimes before Coe could secure the victory 24-17; the year before in Cedar Rapids, Simpson won by seven. This game is not a “gimme” for Coe as Simpson has won three straight and brings the best defense in the conference to Cedar Rapids.
Similarly, the Dutch will have their hands full with a Buena Vista team that has won three of four and has revenge on its mind. Last year, Buena Vista was sitting at 6-2 and eyeing a share of the IIAC crown, as they prepared for a showdown with Central. The Dutch won and Buena Vista limped to a 6-4 finish.
Coe and Central are very similar teams and no strangers to success—both teams shared the IIAC crown in 2002 with Wartburg. This year, both teams are 8-1 with reliable running backs piling up touchdowns to complement steady, non-flashy quarterbacks.
Central running back Vance Schuring has been a workhorse for the Dutch piling 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns including three in the 37-20 victory over Wartburg. Coe uses their running back Neil Suckow more through the air. He has ten touchdowns receiving and seven on the ground.
Coe quarterback Andy TeKippe has piled up more stats than Central’s Timothy Connell but both have been clutch in big situations.
No game is bigger than the one IIAC game remaining in front of each of these players and their teammates.
The IIAC is still up for grabs and a straight shot to Minnesota is likely the reward for the team that comes out on top of this jumbled route to a conference championship.
Bearcats can
The Willamette Bearcats opened the 2005 season as the Bear-can’ts.
The 2004 playoff participants lost their first three games and were outscored 111-37. The season was on its way to a colossal disaster.
A Week 4 matchup with Menlo was the breath of fresh air they needed to get back on track. Since their 52-20 victory over the Oaks, the Bear-can’ts are back to the Bearcats winning five straight including an overtime, come-from-behind thriller, over Pool C favorite Whitworth.
The Bearcats have won three of their last four in overtime or the final minute of regulation.
They will face their biggest test of the year with Linfield coming to Salem, Ore., on Saturday.
Sauer’s been sweet
In his first two career starts for St. Thomas, freshman quarterback David Sauer has completed 48-62 passes for 665 yards, eight touchdowns and only one interception. The Tommies are 2-0 in these two games.
In October, Sauer was the Tommies' fourth-string quarterback, but after a season-ending injury to two-year starter Ryan Jansen, he quickly moved up the charts.
Sauer threw for 4,418 yards and 24 touchdowns his last two prep seasons at Rocori HS and is the first freshman to start at quarterback for St. Thomas since 1992 when Ryan Davis had a few starts, including a 15-12 upset of a highly favored Johnnie team at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
On Saturday, Sauer will face his predecessor from Rocori, Alex Kofoed, as the Tommies welcome St. John’s to O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
This receiver is the Schmidt
Buena Vista wide receiver Jesse Schmidt became the school's all-time leading receiver by hauling in five catches for 84 yards. Schmidt now has 127 career receptions. The old record of 122 was previously held by Josh Espinosa. Schmidt also has 2,234 career receiving yards. He passed Barry Jacobsen, who had 2,200 career receiving yards, for first place on the school's all-time receiving yardage list.
It’s been a while
The Cornell Rams haven’t put up a lot of points over the last three seasons and the few points they’ve scored have rarely included the field goal. In fact, the 32-yard field goal by Tom Glick on Saturday was the first for Cornell since Seth Bartlett converted a 23-yard field goal against Colorado College on Sept. 6, 2003.
Notes, scribbles, jots and dots …
->UW-Whitewater clinched its 26th WIAC championship, the seventh since Bob Berezowitz became head coach in 1985, and the first since 1998.
->It is the first time since the 1980 and '81 seasons that Concordia-Moorhead recorded back-to-back eight-win seasons.
->The 80-yard kickoff return by Central’s Brett Doud was the first kickoff return for a score by a Central player since Cole Adrian’s 92-yard effort, also at Waverly, Sept. 23, 1995.
->Bethel running back Phil Porta set the new team rushing record with 289 yards against Augsburg on Friday afternoon.
->Four of PLU’s seven touchdowns on Saturday went for 40 or more yards including touchdown strikes of 46, 55, 63 and 71.
->Whitworth tight end Michael Allan’s touchdown reception on Saturday was his 13th of the season, tying the Whitworth school record for most TD receptions in a season set by Doug Long in 1976.
Around the MIAC
Concordia-Moorhead outlasted St. Olaf 49-35 rushing for 496 yards and holding onto the ball for 38:40. … Bethel nipped Augsburg 17-14 on Friday behind 289 yards rushing and a touchdown from Phil Porta. … St. Thomas beat Hamline 35-13 behind 349 yards passing and five touchdowns from quarterback David Sauer in his second career start. … Gustavus defeated Carleton 31-12 behind 253 yards passing and three touchdowns from quarterback Jordan Stolp.
Around the IIAC
Central trounced Wartburg 37-20 to eliminate the Knights from their fourth straight IIAC title…Coe overcame Loras 24-14 outgaining the Duhawks 487-165…Luther held Cornell 29-23 collecting three interceptions and three fumbles…Buena Vista outlasted Dubuque 27-24 behind 140 yards rushing and receiving and two touchdowns from Dustin Crook…Simpson pounded Waldorf 48-13 behind 127 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Adam Reutzel.
Around the WIAC
UW-Whitewater overcame UW-Stout 32-10 after trailing 10-0 after one quarter. … UW-Oshkosh outlasted UW-Eau Claire in overtime 24-18 behind 316 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Andy Moriarty. … UW-La Crosse beat up UW-River Falls 40-25 getting touchdowns from six different players. … UW-Stevens Point trounced UW-Platteville 31-3 picking off two passes and recovering three fumbles.
Around the NWC
Willamette outlasted Whitworth 40-34 in overtime behind 144 yards and two touchdowns by Quentin Brock. … PLU doubled up Menlo 48-24 behind 167 yards receiving and three touchdowns from Chase Reed.
Around the SCIAC
Occidental came back to beat La Verne 57-36 behind 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Matt Andersen. … Cal Lutheran defeated Whittier behind two 45-yard field goals from Connor Pearce. … Pomona-Pitzer defeated Colorado College 26-7 holding the Tigers to 58 yards on 25 carries. … Redlands defeated CMS 34-16 behind three field goals from Sean Conway including a 50-yarder.
Games to Watch
No. 3 St. John’s at St. Thomas, St. Paul, 1:00 p.m.: On paper, it looks as though this storied rivalry could be a blowout this year. The Tommies are 4-3 in conference while the Johnnies have yet to lose. However, their paths to this game were similar in 2003 when a weak St. Thomas team took St. John’s to the final horn before losing 15-12. This year’s matchup pairs two former Rocori High School standout quarterbacks in David Sauer from St. Thomas and Alex Kofoed from St. John’s. Sauer has played well in his first two starts but has yet to face a defense as potent as St. John’s. The Tommies were shut out last season 21-0 in Collegeville.
Buena Vista at No. 20 Central, Pella, Iowa, 1:00 p.m.: Last year, Central played spoiler beating Buena Vista and keeping them from sharing a piece of the IIAC crown. This year, the Beavers will try hand the Dutch the same fate. Fresh off a waxing of the three time defending IIAC champs, Central looks poised to close out the season in convincing fashion. The Beavers have fought through injuries this season and have still posted a respectable 5-4 record. Look for Central to once again execute their special teams to perfection and come away victorious. A Coe loss to Simpson would give Central the IIAC title outright. A Simpson win and Central still has a good shot at a pool C bid.
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.