Games to watch for 2007
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This will be another very exciting year in the West Region. After providing a Stagg Bowl participant the last four years, (holding a 2-2 record), there is strong reason to believe they will once again provide a contender in 2007. The following games will determine who comes out on top.
In no particular order:
Week 1: UW-La Crosse at Hardin-Simmons, Sept. 1, Abilene, Texas
The 2007 season wastes no time in continuing a trend that has grown in recent years—the intra-conference battle. Besides making for great games, it gives the fans a chance, come playoff time, to compare scores and try to prognosticate a winner from regular season match-ups. This battle will be a doozy to kickoff the season. The UW-La Crosse Eagles are ranked seventh in the D3football.com poll and picked to finish second in the WIAC behind UW-Whitewater. Hardin-Simmons is also picked to finish second in its conference, the ASC, and holds down the 11th spot in the D3football.com poll. The Cowboys lose 14 starters from last year, including their all-time leading passer, so this game will tell them a lot about where they stand on the national scene.
Week 2: Willamette at Gustavus Adolphus, Sept. 8, St. Peter, Minn.
While both teams are only picked to finish in the middle of their conferences, this game has some context that should make it fun to watch. It will be the first game in Gustavus’ brand new football stadium. It is also another intra-conference battle for which Gustavus laid the smack down last season with a 35-7 victory on Willamette’s home field. The Bearcats will have revenge on their minds as the Gusties try to secure victory No. 1 on their beautiful new field.
Week 3: UW-Whitewater at St. Cloud State, Sept. 15, St. Cloud, Minn.
This will be a nice game for Division III as it provides a great opportunity to pick up a win over the Division II ranks. St. Cloud is picked to finish 6th/7th in two preseason polls in the North Central Conference. UW-Whitewater is No. 2 in the D3football.com poll and two-time runner up in the Stagg Bowl. It should provide a great smash mouth type of football game and I have to believe the Warhawks will come out victorious.
Week 5: UW-Whitewater at UW-La Crosse, Sept. 29, La Crosse, Wis.
It’s the game that will likely decide the WIAC conference champion. Last year, the Warhawks dominated winning 45-10. This season the Warhawks will have a new look with transfer quarterback Danny Jones and new head coach Lance Leipold. Justin Beaver will be the obvious focus of the La Crosse defense after setting the UW-Whitewater single game rushing record against the Eagles in 2006 with 286 yards rushing.
Week 6: St. Olaf at St. John’s, Oct. 6, Collegeville, Minn.
Much like the WIAC could be decided in Week 5, the MIAC could be decided in Week 6 as two highly powered offenses meet in Collegeville. St. Olaf has been on the cusp of conference supremacy for two years now. Both seasons they have run into the buzz saw that is St. John’s. They’ve lost those last two games by a combined score of 100-30. The Oles offense is stacked but they will need to step up their defense to hang with St. John’s in 2007. A victory for the Oles could very well equal a conference championship.
Week 7: Coe at Central, Oct. 13, Pella, Iowa
At this point in the season several questions should be close to answered. How will Coe handle the loss of Neil Suckow? Is Central for real in their quest to repeat? And if the answers are: Just fine” and “Yes” than this game will be as exciting as any in the IIAC in 2007. Coe lost running back Neil Suckow, who transferred to Wartburg, in the offseason. Central has a lot of hype coming in after their undefeated conference championship run in 2006. At midseason, these teams should be ready to rock and continue their storied rivalry. One of these teams has shared or held the IIAC crown each of the last three years. Central won 31-28 last season.
Week 8: Pacific Lutheran at Linfield, Oct. 20, McMinnville, Ore.
This once storied rivalry has died down a bit with Linfield’s dominance over the past few years but the 2007 matchup could have conference title implications. The Wildcats will likely have filled several holes on defense by this point in the season. Meanwhile, the Lutes offense should be hitting on all cylinders after returning the core of their offensive unit from 2006. If the Lutes can hang early, it could come down to who has the ball last. Linfield won last season 44-21.
Week 9: Cal Lutheran at Occidental, Oct. 27, Los Angeles
Two years ago, Cal Lutheran was a win away from sharing the SCIAC title with Occidental. This season, the Kingsmen are without quarterback Danny Jones who transferred to UW-Whitewater and head coach Scott Squires who left for a CFL assistant coach position. Similarly, Occidental is without All-League quarterback Andy Collins who graduated. The new quarterbacks that these teams find should be ready to roll at this point in the season. Occidental will be favored but look for Cal Lutheran to make a run at them and at the SCIAC title.
Week 10: Linfield at Whitworth, Nov. 3, Spokane, Wash.
This is a rematch of the game that decided the NWC conference in 2006. Whitworth pulled off the upset (based on history, not talent) winning the NWC crown and ending the Wildcats run of four straight undefeated conference seasons. This year Whitworth returns a solid defense but will need to replace an all-league quarterback and tight end. Linfield is ready to return to its usual spot under second year head coach Joe Smith. Linfield lost last season 17-14.
Week 11: St. John’s at Bethel, Nov. 10, Arden Hills, Minn.
Depending on the outcomes of games with St. Olaf earlier in the season, this game could decide the MIAC crown. The Royals were victorious in 2006 winning 28-13. The Royals need to replace all-league running back Phil Porta and the Johnnies need to replace all-league receiver Kyle Gearman. Whoever fills these holes for each team will have a huge impact on the outcome of this game. If the Royals win it would be the first back to back wins over St. John’s since 1999-00.
There are 10 games you should try to watch or at the very least check the write up on the game on D3football.com. Along with games to watch, there are questions to be answered. Watch closely this season as answers are revealed to the following questions from the West Region.
How has Neil Suckow adjusted to Wartburg?
Can Duey Naatz rescue UW-Stout?
Can Danny Jones succeed at UW-Whitewater?
Is Whitworth one and done or can they repeat as NWC champ?
How much will Macalester improve under second year head coach Glenn Caruso?
Can UW-Whitewater return to the Stagg for the third consecutive year?
Who will Cal Lutheran miss more -- Danny Jones or Scott Squires?
Those and many other topics is what’s in store this season in the West Region. I look forward to bringing it to you each week!
If you have a story idea or something quirky in the game you watched that week, please contact me at adam.johnson@d3football.com.
Let’s play football!!