This week's rankings are pretty cut and dry. There's not really much debate in the rankings.
1. #2 UM-Duluth 4-0 (3-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W vs. #18 Wayne State 42-10
LG - W vs. Bemidji State 44-21
UG - @ MSU-Moorhead (2-2)
Note - I wouldn't let the final score confuse you, UM-Duluth put Bemidji State to bed early in last week's game as the score was 44-7 going into the 4th quarter. Right now, there is no team in the NSIC that can compete with the Bulldogs. I'd say if there is a team, it's probably Augustana but even I would have my doubts. The Bulldogs travel to Moorhead this week to take on the surging Dragons. Trust me fellas, this game won't be close...I'd be surprised if Moorhead keeps it within 40.
2. #20 Augustana 4-0 (3-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W vs. U-Mary 52-21
LG - W vs. SW Minnesota State 53-21
UG - @ Concordia-St. Paul
Note - I'm starting to wonder who has the best QB-WR tandem in the NSIC. Is it Vogler/Winfield for UM-Duluth? Is it Klaphake/Williams for St. Cloud? Right now, the Hanson/Schulte combination for Augustana seems to be working like a charm. Last week against the Mustangs, Hanson passed 385 yards, going 18-for-23 and 4 TDs. Impressive numbers, thanks on the part of Schulte, who made 6 catches for 210 yards and 3 TDs. Schulte leads the NSIC in receptions per game (6.50), yards per catch (23.7), yards per game (154) and TD receptions (10). Even though Augustana is on a hot streak, they could be entering a trap game this Saturday when they travel to St. Paul to take on Concordia-St. Paul.
3. St. Cloud State 3-1 (3-0 NSIC) (-)
PG - W vs. #17 Winona State 31-26
LG - W vs. U-Mary 30-14
UG - @ Northern State (0-4)
Note - There aren't many hotter teams than St. Cloud State after getting a relatively easy 30-14 win over Mary this past weekend. Granted, I wouldn't let the final score fool you. Mary blocked a punt with less than two minutes to go and recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown. Mary was never really in this game offensively since both their touchdowns were non-offensive. Even though it wasn't a pretty win, a win is a win nonetheless. However, if I were the Huskies, I'd be a little worried. These blocked punts and interceptions should start to be a cause for concern. Granted, Klaphake has been solid all year and the one guy that threw the interception was the backup QB. You won't see that very often this season but special teams is a big cause for concern. A blocked punt is what cost them the game against Augustana and here they just had another one. I guess taking the safety in the WSU game wasn't such a bad idea. Luckily for St. Cloud, they travel to take on Northern State this Saturday. The good news is they are 0-4 but the bad news is they play tough, no matter the opponent.
4. Winona State 3-1 (2-1 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ St. Cloud State 31-26
LG - W @ Upper Iowa 42-14
UG - vs. #25 MSU-Mankato (3-1)
Note - Don't let the final score of the Upper Iowa game fool you. The Warriors played an AWFUL game. It was tied going into halftime and the Peacocks did what they've been doing all season...choking big time in the second half. Aber looked out of sorts in the first half but came back strong in the second half and ended up completing 26-of-39 passes for 347 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. I could definitely tell from this game that the Warriors just overlooked the Peacocks coming into this game and Coach Sawyer woke them up at halftime. WSU outscored the Peacocks 28-0 in the second half and the WSU defense did a solid job again holding the Peacocks to only 274 yards. That's a good sign considering Winona State will be hosting a MSU-Mankato offense this Saturday that has struggled all year.
5. Wayne State 3-1 (2-1 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ #2 UM-Duluth 42-10
LG - W vs. Northern State 44-20
UG - @ SW Minnesota State
Note - After an embarrassing loss to UM-Duluth a few weeks ago, the Wildcats rebounded by taking out Northern State. If anything, Wayne State should be happy to beat a team like Northern State by 24, especially since the Wolves hadn't lost by more than 10 leading up to that game. I'm sure the Wildcats are pleased that backup QB Evan Johnson was able to play well in Cyle Schultz absence, going 17-of-24 for 253 yards and a TD. It was one of those games where the Wildcats didn't do anything great but did everything really well. Wayne State travels to SW Minnesota State this week and considering how the Mustangs have played lately, I'd almost put one in the books for the Wildcats.
6. Concordia-St. Paul 3-1 (2-1 NSIC) (+2)
PG - W @ Northern State 27-17
LG - W @ #11 MSU-Mankato 28-26
UG - vs. #20 Augustana (4-0)
Note - Boy, the Golden Bears are road warriors this year. Two consecutive road games and two solid victories for Concordia. The win in Mankato was huge for the Golden Bears program and ever since the horrible loss to St. Cloud, they seem to be moving in the right direction. If there's any downside to Concordia-St. Paul, it is the rush defense is a problem. MSU running back Taylor Brookins rushed 170 yards on 22 carries with 3 TDs. If Concordia wants to remain competitive in the NSIC, they'll need to shore up the run game, even though that might not be their biggest concern coming into this week. Instead, they'll need to be ready for the high-flying Augustana offense powered by Josh Hanson and Tyler Schulte. If Concordia can shut down the Augie pass game, it might be good enough for them to pull off a major upset.
7. Bemidji State 2-2 (1-2 NSIC) (-)
PG - W @ SW Minnesota State 30-14
LG - L @ UM-Duluth 44-21
UG - vs. Upper Iowa (0-4)
Note - You're probably wondering, why would I keep the Beavers at #7 despite losing? Well, like one fan once told me, at least a 23 point loss to UM-Duluth looks respectable. Considering the Bulldogs are winning by 32.5 PPG against high quality opponents, that's very respectable. They also held Issac Odim to only 79 yards rushing on 20 carries. Respect...able. However, offense is still a concern for Bemidji as the offense only scored 7 points on 244 yards. Granted, you need to almost throw that stat out against the Bulldogs. Considering that their defense is only giving up 13.5 PPG and 293 yards (take into consideration that they played Wayne State and Central Washington). Luckily for the Beavers, they get an easy one this week when Upper Iowa comes to town.
8. #25 MSU-Mankato 3-1 (2-1 NSIC)(-2)
PG - W @ UM-Crookston 42-3
LG - L vs. Concordia-St. Paul 28-26
UG - @ Winona State (3-1)
Note - Call me crazy, but I think there's a lot that the Mavericks need to be worrying about right now. Of course, they did just lose their first game of the season but they have not looked pretty in their three wins, especially on offense. Granted, that defense is pretty good, but it wasn't great last week when they gave up 28 points. Overall, it seemed like the Mavericks and Golden Bears were pretty even, but special teams continues to be a problem for MSU-Mankato. Brockshus and the special teams unit continues to struggle. Brockshus was 0-for-1 on FGs and 2-for-3 on PAT attempts with one being blocked. That PAT being blocked was a big difference between this game going to OT and MSU losing. What's worse, Brockshus has been bad all year. He's 0-for-6 on FG attempts now and it's not like he's missing difficult kicks. Right now, Minnesota State has a lot to worry about because their season could be heading towards the light when they play a night game on white-out night at Winona State this Saturday. A loss could be a huge setback with St. Cloud State, Wayne State, Augustana and UM-Duluth still on the schedule.
9. SW Minnesota State 2-2 (1-2 NSIC) (-)
PG - L vs. Bemidji State 30-14
LG - L @ #23 Augustana 53-21
UG - vs. Wayne State (3-1)
Note - Remember what I said about SW Minnesota State entering this meat grinder stretch in their season? It'd be a testament as to just how good or bad they really are? Well, they are bad...really bad. What's sort of funny about them is they seem to play somewhat decently in the first half but the last two weeks, they've been trash in the second half. Granted, they might have one of the best QBs in the league in Ryan Ratekin, he can't do it by himself. I know this is a tough three game stretch for SW Minnesota State, they still need a signature win. They could get one against Wayne State this week, but they need to play way better ball if they want to compete with a high caliber team like the Wildcats.
10. MSU-Moorhead 2-2 (2-1 NSIC)(+1)
PG - W vs. Upper Iowa 28-24
LG - W @ UM-Crookston 48-18
UG - vs. UM-Duluth (4-0)
Note - Well, well, well, look what team is on the rise and is .500? Actually, I said it myself that I thought the Dragons would be .500 after four games and low and behold they are. It seems that after their unusual win against the Peacocks, they went into Crookston and dominated the lowly Eagles. The Dragons anemic offense rattled off 48 points on 512 yards and their horrid defense held the Eagles to only 217 yards of total offense. What a difference a week makes, huh? Well, I got bad news for you Moorhead...you've got a home game this week and it's not going to be pretty. UM-Duluth comes to town, so you better savor .500 football while you still can...
11. Northern State 0-4 (0-3 NSIC) (-1)
PG - L vs. Concordia-St. Paul 27-17
LG - L @ Wayne State 44-20
UG - vs. St. Cloud State (3-1)
Note - I keep telling myself that Northern State isn't a bad football team but when I look at their body of work, I just can't help but wonder when they will win a game? They seem better than 0-4. I know it won't happen the next two weeks when they host St. Cloud State and then travel to Augustana. I foresee it happening in Week 8 when they play at UM-Crookston. Looking ahead to their last 5 games, they could end their season with 3 wins...maybe even 4. I don't know but all I will say is, they'll have a tough time competing with the Huskies this week.
12. U-Mary 0-4 (0-3 NSIC) (-1)
PG - L @ Augustana 52-10
LG - L @ St. Cloud State 30-14
UG - vs. UM-Crookston (1-3)
Note - Well, I have to give at least a little bit of credit to the Marauders. They only lost by 16 to St. Cloud State. I envisioned them giving up 50 points and probably losing by at least 35, especially considering it would be the second consecutive game without star running back Jamal Lomax. I'm sure Bismarck will be rejoicing considering they finally come home and they host the worst team in the conference. Will the win? Probably. If they don't? Then they are the worst team in the conference...and should be ashamed if they lose to Crookston.
13. Upper Iowa 0-4 (0-3 NSIC) (-)
PG - L @ MSU-Moorhead 28-24
LG - L vs. Winona State 42-14
UG - @ Bemidji State (2-2)
Note - They played very well against Winona State...for one half. Again, the story continues for Upper Iowa with their second half play. As of now, they are being outscored 96-10 in the second half. Like I said, I don't know what their problem is, but they really struggle in the second half. Granted, I give them props. They kept WSU to within 28 points...I predicted at least a 40 point loss. It doesn't get any easier for the Peacocks as they travel to Bemidji this week. It's not an easy place to win and with the Beavers tough D, I think it'll be even more difficult for the Peacocks to even compete.
14. UM-Crookston 1-3 (0-3 NSIC) (-)
PG - L vs. MSU-Mankato 42-3
LG - L vs. MSU-Moorhead 48-18
UG - @ U-Mary (0-4)
Note - Welcome back to NSIC play Crookston. No offense to the University of Minnesota-Crookston, but your football team sucks! In NSIC play, the Golden Eagles have been outscored by 44 PPG...wow. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw they lost by 30 to MSU-Moorhead. I thought if they win a game this year, it'd be against them. Well, I guess if there's another opportunity for a win, it would be against a Lomaxless Mary team...but I don't think even Mary would lose to Crookston, even without Lomax.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Toucanbird's Week 4 NSIC Power Rankings
All right, it's time for me to reveal this week's NSIC Power Rankings. Just so you know, last week's podcast will be up soon. It was recorded on Thursday but due to being busy, I wasn't able to upload it to YouTube.
At any rate, here are my rankings this week.
1. #1 UM-Duluth 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (-)
LW - W @ Upper Iowa 62-13
TW - W vs. #18 Wayne State 42-10
NW - vs. Bemidji State (2-1)
Note - The Bulldogs moved to #1 in the nation for a reason. They are beating EVERYONE handily, even the really great teams. There were a lot of people that thought Wayne State could go into Duluth and walk away with an upset. Those thoughts were put to rest by the end of the first quarter as the Bulldogs jumped off to a 28-0 lead. Issac Odim continues his rushing tear as he rushed 15 times for 149 yards and 4 TDs. Those are still NSIC POW type numbers if it weren't for Josh Hanson's great week. This week, the Bulldogs host the the Beavers in what should be another big game.
2. #24 Augustana 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (+2)
LW - W @ Bemidji State 10-0
TW - W vs. U-Mary 52-21
NW - vs. SW Minnesota State (2-1)
Note - Josh Hanson is coming off an incredible week of football. In the win against the University of Mary, Hanson was 31-of-45 passing for 405 yards and 5 TDs. Granted, the Marauders aren't a very good team anyway but it was still a nice win for the surging Vikings. Augustana hosts SW Minnesota State next week as the Vikings hope to get their season out to a 4-0 start.
3. St. Cloud State 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (+2)
LW - W @ Concordia-St. Paul 35-10
TW - W vs. #17 Winona State 31-26
NW - vs. U-Mary (0-3)
Note - The Huskies are coming off a statement win against a solid Winona State football team. It was intriguing that the Huskies did most of their damage on the ground than through the air. The Huskies rushed for a season high 182 yards and QB Phillip Klaphake showed his versatility as he combined for 280 yards and 3 TDs through the air and on the ground. The Huskies have not had a cakewalk schedule as the Huskies opponents are 7-2 on the year and to come out 2-1 against that competition is really something special. The Huskies get their first easy game of the year as they host the University of Mary this week.
4. Winona State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-1)
LW - W vs. MSU-Moorhead 58-3
TW - L @ St. Cloud State 31-26
NW - @ Upper Iowa (0-3)
Note - The Warriors suffered a tough loss against St. Cloud because they were in that football game down to the very end. In fact, WSU was even 2 feet from winning that game on a Hail Mary that was caught out-of-bounds. Even before that, WSU had the ball in the St. Cloud State red zone and couldn't tie the football game. Even though it wasn't a bad loss for WSU, it was certainly a bitter one considering they had several opportunities and they weren't able to capitalize on them. I am also wondering if there could be some QB controversy, as Aber looked inefficient, going 18-of-37 for 285 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and also a lost fumble on a snap. Granted, I don't see the Warriors benching him for Bradshaw yet, but a few more mediocre performances could give the freshman a chance to shine. He should see some playing time at least as the Warriors travel to Upper Iowa this week.
5. Wayne State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-3)
LW - W vs. UM-Crookston 68-6
TW - L @ #2 UM-Duluth 42-10
NW - vs. Northern State (0-3)
Note - Uh-oh, don't look now but is it possible that Wayne State was just playing above their element the past two weeks? Actually, I'd say no. UM-Duluth has outscored their opponents 139-33, so a 42-10 loss to that same team should not come as a surprise. We thought the Wildcats would be more competitive than what they were, but it is understandable for them to lose this badly. Cyle Schultz was much less successful only going 10-of-15 passing for 99 yards, a TD and an INT before leaving the game early with an injury. The good news for Wayne State is they get a much easier home test this week when Northern State comes to town. It is possible that this could be a good week for Schultz to get a week's rest to make sure he's healthy for the upcoming game at SW Minnesota State.
6. #11 MSU-Mankato 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (-)
LW - W @ Northern State 21-14
TW - W @ UM-Crookston 42-3
NW - vs. Concordia-St. Paul (2-1)
Note - After looking DREADFUL in the first two weeks, MSU-Mankato finally rebounded and came away with a 42-3 win against UM-Crookston. They did not look particularly great in the first half, as they went into halftime with only a 14-0 lead. However, they came out much better in the second half and shut the door on the Eagles. Normally, I'd say a 42-3 win is a pretty great win, however, the Mavericks consistency is still an issue. There is no way Crookston should've kept it a two-score game going into halftime. Will Brogan looked dreadful, throwing 3 interceptions...luckily for him, they were playing Crookston because good teams will make you pay for throwing three picks. All I will say is, the Mavericks better hope Pachan comes back with his A game this week against Concordia-St. Paul or else they could be looking at a potential upset.
7. Bemidji State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-)
LW - L vs. #24 Augustana 10-0
TW - W @ SW Minnesota State 30-14
NW - @ #1 UM-Duluth
Note - Well, well, well...look whose offense decided to show up? The Beavers went into SW Minnesota State and with a potential upset looming, especially after being down 14-12 at halftime, they delivered a second-half knockout punch in a 30-14 victory. After generating only 97 yards of total offense the week before against Augustana, the offense improved, tallying 30 points on 401 yards of total offense. Despite getting the win, the Beavers have every night to be nervous as they go into Duluth to play the #1 team in the country...the same team that has not won a game this year by less than 25 points...against great competition...THAT IS SCARY!
8. Concordia-St. Paul 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (+2)
LW - L vs. St. Cloud State 35-10
TW - W @ Northern State 27-17
NW - @ #11 MSU-Mankato
Note - Okay, I'll give some kudos to the Golden Bears. They went into a tough environment and came away with a 10 point win. They weren't great...they weren't flashy...but they got the job done. The Mavericks already proved that Aberdeen is not an easy place to go and come away with a W. The Golden Bears looked much better than they did against St. Cloud State. Charles Gilbert was downright unstoppable, catching 8 passes for 183 yards and 3 TDs. However, it doesn't get any easier. This week, the Golden Bears need to bring their A game as they'll need to try and pull out another road win, this time against the #11 ranked Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks in Mankato.
9. SW Minnesota State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-1)
LW - W @ U-Mary 21-14
TW - L vs. Bemidji State 30-14
NW - @ #24 Augustana
Note - Remember what I said about the Mavericks last week? I said that it was too difficult to tell if their 2-0 start was the result of a weak schedule or excellent performance? Well, I think we found that out. If SMSU really is a top half team in the NSIC, they come away with a W against Bemidji State. They are obviously not, as they looked flat in that second half against the Beavers. This does not bode well for the Mustangs as they travel to Sioux Falls next week to take on a very hot Augustana football team.
10. Northern State 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. #11 MSU-Mankato 21-14
TW - L vs. Concordia-St. Paul 27-17
NW - @ Wayne State (2-1)
Note - This might be a funny thing to say, but the Wolves are BY FAR the best looking 0-3 team in the NSIC. Well, I had to say at least one positive thing about the Wolves because the rest of it is pretty negative. With Concordia-St. Paul coming to Aberdeen, this was their opportunity to get their first win on the board. Did they? Far from it, they lost AGAIN on their home field. They didn't play too poorly as they never trailed by more than 10 points but at the same time, whenever Northern State delivered, Concordia-St. Paul always had an answer. The unfortunate news for Northern State is that elusive first win will get harder to earn as they travel to Wayne State next week. An 0-4 start certainly seems inevitable.
11. MSU-Moorhead 1-2 (1-1 NSIC) (+2)
LW - L @ Winona State 58-3
TW - W vs. Upper Iowa 28-24
NW - @ UM-Crookston (0-3)
Note - This might sound hilarious, but there is a good possibility that MSU-Moorhead could be .500 by Saturday afternoon. Considering how bad they looked in their first two weeks, that might feel like an accomplishment...except their opponents were Upper Iowa and UM-Crookston. That's nothing to crow about. In fact, MSU-Moorhead was lucky to win against the Peacocks. Upper Iowa outgained MSU-M 486 to 283. The biggest difference in the game was 4 Peacock turnovers to only 1 by the Dragons as well as a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Remember what we said about there being three phases to football? Well, the Dragons played much better in two aspects and that's why they won the game. We'll see if that continues as they travel to play UM-Crookston next week.
12. U-Mary 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. SW Minnesota State 21-14
TW - L @ #24 Augustana 52-21
NW - @ St. Cloud State (2-1)
Note - Boy, it has just been a brutal year for Jamal Lomax and the not-so-merry Marauders. Again, Lomax missed this week's game due to an injury and that did not help as Augustana rolled them. We really shouldn't be surprised, this Mary team is bad enough with Lomax, without him, they are just an afterthought. It just won't get any easier for the University of Mary as they travel to St. Cloud this weekend to take on a pumped-up St. Cloud State squad.
13. Upper Iowa 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. #1 UM-Duluth 62-13
TW - L @ MSU-Moorhead 28-24
NW - vs. Winona State (2-1)
Note - Upper Iowa must be the worst second-half team in the NSIC. So far in their three games this season, the Peacocks have been outscored 68-10 in the second half...and those 10 points came against a PATHETIC MSU-Moorhead defense. I don't know what it is about the Peacocks, but they just don't perform well in the second half. Turnovers and special teams miscues doomed them in a game where their offense outperformed Moorhead's almost 2-to-1. I'm sure the Peacocks will be glad to be home next week, but I don't think they'll be looking forward to seeing that their opponent is Winona State.
14. UM-Crookston 1-2 (0-2 NSIC) (-)
LW - L @ Wayne State 68-6
TW - L vs. #11 MSU-Mankato 42-3
NW - vs. MSU-Moorhead
Note - Well, I'll give some credit to the Eagles, they actually played okay against MSU-Mankato...for one half. Really, this Golden Eagles team is bad...really bad. I really don't know if they can win another game all season. Ironically, their three best chances are within the next three weeks. They host MSU-Moorhead this week, go to Mary and to Upper Iowa in the following weeks. I'd say this week is probably their best chance...but that's not saying much.
At any rate, here are my rankings this week.
1. #1 UM-Duluth 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (-)
LW - W @ Upper Iowa 62-13
TW - W vs. #18 Wayne State 42-10
NW - vs. Bemidji State (2-1)
Note - The Bulldogs moved to #1 in the nation for a reason. They are beating EVERYONE handily, even the really great teams. There were a lot of people that thought Wayne State could go into Duluth and walk away with an upset. Those thoughts were put to rest by the end of the first quarter as the Bulldogs jumped off to a 28-0 lead. Issac Odim continues his rushing tear as he rushed 15 times for 149 yards and 4 TDs. Those are still NSIC POW type numbers if it weren't for Josh Hanson's great week. This week, the Bulldogs host the the Beavers in what should be another big game.
2. #24 Augustana 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (+2)
LW - W @ Bemidji State 10-0
TW - W vs. U-Mary 52-21
NW - vs. SW Minnesota State (2-1)
Note - Josh Hanson is coming off an incredible week of football. In the win against the University of Mary, Hanson was 31-of-45 passing for 405 yards and 5 TDs. Granted, the Marauders aren't a very good team anyway but it was still a nice win for the surging Vikings. Augustana hosts SW Minnesota State next week as the Vikings hope to get their season out to a 4-0 start.
3. St. Cloud State 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (+2)
LW - W @ Concordia-St. Paul 35-10
TW - W vs. #17 Winona State 31-26
NW - vs. U-Mary (0-3)
Note - The Huskies are coming off a statement win against a solid Winona State football team. It was intriguing that the Huskies did most of their damage on the ground than through the air. The Huskies rushed for a season high 182 yards and QB Phillip Klaphake showed his versatility as he combined for 280 yards and 3 TDs through the air and on the ground. The Huskies have not had a cakewalk schedule as the Huskies opponents are 7-2 on the year and to come out 2-1 against that competition is really something special. The Huskies get their first easy game of the year as they host the University of Mary this week.
4. Winona State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-1)
LW - W vs. MSU-Moorhead 58-3
TW - L @ St. Cloud State 31-26
NW - @ Upper Iowa (0-3)
Note - The Warriors suffered a tough loss against St. Cloud because they were in that football game down to the very end. In fact, WSU was even 2 feet from winning that game on a Hail Mary that was caught out-of-bounds. Even before that, WSU had the ball in the St. Cloud State red zone and couldn't tie the football game. Even though it wasn't a bad loss for WSU, it was certainly a bitter one considering they had several opportunities and they weren't able to capitalize on them. I am also wondering if there could be some QB controversy, as Aber looked inefficient, going 18-of-37 for 285 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and also a lost fumble on a snap. Granted, I don't see the Warriors benching him for Bradshaw yet, but a few more mediocre performances could give the freshman a chance to shine. He should see some playing time at least as the Warriors travel to Upper Iowa this week.
5. Wayne State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-3)
LW - W vs. UM-Crookston 68-6
TW - L @ #2 UM-Duluth 42-10
NW - vs. Northern State (0-3)
Note - Uh-oh, don't look now but is it possible that Wayne State was just playing above their element the past two weeks? Actually, I'd say no. UM-Duluth has outscored their opponents 139-33, so a 42-10 loss to that same team should not come as a surprise. We thought the Wildcats would be more competitive than what they were, but it is understandable for them to lose this badly. Cyle Schultz was much less successful only going 10-of-15 passing for 99 yards, a TD and an INT before leaving the game early with an injury. The good news for Wayne State is they get a much easier home test this week when Northern State comes to town. It is possible that this could be a good week for Schultz to get a week's rest to make sure he's healthy for the upcoming game at SW Minnesota State.
6. #11 MSU-Mankato 3-0 (2-0 NSIC) (-)
LW - W @ Northern State 21-14
TW - W @ UM-Crookston 42-3
NW - vs. Concordia-St. Paul (2-1)
Note - After looking DREADFUL in the first two weeks, MSU-Mankato finally rebounded and came away with a 42-3 win against UM-Crookston. They did not look particularly great in the first half, as they went into halftime with only a 14-0 lead. However, they came out much better in the second half and shut the door on the Eagles. Normally, I'd say a 42-3 win is a pretty great win, however, the Mavericks consistency is still an issue. There is no way Crookston should've kept it a two-score game going into halftime. Will Brogan looked dreadful, throwing 3 interceptions...luckily for him, they were playing Crookston because good teams will make you pay for throwing three picks. All I will say is, the Mavericks better hope Pachan comes back with his A game this week against Concordia-St. Paul or else they could be looking at a potential upset.
7. Bemidji State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-)
LW - L vs. #24 Augustana 10-0
TW - W @ SW Minnesota State 30-14
NW - @ #1 UM-Duluth
Note - Well, well, well...look whose offense decided to show up? The Beavers went into SW Minnesota State and with a potential upset looming, especially after being down 14-12 at halftime, they delivered a second-half knockout punch in a 30-14 victory. After generating only 97 yards of total offense the week before against Augustana, the offense improved, tallying 30 points on 401 yards of total offense. Despite getting the win, the Beavers have every night to be nervous as they go into Duluth to play the #1 team in the country...the same team that has not won a game this year by less than 25 points...against great competition...THAT IS SCARY!
8. Concordia-St. Paul 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (+2)
LW - L vs. St. Cloud State 35-10
TW - W @ Northern State 27-17
NW - @ #11 MSU-Mankato
Note - Okay, I'll give some kudos to the Golden Bears. They went into a tough environment and came away with a 10 point win. They weren't great...they weren't flashy...but they got the job done. The Mavericks already proved that Aberdeen is not an easy place to go and come away with a W. The Golden Bears looked much better than they did against St. Cloud State. Charles Gilbert was downright unstoppable, catching 8 passes for 183 yards and 3 TDs. However, it doesn't get any easier. This week, the Golden Bears need to bring their A game as they'll need to try and pull out another road win, this time against the #11 ranked Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks in Mankato.
9. SW Minnesota State 2-1 (1-1 NSIC) (-1)
LW - W @ U-Mary 21-14
TW - L vs. Bemidji State 30-14
NW - @ #24 Augustana
Note - Remember what I said about the Mavericks last week? I said that it was too difficult to tell if their 2-0 start was the result of a weak schedule or excellent performance? Well, I think we found that out. If SMSU really is a top half team in the NSIC, they come away with a W against Bemidji State. They are obviously not, as they looked flat in that second half against the Beavers. This does not bode well for the Mustangs as they travel to Sioux Falls next week to take on a very hot Augustana football team.
10. Northern State 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. #11 MSU-Mankato 21-14
TW - L vs. Concordia-St. Paul 27-17
NW - @ Wayne State (2-1)
Note - This might be a funny thing to say, but the Wolves are BY FAR the best looking 0-3 team in the NSIC. Well, I had to say at least one positive thing about the Wolves because the rest of it is pretty negative. With Concordia-St. Paul coming to Aberdeen, this was their opportunity to get their first win on the board. Did they? Far from it, they lost AGAIN on their home field. They didn't play too poorly as they never trailed by more than 10 points but at the same time, whenever Northern State delivered, Concordia-St. Paul always had an answer. The unfortunate news for Northern State is that elusive first win will get harder to earn as they travel to Wayne State next week. An 0-4 start certainly seems inevitable.
11. MSU-Moorhead 1-2 (1-1 NSIC) (+2)
LW - L @ Winona State 58-3
TW - W vs. Upper Iowa 28-24
NW - @ UM-Crookston (0-3)
Note - This might sound hilarious, but there is a good possibility that MSU-Moorhead could be .500 by Saturday afternoon. Considering how bad they looked in their first two weeks, that might feel like an accomplishment...except their opponents were Upper Iowa and UM-Crookston. That's nothing to crow about. In fact, MSU-Moorhead was lucky to win against the Peacocks. Upper Iowa outgained MSU-M 486 to 283. The biggest difference in the game was 4 Peacock turnovers to only 1 by the Dragons as well as a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Remember what we said about there being three phases to football? Well, the Dragons played much better in two aspects and that's why they won the game. We'll see if that continues as they travel to play UM-Crookston next week.
12. U-Mary 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. SW Minnesota State 21-14
TW - L @ #24 Augustana 52-21
NW - @ St. Cloud State (2-1)
Note - Boy, it has just been a brutal year for Jamal Lomax and the not-so-merry Marauders. Again, Lomax missed this week's game due to an injury and that did not help as Augustana rolled them. We really shouldn't be surprised, this Mary team is bad enough with Lomax, without him, they are just an afterthought. It just won't get any easier for the University of Mary as they travel to St. Cloud this weekend to take on a pumped-up St. Cloud State squad.
13. Upper Iowa 0-3 (0-2 NSIC) (-1)
LW - L vs. #1 UM-Duluth 62-13
TW - L @ MSU-Moorhead 28-24
NW - vs. Winona State (2-1)
Note - Upper Iowa must be the worst second-half team in the NSIC. So far in their three games this season, the Peacocks have been outscored 68-10 in the second half...and those 10 points came against a PATHETIC MSU-Moorhead defense. I don't know what it is about the Peacocks, but they just don't perform well in the second half. Turnovers and special teams miscues doomed them in a game where their offense outperformed Moorhead's almost 2-to-1. I'm sure the Peacocks will be glad to be home next week, but I don't think they'll be looking forward to seeing that their opponent is Winona State.
14. UM-Crookston 1-2 (0-2 NSIC) (-)
LW - L @ Wayne State 68-6
TW - L vs. #11 MSU-Mankato 42-3
NW - vs. MSU-Moorhead
Note - Well, I'll give some credit to the Eagles, they actually played okay against MSU-Mankato...for one half. Really, this Golden Eagles team is bad...really bad. I really don't know if they can win another game all season. Ironically, their three best chances are within the next three weeks. They host MSU-Moorhead this week, go to Mary and to Upper Iowa in the following weeks. I'd say this week is probably their best chance...but that's not saying much.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Toucanbird's Week 3 NSIC Power Rankings
Hey everybody, I am starting a blog segment called the NSIC Power Rankings. I'll be ranking each team in the NSIC based on performance and talent level. I decided to wait until the third week since we can't really tell much based off of pre-season and the first game. Now that two games are in the books, let's take a look.
1. #3 UM-Duluth 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W @ Upper Iowa (0-2) 62-13
NW - vs. #22 Wayne State (2-0)
Note - Not only do the Bulldogs look like the best team in the NSIC, they look like one of the best teams in the country. For them to go into Central Washington and come away with a convincing W and follow it up with another blowout win vs. Upper Iowa, color me impressed. Vogler has been impressive even when he's not putting up monster numbers. I laughed at his stat line against the Peacocks. 4-of-6 for 146 yards and 2 TDs. He averaged approximately 37 yards per completion and a touchdown pass in 1 of every 2 completions. It was also nice seeing Odim break out of his shell. 15 carries for 163 yards and 5 TDs? I'd call that an NSIC Offensive Player of the Week sort of performance.
2. #22 Wayne State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W vs. UM-Crookston (1-1) 68-6
NW - @ #3 UM-Duluth (2-0)
Note - I can honestly say when the season started, I never foresaw myself ranking Wayne State this high. Silas Fluellen who? Who needs Fluellen when you have Cyle Schultz? Schultz went 14-of-19 for 252 yards and 4 TDs against UM-Crookston and didn't even play the whole game. Granted, we can't put that much stock into it since it is Crookston but he had a great performance week one against a very solid Nebraska-Kearney program. Wayne State will get their biggest test of the year next week when they travel to UM-Duluth. Considering how both teams are playing, that could be one of the best games in D2 college football this year.
3. #19 Winona State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W vs. MSU-Moorhead (0-2) 58-3
NW - @ St. Cloud State (1-1)
Note - Another team I'm rating surprisingly high, but I can't help but be impressed by what the Warriors are doing in all aspects of the game. The quarterback play is dramatically improved under Evan Aber and even backup QB Bryan Bradley looked really sharp against MSU-Moorhead. What's most impressive about the Warriors is perhaps their return game. Dewberry, after having a kickoff return for a touchdown in week 1, followed it up with a punt return for a TD against MSU-Moorhead. Ironically, the Dragons only score came off a muffed punt by Dewberry. Right now, the question remains, can WSU beat the really good teams in the NSIC? We have yet to see. They'll get a good test next week when they travel to St. Cloud.
4. Augustana 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. St. Cloud State (1-1) 32-23
TW - W @ Bemidji State (1-1) 10-0
NW - vs. U-Mary (0-2)
Note - Although the Vikings look far from perfect in their two victories, the one thing I will say about them is they are persistent. This week against Bemidji, they were a little rough around the edges, but that defense showed up big time. They held the Beavers to 0 points and 97 yards of total offense. Granted, the Vikings offense didn't look great, but it's tough to look good offensively against a solid defensive program like Bemidji State. Augustana can make one claim, they beat two very solid football programs in back-to-back weeks. Luckily for Augustana, they probably don't play another tough football game again until Week 7 when they go to Winona State.
5. St. Cloud State 1-1 (1-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ Augustana (2-0) 32-23
TW - W @ Concordia-St. Paul (1-1) 35-10
NW - vs. #19 Winona State (2-0)
Note - There are a lot of things about St. Cloud State's football team that I like. They have one heck of an aerial attack. Freshman quarterback Phillip Klaphake has been really impressive. His performance against Augustana was very good in it's own right, but then he followed it up with a 14-for-21 301 yard 4 TD performance against Concordia-St. Paul. This is no fluke. This kid has got skill and he's got a great WR core to throw to. Fred Williams continues to dazzle with 7 catches for 165 yards and 2 TDs this week, as he appears to be one of, if not, the top wide receiver in the conference. The Huskies will be tested next weekend when Winona State come to town.
6. #18 MSU-Mankato 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Northern Michigan (1-1) 7-6
TW - W vs. Northern State (0-2) 21-14
NW - @ UM-Crookston (1-1)
Note - I'm not going to lie, for a team that won the NSIC last year, the Mavericks have been far from impressive. They limped away with a gutty win over Northern Michigan last week (which looks better now considering what NMU did to Findlay) but they follow it up with another tough gutty win against a less than average NSIC team. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Right now, MSU is fooling no one. They do not look like a team that will compete for the NSIC South crown, let alone the NSIC crown. As weird as this might sound, the game at UM-Crookston next week should be very telling. If this team struggles to beat Crookston, it could be a LONG year in Mankato.
7. Bemidji State 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L vs. Augustana (2-0) 10-0
NW - @ SW Minnesota State (2-0)
Note - If I were the Beavers, I'd be embarrassed by their effort against Augustana. The Beavers had an extra week to prepare for the Vikings and still, Bemidji State couldn't break 100 yards of total offense. We already know BSU is a defensive football team...but that defense is going to have to be opportunistic if their offense can't score. It doesn't get any easier for Bemidji either. They travel to Marshall next weekend and considering the way the Mustangs are playing right now, that might not be an easy game.
8. SW Minnesota State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Northern State (0-2) 28-24
TW - W @ Mary (0-2) 21-14
NW - vs. Bemidji State (1-1)
Note - The Mustangs are a team that have me scratching my head. I just don't know if they are a good football team this year or not. Sure, they are definitely improved. However, they've been taken to the wire by two football teams that are 0-2 this year. As they say in the world of college football fans, "go out and play somebody!" Well, luckily for the Mustangs, they do get somebody next week when Bemidji State comes to town. This should be a telling game to see if SMSU is a team worthy of the top half of the conference.
9. Northern State 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ SW Minnesota State (2-0) 28-24
TW - L vs. #18 MSU-Mankato (2-0) 21-14
NW - vs. Concordia-St. Paul (1-1)
Note - It might be weird to say this about Northern State football, but they really don't look that bad. They made a heck of a comeback last week against SW Minnesota State and this week, they gave the Mavericks all that they could handle. Montrel Richardson looks like a solid back, as he had 21 carries for 95 yards and a TD. That's not too shabby against that stout Mavericks defense. With Concordia-St. Paul coming to town next week, I can foresee them getting that first win if they play at the same level they've played at for the last six quarters.
10. Concordia-St. Paul 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Minot State (0-2) 38-17
TW - L vs. St. Cloud State (1-1) 35-10
NW - @ Northern State (0-2)
Note - The Golden Bears are who we thought they were! They looked decent against Minot State and so we thought they could be much like Wayne State or Winona State this year. We thought that perhaps they were improved but at the same time, we're not completely convinced. When St. Cloud came to town, they showed why we should keep those thoughts. They got punched in the mouth early from the Huskies and fell into a 14-0 hole. They were able to narrow it down to 14-10 in the second, only to get punched in the mouth again and trailed 28-10 going into half. Let's face it...beating Minot does not make you a good football team. Perhaps the same can be said for Bemidji but at least we're expecting something out of them. If the Golden Bears play like this next week, they'll be coming home like the bald-headed, bald-butted killer bear from The Great Outdoors.
11. U-Mary 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L vs. SW Minnesota State (2-0) 21-14
NW - @ Augustana (2-0)
Note - I want to say Mary is a good football team...who am I kidding? They are ranked 11th for a reason. Their offense, which is supposed to be good with Jamal Lomax, looks dreadful. Maybe it was unfair to say Mary was bad against Chadron State since Lomax didn't play, but it wasn't like his numbers were stellar against the Mustangs. Sure, he had 113 yards rushing...but he carried the ball 31 times. I think I could eventually get 100 yards if I carried the ball that many times (okay, maybe not). The fact of the matter is, Mary needs some sort of offensive production away from Lomax. Craig Bagnell has already thrown 3 interceptions this season, so he's definitely not getting that help from Bagnell. Considering Mary travels to Sioux Falls and St. Cloud the next two weeks, I can definitely foresee them starting off the season 0-4.
12. Upper Iowa 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ Texas A&M-Commerce (1-1) 33-10
TW - L vs. #3 UM-Duluth (2-0) 62-13
NW - @ MSU-Moorhead (0-2)
Note - You want to hear an amazing stat? In the last six quarters, the Peacocks have been outscored 95-13. Of course, giving up 62 points to UM-Duluth is bad...not surprising, but bad. However, it looks even worse giving up 33 points to a Lions team that got beat 31-10 this week by Angelo State. The point, the Peacocks are going to be bad this year. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Let's just face it...if Upper Iowa keeps playing like this, they might only win two games all year and one of them might be next week when they go to MSU-Moorhead. God knows Moorhead hasn't looked good at all this year.
13. MSU-Moorhead 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L @ #19 Winona State 58-3
NW - vs. Upper Iowa (0-2)
Note - Boy, how bad are the Dragons? In their first two games, they have scored 3 points (which came off a muffed punt) and 182 yards of total offense. TOTAL...offense. If you think that's an ugly stat, how about their defense? They're giving up an average of 571 yards of total offense per game. If you ask me, they are lucky they are not giving up more. WSU had two BIG punt returns, one ran back for a TD, the other down to the 2-yard-line. Let's just face it, the Dragons are AWFUL in all three facets of the game. If there is any sort of good news for the Dragons, it's that they at least get a MUCH easier game when they host Upper Iowa next week. They are probably looking at a 1-2 win season...tops.
14. UM-Crookston 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Mayville State (1-1) 37-6
TW - L @ #22 Wayne State (2-0) 68-6
NW - vs. #19 MSU-Mankato (2-0)
Note - Well...at least Crookston has a win, right? Don't let it fool you. Most other teams in the NSIC can beat Mayville State by 70+. The Golden Eagles proved this week that they are probably the worst team in the NSIC. Yeah, I know...Wayne State is a dramatically improved team...but you still don't lose to them by 62 points. It won't get any easier for Crookston. I'm sure they are glad to be home next week but they won't be happy seeing that their opponent is MSU-Mankato. Granted, with the way the Mavericks are playing, I wouldn't be hard pressed to see if the Golden Eagles keep that within a three-score game.
1. #3 UM-Duluth 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W @ Upper Iowa (0-2) 62-13
NW - vs. #22 Wayne State (2-0)
Note - Not only do the Bulldogs look like the best team in the NSIC, they look like one of the best teams in the country. For them to go into Central Washington and come away with a convincing W and follow it up with another blowout win vs. Upper Iowa, color me impressed. Vogler has been impressive even when he's not putting up monster numbers. I laughed at his stat line against the Peacocks. 4-of-6 for 146 yards and 2 TDs. He averaged approximately 37 yards per completion and a touchdown pass in 1 of every 2 completions. It was also nice seeing Odim break out of his shell. 15 carries for 163 yards and 5 TDs? I'd call that an NSIC Offensive Player of the Week sort of performance.
2. #22 Wayne State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W vs. UM-Crookston (1-1) 68-6
NW - @ #3 UM-Duluth (2-0)
Note - I can honestly say when the season started, I never foresaw myself ranking Wayne State this high. Silas Fluellen who? Who needs Fluellen when you have Cyle Schultz? Schultz went 14-of-19 for 252 yards and 4 TDs against UM-Crookston and didn't even play the whole game. Granted, we can't put that much stock into it since it is Crookston but he had a great performance week one against a very solid Nebraska-Kearney program. Wayne State will get their biggest test of the year next week when they travel to UM-Duluth. Considering how both teams are playing, that could be one of the best games in D2 college football this year.
3. #19 Winona State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - W vs. MSU-Moorhead (0-2) 58-3
NW - @ St. Cloud State (1-1)
Note - Another team I'm rating surprisingly high, but I can't help but be impressed by what the Warriors are doing in all aspects of the game. The quarterback play is dramatically improved under Evan Aber and even backup QB Bryan Bradley looked really sharp against MSU-Moorhead. What's most impressive about the Warriors is perhaps their return game. Dewberry, after having a kickoff return for a touchdown in week 1, followed it up with a punt return for a TD against MSU-Moorhead. Ironically, the Dragons only score came off a muffed punt by Dewberry. Right now, the question remains, can WSU beat the really good teams in the NSIC? We have yet to see. They'll get a good test next week when they travel to St. Cloud.
4. Augustana 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. St. Cloud State (1-1) 32-23
TW - W @ Bemidji State (1-1) 10-0
NW - vs. U-Mary (0-2)
Note - Although the Vikings look far from perfect in their two victories, the one thing I will say about them is they are persistent. This week against Bemidji, they were a little rough around the edges, but that defense showed up big time. They held the Beavers to 0 points and 97 yards of total offense. Granted, the Vikings offense didn't look great, but it's tough to look good offensively against a solid defensive program like Bemidji State. Augustana can make one claim, they beat two very solid football programs in back-to-back weeks. Luckily for Augustana, they probably don't play another tough football game again until Week 7 when they go to Winona State.
5. St. Cloud State 1-1 (1-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ Augustana (2-0) 32-23
TW - W @ Concordia-St. Paul (1-1) 35-10
NW - vs. #19 Winona State (2-0)
Note - There are a lot of things about St. Cloud State's football team that I like. They have one heck of an aerial attack. Freshman quarterback Phillip Klaphake has been really impressive. His performance against Augustana was very good in it's own right, but then he followed it up with a 14-for-21 301 yard 4 TD performance against Concordia-St. Paul. This is no fluke. This kid has got skill and he's got a great WR core to throw to. Fred Williams continues to dazzle with 7 catches for 165 yards and 2 TDs this week, as he appears to be one of, if not, the top wide receiver in the conference. The Huskies will be tested next weekend when Winona State come to town.
6. #18 MSU-Mankato 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Northern Michigan (1-1) 7-6
TW - W vs. Northern State (0-2) 21-14
NW - @ UM-Crookston (1-1)
Note - I'm not going to lie, for a team that won the NSIC last year, the Mavericks have been far from impressive. They limped away with a gutty win over Northern Michigan last week (which looks better now considering what NMU did to Findlay) but they follow it up with another tough gutty win against a less than average NSIC team. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Right now, MSU is fooling no one. They do not look like a team that will compete for the NSIC South crown, let alone the NSIC crown. As weird as this might sound, the game at UM-Crookston next week should be very telling. If this team struggles to beat Crookston, it could be a LONG year in Mankato.
7. Bemidji State 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L vs. Augustana (2-0) 10-0
NW - @ SW Minnesota State (2-0)
Note - If I were the Beavers, I'd be embarrassed by their effort against Augustana. The Beavers had an extra week to prepare for the Vikings and still, Bemidji State couldn't break 100 yards of total offense. We already know BSU is a defensive football team...but that defense is going to have to be opportunistic if their offense can't score. It doesn't get any easier for Bemidji either. They travel to Marshall next weekend and considering the way the Mustangs are playing right now, that might not be an easy game.
8. SW Minnesota State 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Northern State (0-2) 28-24
TW - W @ Mary (0-2) 21-14
NW - vs. Bemidji State (1-1)
Note - The Mustangs are a team that have me scratching my head. I just don't know if they are a good football team this year or not. Sure, they are definitely improved. However, they've been taken to the wire by two football teams that are 0-2 this year. As they say in the world of college football fans, "go out and play somebody!" Well, luckily for the Mustangs, they do get somebody next week when Bemidji State comes to town. This should be a telling game to see if SMSU is a team worthy of the top half of the conference.
9. Northern State 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ SW Minnesota State (2-0) 28-24
TW - L vs. #18 MSU-Mankato (2-0) 21-14
NW - vs. Concordia-St. Paul (1-1)
Note - It might be weird to say this about Northern State football, but they really don't look that bad. They made a heck of a comeback last week against SW Minnesota State and this week, they gave the Mavericks all that they could handle. Montrel Richardson looks like a solid back, as he had 21 carries for 95 yards and a TD. That's not too shabby against that stout Mavericks defense. With Concordia-St. Paul coming to town next week, I can foresee them getting that first win if they play at the same level they've played at for the last six quarters.
10. Concordia-St. Paul 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Minot State (0-2) 38-17
TW - L vs. St. Cloud State (1-1) 35-10
NW - @ Northern State (0-2)
Note - The Golden Bears are who we thought they were! They looked decent against Minot State and so we thought they could be much like Wayne State or Winona State this year. We thought that perhaps they were improved but at the same time, we're not completely convinced. When St. Cloud came to town, they showed why we should keep those thoughts. They got punched in the mouth early from the Huskies and fell into a 14-0 hole. They were able to narrow it down to 14-10 in the second, only to get punched in the mouth again and trailed 28-10 going into half. Let's face it...beating Minot does not make you a good football team. Perhaps the same can be said for Bemidji but at least we're expecting something out of them. If the Golden Bears play like this next week, they'll be coming home like the bald-headed, bald-butted killer bear from The Great Outdoors.
11. U-Mary 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L vs. SW Minnesota State (2-0) 21-14
NW - @ Augustana (2-0)
Note - I want to say Mary is a good football team...who am I kidding? They are ranked 11th for a reason. Their offense, which is supposed to be good with Jamal Lomax, looks dreadful. Maybe it was unfair to say Mary was bad against Chadron State since Lomax didn't play, but it wasn't like his numbers were stellar against the Mustangs. Sure, he had 113 yards rushing...but he carried the ball 31 times. I think I could eventually get 100 yards if I carried the ball that many times (okay, maybe not). The fact of the matter is, Mary needs some sort of offensive production away from Lomax. Craig Bagnell has already thrown 3 interceptions this season, so he's definitely not getting that help from Bagnell. Considering Mary travels to Sioux Falls and St. Cloud the next two weeks, I can definitely foresee them starting off the season 0-4.
12. Upper Iowa 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - L @ Texas A&M-Commerce (1-1) 33-10
TW - L vs. #3 UM-Duluth (2-0) 62-13
NW - @ MSU-Moorhead (0-2)
Note - You want to hear an amazing stat? In the last six quarters, the Peacocks have been outscored 95-13. Of course, giving up 62 points to UM-Duluth is bad...not surprising, but bad. However, it looks even worse giving up 33 points to a Lions team that got beat 31-10 this week by Angelo State. The point, the Peacocks are going to be bad this year. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Let's just face it...if Upper Iowa keeps playing like this, they might only win two games all year and one of them might be next week when they go to MSU-Moorhead. God knows Moorhead hasn't looked good at all this year.
13. MSU-Moorhead 0-2 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - Bye
TW - L @ #19 Winona State 58-3
NW - vs. Upper Iowa (0-2)
Note - Boy, how bad are the Dragons? In their first two games, they have scored 3 points (which came off a muffed punt) and 182 yards of total offense. TOTAL...offense. If you think that's an ugly stat, how about their defense? They're giving up an average of 571 yards of total offense per game. If you ask me, they are lucky they are not giving up more. WSU had two BIG punt returns, one ran back for a TD, the other down to the 2-yard-line. Let's just face it, the Dragons are AWFUL in all three facets of the game. If there is any sort of good news for the Dragons, it's that they at least get a MUCH easier game when they host Upper Iowa next week. They are probably looking at a 1-2 win season...tops.
14. UM-Crookston 1-1 (0-1 NSIC)
LW - W vs. Mayville State (1-1) 37-6
TW - L @ #22 Wayne State (2-0) 68-6
NW - vs. #19 MSU-Mankato (2-0)
Note - Well...at least Crookston has a win, right? Don't let it fool you. Most other teams in the NSIC can beat Mayville State by 70+. The Golden Eagles proved this week that they are probably the worst team in the NSIC. Yeah, I know...Wayne State is a dramatically improved team...but you still don't lose to them by 62 points. It won't get any easier for Crookston. I'm sure they are glad to be home next week but they won't be happy seeing that their opponent is MSU-Mankato. Granted, with the way the Mavericks are playing, I wouldn't be hard pressed to see if the Golden Eagles keep that within a three-score game.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
9-9-10 NSIC Sports And More Podcast!!!
It's that time of the week again...
The NSIC Sports And More is up and streaming on YouTube. This week's guest is Chris Kaufman, a former MSU-Mankato alum who has dabbled in a little bit of everything. MSU ahtletics, MnSCU and now a grad student at Wayne State College. Trust me, the guy knows his stuff...
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9HhT-Up66g
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2dOFDBmbo
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYqnt3eEkI
The NSIC Sports And More is up and streaming on YouTube. This week's guest is Chris Kaufman, a former MSU-Mankato alum who has dabbled in a little bit of everything. MSU ahtletics, MnSCU and now a grad student at Wayne State College. Trust me, the guy knows his stuff...
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9HhT-Up66g
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2dOFDBmbo
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYqnt3eEkI
The Podcast Is Officially on YouTube!!!
Hey guys,
Yeah, I know. I originally said it was going to be on YouTube and then I posted it on Veoh. Now that I've had some time to work out the kinks in YouTube, it is officially there now. Unfortunately, it's broken up into parts. Here's last week's episode...
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZQe24gAgQ
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGM-0WoYB_Y
Yeah, I know. I originally said it was going to be on YouTube and then I posted it on Veoh. Now that I've had some time to work out the kinks in YouTube, it is officially there now. Unfortunately, it's broken up into parts. Here's last week's episode...
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZQe24gAgQ
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGM-0WoYB_Y
Thursday, September 2, 2010
9-2-10 NSIC Sports and More Podcast
The NSIC Sports and More's first podcast is now available online. You can see the weekly podcast every week on YouTube.com/Toucanbird.
This week's guest was Corey Schell, WSU analyst and one of the original McCown Maniacs. Next week, Chris Kaufman, a MSU-Mankato football analyst joins me "in the studio." There is one small publication note. Due to the strict regulations on videos on YouTube, the site which the podcast can be viewed will be on Veoh.com.
Here is a link to the first podcast.
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/sports/watch/v20404950NHq3tNAp
This week's guest was Corey Schell, WSU analyst and one of the original McCown Maniacs. Next week, Chris Kaufman, a MSU-Mankato football analyst joins me "in the studio." There is one small publication note. Due to the strict regulations on videos on YouTube, the site which the podcast can be viewed will be on Veoh.com.
Here is a link to the first podcast.
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/sports/watch/v20404950NHq3tNAp
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