Interesting to see Lycoming finally do something. Before today, the Warriors had gone 4-12 since wide receiver Ricky Lannetti died of a staph infection the night before the 2003 national quarterfinals. Sometimes tragedies such as a death of a coach or player have lingering effects. Hopefully Lycoming can get back to respectability.

And that win came against a team I was thinking might be the best in the East region before today. The two-headed backfield monster of Alex Baez and Jamie Donovan combined for just 15 carries, with Donovan limited to one carry with injuries.

Then again, Ithaca might still be the best team in the East considering Rowan’s struggles today and the loss of Mike Orihel. If it’s temporary, that’s one thing, but long-term it’s a big blow to the Profs.

Nobody has run the table in the WIAC since UW-Stout did so in 2000, but the way this Whitewater team is rolling, it seems possible. Their schedule wraps up with what is traditionally the bottom three teams (Oshkosh, River Falls and Platteville) at home and a trip to Stout, although Oshkosh is 2-1 and has already beaten Stout, so the Titans can’t be forgotten.

Congrats to Linfield, extending its own record for consecutive winning seasons — it’s now 50. A half-century over .500 is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a record that someone can easily chase, nor has Linfield been in any danger lately of failing to have a winning season. Since it’s not much of a surprise, it’s hard to get all excited over it outside of McMinnville, Ore. Sorry.

Lakeland finally got past Concordia (Wis.) for the first time in five years and has three games (one against Aurora, one game back) left to decide the IBC title. I still remember their weeping and gnashing of teeth from Lakeland’s staff (two or three coaches ago) on the Selection Sunday conference call in 1997 after they went 10-0 against weak competition and justifiably did not make the tournament. (Picture making the North Region field without an automatic bid — not likely.) They’re a few steps away from getting their first chance.

Saw Johns Hopkins on Friday night against Gettysburg. They do have a defense worthy of a couple of playoff wins, but I am not sure who is going to score for them. Gettysburg came in allowing opponents 38 points a game and Johns Hopkins managed 14 — on a blocked punt and one long pass play. That isn’t going to get it done nationally, although if the Blue Jays face another Mid-Atlantic team in the playoffs they might just win, because nobody else in the subregion is that good either.

Interested in:
The whole stretch run for the IIAC, which should be interesting again. Central travels to Wartburg in Week 10. Coe has already beaten Central and lost to Wartburg. Luther’s not out of it yet.
Benedictine quarterback Efi Eyo. Man, this guy has been everywhere, started off at I-AA Fairfield, played at McDaniel, was in camp at Catholic, finally gets a W today for Benedictine, 22-13 against Eureka. Long, strange trip … or something like that.
UW-Oshkosh. Are they for real? no. Real enough to cause trouble down the stretch in the WIAC? You betcha.

Concerned about:
Thiel. Needed double OT against Waynesburg and has four games left against teams that are all at .500 or better right now.
Union. Hail Mary to beat 2-4 F&M? And you want to be my latex salesman …
Bridgewater. That’s a lot of points given up. Surely they knew when Guilford put up 45 on Hampden-Sydney that the Quakers weren’t to be taken lightly. So Guilford scored 46 on Bridgewater.

Oh, and Ferrum and Trinity (Conn.) still have Division III football programs. Now you can’t complain that we’re not talking about you. All those Ferrum gripers out there, hey, I voted for you the last three weeks. You’re barking up the wrong tree.