With just about everybody in action except the NESCAC, this is a week for filling shoes.

Enter Tim Benzel (pictured here), Mike Isgro, Dustin Huff.

They are the guys with the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Brett Elliott, Adam Knoblauch and Russ Harbaugh respectivley. Three graduated quarterbacks who led their teams to conference titles and undefeated regular seasons in 2005. Three of the five quarterbacks who were finalists for the 2005 Gagliardi Trophy, which Elliott won.

Elliott has a truck load of honors from his two years at Linfield, a national championship and a roster spot on the San Diego Chargers. Knoblauch has eye popping numbers from starting every game for four years at Delaware Valley. Harbaugh has a senior season in which he threw for 3,000+ yards, led Wabash to the top of the NCAC and helped the Little Giants capture the Monon Bell.

Their departure doesn’t mean the cupboards are bare at any of these schools. Linfield is ranked No. 7, Del Val No. 12 and Wabash No. 22 in this week’s poll.

But the team’s prospects for continued success will hinge on how these players fill the void left behind. At some point, they will be asked to make a play to help keep their team on top. And, other than the goalie in hockey, I’m not sure there’s another position that’s as important to a team’s success in sports as a quarterback.

So good luck to these guys — two seniors and the freshman Isgro — as they try to fill big shoes and maybe start to write their own success stories.

Not to be overlooked: Two other quarterbacks debuted last week for teams with 2005 Gagliardi Trophy finalists.

Sophomore Mark Petruziello went 12-17 for 124 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT for John Carroll in place of graduated Doug Phillips. The Blue Streaks fell to Wooster 30-22.

Sophomore Steve Zidow went 10-19 for 100 yards with 1 INT for Monmouth in place of graduated Mitch Tanney. The Scots were shut out by Wartburg 20-0.

Wish you were here: If I could be at any game in Division III this week, I’d be in Western New York where Alfred hosts Thiel. Neither team is in the Top 25 yet, but both intrigue me. The Tomcats had a nice opening week win and could vault into next week’s poll with a win on the road. Alfred had a good 2005 but I’m not sold yet on whether they will really contend with Ithaca and St. John Fisher for the Empire 8 title.

Don’t sleep on this one: The last time Washington & Jefferson lost two in a row in the same season was…uh…actually, I don’t know because we don’t track scores that far back. After getting upset by Salisbury last week, there’s no way the Presidents don’t come out and lambaste Allegheny (3-7 in 2005) at home, right? Can’t the new Mayor of Pittsburgh sign a law prohibiting losing streaks?

Not so fast. The Gators lost a series of heartbreaking games last year, but started 2006 on the right foot, booting Westminster (Pa.) 35-10. I think Allegheny will give W&J all they can handle here.

Just throwing it out there: Baldwin-Wallace, which features running back Brandon Hedges, takes on traditionally run-heavy No. 15 Augustana. With the new rules designed to speed up the game, won’t this one take about 90 minutes total to play? Can fans get a discount on parking since their car won’t be there as long?

Most likely Top 25 team to lose: I can’t pick Thiel two weeks in a row, particularly after I was wrong last week. It’s one of those unwritten rules like “don’t talk about animal husbandry on a first date.” Trinity (Texas) is tempting, but the Tigers don’t lose games like this one, early in the season against an ASC team. So let’s go with Widener in an upset over No. 23 Wilkes in Chester, Pa.

Super Ridiculous Pick of the Week: Okay, so I’m still 0-for-ever on these. But at least I had Central’s point total right last week! So here we go…

Principia was close last week. So close they could taste it in a 28-20 loss to Crown. I know they are ranked very low in Kickoff’s 234 (if you haven’t bought it yet, you should — but let’s just say they are ranked VERY low). But this is the week the Panthers break through.

Principia WR/DB Schuyler Onderdonk — I love that name — makes a fantastic touchdown catch late and the man known as “Donk” gets an INT on Macalester’s final drive to seal the win.

Principia 14 Macalester 10

And finally…

Couldn’t we do a double-header with Hamilton playing Emory & Henry?: Franklin & Marshall at Washington & Lee