Elmhurst College sees something to build on
After its double-overtime victory on Saturday, Elmhurst College is 3-2 on the season. However, to football coach Ron Planz the team is 1-0 until the season starts over again next week.
"It may sound a little cliche," Planz said, "but we are taking it a day at a time. This week we have to take care of business against North Park. Every week is a championship week."
Consistency has been an issue for the Bluejays this season, but Planz said it has all been part of the learning process. With their latest 49-42 win over Carthage, the Bluejays went over the .500 mark for the first time this season. That is just one of a season's worth of firsts for Elmhurst.
In his first year as coach of the Bluejays, Planz said everything is new for his team.
"What's kind of neat is for everybody everything we experience is new," Planz said. "Everything is still exciting for the guys, and they approach it as something new every time."
Two games into the CCIW season, the Bluejays are undefeated in conference. The outcome of their season is still entirely in their own hands. But the one-at-a-time mentality has spread from Planz, who said he doesn't know who they play after North Park this Saturday, to the rest of his team.
There has been no talk among the team of future games or the posibility of playoffs, Planz said. Instead, the team is focused on slowing down the North Park passing attack and keeping running back Josh Williams on the move.
Williams is coming off of his second CCIW Player of the Week performance and has become key in any success the Bluejays hope to enjoy. The junior rushed for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns against Carthage, averaging 6.1 yards a carry.
"He's been unbelievable," Planz said. "What's awesome about him is how humble and hard-working he is as a young man."
With Williams and a focus only on the immediate future, Planz said the rest will take care of itself.
Benedictine:
With only four conference games left, the Benedictine men's soccer team is still jockying for position for the NACC playoffs.
The Eagles are 5-1 in conference this year and have two games against conference opponents this week. If Benedictine wins both games, it will most likely move to the second seed and earn a first-round bye in the conference playoffs. The Eagles play Concordia at home on Wednesday and go on the road to play Lakeland on Saturday.
Benedictine sits in third place in the NACC behind Dominican and MSOE. With a head-to-head victory over Dominican already, the Eagles would have control over their seed. Last year the team tied with Dominican and the teams took the top two spots in the playoffs. However, Benedictine lost its playoff opener and Domincan went on to win the conference tournament.
Wheaton:
Thunder kicker/punter Sam Cote was named the CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week after helping Wheaton come back and beat Augustana 20-13.
Cote, who has won this award four other times, was 2 of 2 on field goals and set up a key fumbled punt that led to the winning touchdown.