The Jackets really looked good today.  The rushing attack worked beautifully with the offensive line doing a good job blocking to allow the runners to get good yardage and that set up the passing game which they managed to score a couple of TDs with.  The Yellowjacket defense came up big in the red zone a couple of times especially in the 2d half when it looked like the Wasps were going to score from the one yard line.   That magnificent goal line stand denied the Wasps a score and essentially the ball game was over at that point.  Complete game for the Jackets - good running, good passing, good defense, good kicking with a couple of field goals.  Emory and Henry didn't look bad but they seemed not mentally prepared for what RMC threw at them.  Jennings was held all game to only a few yards but he had one or two runs where you could tell he's a good, fast running back.  The main thing for the Wasps was they just couldn't score when they got the ball down deep in RMC territory and never seemed to get on track the entire game.  The Yellowjackets looked really prepared for this game and they executed well.  Big win for the Jackets!!

The Scoreboard on D3Football.com has RMC getting beat by Frostburg State 23-19.  However, I think that score is wrong because the Jackets were ahead 23-19 when I lost the feed w/5:08 left in 4th Qtr.  So I'm assuming the Jackets beat Frostburg St. 23-19.  I may be wrong ... if I am someone needs to post an up to date score.  I know one thing Randolph-Macon needs to get their rushing attack going better.  I thought Suggs and Matthews could carry the load, but they really need to step it up a notch with the meat of RMC's schedule coming up.  Faulkner needs to spread the ball around more to different receivers besides Peoples and the Defense needs to get much tougher inside against the run.  That 8-2 team of a couple of years ago was no fluke - they were incredibly tough to run against inside, even HSC's Simpson had to get most of his rushing yds to the outside ... this team has similar talent on D -- again,  they just need to step it up a notch. 

The Jackets still could have come back last year after those first two scores if the defense would have shut down the Tigers running game to the outside.  The Tigers were unable to get very much yardage up the middle, but the Jackets played the edges too softly so H-SC took advantage of that and were able to eat up yardage that way, get first downs and maintain possession.  That coupled with 3 or 4 key H-SC receptions doomed the Jackets.  Also R-MC just could not get anything going on offense having several dropped passes, badly thrown balls, etc.  They were keying on Zak and were able to pretty much shut down our rushing attack successfully when the other plays didn't work.  The long return should not have been allowed as the runner was down before he ever started running and the refs missed that and made a couple of other bad calls, but after several years of watching ODAC football I guess that was to be expected.  The Tigers pulled out all the stops on offense, had some "trick" plays that worked and wound up dominating the game.  It just wasn't a very good game for the Jackets.  They will have to avoid those kinds of problems this year if they are to win.  As an aside, last year's game was cold as hell also.  I really like and respect Coach Aruzza but I think he and his staff might have been slightly outcoached by Coach Favret that day, the Tigers came to play, they played well and they deserved that win.  The 2007 Jackets were a really good football team; I have a son who was a senior player on that team and I was very proud of them.  I'm proud of the 2008 team also and they have come back from unexpected losses to salvage a respectable season.  If they can beat the Tigers they will have achieved a lofty goal and I think this team is able to achieve it if they go out and play hard.  GO JACKETS!!  BEAT HAMPDEN-SYDNEY!! 

Also, in response to a previous poster, the Jackets were tied for 1st place in the ODAC going into that game with the Jackets not having lost a conference game and the Tigers with only one conference loss so whomever won that head-to-head matchup went on to the playoffs.  So to be correct, it was for the ODAC title.  I would say that last year's game was the first time in several years that The Game actually meant something bigger than bragging rights.  IMHO last year's game was as big if not bigger than this year's game, but it is great that this year's game means so much also.  (However, in this year's scenario,  both teams have to count on Catholic having a down week against Bridgewater - Go Eagles! [I never thought I'd hear myself saying that])

Quote from: TooForRaider on September 11, 2008, 04:59:55 PM
Bill--Waste of space.

Hey, this is an ODAC board ... it doesn't belong to any particular school ... not even Bridgewater.  It belongs to everybody in the conference and their supporters.  I don't who the heck you're for, but please show more sportsmanship than that comment reflects.  If you just can't bring yourself to say anything nice, its better not to say anything at all.

When is the All-ODAC team going to be announced?  Seems like it should be about time.

OK, in case anybody thinks I'm an idiot, I know Coach Arruza's name is misspelled in my most recent post.  I knew it was double for one letter and single for the others, but I confess I just flat out misspelled it and gave him two Z's and only one R.  Also, I know how to spell "insurmountable" but I guess my fingers just started flying too fast and I didn't bother to proofread it.  Anyway, aside from those spelling errors, my sentiments were unmistakable (spelled that right!). 

I don't want to recap Saturday's game as it still "stings" more than a little.  However, I do want to place my solitary vote for Coach Aruzza as ODAC Coach of the Year.  I have watched him closely since he arrived at R-MC and that the program has finally turned around is testament to his patience, his hard work and his adaptability.  He tried several approaches to turn the team he inherited into at least a .500 team his first two or three years, but his efforts appeared to be fruitless with their season records.  But he hung in there and kept developing the players he had.  And he has had good recruiting years despite being coach of a "losing program".  In my opinion, recruiting is a huge part of college coaching and he has certainly done a really outstanding job.  I'm not implying that Coach Favret is not deserving of taking an already outstanding program to win the ODAC championship and he deserves loads of credit for that and he and his team certainly deserve congratulations.  However, I think what Coach Aruzza has done this year, in spite of seemingly insurmounatable obstacles and "last place" predictions, really qualifies him for Coach of the Year.  My son is a senior and a member of the Yellowjacket football team and I know he and his teammates have nothing but respect for Coach Aruzza's coaching ...  for his ethics ... for his dedication to produce a winning team that the school can be proud of  ... and for his caring attitude.  R-MC's motto is "Believe in the Moment of Connection".  After an incredible amount of hard work and perseverance he has produced a team that really believes in themselves ... not only as football players ... but as individuals who will prove to be productive members of society no matter what career path they follow in life.  The Yellowjacket team this year believed in the moment of connection.  I think Coach Aruzza deserves to be ODAC Coach of the Year.

GO JACKETS!!!  I went to the game yesterday and stopped by the "legendary" Stone Station and taked to The Kid a little while and spoke with several Bridgewater fans and parents after the game even though I am obviously a R-MC fan/parent.  I was impressed by how gracious the BC fans (The Kid and his cohorts included), Coach Clark and even some players were in defeat.  The Eagles played tough the entire game and never gave up, even after it was obvious they couldn't win. The Bridgewater program has really earned my respect over the years and they didn't make any excuses about losing yesterday even though they could have.  They were very complimentary about the Yellowjackets football team and wished us well and good luck against H-SC next week.   I came away from the game not only excited and happy with a big win, but also feeling that we had just beaten a very worthy and great football team.  After my experience yesterday,  I will probably be pulling for the Eagles next weekend against Catholic.  But I will be in Ashland (early) to cheer the Yellowjacket football team on to victory against the Tigers.  A big win over Hampden-Sydney would definitely be the crowning achievement for a storybook season.  I am so proud of the R-MC Yellowjackets football team.  GO JACKETS!!!

I know the hype for THE GAME is fun for everyone, but all R-MC Yellowjackets everywhere need to remember (especially any players reading this) that we must focus and concentrate on a tough Bridgewater team this coming weekend.  Bridgewater has earned the respect of all ODAC fans due to a hard-nosed and championship brand of football.  If Randolph-Macon wants to earn that same measure of respect in the future, it all comes down to beating the Eagles first.  This going to be a very tough game.  I have great confidence in the Yellowjacket football team and expect the Jackets to stay focused and win against Bridgewater, but the Eagles are an incredibly tough and formidable opponent so we must stay focused. 

As far as Coach Arruza goes, he has my utmost respect.  He is not only an exceptional head coach, but he is also an individual with exceptional character and the highest ethics.   I have always liked and admired him for his coaching abilities and overall personality.  I think Randolph-Macon College is fortunate indeed to have Coach Pedro Aruzza as the Head Coach.  (By the way, he was also a heck of a football player at Wheaton).   

Kid,

I think you can throw the Frostburg game out as an indicator of what kind of team R-MC has.  I know almost every team I have watched over the years sometimes plays a team that they take too lightly and somehow expect to beat by just stepping on the field.  When you do that, you can get beat by the lowliest team and I think the Jackets were guilty of that.  Plus the Jackets were missing a key member of the defense that game and it probably altered the chemistry a little as it affects every team when a key player is out, especially a senior. 

The Frostburg loss was a fluke.  The Jackets should have won that game, but lack of concentration contributed to several turnovers and to Frostburg's credit they capitalized on those mistakes.  Even mighty Bridgewater has had concentration lapses over the years, few as they may be, and maybe had some scores closer than they should have been considering the Eagles had the overwhelming edge in talent. 

To be a champion you have to think like a champion and act accordingly.  I have nothing but respect for the Eagles as they have been true champions the past several years.  But we all know that in football change is a constant.  This Yellowjacket team is starting to think like champions.   They know they still have three extremely talented and very tough teams to get past and, trust me, R-MC is NOT taking Guilford, Bridgewater or H-SC lightly.  They know every single game from here on out is going to be a real battle and they must play their "A" game.  The Jackets are confident they will do much better than 6-4.

By the way, Emory & Henry had some nice passes yesterday.  Booher has an arm and wasn't sloppy.  They also ran well and had a good defense.  They played hard,  but just came up a little short.  It was a great game; they have a good team.