LL Weekly Football Performers(Ithaca and Hobart dominate):

Offensive Performer of the Week: Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, Ithaca
Defensive Performer of the Week: Mike McGhee, Hobart
Special Teams Player of the Week: Darren Brunner, Ithaca
Rookie of the Week: Johnny Harding, Hobart
Honor Roll: Jake Connolly, Ithaca; Mark Lapioli, RPI; Savino Morelli, St. Lawrence; Joe Spirra, Ithaca; E.J. Taylor, Hobart; Kayden White, RPI

Tough crowd when you lead your team in rushing and the other guy gets OPOW 

Quote from: IC798891 on October 14, 2024, 08:52:43 PMTough crowd when you lead your team in rushing and the other guy gets OPOW 

Last three games IC has had over 200 yards rushing.  Last week they finally broke some big ones.  Hobart was really fundamentally sound and really did a good job not giving up the big play.  I'm guessing Ithaca has found a new QB?  In really his first full game I thought Parker improved a little from the previous game.  Was frustrating vs Hobart on that INT over the middle because that's play Wingfield hits 90% of the time.  I also noticed Ithaca tried to mix it up a little more on offense but many of the plays weren't executed the way they should have been, which tells me that is why the coaches are keeping it basic with these new QBs. 

Anyway hopefully they continue to get better and mix up the offense and figure out how to use the RBs and young Wrs (who have been getting better each week, especially the kid from Union Endicott).

Quote from: Jonny Utah on October 15, 2024, 12:45:42 PMI'm guessing Ithaca has found a new QB?

In the sense that Parker is the QB 1? Yes

In the sense that Parker is the QB that can win them tough games with his arm when they aren't running for 300 yards a game? Jury remains out. The TD pass was mostly YAC, and outside of that one play, he was 7-for-13 for 52 yards. There is, as they say, a reason why despite going over 200 yards rushing and not allowing more than 16 points in the last three games, the Bombers' have a loss in that stretch.

RPI did what was needed this past weekend against St. Lawrence. Overall, I still wasn't impressed, particularly by the offense. It was nothing more than lackluster. The running game was decent, but the passing game continues to be suspect. There is potential, it just isn't coming together as well as some of us would have hoped. RPI's defense was the old bend don't break and kept the Larries off the scoreboard for the final 42 and a half minutes.

SLU moved the ball most of the day, mostly in the air, but RPIs D held strong and forced a bunch of turnovers in the second half, highlighted by an INT at the goal line returned for a TD after a lateral around the SLU 40 that you may or may not have seen on ESPN's top plays of the weekend. I'll honestly say I don't think the scoreboard reflected how close the game actually felt, and I didn't expect it to be close at all.

The Ithaca matchup is going to be an interesting one as both team's strengths appear to be their defenses. The last 3 have all been decided by 3 points and have been low scoring affairs with Ithaca taking the last 2. I expect a similar game this year and I'm hoping RPI avenges last year's debacle when they handed the game to Ithaca in the final minute and then again in OT, as well as a legit shot at the LL crown and playoffs in the process. Similar stakes on the line this year for both teams and whoever loses this one is officially on the outside looking in.

I wasn't surprised Ithaca beat Rochester, but it looked like a slog of a game until later in the 2nd half. RPI should have beaten them as well. Both Ithaca and RPI probably should have beaten Endicott who is now ranked 11th, which is somewhat laughable considering we're all over here saying it's a down year for the LL.

Should be a fun weekend.

Time for Week 7 Liberty League Picks( 25-5 YTD):

GAME OF THE WEEK:

The Engineers(3-3,1-1) from RPI travel to Butterfield to take on the Bombers(2-4,1-1) of Ithaca. This has been a slow start for both teams as they both gave Endicott(#11) a scare but both lost winnable games. The league common opponent is Rochester where the Bombers won 24-0 after a very close 3-0 first half , and the Engineers lost 14-7. Both teams have good defenses, but IC has an edge IMO. Ithaca has the better ground game Offense but has sputtered in the air, while RPI has shown the best passing attack in a weak passing league. If RPI wins this game it sets up a big game in Troy against Hobart on 11/2 and pretty much crushes the Bombers season. Given the fact that this game is in Ithaca, I have to go with the Bombers 17-10
OTHER LL ACTION:

Hobart(5-1,2-0) travels to St.Lawrence(2-3,1-1) in the North Country. The Larries are looking to test the Hobart secondary with a decent passing attack , where Hobart could be vulnerable. Hobart is looking at the same game plan they had against the Bengals which is establish and dominate with the run(whether Colombi or Styles starts) and pass to their possession receivers, Harding(Fr) and EJ Taylor out of the backfield while threatening a long bomb to Ahmad Crowell. If the Larries can pull off the upset they move into a first place tie.However, the Hobart defense should rule the day with a 27-9 victory

The Buffalo State(0-1,2-3) Bengals travel to Union(0-1,1-4) where the Chargers and the Bengals are trying to stay alive for a share of the LL title and some chaos. The Bengals defense will show up and force the Chargers to sweat it out until the Dutchpersons score twice in the second half on two Patch Flanagan runs. Chargers protect the house with a 21-10 win as the cannon annoys the Bengal fans

I had a hell of a picks week last week with pretty accurate score predictions. Hoping to keep that going. Here goes nothing:

Mach's Dead Sexy Predictions:

Season Record: 28-4

Week 6

Buffalo State - 6
Union - 35
Not high on Union at all, but Buff St stinks.

Hobart - 28
St. Lawrence - 10
Weird feeling that this game will look a lot like RPI/SLU. SLU might move the ball a bit, maybe score a time or 2, but Hobart will grind it out to a convincing W.

RPI - 17
Ithaca - 13
Expecting a defensive struggle. As previously mentioned, last 3 have been decided by 3 in low-scoring games. Expecting the same formula, but being hopeful RPI finds enough offense to squeak this out and stay in the LL/playoff hunt.

Rochester - Licking their wounded spirits.

Let's go RED!!!

Ithaca-RPI prediction

Whoever muffs the last punt, loses.

Weekly Predictions:

Game of the Week: RPI @ Ithaca - I think Ithaca stays the course after spoiling Rochester's dreams of perfection. I do really like RPI's D but their O has shown that even when the D keeps it close they can't always get it done. Maybe a little too inconsistent. I do believe RPI can beat anyone on any day...just not this week at Butterfield. IC runs the ball enough to win 17-10

Buffalo State @ Union - Union, in the midst of three coaches in three years, a struggling O-line, and a QB being asked to do more than he is capable of (for a variety of reasons) is having a very tough year and just isn't very good football team. I do feel like they may be a tad better than they are showing...but not by much (and that's ok). I think this one will be competitive and somewhat close for much of the game. I expect the game to be a bit slower for Patch through the air and for Union's Oline to create more holes for Fiore and Anderson then they've been able to this season. Union wins 27-10

Hobart @ SLU - The Pumpkins head North for the foliage and a matchup with a hard working LSU...I mean SLU team, that has shown resiliency and a decent pass game this season. I think the Pumpkins will handle this one. I am in full agreement with Mach's thoughts here and predict a similar score. These Pumpkins do not get carved before Halloween. Bart 42-13

Wishing all of my LLPP brethren a wonderful Fall weekend. Enjoy family, football, and fetishes.

The Liberty League regained some sanity last week which meant an easy 3-0...I'm 26-6.

Hobart 28 - St. Lawrence 10...Statesmen survive the north country. The Saints and the leaves are past peak.

Union 31 - Buffalo St. 9...Let's see if the Garnet have learned anything on their off week. I think yes.

Ithaca 20 - RPI 17...A slug fest in OT goes to the Bombers thanks to the ghost of Bob Butterfield? 
 

Picks for this week, after having missed a few weeks:

RPI 16, Ithaca 13.  I think this game is a coin flip. I think RPI has a little more offensive upside, so I'll give them the edge. But honestly, Ithaca is probably better off running the ball 60 times a game, and if that did that Sat., I think they'd win.

Hobart 21, SLU 17.  I think that SLU does not suck terribly this year, and they might actually have the best passing game in the LL, though the bar there barely clears the floor.  Hobart has the best defense in the league, though, and I think they lean on that hear and get the job done.

Union 31, Buff St. 13.  It's been a hard year for the Dutchmen (never gonna say Chargers), and basically everything that could go wrong so far, has gone wrong.  But this team is better than its 1-4 record.  They've been in every game (indeed, they have held lead in every game they've played), and but for a couple of plays or decisions here or there, this team could be 3-2 or 4-1.  With an extra week of rest and an extra week for the team to get healthy and fix what hasn't worked, I think the Dutchmen will get of the Schneid this week in style.  And I think they're going to relish the role of underdog going into the Ithaca/Hobart/Rochester/RPI stretch, and won't be surprised if they steal a game or two in the process.

Easy week to predict.

Ithaca over RPI 28-7 as the Engineers are just not that good.  A lot of should of could of would of from the their supporters.

Hobart 21-7 over SLU. 

Union 31-27 over Buff State.

Hot damn! Bro's been here for 10 minutes and already went all in. I like it.

JacketsPride showing some spunkiness in savoring the long awaited dominance of the Engineers , while Mach shows respect for the smack. This tiny bit of life on the current board reminded Bartman of the wild exchanges here in the old days from some of the most original mudslinging perverted posters that provided a serious level of entertainment and amusement(see pre 11/12/2005 Shoes game posts). Bartman enjoys the current tame exchanges, but would have paid a fee to see the old "fratboy" exchanges of the past.   

Quote from: Bartman on October 18, 2024, 08:33:33 AMJacketsPride showing some spunkiness in savoring the long awaited dominance of the Engineers , while Mach shows respect for the smack. This tiny bit of life on the current board reminded Bartman of the wild exchanges here in the old days from some of the most original mudslinging perverted posters that provided a serious level of entertainment and amusement(see pre 11/12/2005 Shoes game posts). Bartman enjoys the current tame exchanges, but would have paid a fee to see the old "fratboy" exchanges of the past.   

Those were the days when many disqualified themselves from ever running for president.