FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Back from Selby (finally)....here comes the analysis and lots of it. 

Wabash dominated from start to finish, save for a little defensive hiccup in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.  How dominant? Wabash outgained OWU 501-126.  Wabash held a 25-9 advantage in first downs.  Wabash held a 10 minute TOP advantage.  OWU went three (or less) and out on seven straight possessions from early in the second quarter until their final drive (on which they scored).  Total domination.  Need more evidence...let's look at what OWU did on that last drive:  5 of their 9 first downs came on that drive.  64 of thier 126 yards (that's over half for the fine arts majors out there) came on that drive.  Five of their nine complete passes and all but 15 of their passing yards came on that drive.  Folks, the numbers don't lie.  This game was one sided from start to finish and it wasn't anywhere near as close as the score. 

Wabash offense...the best word I can find to describe Wabash's O today is "surgical".  Wabash was methodical and precise all day, especially with the passing game.  Never taking big risks, taking what OWU was giving underneath, and then striking at just the right time.  It was beautiful to watch.  After a while, and especially in the second half, Wabash was basically having their way with the OWU d-line...I think fatigue was definitely an issue in the second half for OWU. 

Wabash Defense...what can I say that the numbers haven't already?  Aside from the one fourth quarter drive, OWU had positively nothing.  OWU's points vs. Wabash in the last four years: 7, 0, 14, 7.  I think it's safe to say that whatever OWU is running, Wabash has it figured out. 

It wasn't all positive...special teams and penalties (one TD called back on a hold) were again an issue today.  The punting wasn't great (under 30 yard average for Finley), a missed PAT, and some serious problems fielding punts (which to Walker's credit the sun was brutal and OWU's punter, who was a big reason why this game didn't get really ugly, was kicking everything into orbit).  If Wabash can clean these areas up, I think Wabash can be a very, very good team this year. 

This was a very good win for Wabash...I think they really made a statement today.  Especially when you consider the following:  OWU lost a close game to Thiel who won a close game at #6 W&J today who slaughtered Allegheny who played a virtually even game with Wooster today.  Put all of those pieces together and I think our conference has a distinct frontrunner.  Games at Wooster and Allegheny will not be easy for sure, but we have a favorite now. 

[Vince McMahon]

When will everyone figure out that different teams match up in different ways.  Just because team A beats team B and team B beats team C, that doesn't mean team A will beat team C.  This is what makes football such a great game.

[wally_wabash]

Quote me the part where anybody said Team A will beat Team C. 

Up until today we've had a four team race (or five team race for those of you who are clinging desperately to the Witt wagon) wherein we can't really separate the teams at all primarily because of a serious lack of evidence.  Today, we got a whole lot of things that tied together because of that Thiel/W&J game.  I think there's sufficient evidence right now to rank the top four contenders in our conference if one were so inclined.  Of course it's not concrete, but there is more, even if it's a small amount, clarity today than there was yesterday. 

[smedindy]

Somehow I don't think 31-6 means that the ref gave Witt the game, bad comma usage notwithstanding.

[smedindy]

Looking at the PBP for Witt - Denison, some bad blood must have erupted because I saw a few offsetting PFs.

I'm not going to say anyone's a front runner. The fact remains that Wabash has to still play two of the remaining front runners on the road, and have a particularly tough stretch after Oberlin. Lots o' bizness to get taken care of.

[Li'l Giant]

Any word out of Wooster as to the seriousness of Shafer's injury? The game recap on the website doesn't mention it.

[Vince McMahon]

This was a very good win for Wabash...I think they really made a statement today.  Especially when you consider the following:  OWU lost a close game to Thiel who won a close game at #6 W&J today who slaughtered Allegheny who played a virtually even game with Wooster today.  Put all of those pieces together and I think our conference has a distinct frontrunner.  Games at Wooster and Allegheny will not be easy for sure, but we have a favorite now. 

[/quote

Here's your team A over team C quote Wally.  You don't state it plainly, but you're CLEARLY implying it.  My prediction out of all this: the NCAC champion will NOT be undefeated in conference play this year.  I think that's great.  Either way, we get an automatic qualifier into the playoffs.  As I said before, some teams just match up differently with each other.  there's too many twists and turns with all the teams involved to assume that this all indicates who will beat who on a given day.  That said, I will place Wabash and Wooster as the conference front runners.  Not because of how the various scores have stacked up, but because they have both gotten the job done on the field each week so far, regardless of their opponent and who their opponents have played.

[nike]

To Anyone at the OWU-Wabash game:
How did Wabash hold them to 70 yds on the ground? Didn't OWU have any running backs? Is the wing-t that easy to defense? That was a good old spanking. And when was Sir Louis replaced at quaterback? The replacement's numbers were better. Was it late in the game? Thanks.

[lancer98]

Thoughts on 'Gheny-Woo:


Listen to some of the game and it seemed that many of the Scots younger players are stepping up when they need to. Late in the second half they were able to convert several long third downs(10 of 14) to keep drives alive. 
How about Reiff stepping in and playing as well as he did when Schaffer was hurt?  It appears Shaffer sprained an ankle?  They had him on the sidelined and looked like he was trying to go as the announcers said they were taping him but they must have decided against it.  Hopefully he can be back for Wabash.

This team keeps getting better and better.  I will be very interested to see how the Scots match up against the 'Bash.  I think 'Bash has the edge right now but I think Woo can give them a run for the money in two weeks, especially with the game in Woo.

Great showing by Bash although I still am not sold on OWU.  I thought before the season they would be much better but they haven't lived up to the expectations.  I still think 'Gheny, Woo and Witt could very easily be better than OWU at this point despite the records.  Remember 'Gheny has had some injuries so they could be a totally different team a few weeks from now.

Wally is right that there is a little more clarity in the conference race but Vince is right in that this thing is wide open now and we can't use the this team beat that team so this team should beat this team.

Let's hope Schaffer can get healthy and Woo can keep the strak alive.  Go Scots!! 

[oldguy]

Hey Liftit.....31-6 buddy. 

So I guess guys catching the ball out of bounds equals a should have been TD now.  Maybe the WR wasn't good enough to catch the ball in bounds against the Witt DB.  Look, your sourgrapes notwithstanding, your boys scored 6 points.  Considering Witt had been giving up over 40 points a game this season, it was a good defensive day by definition.  And yes, it was ONLY DENISON.  Check your recent football history then get back to me.  Blaming the refs is pretty weak when you lose by 25 points.  But I guess thats all you Denison football fans have since your team is never any good. 

What exactly is "yellow reporting?"

[big_bash]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism

[witt4ever]

Article about Witt's Glover tying all-time reception record:

http://www.middletownjournal.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2005/10/02/MJ1002glover.html

[ravishingrabbi]

i love the witt-denison smack...i have no clue what really happened, but i'm all for any and all anti-witt statements.

great win for wooster yesterday. i started thinking about it, and bobby reiff deserves a TON of credit. he's a junior, the same year as schaefer. so he's known since his freshman year that he's probably gonna be a backup for four years. since they dont get full rides, most division III players in that situation would either switch positions, transfer, or quit football altogether. college football is not easy, especially at wooster, and especially when you dont get to be on the field on saturdays. this kid has stuck with it, and helped deliver a huge win for the scots. dont look now, but that's what championship teams are made of...

also, how about the johnstown johnny connection comin through again for the scots...first chris craig, who is an absolute beast, and now freshman running back dustin shepard. my boy DC must be doin something right! hopefully wooster can keep bringing those guys in.

[wally_wabash]

Vince, the only thing I'm implying, and I'm not really implying it as much as I'm flat out saying it, is that Wabash is the conference frontrunner right now.  I'm not saying Wabash will beat Wooster.  Hell, I'm not even saying Wabash will beat Allegheny.  I'm just saying that as things are right now today (and nothing is going to change next week, that based on what we've seen so far this year, Wabash will be favored to beat Wooster.  Favorites don't always win.  When I want to imply such a thing, I'll state it plainly (to use your words)...like this:  Wabash will beat Oberlin next week.  There, I said it.  You won't see me post something that says "Wabash will beat Wooster" because that's not a certainty.  Don't read too much into what I say...if it isn't in print, it wasn't said. 

OWU's wiing-t isn't the same as we've seen before.  I ton of shotgun and not nearly as much of the full house backfield stuff.  It looked more like the thing that Utah has been running lately.  It's not easy to defend, but whatever Wabash is doing to prep for it must be working.  OWU hasn't had good luck against Wabash D in the last four years. 

[DarkSide-D]

What a win for the Scotties.  Sorry for a lack of analysis on the game, but I had the pleasure of taking the LSAT, yee-haw!  Anyway, where to start, how about the guy that said that Mounts "D" was just too much for a one dimensional team.  Hmmm, Carthage seemed to do pretty well against them.  Seems they were pretty one dimensional, with Washington, don't you think.

For OWU, Take a look back.  I stated they would fall on their faces this year.  Granted, they still have a chance, but add this loss to another big loss later on in the season (maybe not woo, but definately at gheny or witt) and they are done.  Way to go Puppies, you finally won one!  Way to go Polar Bears!  Great Job!

Hmmm, so much to say...Witt, congrats on the win.  Red, nice attempt, its good to see Denison is scratchin and clawin its way to the top of the bottm.  Perhaps in a year or two, they will be able to make a legitimate push to the top.  Until then, it looks like the conference is back to the norm, the WWW league.

Rab, its great to see you again.