FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashDad]

Wally:

NCAC stats have been updated, even though the "Football" front page has not.

Stats look even more Wabash after last weekend.

[wally_wabash]

Time for a stat update...as you might expect, Wabash leads in a number of categories.  Those categories are (strap yourselves in folks the list isn't short): scoring offense, scoring defense, pass offense, pass defense, turnover margin, rush defense, total offense, total defense, pass efficiency, pass efficiency defense, (deep breath) first downs, opponent first downs, sacks, red zone defense, third down conversions, oppenent third down conversions, and time of possession. 

Fans, that's pretty much every major offensive and defensive team stat category that Wabash is leading the conference in.  And in a lot of cases, it's not even close.  Wabash seems to be middle of the pack in the special teams categories (FG/PAT kicking, kick returns, punting, etc.).  I'd like to see that improve as we get into the second half of the season. 

My favorite stat might be opponent first downs. 
1) Wabash 37
2) Wooster 62
9) Wittenberg 103

That's 6.5 first downs fewer per game than the second best in the conference, and 16.5(!!) fewer per game than Witt.  I don't care what your schedule looks like, that's impressive. 

[oldguy]

You know wally, you should be careful.  Your constant obsession with hating Witt may give you an anurism one of these days.   

[wabco]

Oldguy

Now do you understand my comparisons?

Tiger down... now.

[smedindy]

I ran my power rating compendium. With some teams playing just three games nationally and some five games, the national results are kind of goofy. I'll run them again in 2 weeks.

The rankings come from these questions: Did you win? How did you play? Who did you play?

However, here's where the NCAC sits (out of 219 teams):

22 - Wabash
43 - Wooster
79 - Ohio Wesleyan
111 - Wittenberg (1-3 is 1-3)
128 - Denison
166 - Allegheny (0-4 sinks them)
189 - Kenyon
195 - Oberlin
196 - Hiram
202 - Earlham

If Witt and Gheny can win some more, I'd see them shooting up due to SOS.

[smedindy]

WallyFS4 -

Regarding that play - my source tells me:

1. The illegal formation penalty made the receiver ineligible.
2. In High School - if an ineligible receiver touches the ball first, it is an offensive pass interference penalty.

Ergo, the correct call was made - he was ineligible and touched the ball first - therefore it's PI.

[oldguy]

Wabco,

No, what comparisons are you talking about?  My post talked about running up the score.  In what post was that addressed since that would allow me to understand your "comparisons?" 

Tiger up!!!

[wabco]

OG ... Tigerman

Look to page 95 ... third post down.

[oldguy]

Again, what does that post have to do with Witt running up the score?

[Li'l Giant]

It's not like Wabash hasn't heard about running up the score, either. 81-0 just looks bad, Hiram or otherwise.

[BashBacker#16]

FS4,

Another reply for you from an official buddy of mine.  Here is his reply to your post:

Here's the skinny...straight from the rule book:

Rule 10-2-1
When two or more live-ball fouls are committed by the same team, only one penalty may be enforced...the offended captain may choose which one it shall be.

[formerd3db]

BashBacker#16:
Would you please ask your official buddy this question?  If a receiver catches the ball in mid-air in the endzone (for example in the middle of the endzone), has definite possession and control of the ball for the required time i.e. at least 1 second; is it a TD even before his foot or any part of his body touches the ground IN BOUNDS?  Since the ball only has to "break the plane" of the endzone, I say it is a TD, even if he fumbles when hitting the ground, because he already had possession AND control of the ball in the air for the required time, and "the ground cannot cause a fumble".  I tried to find this in the football rule book, however, it doesn't address this situation specifically.  Thanks.

[wally_wabash]

I always thought that you had to have possession and one foot in bounds before it can be a completed pass in college (or high school). 

[DarkSide-D]

Being a defensive kinda guy, I could be wrong about this assumption.  But, if the ball pops out when the receiver hits the ground, in the situation as you put it, it seems that he did not have possession of the ball.  Otherwise, when a reciever catching a pass in mid field, jumping and getting horizontal with the turf, having the ball in his hands, then the ball coming loose on contact, would be a catch also.  Since that would be an incomplete pass, so to would be your situation in the endzone.

[DarkSide-D]

I have thought about this situation a lil bit.  Would it be a touchdown?  Pat, what is yoru take on this situation?