FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

The_Bishop · October 27, 2012, 07:45:32 PM

A heartfelt congratulations to Wabash on a great victory today. The Little Giants showed once again why they are the class of the conference and worthy of the title of "champions".

The hard facts are that OWU still has a long way to go to before being able to knock off the likes of Wabash and Witt and contend for conference titles. I'm proud of the effort for sure but did not have a good feeling at halftime. Wabash made the adjustments and big plays (Belton's TD pass to make it 14-0 was beautiful, the WR had barely a full step on the DB when the ball was thrown) and are just a better team from top to bottom. Is OWU closer than they were a year ago? Perhaps. But getting skunked 28-0 is a world different than losing 28-27 in the final minute. I would have taken the latter any day of the week.

Will be interesting to see how OWU licks its first wounds of the season heading into a trip to Meadeville next Saturday. Go into that game still sulking about what could have been against the Little Giants and it is going to be one long and painful bus ride home.

Congrats again to the Little Giants.

cave2bens · October 27, 2012, 07:50:04 PM

Denison comes back - scores two TDs at end of first quarter. Florence bomb takes Witt right back into the lead and 21-14 with 11:55 left in 2nd stanza.

wally_wabash · October 27, 2012, 07:54:34 PM

Quote from: The_Bishop on October 27, 2012, 07:45:32 PM
A heartfelt congratulations to Wabash on a great victory today. The Little Giants showed once again why they are the class of the conference and worthy of the title of "champions".

The hard facts are that OWU still has a long way to go to before being able to knock off the likes of Wabash and Witt and contend for conference titles. I'm proud of the effort for sure but did not have a good feeling at halftime. Wabash made the adjustments and big plays (Belton's TD pass to make it 14-0 was beautiful, the WR had barely a full step on the DB when the ball was thrown) and are just a better team from top to bottom. Is OWU closer than they were a year ago? Perhaps. But getting skunked 28-0 is a world different than losing 28-27 in the final minute. I would have taken the latter any day of the week.

Will be interesting to see how OWU licks its first wounds of the season heading into a trip to Meadeville next Saturday. Go into that game still sulking about what could have been against the Little Giants and it is going to be one long and painful bus ride home.

Congrats again to the Little Giants.

OWU has nothing to get all hang dog about. They lost a game...it happens. Season and team goals are still there. Two wins gets OWU a conference championship. Two wins gets OWU one of their best seasons in history. Two wins just may well get OWU into the championship tournament that starts in 21 days. I hope they don't pack it in because they lost today. They're way too good to let this opportunity slip by.

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:03:53 PM

This game shows OWU where they need to go and how to get there. If they keep the momentum in the program, they're going to get some trophies in a few years (if not this year if they finish strong). Again, this feels like the first Wabash / Witt game after the LG's entered the NCAC. Hyped up game, at home, and we were smacked around late in the contest (after the rain delay and venue change). But it didn't take long for Wabash to compete with Witt. I can see OWU doing the same if they keep this up. They've got the raw materials to be a good program.

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:06:45 PM

Oberlin's leading 25-0 over Hiram at the beginning of the 4th.

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:14:06 PM

Sam Fioroni has been gashing through Witt's D. 21 carries for 128 yards already. Denison had first and goal at the one but had to settle for a FG. That may hurt. Gotta knock out the big dog, Big Red. Witt's up 21-17 late in the second.

**UPDATE*** This is why you go for it if you're an underdog. Denison kicked a short FG instead of going for it at the two and BOOM! Touchdown, Witt in one minute and one second. The Witt receiver could have summarized Proust before he caught the ball. There was no Big Red defender within the area code. I realize that Denison's bad on defense but to force them to go 98 yards is different than having them get some breathing room after a kickoff when they feel pretty good just giving up three.

cave2bens · October 27, 2012, 08:21:39 PM

Update - 28-17 Witt right before half; Oberlin up 32-0 with 11:00 left in 4th

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:22:34 PM

Beat my update by five seconds...hah!

wally_wabash · October 27, 2012, 08:25:10 PM

That was a killer TD at the end of the half by Witt. 72 yards in 1:06. Just a gut punch score to give up right before halftime.

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:29:13 PM

When they put the FG unit onto the field you could tell that a lot of Denison players were disappointed. They wanted to go for it, and it may have deflated them a bit.

wally_wabash · October 27, 2012, 08:51:40 PM

Quote from: smedindy on October 27, 2012, 08:29:13 PM
When they put the FG unit onto the field you could tell that a lot of Denison players were disappointed. They wanted to go for it, and it may have deflated them a bit.

If that contributed to Denison getting blasted for that late 1st half touchdown, then we know all we need to know about why Denison is 2-5. Denison is too experienced a team to not understand the long view in that situation. Gotta be tougher than that.

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 08:53:23 PM

Meanwhile, Oberlin is blasting Hiram 39-0. The Terriers are on their third QB and they have more penalty yards (112) than total yards (89). Yes, you read that right.

It's a final.

nike · October 27, 2012, 09:08:34 PM

Tired. More later.
Not as many people as I thought might be there. Never really sensed any excitement about the game from OWU fans. Just another game.
Got to mix in the run, no matter what. Am sure a few good running backs will be at OWU next year. Never seen that many passes or yards with no points. Ever. Never seen that many passes, period.
You Wabash guys know your stuff. Half time adjustments and not much time to go deep for Espinosa. But they really didn't look deep much at all.
Holmes is very good, but Belton the straw that stirs the drink.
Wrapped up POY that he should have gotten last year. The first two TD passes were absolutely perfectly thrown. And his play action kept OWU defenders chasing and tackling him when Holmes was already past the line of scrimmage with the ball.
At the game you simply cannot put your head down or look away. No jumbotron instant replay. Do any d3 fields have replay scoreboards.
Pat Coleman, you called it!

smedindy · October 27, 2012, 09:12:26 PM

Denison scored a TD after a 17-play 66-yard drive to pull it to 28-20, and then Witt just ran down the field. Literally. They got first downs so quickly the chain gain barely reset after one before they had another. It's 35-20 Old Tigers.

Desertraider · October 27, 2012, 09:15:19 PM

Quote from: smedindy on October 27, 2012, 08:53:23 PM
Meanwhile, Oberlin is blasting Hiram 39-0. The Terriers are on their third QB and they have more penalty yards (112) than total yards (89). Yes, you read that right.

It's a final.

Whoo-hoo!! Way to go Terriers!! I think I will go and sit by the mailbox until the next alumni letter comes to ask for money for a new (insert ANY item here - goalposts, scoreboard, mouth piece, chin strap) for the football team. Pathetic and a waste of time & money.