FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[aueagle]

I must say, I was very surprised the Bishops won.....
This is the first win in an opener in a LONG time.
Another young team, they have to build on this because the
meat grinder is next. GO BISHOPS

[pennstghs]

Weather honestly isn't looking too good for Springfield today, not sure on a Sunday both teams are willing to play rain delay football. This would bwe a shame to not complete this game as I honestly feel that Wittenberg would have held off Capital or will hold them off if it does resume. 24-14 is a misleading score for the half as Wittenberg had several mistakes that allowed Capital to get back into it. I think by looking at the boxscore its pretty clear that Witt's offense is picking up where it left off.

[smedindy]

The conclusion of the Witt / Cap game may depend on which team can sieze the moment. Shades of the Witt / Wabash game that was moved to CHS, albiet an extra overnight involved. Witt used the break to regroup. Which team will do that here?

[pennstghs]

Smed, this is probably biased but I'd have to think Witt being on campus vs Capital having to load up buses and drive over an hour and then get ready to play would be tough. It's raining in Springfield now, no thunder or lightning, so who knows. Don't really understand why you couldn't just move this to Monday if anything.

[Li'l Giant]

Congrats to Oberlin and OWU for starting off the year with wins. We saw flashes of this from Oberlin last year but this was, at least in my humble opinion, completely unexpected from OWU. Here's hoping the Bishops are on the right track this year. They needed this.

EDIT: Speaking of Oberlin, they got a shoutout on The Final Drive show on the Big Ten Network last night for being the last team to beat Ohio State in their head coach's debut game. Granted, it was in 1894 according to the BTN. 

I agree with pennstghs. I think Cap is at a disadvantage here with the extra trip. At least they're not on the bus as long as Coe was.

[Pat Coleman]

If you wait until Monday you are really screwing up your next week.

[pennstghs]

That's very true Pat.

I'm still trying to refresh Springfield News Sun, and Witt/Capital websites to confirm for sure they are playing today.

[Pat Coleman]

Game time was moved up to 3 but it's still being played, as far as I know.

[BashBacker#16]

Smeds,

The year Bash/Witt was moved to Crawfordsville HS there wasn't an extra night??  We moved from Wabash to C-ville High on that Saturday.  Wasn't this Coach Carlson's last year?

I remember this well because our AD, Vernon Mummert, ask me to ride their bus to get them there.

Also, bracing for D-BashWarrior's scrimmage feedback - just so you know, Wheaton went 1's into the middle of the 3rd Q, I believe Bash rotated from the start and the 1's were definitely on a pitch count.

BB16

[wally_wabash]

Really, as long as everybody came back from Wheaton healthy and ready to play game 1 next week, I'm happy. 

This Witt/Cap situation is interesting.  Witt came out on fire against Capital yesterday, then Capital settled down and started cutting into the lead.  This 18-hour timeout may have squashed Capital's momentum.  We'll see what happens...nobody can say for sure because there isn't much precedent for this. 

If I may ask, is Oberlin significantly better this season, or has Kenyon dropped off (or both)?

Oberlin has the core of their offense back (Mandel, Nixter, Niec, Enright) so they are all a year older and presumably a year better.  Those guys all looked good yesterday.  They've also got a good DB back that missed last year with injury so they get a little help in the secondary as well.  Oberlin can usually score some points on people, so I wasn't shocked by the 42.  Hanging a bagel on Kenyon was surprising (first Oberlin shutout since 1982!).

Anyway, as for your Spartans vs. Oberlin....CWRU will be pretty heavy favorites because of roster depth, but if they look past Oberlin, the could get caught.  Oberlin scored 36 points on CWRU last year and were trading scores for much of that game.  They also had the ball late in the fourth quarter with a chance to beat Wittenberg.  Oberlin can play for sure. 

[wally_wabash]

Hot start for Witt again today.  Cap got Witt into 3rd and 15, then let McKee get behind them.  40 yard TD for Witt.  That's a mean pass game that Witt has. 

Capital answered with a TD.  Took four downs on the goal line to do it, but they got it in.  The Crusaders have forced a Witt punt and have the ball trailing 31-21 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Zoeller goes over the top to Cooper for a 53 yard TD.  That's passing TDs of 92, 53, and 40 yards for Witt in this game.  Lots of big play potential...Capital isn't getting pressure to speak of and without QB pressure, this group will go bananas on you.  38-21 Witt now. 

That's another 20+ yard TD pass on 3rd on long.  This one goes to McKee.  This game is doneski and Witt has looked mighty impressive. 

[Li'l Giant]

Defense looking good on this goal line stand too.

edit: I'm also extremely jealous of all that rain. This is the worst drought of my lifetime and would love to see some of that, even just for a couple of hours.

I think that TD is the nail in the coffin. Nice showing by Witt here. This offense has serious big play danger.

[wab64]

  Come on Dad of BashWarrior-we are all adults and can take the news. Hopefully, all the ACLs returned intact. The 3 points, if that's all there was, is worrysome At least the guy didn't miss the field goal.   WAF

[wabco]

I have confidnce in our coaches working to get what they wanted to explore ... out of a scrimmage.  The advnantage of Wheaton is that they are good and well coached.  The advantage od Wabash is that they are good and well coached.  Suspect the best you take from tne scrimmage is game condition tests on individuals and schemes and find out where work needs to be focused.  I, for one, wish Wheaton a great season and look forward to playing them again in the playoffs ... when it WILL count.

We need to prepare for a resurgent and one year older and better Wooster team.  WE WILL PREVAIL. 

WAF

[DPU3619]

I have confidnce in our coaches working to get what they wanted to explore ... out of a scrimmage.  The advnantage of Wheaton is that they are good and well coached.  The advantage od Wabash is that they are good and well coached.  Suspect the best you take from tne scrimmage is game condition tests on individuals and schemes and find out where work needs to be focused.  I, for one, wish Wheaton a great season and look forward to playing them again in the playoffs ... when it WILL count.

I'm sure there's a ton of confidence in that locker room despite whatever happened yesterday. There always is confidence when you think you're going to be a pretty good football team.  It's always good to get in that playbook and figure out what works and what doesn't with specific personnel in a scrimmage situation against a contender.  Everything in the playbook works against bad teams. 

I kinda like when you show up and play in a scrimmage and get knocked around a little bit.  Those experienced guys may need a little reality check.  Give ER a chance to pull out the old "you can't just show up and go through the motions and expect to win" speech.