FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[aueagle]

1st win for the Gators in 8 yrs over the LG's....
How far does the ranking drop now.....
Hey, an early season loss is ok...LG's can still run the table

[smedindy]

I bet they fall down to the mid teens or so. Maybe down to 20.

[bashbrother]

Hey, an early season loss is ok...LG's can still run the table

True,  but there are major offensive problems that need to be reconciled....and fast.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

5 teams in the top 25 have lost today...

not sure the rankings help the LG's...at the very least a wake up call

[smedindy]

Some of the offensive issues were exacerbated by the wind. Not being able to consistently run the ball also hurt. This may be a wake up call for complacency, or just a bad game that happens now and then.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Kenyon gave Wash U a scare...

[fantastic50]

Thunder and gusty winds, with off-and-on rain, in Wooster. I am not sure whether the Scots & Old Tigers will be able to start at 6:00, as scheduled.

[smedindy]

After a weather delay, Chicago beat Oberlin 28-9.

[smedindy]

Thunder and gusty winds, with off-and-on rain, in Wooster. I am not sure whether the Scots & Old Tigers will be able to start at 6:00, as scheduled.

They just posted that there will be a delay.

[smedindy]

Kenyon gave Wash U a scare...

Even in a loss (28-23), that's a great result for the resurgent Kenyon Lords.

[wally_wabash]

Back from the Hollett.  Just a weird day down there today.  Somewhere last week after Whitewater got beat I said something about how hard it is to win in college football.  While it doesn't seem like it all the time, the margin for error is slim.  Today, Wabash got beat by a team that didn't make errors.  Allegheny was awesome on all fronts today.  Not awesome in the 800 yards of offense, -70 yards allowed, 63 points scored kind of way.  Awesome in that they had a plan for this game and executed their plan better than Wabash was able to execute their own. 

Wabash generally beats teams by stuffing the run and then hounding quarterbacks on passing downs which generally lead to bad throws, turnovers, or sacks.  Today, that didn't happen.  Any of it really.  The Gators were able to run well enough to keep themselves out of long distance downs.  When they did throw, they rolled out and away from Wabash's usual up-the-gut pressure which allowed Person time to throw and allow their patterns to develop.  Again, this defense works by not giving you enough time to run your play.  Allegheny figured a way around that.  And they didn't ever get themselves in a position to risk possession of the football...zero turnovers.  It was well planned and well executed. 

Elements were a factor today and again Coach Matlak played that game perfectly.  Took the wind in the first quarter and used it to build a lead, then forfeited a possession in the second half in order to have the wind in the fourth quarter.  Wabash really, really needed to score twice in that third quarter and force Allegheny to challenge the secondary while trying to chase two scores.  Just one score down going into that fourth quarter though, Allegheny was able to keep on with their same, secure game plan.  It worked. 

The bottom line is that Allegheny had an awesome, awesome game today.  We can pick away at Wabash's offense or special teams or things being off in general, but none of that matters.  Allegheny was great today. 

For Wabash there is certainly disappointment in this result, but it doesn't automatically mean that they're going to get railroaded by CMU next week (heard WAY too much of that on my out of the stadium today) or that the players aren't good enough or that coaches aren't good enough or that Wabash is now doomed to be 5-5 because how on earth can they ever win if they don't score on every possession.  Everybody will tighten things up here and use today's lessons to get better.  There's a league to win.  There's a Bell to win.  There's a tournament to qualify for.  Today doesn't change any of that.  Onward....it's the 100th Homecoming next weekend.   That's as good as any backdrop to get right. 

[sigma one]

Terrific analysis, Wally. Hearty congratulations to Allegheny!  We will now find out about character, going into next week vs. CMU.  The Gators executed just about the same game plan as last year when they came close.  Add the wind (which Allegheny's game was perfect for) and a general inability by the LGs to do what they usually do, and . . .

[smedindy]

It seemed like there was a weird vibe in the stadium from what I could tell on the telecast. It's like the crowd was expecting the worst almost the entire game.

[wallyworld12]

Shocked that the LGs went down against Allegheny today. Looks like the Gators played a heckuva game. Oh well, Wabash Always Fights and Always Means Always. Onward and upward!

The sun comes out just before kickoff at The Papp....could that be a sign of a Fightin' Scot victory?!?!?!?!

[wallyworld12]

Wooster had a guy open on 3rd & 9 inside Witt territory..and he dropped it. Scots punting away.

Wooster fumbles a punt return, Witt recovers. Then the "second best quarterback in the NCAC" Reed Florence throws a pick deep in Scot territory...then Barnes throws it to the Tigers...Witt ball in Scot-land (Hah!)

Witt FG attempt is WIIIIIIIDDDDEEE left.....0-0 with 8:10 left in Q1

And the Scots march down the field on a 76-yrd drive and cap it with a TOUCHDOWN. PAT is good. Wooster 7 Wittenberg 0 with 4:40 in Q1