FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Good to see the NCAC 5-4 (in games that matter) against non-conference.

Obviously, a great result from Oberlin and a terrible one from Denison. I think the other results are TBD based on how they'll roll in the rest of the season in the UAA, HCAC and the PAC.

Sewanee played Willamette tough this past weekend, DPU's result there may not be so bad.

BTW, the HCAC has won just one game this year as a collective. Franklin, of course, can get a pass from the shaming. Still that one win is against Kenyon. Ye Gods.

[bashbrother]

This week just shows that one cannot read too much in to the first or second games of a teams schedule.   Is Wabash good?... Yes.   Is Hanover not so good?  most certainly.  etc.   This early in the season,  we basically only learned that Bash is better than Hanover.   As the weeks go by,  the picture will become clearer.

I would like to give major props to Coach Ramsey at Oberlin...   Doing what he does "with less" is a sign of super coaching.    I said something similar after Oberlin took us out at the knees last year......  and as Wally eluded to,  it is becoming clear that a Ramsey coached team will always hit the field with fight and the belief they can win.   This is coaching.

[wally_wabash]

Delon Pettiford is second in the league in scoring. 

[bashbrother]

I love that Wabash's 6 int's came from:

(1) Senior
(3) Juniors
(1) Sophomore
(1) Freshman

Gotta love talented youth.

[bashgiant]

Guess I was thinking the QB questions were keeping Wabash a little lower in the poles than they should be. From what I saw Saturday Putko is the man and did a good job.

Those wacky telephone linemen...or are you talking about residents of Wroclaw??

I'm going to blame it on the fingers they don't always do what they are told.

[sigma one]

Last week I said that it was not ER's style to run up a score.  Then, 69-0, not a score a lot of people will like.  Games can develop in strange ways, and the Wabash #1s scored one TD in the 2nd half.  I, at least, can't fault the coach for wanting to give a new starting QB a few more snaps. At the half is traditionally early to pull starters unless the game is really, really out of control. (And it was Game 1 after all, and the #1s could use a bit more work.)  The first TD of the second half was a pick six to make it 45-0.  then, the #1s were in for one series, resulting in a TD:  52-0.  Enter Walsh and a steady stream of others.  A FG and another pick-six before the end of the 3rd quarter.  I actually felt a little sorry for Walsh because he had handcuffs on, and he could not show more of himself after he and Putko battled for the starting role through camp.  Oh, well. 
     Finally, a CP Porter TD in the 4th.  I think all the coaches, everyone on the team, and all the fans who know his story wanted that to happen once they saw him capable of running with his old intensity.  He was the 4th Wabash running back to play.  Zurek, the #2 back, got only one series.  Stella got some work as well. 
     Wabash threw its last pass, an incompletion,, before the end of the 1st half. 
     To Hanover's credit, they played reserves late.  Smart move as they looked forward to the HCAC schedule.  Some coaches would have let their 1s try to score late in the game against the Wabash reserves (and to avoid a shutout).  I don't know how many players saw action for the Little Giants because the Box Score is screwed up, listing some as non-participants, including the starting center.

[Thunder44]

Last week I said that it was not ER's style to run up a score.  Then, 69-0, not a score a lot of people will like.  Games can develop in strange ways, and the Wabash #1s scored one TD in the 2nd half.  I, at least, can't fault the coach for wanting to give a new starting QB a few more snaps. At the half is traditionally early to pull starters unless the game is really, really out of control. (And it was Game 1 after all, and the #1s could use a bit more work.)  The first TD of the second half was a pick six to make it 45-0.  then, the #1s were in for one series, resulting in a TD:  52-0.  Enter Walsh and a steady stream of others.  A FG and another pick-six before the end of the 3rd quarter.  I actually felt a little sorry for Walsh because he had handcuffs on, and he could not show more of himself after he and Putko battled for the starting role through camp.  Oh, well. 
     Finally, a CP Porter TD in the 4th.  I think all the coaches, everyone on the team, and all the fans who know his story wanted that to happen once they saw him capable of running with his old intensity.  He was the 4th Wabash running back to play.  Zurek, the #2 back, got only one series.  Stella got some work as well. 
     Wabash threw its last pass, an incompletion,, before the end of the 1st half. 
     To Hanover's credit, they played reserves late.  Smart move as they looked forward to the HCAC schedule.  Some coaches would have let their 1s try to score late in the game against the Wabash reserves (and to avoid a shutout).  I don't know how many players saw action for the Little Giants because the Box Score is screwed up, listing some as non-participants, including the starting center.

I think it would be hard for anyone at the game to claim Wabash was purposefully running up the score.  It was Hanover's responsibility to stop Wabash from scoring, whether it was the first or fourth string out there, and clearly there weren't a lot of stops.  Too many errors in all three facets of the game to expect to be competitive with a team like Wabash at home.

There are a lot of lessons to be taken from the game and applied to conference play beginning this week.  That's why you play better teams, and I am hopeful that message isn't lost on this year's team.  Franklin has established themselves as the top team in the HCAC, and the rest are going to have to elevate their games substantially if they hold any hope of knocking the Griz from their perch any time soon.

Lastly, it was great to see and hear the response CP Porter got as he got in the game and scored.  I wasn't aware of the story at the time, but figured there must have been some adversity he had overcome.  Kudos to him for working as hard as he did to get back on the field.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Last week I said that it was not ER's style to run up a score.  Then, 69-0, not a score a lot of people will like.   Games can develop in strange ways, and the Wabash #1s scored one TD in the 2nd half.  I, at least, can't fault the coach for wanting to give a new starting QB a few more snaps. At the half is traditionally early to pull starters unless the game is really, really out of control. (And it was Game 1 after all, and the #1s could use a bit more work.)  The first TD of the second half was a pick six to make it 45-0.  then, the #1s were in for one series, resulting in a TD:  52-0.  Enter Walsh and a steady stream of others.  A FG and another pick-six before the end of the 3rd quarter.  I actually felt a little sorry for Walsh because he had handcuffs on, and he could not show more of himself after he and Putko battled for the starting role through camp.  Oh, well. 

I think it would be hard for anyone at the game to claim Wabash was purposefully running up the score.   It was Hanover's responsibility to stop Wabash from scoring, whether it was the first or fourth string out there, and clearly there weren't a lot of stops.  Too many errors in all three facets of the game to expect to be competitive with a team like Wabash at home.

Running up the score always has to be taken in appropriate context.  Some people get bent out of shape just because there's a big number on the board, but more intelligent fans are able to look critically at what happened and figure out whether a coach was really running it up or not.  Bringing the first team out for at least a series in the third quarter is always acceptable in my book unless you're already ahead by some absured figure (like 70).  Defensive and special teams touchdowns just happen sometimes, they aren't evidence of running up the score, and you can't tell your backups not to play; they don't get much action as it is, they should be allowed to play all out when they're on the field.  Once you have an insurmountable lead late in the third quarter and the backups in, I'm even fine with some passing plays (IF that is your normal offensive system), although I think it's generally sporting to run the ball if the margin is very large.  Where I draw the line is pulling stunts like a fake punt or fake field goal ahead by 40, or keeping the starting QB in to throw his eighth touchdown pass of the day with 4 minutes to go.

[wally_wabash]

We've got full blown league play this week...let's take a look. 

Hiram @ Allegheny - Is Partridge available for Hiram?  If so, they've got a chance. 

Oberlin @ Wooster - You would assume that Oberlin has Wooster's attention, not that Wooster is really in a spot to gloss over any opponent.   I don't know if this matters at all, but Wooster is coming off the bye while Oberlin is playing on a short week.  I'll be interested to see if Wooster can do a better job on the lines than CWRU did against the Yeomen last week. 

OWU @ Kenyon - This one was a little juicy before last Saturday afternoon.  If Kenyon can find the run again, who knows.  They might make a game of it.  I think OWU's offense probably wears Kenyon out in this one. 

Witt @ DePauw - First game on the new rug for DePauw so that'll be fun.  How salty is Wittenberg going to be?  Not only have they had to swallow that Butler game for two weeks, but then Franklin nearly beat the Bulldogs and if you're Wittenberg you've got a point of comparison.  Time to start digging out of that hole.  DePauw has also been off for two weeks.  I'll be interested to see what kinds of things Lynch draws up to give his team a shot on Saturday. 

Denison @ Wabash - Game 1 was Senior Day.  Game 2 is Homecoming.  Good luck, Big Red. 

Glad to be getting into league play.  This is going to be a fun year in the NCAC. 

[Schwami]

Obviously, a great result from Oberlin and a terrible one from Denison.

Umm, it's Kenyon who lost to Earlham, not Denison.  Denison is undefeated (at least for a couple of more days). 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Hiram @ Allegheny - Is Partridge available for Hiram?  If so, they've got a chance. 

Oberlin @ Wooster - You would assume that Oberlin has Wooster's attention, not that Wooster is really in a spot to gloss over any opponent.   I don't know if this matters at all, but Wooster is coming off the bye while Oberlin is playing on a short week.  I'll be interested to see if Wooster can do a better job on the lines than CWRU did against the Yeomen last week. 

OWU @ Kenyon - This one was a little juicy before last Saturday afternoon.  If Kenyon can find the run again, who knows.  They might make a game of it.  I think OWU's offense probably wears Kenyon out in this one. 

Witt @ DePauw - First game on the new rug for DePauw so that'll be fun.  How salty is Wittenberg going to be?  Not only have they had to swallow that Butler game for two weeks, but then Franklin nearly beat the Bulldogs and if you're Wittenberg you've got a point of comparison.  Time to start digging out of that hole.  DePauw has also been off for two weeks.  I'll be interested to see what kinds of things Lynch draws up to give his team a shot on Saturday. 

Denison @ Wabash - Game 1 was Senior Day.  Game 2 is Homecoming.  Good luck, Big Red. 

Hiram might be able to give the Gators a serious scare.  Their offense is bad - really bad.  #5 is dangerous at WR but that's pretty much it.  If Partridge is healthy and can manage a big play or two, the Terriers will have a chance.  I was curious so I skimmed back a few years - Hiram hasn't beaten an NCAC team besides Kenyon since 2008 (Oberlin) and hasn't beaten Allegheny since joining the NCAC.  Could be a 'historic win' of sorts.

Oberlin is a tough team for a game.  I hope they're able to maintain last week's level of play this week.  If so, they'll win.

I predict Kenyon comes out afire for a few series, eager to prove that last week's loss was not indicative of "same old Kenyon" but eventually wears out against OWU, as you predicted.

DPU might be better than we think; that 10-7 loss to Sewanee doesn't look so bad in light of Sewanee's performance vs. what looks to be a very good Willamette team.  Witt should roll but this may be competitive for a bit.

Bash destroys Denison.

*Edited to clarify: "their offense is bad" is referring to Allegheny.  Hence my belief that even Hiram's defense might keep them in check, and a few big plays from Hiram on offense might be enough to steal a victory.

[smedindy]

Obviously, a great result from Oberlin and a terrible one from Denison.

Umm, it's Kenyon who lost to Earlham, not Denison.  Denison is undefeated (at least for a couple of more days). 

Thinking one thing and typing another!

[ADL70]

Obviously, a great result from Oberlin and a terrible one from Denison.

Umm, it's Kenyon who lost to Earlham, not Denison.  Denison is undefeated (at least for a couple of more days). 

But Denison only beat Hiram by 5.

[Schwami]

Obviously, a great result from Oberlin and a terrible one from Denison.

Umm, it's Kenyon who lost to Earlham, not Denison.  Denison is undefeated (at least for a couple of more days). 

But Denison only beat Hiram by 5.

And Denison is the only 2-0 team in the conference (again, only for a couple of more days  ).  As for Hiram, well, there appears to be some fight in those dogs!

[wabashcpa]

DePauw home opener, new turf, return of Coach Lynch, 2nd game improvements - I won't go so far as to call the upset, but I believe the Old Gold will keep it close.

Denison will be good Homecoming fodder.