FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Quick observation.  From what I saw watching online, penalties and not enough of Holmes and Zureck cost Wabash the game.  In the fourth quarter, Witt looked spent on defense. Wabash's running backs were gaining chunks of yardage. Even the Witt commentators mentioned that several times. Thought Wabash running game would win the game in the forth quarter. But penalties and pass attempts interrupted a great running game today.
A very weird game to watch.
Wooster, meanwhile, looks to next year.

Definitely a fair observation, nike.  I'm not an OC, so I don't know how viable it is to just run every single down without mixing in a pass play here and there to keep the defense spaced out or at least off the LOS a bit. 

In the two drives that ended with turnover on downs that I mentioned just a few moments ago, Wabash ran 11 out of the first 12 plays on the first drive, including eight consecutive rushes before trying to sneak one in to the TE on 4th down.   The second drive started with five straight rushes before Wabash ran into a 3rd and 6 and were kind of forced into a passing down there.  We could argue that in that spot in the fourth quarter, Wabash was going to use two downs to get those six yards anyway, so maybe they could have kept pounding there, but at least on those two drives when Wabash needed to score, they were very focused on what was working best. 

[BashDad]

Receivers also, too many dropped passes.

You know, Tyler Holmes brings this up in the post game recap. Gotta say: don't know what either of you are talking about.

[Schwami]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

[BashDad]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

Not true.

[ohiofan1954]

Receivers also, too many dropped passes.

You know, Tyler Holmes brings this up in the post game recap. Gotta say: don't know what either of you are talking about.

I have pictures of at least two drops by receivers and one by a defensive back. First Wabash pass was dropped.

[BashDad]

Post them? I'm genuinely curious. "Dropped passes" would not be on my list of Things That Went Wrong, but maybe I missed something.

[wally_wabash]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

One out of three isn't bad.

[wabashcpa]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

One out of three isn't bad.

One was apparently enough.

[wally_wabash]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

One out of three isn't bad.

One was apparently enough.

Beside the point, right?

[smedindy]

Whatever the cause, this is one case where the best team didn't win, and that happens because sports, you know. Sports. Unforced errors killed the LG's. We know that. We saw it.

Witt's going to be ranked ahead of Wabash in the region, and have a home game. I hope they represent well. They probably will be third in the North behind the OAC winner and Wheaton when all is said and done, and I'd wager the OAC runner-up will be fourth unless that game is a total blowout.

Wabash will take care of business next week. I have faith. We don't want to give the Dannies the satisfaction. I remember 1987 too well, even today.

[wabndy]

I've been critical of Witt scheduling Butler. Two years in, I'm hard pressed to criticize.  There is definitely some value in playing a game you are likely to lose, doesn't really count much against you, and a good workout.

Anybody here know who they open with next year?

Sometimes I get the feeling that the number of us on here can turn into a Wabash echo chamber. We need to realize that Witt has had our number more often than not. Yes, mistakes were made. but credit should also be due to Witt for not making any. Turnovers? No. Special teams mistakes? Nope. Only a safety. Witt's inability to execute more than one drive yesterday doesn't give me any real confidence in their chances past round 1 of the playoffs. But hats off for finding a way to win.

Assuming next season plays out like this one and last year, Wabash does not deserve a higher ranking than Witt unless and until we can close the deal. Oh well. that being said, sure would be nice to meet again in the playoffs....

[Dr. Acula]

I watched most of NCAC Championship Game.  As someone with no skin in the game I was expecting something like Wabash 28-14.  Wabash was clearly the more talented team IMO.  They made more mistakes though.  And Witt deserves credit for taking advantage, but also for putting together a clutch, long drive to retake the lead for good.  That was a big boy drive and, honestly, one that I saw no signs of them having the ability to pull off before that point.  Tip of the cap because that was very impressive.

p.s. It's awesome that Wabash has a 2nd rivalry that's more intense than most school's main rivalry.  I'm very jealous because that's just plain fun.  Enjoy Bell Week guys.

[ADL70]

Aside from the errors, here's what stands out: 3rd down efficiency for Wabash 2 for 14.

Why all the calls for Rice?  He was 2-8

[USee]

Congratulations to the Witt Tigers on a tremendous win.  Got to give them a ton of credit here --- this was not the result I expected to see today.

In the end, Witt had the best offense, the best defense, and the best special teams play today.  Period.

I am an outsider to this board. But at the risk of suffering a similar beat down as Scwami I will say I am very disappointed with Wabash posters.  Exactly one of you has come on here and offered congratulations to Witt for their big win.  And that one person was lambasted by the rest,   I didn't see the game and I don't know the details but it appears the winning team made more winning plays than the losing team.  Witt has good players too. These losses sting and it's natural to defend our own, but give the other team some credit.  They did something right. 

[Li'l Giant]

It doesn't do anything to counter your point, USee, but I knew I wasn't going to see any Witt posters here. I did, however, post congratulations to Witt on Twitter as soon as the clock hit 0:00. Seems more Witt folks out there than around here.