FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

Yeah, Smeds, that was confusing. What happened to that TD?

[wally_wabash]

This is a troubling situation.  It's getting darn near maddening to watch Wabash dominate a team for 40 minutes and then seemingly shut down the defense.  It's a serious, serious problem.  Millikin, OWU, and now Allegheny.  The same exact scenario has played out.  Just when you think the Hard Hat D is back, the visitors scoreboard starts rolling up like the jackpot over a row of progressive slots in Vegas.  I could scream.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I did. 

A win is a win, but Wabash needs to put 4 quarters together if they're going to get by either set of Tigers left on the schedule. 

On the positive side....Russell is a beast.  4 receiving TDs today.  Pick your poison against these Wabash receivers.  They're all good and Huff could really care less who he throws to. 

[Li'l Giant]

Wally, you have any idea what happened with that TD by Knez that was called back?

[BashBacker#16]

Wally - I can also scream when I need a final text message with the final and you leave me hanging bro, not cool!  I sensed something had happened.

I was able to see the first half and Wabash looked dominant.  Huff was lights out - Russell was crazy, the D looked good, we were flying and hitting all over the field, etc.  Then, something changed.  It sounded like the roughing the punter call was pivotal in the momentum change.  I think at that point, Gheny was punting back to Wabash with the score at 35-7.  Bash was called for roughing the punter and then the MO shifted. 

I'll take the win though and there are still many more positives then negatives.  Savage is very talented and he showed that today.  I do like the fact that we are heading to Witt for a great showdown...  I am anxious to see how the matchups stack up.  I think Bash stacks up well and hopefully Adi can shadow Murray all day long.  If that happens, it should make it tough on the Witt O.

More later...

[wally_wabash]

Did I leave the final score off?  My bad, BB16.  I must have been flustered. 

You are right on about that roughing the punter call.  Gheny was pinned back deep, punting back to Wabash (who blocked three kicks today by the way), and would have given Wabash a short field with a 35-7 lead.  The penalty gave the Gators a first down and then Wabash went into the prevent-ish soft coverage defense that has been completely shredded by Franklin, Millikin, and now Allegheny.  Not sure what changed there, but it was night and day. 

From what I can recall, the Knez TD got called back because of a block in the back on the return.  They also called unsportsmanlike conduct on Wabas on the same play which shoved the ball all the way back to about the 40 yard line.  The play by play confirms that now. 

[wally_wabash]

By the way....it was a packed house today at the Hollett.  5000+ on hand for this one and it could not have been a nicer day for football. 

[bashbrother]

L'il Giant - Thanks for pulling me off the ledge today..... man, I don't know what I would have done if I was at Hollett today.  Listening to these 2nd halfs on radio is brutal.

It is seriously like the frequency changed and I am somehow switched to the replay of the Michigan State / Notre Dame game for the 4th Qtr every week.

My mind tries to make sence of everything (my curse) and I am having a real hard time with this one.

On to other stuff:

How about Kenyon putting up 69 (has to be a record)  Although, they did give up 34 to Hiram (may also be a record)

Witt played a very sloppy game. Rummel's stats continued to tumble.

Oberlin / Denison had to be a ball to watch

Woo did what they should have done.  OWU - Trouble

[Li'l Giant]

L'il Giant - Thanks for pulling me off the ledge today..... man, I don't know what I would have done if I was at Hollett today.  Listening to these 2nd halfs on radio is brutal.

Any time, Bashbro.

I've not seen a Wabash game in person in 6 years. I'm used to being 1200 miles away and unable to do anything more than yell at my computer.

[bashbrother]

yeah.... my wife hung out with me in my home office the first half...but decided she should go and do some shopping during the second

[scotty]

a wise...a very wise lady...

[Li'l Giant]

yeah.... my wife hung out with me in my home office the first half...but decided she should go and do some shopping during the second

If she's anything like my ol' lady she doesn't need an excuse to go shopping.

[firstdown]

The prevent defense was shredded pretty bad.  The old adage of when you have an opponent on the ropes, you administer the coup de gras and put them away.  To heck with the rule in Conn high school football of not scoring over 50 points, (that doesn't apply to the NCAC)  a team has to keep rolling until their opponent is a corpse otherwise....Unfortunately, Bash let up, and the Gators being a good team then gathered themselves together and almost go it done.

[Li'l Giant]

To heck with the rule in Conn high school football of not scoring over 50 points, (that doesn't apply to the NCAC)

Speaking of, welcome Kenyon to the fraternity of teams to put 60+ on Hiram.

[bashbrother]

I have always respected CC for not running up the score on teams and for pulling first stringers late in the third or early in the fourth, when the game is in hand.  But I do believe that policy can also produce results like we have seen vs Milikin OWU and today.

Whether it is conservative offensive play calling or prevent defense, I think in away, you are acutally telling your team to relax and once they do, good teams like Gheny today will pounce.  Intensity is a funny thing, once you turn it off, it is very hard to flip the switch and get it back.

We are lucky the game wasn't 5 minutes longer today.

88 offensive plays for gheny is rediculous.

[wabashcpa]

Random thoughts:

I'm a little surprised that Wittenberg only put up 28 on Earlham.

I'm glad to see Sewanee put a scare into the Dannies.

Both these games were closer than they should have been.

Wabash today is a little too similar to the old Hanover teams - the best defense is a great offense.