FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[DEACONBLUE]

Ready for a wet, windy, and cold Saturday?  Regional forecasts are predicting 70% chance of showers (all day), 22 mph winds, and wind chill in the mid-40's.  "Any skyboxes still available at Hope's field?"

My soggy predictions: (bring your run game, weather will make the pass difficult - but watch out for those fumbles)

ADRIAN wins big over WLC.  The Dawgs a bit too much on both sides of the ball.  Also...not a good time to visit the Dawghouse...(bad mood..shhh)

ALBION outscores K-ZOO.  Brits have actually scored well this season, the battered K defense will not slow them down.  Hornets will gain some success on long pass, but not enough to outlast a more balanced Albion.

ALMA edges OLIVET. (tough call) The Scots have a more balanced offensive attack - plus the advantage of a qb that can run.  If the Alma defense keys on Olivet's reliance on the run, they could stay ahead of the Comets.  Now add the home field advantage, and the fact that Olivet has only played 2 away games.  The key to the game will be how well can Alma contain RB Clasgens.  He is a proven break-away runner and the Alma D has given up the big run in the past.  Clasgen's will score on 2 long runs...but 14 points isn't enough to beat Alma's 20+...this will be the strongest "conference" offense Olivet has faced.

HOPE solid over TSU.  (don't like to admit it)  Hope proved they can score consistently against a top defense last week, but what really puts them on top of the MIAA is their turnover ratio - they make few mistakes.  TSU needs those mistakes to fuel their struggling offense.  If Hope plays mistake free they could post the first shut-out in league play.  The Thunder D should be able to hold the Dutch to one score per quarter, less if the TSU offense can increase their time of possession.  (however, D3DB is right.  Hope cannot take this game lightly, an off-game with mistakes in ugly weather - the TSU defense could make it difficult to recover)

I'd say break out those warm blaze orange hunting clothes for the game...but it's too close to Hope's colors.        

[Uncle Rico]

Deacon Blue...from a fellow Tri-State fan (slappy).

I agree with most of your predictions, but wouldn't call that Hope win over Tri-State solid.  Hope has been scored on a lot, even in its wins.  Perhaps most of those came in the final quarter of some blow-outs, but I don't fear the Hope defense.  They won't get a shut-out, that much I am confident.  The Tri-State defense and special teams are VERY solid and should help keep Tri-State in good field position.  If the offense can limit mistakes and get it done in the red zone the game is very win-able.   

Go Thunder! 

[formerd3db]

DEACONBLUE and Uncle Rico:

Agree with your comments regarding the game @ Hope tomorrow.  Will look forward to possibly meeting you guys sometime tomorrow.  Perhaps at the side gate near the scoreboard beginning of game or halftime?  Let me know.

Also, if LetItRain comes too, although we don't like his "posting" name!  Bad omen for tomorrwo!

[sac]

NOAA forcast for the Tulip City Airport

Saturday: Occasional showers, mainly before 8am. High near 56. Breezy, with a northwest wind 7 to 10 mph increasing to between 21 and 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

It may rain, but it sounds better than it did earlier this week.  Looks like another good week to run the football.

[formerd3db]

Thanks for the update sac.  I'm still bringing my rainsuit and dressing warm!  Yes, I think they had better hold onto the ball!!

[LetItRain]

DeaconBlue, Uncle Rico and formerd3db - Let's shoot for the side gate near the scoreboard about 1/2 hour before game time.  I'll drag along a couple of other Tri-State parents that tailgate with us as well.

I say "LET IT RAIN" and bring on the THUNDER!!!   

[bulldogalum]

My Picks

Adrian
Albion
Hope
Olivet

[wlcalum]

WLC @ Adrian - My head says go with the home team. My heart says WLC. Both O's can score and WLC gives up a lot o points. I will go with the winning streak of WLC.

Albion @ Kalamazoo - Albion gets the road victory.

TSU @ Hope - Can TSU do it? Nope, it's Hope.

Olivet @ Alma - Olivets D is better going with Olivet.

All road victories except @ Hope. The limb I am standing on is pretty thin!!

[sac]

Thank you Alma!  8)

Adrian 54, Wisconsin Lutheran 7
Albion 34, Kalamazoo 13
Hope 45, Tri-State 35
Alma 38, Olivet 25

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

WOW WLC!  What was that, a complete debacle on both sides of the football against Adrian today.   The Adrian defense once again came to play and show its the best in the MIAA giving up only 133yds for the day great showing including yet again allowing .5yds per rush on the day.  Adrian offense looks like it took major advantage of a weak WLC defense, breaking off lots of big runs and taking advantage of some WLC turnovers as well.   Congrats to Adrian for winning this one, now its on to Albion who looks to be a bit better following today and a tough matchup with Alma ending the season.  Adrian isnt out of the woods yet.

Hope had another great offensive showing, but their defensive showing still leaves something to be desired.

Congrats to Albion getting on the board in MIAA play and knocking off KZOO.

Olivet loses a big game up in Alma and now has to hope they can knock Hope off for a share of the MIAA title.

On a note to Tri State, that team is growing by leaps and bounds and it is wonderful to see them coming of age in the MIAA.  Tough losses as much as they are heartbreakers are part of building up to that successful  program, keep playing every game with all youve got and its gonna fall into place!

[wlcalum]

WLC must have sent the JV to Adrian.  Wait... WLC does not have a JV team. WLC scored with .47 seconds left in the game. Seems kinda      league to me to take the goose egg off the board. What a whooooping.

[hope1]

i think the player of the game hope vs tri state was the reffs  they were that bad like only 2 peantlys for  tri state and the rest hope     

[Uncle Rico]

Not quite the blowout that some had expected.   

I think Tri-State turnovers contributed more to the closeness of the game than Hope committing the penalties.  Facemasks, late hits, pass interferences. Strange, usually the home team gets the benefit of the calls. 

The Hope QB had a good game...big Hope o-line gave him time to throw.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I agree thast the officiating in the Hope / Tri-State game was atrocious.  Apparently if you touch the helmet of a player from a school in Indiana, that is a face mask (typically 15 yard version). Looking at the stats for the game,

Team - Penalties - Yards

Hope - 14 - 144
Tri-State - 4 - 11

The Hope D worked hard all day, but the stripes did a lot to keep the Thunder drives going.  Tri-State had 5 first downs via penalties.  I'm not saying those were all bad calls, but at least 3 of them were, which kept touchdown drives alive.

Kudos to the Dutchmen for playing through it all.

Play of the day - 1 minute left in the game, Hope up by 3, third & 21, and Tri-State has called a timeout to stop the clock.  Everybody in the stands is talking about they gotta run the ball to keep the clock moving, and what do we a get  - a 54 yard touchdown pass to VanEerden.  Caught everyone in the stadium, including the Thunder defense off guard.

[DEACONBLUE]

LetItRain: 
Sorry, I did not get your post in time, we left for Saugatuck Friday afternoon.  What a game!  Even though the Thunder came out on the short end, one thing I believe all TSU fans and all MIAA opponents can agree on - TSU plays all 4 quarters to win.  I was expecting a more low scoring 24-7 battle assuming both teams limited their mistakes,  instead TSU's turnovers, and Hope's penalties certainly boosted the offensive production of both. It is odd for the TSU defense to give up 45 points, and just as odd for the TSU offense to score 35 points.  Kind of a mixed blessing.

I believe this game established a new reality in both TSU athletics and the MIAA.  It was mentioned earlier in the season that there are an elite five teams in the MIAA that have a realistic shot at the crown every year.  Now there are six.  No conference foe has had it easy with TSU.  Our losses to Alma, Olivet, and Hope (undisputed leader) have been 4rth quarter struggles.  I would agree wholeheartedly, Uncle Rico, we could have the best defense and special teams in the conference.  TSU is no longer the "improving or young or maybe in the future" team.  They have arrived and are running with the big dogs now. 

Being the sober pragmatist I am, It was obvious at the game that the only thing that stands in the way of TSU and the MIAA crown is their ground game.  FB 101: establish the run and the pass will come (ie..Hope & Alma).  Unfortunately, our 3 yard run average lacks the yardage neccesary for consistent 1st downs.  This places greater reliance and pressure on the pass forcing shorter more dangerous between coverage routes.  I am confident Coach Land and his staff will make the needed adjustments in the off-season that can bring the MIAA crown closer to Angola. 

Two more - Six and four     Go Thunder!