FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Hope 42 Olivet 35 OT

Olivet scored a TD with about 4 minutes left to take a 35-28 lead, Hope answered within 2 minutes to tie it at 35.  Olivet got the ball across midfield on the next possession but no further than the 41, Hope picked off the hail mary attempt at the buzzer.

In OT Hope scored first and then picked off Olivet for the 5th time in the game.

Turnovers Hope 3 Olivet 6

[sac]

Kalamazoo 45 Alma 24

Concodia, WI 49 Trine 46

[sac]

Adrian 47 Albion 26

So Trine is currently leading the MIAA

[formerd3db]

Hope 42 Olivet 35 OT

Olivet scored a TD with about 4 minutes left to take a 35-28 lead, Hope answered within 2 minutes to tie it at 35.  Olivet got the ball across midfield on the next possession but no further than the 41, Hope picked off the hail mary attempt at the buzzer.

In OT Hope scored first and then picked off Olivet for the 5th time in the game.

Turnovers Hope 3 Olivet 6

It was another "barn burner" for Olivet and Hope, 2nd time this season for each.  For once, Hope came up on the positive side.  The game is essentially just how I envisioned/expected it to be i.e. a fast paced offensive game.  Olivet seemed to handle the Hope defense throughout the game with the same game plan as Albion did a couple of weeks ago using the bubble and slant passes, although Olivet had good success with their running game.  For some reason, Hope had difficulty stopping the same one running play through the game.  I was impressed with the size of Olivet's lines on both offense and defense.  They are a fast team.

However, in the end, Hope's secondary (and LB cores) came through to cinch the game along with some outstanding catches by our receivers on offense.  The weather wasn't bad-although overcast, at least no rain and it was good football weather despite being a little colder, but comfortable for fans with jackets and hoodies.  The Homecoming crowd for Hope was down compared to what it usually is for that weekend, although I suspect the weather was partly responsible for that (just as it was for the Slippery Rock/Mercyhurst DII game at Michigan Stadium today, which drew >15,000 in attendance, even though 25,000 tickets had been sold and/or distributed-the all-time DII record is 61,000 which had Slippery Rock/Shippensburg in 1979 at Michigan Stadium and I believe that Michigan Tech/Grand Valley State this past decade at Michigan Stadium is second with 52,000).  Anyway, my compliments to both Olivet and Hope today for a great game, good sportsmanship.  The officiating crew was "okay", not great, but okay.  They mis-called several plays but it went both ways.

Good to see that Kazoo finally had over 1000 in attendance for a home game and they attained their first win of the season.  Olivet and Alma are now eliminated from the league race.  As sac mentioned, Trine is currently out front.  However, next week either they or Albion will be eliminated since they play each other and Kazoo would be also if they lose.  So obviously for each of the current four teams who have 1 league loss, each remaining game is a "must win" situation.  Again, I hope the weather holds out to remain decent for the remaining Saturdays. 

[sac]

Trine has 0 losses, everyone else has at least one, they are far from eliminated with a loss next week.

[formerd3db]

Trine has 0 losses, everyone else has at least one, they are far from eliminated with a loss next week.

Oops! You are correct; I mis-spoke and was getting ahead of myself a bit.  There are certainly some scenarios left.  If Trine loses to Albion next week, then assuming Trine remains with one loss, they would have to beat Adrian in the last game of the season to have a shot at the title and that might then come down to the point differential between their head-to-head competition, right?  Again, that assumes Hope would be eliminated if they lost to Adrian. 

[Grutte Dirk]

Zeeland West offensive line may be program's best ever

Senior guard Matt Bultman said the group was motivated from the opening days of practice in the summer to prove itself, since the unit was losing highly-regarded tackle Jordan VanDort. VanDort signed with Western Michigan University but has since transferred to Hope College.

Does anyone know VanDort's status this fall?

[sac]

Zeeland West offensive line may be program's best ever

Senior guard Matt Bultman said the group was motivated from the opening days of practice in the summer to prove itself, since the unit was losing highly-regarded tackle Jordan VanDort. VanDort signed with Western Michigan University but has since transferred to Hope College.

Does anyone know VanDort's status this fall?

It was just announced a week or so ago he was transferring, he won't play for Hope this year if that is what you mean.

[sac]

Quite a catch that won the Hope game Saturday
http://d3football.com/awards/playoftheweek/2014/week7

[Uncle Rico]

Nice win Thunder over Albion!

[sac]

Olivet on the good side of play of the week this week......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx-xfTy-T2I

[formerd3db]

Olivet on the good side of play of the week this week......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx-xfTy-T2I

That is great.  Also, it is great to see another D3.com play of the week for the MIAA-thanks to Pat and his staff for the focus.

BTW, sac, I after attending our game up at Alma on Saturday, on the drive home, I simply had to turn off the radio coverage of the Michigan game (and also changed to another game after watching more on the TV once I got home)-just couldn't stand it!   I think the "writing is on the wall" for Hoke and company. And, will if he is let go, will this be the last year for Assistant Coach Fred Jackson, who has faithfully been there for many years?

This week's games will obviously narrow down more the MIAA title race.  Also, as some of our coaches and I discussed after the game, we all are not looking forward to the cold weather (or rain and/or snow) as most likely this past Saturday was everyone's "Swan Song" for great fall football weather.  But...the games go on obviously.

On other football topics, although Grand Valley State is not having their usual banner year, they have had some large crowds for their home games, 13,000+ and that 15,000 one-that is huge (and that is no pun intended towards the HUGE RADIO NETWORK!
They have even outdrawn some of the MAC DI schools.  It looks like Ferris State pretty much has the lock on the GLIAC title. HC Annese has them back in the upper tier of the league since the mid-1990's run.  If they do continue to cruise, I hope they do not falter in the playoffs.  Those DII playoffs are always a "crap shoot", perhaps even more than the DIII playoffs in some instances.

[sac]

I went up North.

I couldn't resist and checked my phone, Michigan's drive summary after a Spartan fumble was 4 plays 0 yards.  Seemed about right, so I blissfully continued wandering my way aimlessly around enjoying a nice fall day.  Oblivious that anything of any significance occurred Saturday.

[MIAA in Exile]

Wild and wooly finish in Albion as the Brits nail a 37 yard field goal into the wind for a 30-28 victory.  Olivet coaches then refused to let their team shake hands.  There has to be a story on that, but on the live stream you could see their coaches separating their players who tried to shake hands with the Brits.    Too bad as it was a very hard fought game and you could see lots of helmet taps and respect  on the field. 

[sac]

hand shakes seem to be an issue today  (Maryland/PSU)

Adrian 27 Hope 19
Trine 47 Kzoo 12

With these results, its pretty much down to Adrian at Trine in 2 weeks.  Trine plays at Hope next week but it only gets messy if Kzoo beats Adrian and Hope wins which sets up the long shot of messy multiple team tie with 2 losses.