University Athletic Association

[DagarmanSpartan]

Now THAT'S more like it!

That's what I expected us to do against Kenyon.

Whalen is having an ALL-AMERICAN season thus far.

WHALEN FOR GAGLIARDI!!!

[ExTartanPlayer]

Well, I got all the winners right, but my scores were off by a tad.  CWRU and UChi were about what I should have expected.  I definitely DID NOT expect 85 total points in the CMU vs. GCC game, but we'll take the win.  And WashU had a little more trouble dispatching Westminster (Mo) than I thought they would, but they came through with the victory.

[ADL70]

Looking at the # of defensive players who had tackles, I suspect that Westminister's 21 4th qtr points came against back-ups.

[DagarmanSpartan]

We just cracked the Top Ten!!!

[ADL70]

And Carnegie Mellon got a vote.  They will be tested Saturday by Hobart, though.  As will  WUStL (Wittenberg) and Chicago (Wabash).

[joelmama]

Big kick return for a speedy freshman from Chicago setting up a key Score.  Dee Brizzolara from Aurora Ohio looks like he is making an impact on special teams and as a reciever.

[labart96]

Here's my take on the Hobart-CMU game (obviously from a Hobart perspective):

The Hobart Statesmen football team started a new quarterback and suffered a tough loss to Dickinson College. The following weekend, the Statesmen welcomed an undefeated Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Tartan team to Boswell Field.

Sound familiar?

It should to Hobart (and CMU) fans. In 2007 Andy Strom '08 took a loss in his first start as QB in Carlisle but rallied the team the following week to defeat the then #22 Tartans 27-26 in Geneva.

Last season Hobart defeated CMU 21-16 in Pittsburg in a sloppy game that featured five interceptions by QBs Rich Doyle '09 (three) and Phil Pantalone (two). The Statesmen and Tartans traded touchdowns in the first and second halves until Hobart won the field position battle and returned a punt to the CMU 34 with approximately seven minutes in the game. On the next play, Doyle found WR Zach Schultz '10 open and Hobart had a quick touchdown to put them up 21-14. The Statesmen defense held for the remainder of the game – lead by record-setting performances by LBs Justin Hager '09 (21 tackles) and Jeff Sanders '09 (20 tackles) – with the offense taking an intentional safety with three seconds on the clock to preserve the victory.

Last weekend CMU (2-0) outlasted Grove City (0-2) by a score of 45-40. The Tartans had previously beaten Ohio Wesleyan (0-1) in Week 1 by a score of 19-7. Against the Wolverines of GCC, the Tartans ran their Wing-T to the tune of 73 plays from scrimmage - paced by 64 carries that amassed 317 rushing yards. Two CMU RBs eclipsed the 100 yard mark on the day: JR Justin Pratt (26 carries for 157 yards and three touchdowns) and SO Chris Garcia (21 carries for 107 yards and 1 touchdown as well as one 35 yard touchdown reception). The Wing-T was so effective that SR QB Phil Pantalone only attempted nine passes (he completed four for 83 yards and two touchdowns). Given the large number of running plays it's not surprising that CMU also dominated the time of possession by a wide (36:02 – 23:58) margin.

Although the CMU defense did allow 500 total yards against Grove City, they did so mostly after the Tartan offense had run out to a 31-7 lead with 12:30 to play in the third quarter.

Going into Week 3 against Hobart, here's what I know about the 2009 Tartans:

Their offense is averaging:
• 32 points per game
• 218.5 rushing yards per game
• 64 passing yards per game (based on 18 attempts in two games)
• 100% scoring success rate (including four touchdowns and 1 FG) in the red zone
The defense is averaging:
• Allowing 23.5 PPG
• 0 rushing touchdowns
• +5 in turnovers
• Great special teams coverage – only allowing .6 yard/punt return average

For Hobart (0-1) to get back on track in 2009, the Statesmen will need to have history repeat itself against the Tartans. Here are my keys to a Hobart victory on Saturday:

1. Revive the offense with a dose of PASSING – CMU has allowed an average of 247 yards passing on the season. The CMU defense is relatively tough against the run (158 yards allowed average – no rushing TDs scored) and given the struggles in the running game against Dickinson, Hobart should look to capitalize on the size (6' 4" and 240 lbs) and experience of SR TE David Degan. Last season all of Hobart's touchdowns where delivered by Doyle via airmail – two to TE Matt Duliba '09 who Degan backed up during the 2008 season. So far in 2009 CMU has allowed seven passing TDs to their opponents. Bottom line is if Hobart doesn't improve on their 65 yard passing performance from last week, the Statesmen will be 0-2

2. Avoid turnovers and control the time of possession (TOP) – Hobart failed on both parts last weekend and it cost them. The Tartans have been opportunistic on defense and have enjoyed a +5 turnover margin only two games into the season. It cannot be understated the importance of Julian's fumble in the first quarter of the Dickinson game. It ultimately led to a 14 point swing and set a precedent from which Hobart never really recovered. Although the Statesmen OL continued to open holes against the Red Devils; as the game wore on Vella became antsy and started pressing – rushing throws and generally looking to run rather than sit back in the pocket and let plays develop. When it came to TOP, although the Statesmen took nearly 10 minutes off the clock in the opening quarter, the Red Devils dominated TOP by more than six minutes for the remainder of the contest. By late in the third quarter, the Hobart defense appeared fatigued after taking a continuous pounding from the Dickinson rushing attack. What scares me most about this game is this Tartan team is equipped to do more of the same to the Statesmen if the Hobart offense continues to struggle in the red zone. Speaking of that, perhaps the most basic, but essential key to beating CMU is:

3. Convert red zone visits into points – Sounds self-explanatory but the Statesmen had a fumble, personal foul(s) and sacks kill their scoring opportunities against the Red Devils. Hobart simply cannot afford to waste any chances to come away with points against a CMU team averaging 32 PPG on offense.

I am anxiously awaiting Saturday's game and hope the Statesmen can and will rebound after last weekend's disappointing loss. Kick-off is at noon ET and accessible online at www.weos.org.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Great post, TGP.

I was a senior offensive lineman in 2007; although we lost to Hobart that day, it was a great football game, the kind of game that Division III football is all about.  Back and forth, both teams playing hard, fourth-quarter lead changes, and late drama.  A "memorable loss" if there is such a thing.  I watched last year's game here in Pittsburgh, and though it was a sloppy game, it was another competitive one.  This leads me to believe that we'll have another competitive contest in 2009.

CMU Strengths:
1. Rush Offense - as usual, the offense depends on the rushing game.  The offensive line is young, but talented.  HB Chris Garcia is very good, and FB Justin Pratt had a breakout game last week.
2. Special Teams - the CMU punter, Pattison, is as good of a punter as you'll see at this level.  High, booming, directional kicks that are hard to return.
3. Defensive Front Seven - The front seven has a lot of experience (especially the LB corps) and they've done a nice job thus far. 

CMU Weaknesses:
1. Pass Offense - poor at best.  WR Howe is tall and has good hands, but the passing game is just not a big part of this offense.
2. Pass Defense - torched by Grove City QB in the second half alst week.  However, it is worth noting that GCC lit up Dickinson to the tune of 47 points the previous week, so CMU is not alone in their struggles vs. DiDonato.

[ADL70]

Seems to me Dan Whalen's six TDRs and passing 7,000 career yards to be all-time Spartan passer merited a mention in the Statistical Spotlight.

Ahh well.

Spartans should continue their domination of the Yeomen.  Tough tests for the other three.

Go Spartans, Tartans, Maroons, and Bears!

[blue4now]

I agree but at least we have these DIII rankings...

CWRU  Scoring Offense  22nd   39   ppg
Tim Cowdrick  Scoring   T 3rd   30   pts

CWRU  Passing Offense  7th   376.5   ypg
Dan Whalen  Total Passing Yards  6th   740   yds
Dan Whalen  Passing Yards Per Game  7th   370   yds
Dan Whalen  Overall Passing  13th     
Zach Homyk  Total Yards Receiving  20th   232   yds
Zach Homyk  Receiving Yards per Game  34th   116   ypg

CWRU  Total Offense   13th   519   ypg
Dan Whalen  Total Offense   9th   380.5   ypg

CWRU  Passing Efficiency  4th   213.15   ypg
Dan Whalen  Passing Efficiency  3rd   218.25   ypg

CWRU  Tackles for Loss  T 8th   9.5   pg
Richard Doolin  Tackles for Loss  T 7th   2   tot
Dale English  Tackles for Loss  T 7th   2   tot

CWRU  Pass Sacks  T 4th   6   pg
Richard Doolin  Sacks  T 6th   1.5   pg

Sam Coffey  Avg FG's per Game   T 4th   1.5   ypg

CWRU  Rushing Defense  20th   51.5   yds
CWRU  Net Punting  3rd   43.67   yds

Go Case!  Go Spartans!!  Go Blue!!![/move][/b][/color]

[labart96]

24-16 Hobart is the final in Geneva.  Another hard fought win against a good CMU team. 

[DagarmanSpartan]

Whalen had SIX TD passes in the FIRST HALF against Oberlin.

He's definitely having a Gagliardi caliber season.

Case's win streak over Oberlin, which dates all the way back to 1983, continued today.

41-6

[ADL70]

Anyone know why the white unis at home?

[ExTartanPlayer]

That THUD you hear is the UAA (Case excluded) slamming back down to Earth after going 4-0 last week.  WashU and Chicago got slammed by top-notch opponents.  CMU dropped a squeaker to Hobart for the third year in a row.

[short]

That THUD you hear is the UAA (Case excluded) slamming back down to Earth after going 4-0 last week.  WashU and Chicago got slammed by top-notch opponents.  CMU dropped a squeaker to Hobart for the third year in a row.

TartanPlayer

It was a bad week for the UAA "(Case excluded)" but I would not call Wittenburg a "top-notch opponents".  Wittenburg was ranked behind Wash U in the D3 preseason poll and barely in the top half in D3. Look at the stats and you will see this was simply a bad game by Wash U.  Special teams and turn killed them not their Offense or Defense.  Plus they were playing with out both captains.  Chicago on the other hand was playing what is likely a top 10 type of team.  It was about what I was expecting.