FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[G-manWU]

Because I still know and am good friends with many of the Wilkes players and coaches, I feel I cannot make a prediction for the Colonels game at Albright this weekend. However, I will give some thoughts in a bit different format by saying....

The Colonels will win if....

The Wilkes D-line pressures the QB

It's a very simple equasion. If Kelly is allowed to stand like a statue in the pocket- as Lyco's Colin Dwyer did last week- he will cut the Wilkes defense to ribbons and the Colonels won't have a chance. If you're looking for a breakout game from any position, the front four of Wilkes is a group that needs it. I know most of those guys and it is a great group of people, but the unit is coming off two rough games- getting trounced by the Dutchmen ground game, then being made a non-factor by the Lyco O-Line in pass rush situations last week.

Looking back to the success we had in 2005/06, Follweiler and the LB corps got most of the attention, and rightfully so. But the D-line was a tremendously important part of that run, and this weekend would be a great time to wake up the memories and shut down the Lions offense up front.

[G-manWU]

Now, while I've bene tied up with a very busy week, we've had a good discussion going on here about Friday night games and the impact of weather on some games in the past few seasons. Please allow me to share a few insights gained from my perch at Ralston Field over the past four years...

KingSting, you know the DVC squad far better than me, but from what I saw of the two teams you mention when we played them last season, DVC and Widener appeared very even in terms of talent, and I have always put both teams in the "pass first" catagory when it comes to offense. I wasen't there in Chester for that Friday night game, but I think if the same game was repeated 10 times in the same conditions, DVC would win 5 and Widener would win 5. Again, just my humble opinion.

From my own experiences, a game I remember fondly for the weather reason was game 2 of our 2005 season. Our team had lost at William Paterson the week before (we were robbed on a punt return call, but still,  no excuses) and Widener was set to roll into town on what turned out to be a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon. I still have the newspaper preview clippings saying that we would have trouble stopping the high-powered Widener pasisng game in good weather, and some of the Widener fans I happened to chat with politley before the game suggested the same.

Well, we shut out the Pioneers, 13-0, that afternoon. Widener would go on to score plenty of points and have a great season that was capped by an ECAC win. But it just gose to show that on most occasions, the weather dosen't always have the impact many people think it will on the final score.

[PBR...]

alright pbr's picks....here we go..

Widener 21   FDU 10

FDU is good but was sky high for dvc last week and its too tough to get emotionally 2 weeks in a row so widener wins this one. Widener may have finally found a qb and rolls on fdu.

Albright 21  Wilkes 17

A game pbr thinks is a tossup. Giving Albright the win because of playing at home. Wilkes seems to showing signs of solidifying as team and is a little inconsistent still. Albright's solid qb leads them down the field for a late TD to win it.

Leb Val 21  Kings 13

Leb Val has a little too much for kings w/ or w/o parker. Kings seems to be really struggling this year. Leb Val wins this one handily not as close as the score indicates.


Lastly DVC 31 Lyco 21

In a high scoring affair dvc wins this one after a stinging loss last week. This 2 teams just throw punch, counter punch and dvc pulls away in the 4th quarter. Isgro throws for 3 tds and runs for a 4th.

[KingSting999]

Okay, one final not on last year's Widener / Del Val game. Let me just say that I would have liked Del Val's chance last year alot better in a high scoring shootout in ideal conditions better than the defensive struggle that took place in the monsoon under the lights. Widener was better that evening, just would have liked the game a whole lot better in the sunshine. Then again, maybe it's just me being an "old fart" and not liking the sitting out in the elements on these old, tired bones. When we were younger it wouldn't have been a problem! LOL

[kate]

Transmission gone from Lyco - 7/7 tie at the end of the quarter - Come On Aggies!!

[gordonmann]

Lycoming wins 10-7 on Scott Erikson's 18-yard field goal.

The weather and defenses ruled the day (233 yards for both teams), but Lyco's ruled a little more.  Aggies have 21 points in two weeks and it's tough to win that way.

[theoriginalupstate]

Lycoming wins 10-7 on Scott Erikson's 18-yard field goal.

The weather and defenses ruled the day (233 yards for both teams), but Lyco's ruled a little more.  Aggies have 21 points in two weeks and it's tough to win that way.

Another monkey wrench in pool C....

[DVCFan11]

what is wrong with the Aggies...

[Warren Thompson]

what is wrong with the Aggies...

"What is wrong with the Aggies"? Likely nothing except that they compete in the MAC, a conference in which, in recent years, just about anything can happen -- and commonly does, as it did today.

[DVCFan11]

hats off to lyco, they really came to play it seems. now i have to think that albright has the inside track to win right? they just have to win out, which might be easier said then done the way the mac is playing right now

[Lyco80]

Maybe what was wrong with the Aggies was Lycoming was a better team than folks anticipated.

They lost by a blocked extra point to a resurgent IC squad and gave the ball away five times in their other loss.

I do not understand how Albright has the inside track if they win out - the way I see it that is Lycoming's opportunity.

The last few years this PP has been a DVC love fest and I am pleased beyond words to see Lycoming back in the hunt for the MAC championship as they should be.

They may not win the crown but they are competitive and that is all a true-blue fan and supporter can ever hope for.

All this, I might add, with a new head coach, who came to his position with all sorts of controversy and hard-feelings only six or eight months ago.

Way to go Warriors!

ATB

[gordonmann]

now i have to think that albright has the inside track to win right?

Lycoming and Lebanon Valley are the two teams that control their own destiny.  If they both win their next two games (including a game for the Flying Dutchmen against Albright), then those two will play for the title in Williamsport in the season finale.

Another monkey wrench in pool C....

The Aggies didn't have a great chance at Pool C, even with the win.  If they won out, they would've taken the AQ.  With a loss (like today's), they would have two in Division III and be no better than very, very long shots to make the NCAA playoffs.  It's impossible to project playoff bids without looking at the national picture, but this seems to be another one bid year for the MAC.

[Lyco80]

GM,

Concur with your comments.

The remain MAC teams - Albright, LVC, and Lycoming all have three remaining in-conference games.

The in-conference won-loss results of their respective opponents look like this:

Albright -  7 wins - 4 losses

LVC -  6 wins - 6 losses

Lycoming -  4 wins - 8 losses

It appears, if previous results are any worthwhile indicator, that Lycoming has the easier road to the MAC crown.  But, as we all know, the MAC is fickle and week to week any one team can knock off another.  After all, this is not like we are talking about some other D-III conferences where one or two teams always run the table against much weaker competition.

I think it will all come down to what happens in Williamsport the last game of the year and I like the Warriors chances as they are very tough to beat at home.  Plus they have an extra stingy defense and anyone who has been in the stands in Williamsport in November knows how the weather factors into game day.

Go Warriors - hats off to Coach Clark and Coach Wiser for another solid season. 

One last question - where are all those geniuses who picked Lycoming to finish 5th in the preseason poll now?

ATB

[Pat Coleman]

One last question - where are all those geniuses who picked Lycoming to finish 5th in the preseason poll now?

They are three points away from being correct.

[gordonmann]

One last question - where are all those geniuses who picked Lycoming to finish 5th in the preseason poll now?

I'm no genius, but I picked Lyco sixth.  I was wrong so gloat at your leisure.

Of course I also picked Del Val to do the following:

Beat Iona
Lose to Wesley
Lose to Salisbury
Beat King's
Beat Leb Val
Beat FDU-Florham
Beat Lyco (went back and forth on that one)

Missed it by that much.

Do I at least get credit for picking Lyco to beat Del Val in this week's Triple Take?