FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

Lycosimba - 48     FDU - 14    (Lycosimba does not want to make this long drive on a cold day........won't matter)

If Lycosimba wants to make this game...he needs to leave Williamsport soon. The game is at 7:00 tonight!

Thanks Bill

I'm looking forward to the FDU Women and DelVal Men Hoops teams this year!! How long before the head coach of the FDU Women's team cashes in on this success and moves up another level?

[jmcozenlaw]

Lycosimba - 48     FDU - 14    (Lycosimba does not want to make this long drive on a cold day........won't matter)

If Lycosimba wants to make this game...he needs to leave Williamsport soon. The game is at 7:00 tonight!

Bill - Loooooooong three hour drive back though for a pretty meaningless game

Did FDU ever try to leave the MAC for the NJAC over the last several years? If no, why not?

[bill]

 No! FDU would never, never want to try and compete as the only private school in an all-public school conference. While it would be nice geographically, it would be a terrible fit for athletics and academic missions. It's tough enough to compete in the MAC as it is...to go and compete with schools that cost less than half we do would be a disaster.

[bman]

At Halftime, Lyco 24-FDU 13...

FDU hanging tough...

My predictions, Sans Lyco/FDU...
Wilkes 35 Kings 28    (Never could really figure out either of these teams this year...both Seem like they could have been 3rd or 4th best in the MAC, with any consistency...)
LVC - 45        Albright - 32  (Gotta still go with LVC here...but Albright can certainly score...)
Stevenson - 28     Misericordia - 0    (Stevenson's D is gonna be tough, but still don't see a lot of O in this one )
Lyco - 24     FDU - 13    (Half time prediction! )   Maybe Lyco can do an electric football ECAC bowl!

Widener - 45   DelVal - 38  Agree with Jay...this is not going to be a defensive battle...  PS... is Wilmer a 7th year senior?  Seems like he's been around forever (and maybe that's just because he's killed us in his whole college career...)

Since it looks like I'm not going to get to Chester, went out and bought an Apple TV...and will make the houseguests suffer through D3 football on the big screen!

[bman]

I don't normally post updates, but holy moly...FDU just walked down the field after halftime to bring it to 24-19...could we have the most unlikely barn burner?!

[D3MAFAN]

At Halftime, Lyco 24-FDU 13...

FDU hanging tough...

My predictions, Sans Lyco/FDU...
Wilkes 35 Kings 28    (Never could really figure out either of these teams this year...both Seem like they could have been 3rd or 4th best in the MAC, with any consistency...)
LVC - 45        Albright - 32  (Gotta still go with LVC here...but Albright can certainly score...)
Stevenson - 28     Misericordia - 0    (Stevenson's D is gonna be tough, but still don't see a lot of O in this one )
Lyco - 24     FDU - 13    (Half time prediction! )   Maybe Lyco can do an electric football ECAC bowl!

Widener - 45   DelVal - 38  Agree with Jay...this is not going to be a defensive battle...  PS... is Wilmer a 7th year senior?  Seems like he's been around forever (and maybe that's just because he's killed us in his whole college career...)

Since it looks like I'm not going to get to Chester, went out and bought an Apple TV...and will make the houseguests suffer through D3 football on the big screen!

Always a great way to watch the games, have a big screen to watch your primetime game. For myself, multiple computer screens watching the various games across the nation.

[wesleydad]

Nice day for a football game.  A bit chilly, but the sun is shining bright.  I am looking forward to Widener/DelVal today.  I expect points to be scored and will be interested to see if DelVal can run the ball at all.  If they cant it could be a long day, if they can it may be a long day for Widener.  Either way I expect Widener will be able to score unless they turn the ball over.  Going to be a good one and I am sure the fans will be into it.  Have to get there a little early so I can get me a good seat and say hi to Gordon if he is broadcasting the game.

[gordonmann]

Congratulations to BMan and his boys on a 44-28 win. Widener's defense and offense made big plays early in the second half to pull away for the win.  The fake punt rush for a touchdown was probably the call of the game, set up by Widener punting multiple times inside Del Val territory. Anthony Davis showed why he's an All-American with his speed on deep routes and a touchdown where Klein had about 6 seconds to throw the ball and Davis broke off his route.

As for Del Val, that was a gutty effort from the offense. Six turnovers is obviously too many, but no quit in the seniors. Wilmer is seven passing yards away from becoming the 25th QB in college football to throw for 10,000 yards and run for 1,000.  Bailey posts two more receiving TDs. I think they get into the Big Dance, and wouldn't be surprised to see them host Rowan if the NCAA is trying to keep costs down.

Also, shout out to one-time poster Bill Miller Sr (can't remember his screen name) who has a big medical procedure.  Bill's an Aggie fan and his son is one of the all-time special team greats (Bill Miller Jr). Get well big guy!

[jmcozenlaw]

Having seen both Del Val and Widener this year against Wilkes, my impressions are a little biased, but here's my take anyway.  Del Val's offense is just as good if not better than the Pride's.  Smallwood gives them a nice edge in the running game, and Wilmer and Bailey in the passing attack can be explosive.  Widener has about as good of a passing game, but don't seem to be as good on the ground.  The big difference is the defense.  Widener has a huge edge there.  The Pride have an incredibly talented front seven that should do a good job of limiting Smallwood on the ground (number 1 rushing defense in D3 I believe), but their secondary is beatable, especially by Del Val's talented receiving corps.  Right now I have to imagine giving the slight edge in this one to the Pride, especially since they are the home team.

Joe - Having seen DelVal a bunch of times and Widener three times, my first prediction (prior to later in the week when the weather forecast is more buttoned down) is.......................

Widener - 45
DelVal - 27

DelVal has 5 starting defensive players out for the year (4 return next year) and another two did not come back to school this year. They are incredibly young and have been bailed out by the offense. Widener has too much firepower. The DelVal offense would score 50 points against the DelVal defense.

Widener gets a #3 seed and wins their two home playoff games and gets pole axed by Wesley/Mount Union/UMHB/UWW. DelVal gets a #5 seed and is one and done on the road.

Coach Greco and staff need to coach up this young team for next year, live in the weight room, get the injured players healthy, work with this year's monster freshman class and have a great recruiting class, including some transfers. I'm hearing "rumors" about the next stud QB transferring in, maybe in January. That would be HUGE for next year as they have some young receivers and a stable of fast backs.

Gordon & Bman - See my first prediction (above) for the DelVal vs. Widener game made on November 9.................I was off by a point on each team. My second prediction made yesterday just tacked on a touchdown for each team. I'm headed to Vegas tonight. I think I've got a good feel on who this Aggie team is and isn't

The Aggie defense played great for most of the first half and the offense really let them down.

I have to give the Widener coaching staff props as they made the adjustments and outplanned and outcoached the Aggie coaching staff. Nobody ran on Widener all year and Smallwood had 90 yards  AT THE HALF. They totally shut him down in the second half.

Widener threw looks at Wilmer that he had not seen all year and forced him into five interceptions and a fumble. He picked a bad time to have one of the worst games of his career.

Gordon, with Ithaca losing, they may be now the last seed in the Wesley bracket. Hobart now has nobody local as Husson and MIT will be the New England teams. Do you really see the Aggies hosting Rowan with Hobart out there all alone? I see Hobart hosting DelVal and Rowan going to Johns Hopkins.

What time is the selection show?

[gordonmann]

Jay:

6 pm is the selection show.

You're totally right about Hobart. That's the likely destination.

I've never been to Geneva before so I'm game.

[wesleydad]

Congratulations to BMan and his boys on a 44-28 win. Widener's defense and offense made big plays early in the second half to pull away for the win.  The fake punt rush for a touchdown was probably the call of the game, set up by Widener punting multiple times inside Del Val territory. Anthony Davis showed why he's an All-American with his speed on deep routes and a touchdown where Klein had about 6 seconds to throw the ball and Davis broke off his route.

As for Del Val, that was a gutty effort from the offense. Six turnovers is obviously too many, but no quit in the seniors. Wilmer is seven passing yards away from becoming the 25th QB in college football to throw for 10,000 yards and run for 1,000.  Bailey posts two more receiving TDs. I think they get into the Big Dance, and wouldn't be surprised to see them host Rowan if the NCAA is trying to keep costs down.

Also, shout out to one-time poster Bill Miller Sr (can't remember his screen name) who has a big medical procedure.  Bill's an Aggie fan and his son is one of the all-time special team greats (Bill Miller Jr). Get well big guy!

Gordon, you said what I was going to say.  The fake punt changed the game around.  Widener made nice adjustments in the second half.  Good to see you again.  Good luck next week if the Aggies get in.

[jmcozenlaw]

Jay:

6 pm is the selection show.

You're totally right about Hobart. That's the likely destination.

I've never been to Geneva before so I'm game.

Gordon - The projected bracket on the site had the Aggies hosting Hobart........assuming the Aggies lost to Widener.

How could that be possible? Is there a chance Hobart did not file to host for some reason?

[gordonmann]

Huh. I don't know. Can't imagine they didn't.

[Bartman]

Having seen both Del Val and Widener this year against Wilkes, my impressions are a little biased, but here's my take anyway.  Del Val's offense is just as good if not better than the Pride's.  Smallwood gives them a nice edge in the running game, and Wilmer and Bailey in the passing attack can be explosive.  Widener has about as good of a passing game, but don't seem to be as good on the ground.  The big difference is the defense.  Widener has a huge edge there.  The Pride have an incredibly talented front seven that should do a good job of limiting Smallwood on the ground (number 1 rushing defense in D3 I believe), but their secondary is beatable, especially by Del Val's talented receiving corps.  Right now I have to imagine giving the slight edge in this one to the Pride, especially since they are the home team.

Joe - Having seen DelVal a bunch of times and Widener three times, my first prediction (prior to later in the week when the weather forecast is more buttoned down) is.......................

Widener - 45
DelVal - 27

Wow, awesome prediction. Watched some of the game and Widener is very solid in all phases , DelVal has some holes on defense as you explained.

[bman]

Congrats to all of the MAC teams this season for making it competitive and fun season.   Definitely a "standard" season in terms of the normal stratification of top tier, middle of the pack, and struggling teams.

I was able to watch most of the game yesterday, and can't add anything more that what Jay, Gordon and Wesleydad added...definitely the fake punt was a game changer..as was the Widener(Davis) TD right after the answering Del Val score... On video, DV seemed to deflate after that.
I was really impressed with DV in this game.  Smallwood is a flat out beast..., the D played (especially in the first half) like champs, and were for the most part the reason Widener's O was off kilter.  Bailey was at normal "stud" level, and even though he had a tough game, I thought Wilmer looked pretty good...he just was probably not used to the defenders being a step closer yesterday, than they have been all season. (Guess???)...

In any case good luck to DV and WU in the seedings this evening.   Hoping both get at least 1 home game...

And Jay, you have been spot on with your predictions all season...great job!