FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The MAC isn't going to get a second team. The conference needed to DVC basically to win out along with Albright to have a chance. Otherwise... nah. Too many losses and not terrific out of conference games by others.

[@d3jason]

Never underestimate the power of Government and special interest to slow down progress...

Assuming that having a Walmart in one's town is in fact "progress."   

How are the other small business owners doing in your town? If  I owned a grocery store in this town, I'd be finding turtles, owls, salamanders, grasshoppers....... 

[bman]

Never underestimate the power of Government and special interest to slow down progress...

Assuming that having a Walmart in one's town is in fact "progress."   

How are the other small business owners doing in your town? If  I owned a grocery store in this town, I'd be finding turtles, owls, salamanders, grasshoppers....... 

It's a town that doesn't really know what it wants to be.  It openly encourages small business, but to the small business owners in town that I talked to, they make it miserable to do business in the town...
The established small businesses that have been here for a long time stay, and the new ones seem to come and go...especially restaurants, which never seem to make it...
There are 2 Grocery stores (one on each end of town)...One a large regional and one a national chain.  The seem to be holding their own...

[jmcozenlaw]

Predictions for Saturday, November 14:

Albrighttoldyouitwastheiryear - 31      LebVal - 16
King's - 24      Wilkes - 13
Stevenson - 31      FDU - 20
LycoSimba - 48      Misery - 20
Widenerwillthrowit80timesfor500yardsand5TD's - 37     DelValcan'tstopthepassandtooyoungonoffense - 20

Eagles - 24      Dolphins - 16 (Cowboys game started a four game run........until the Pats smack 'em)   

[tweisman5]

Predictions for the week:

I'm guessing point spread instead of actual score.

Albright (-10) vs. LebVal:
I think Albright gets a close game from LebVal, but with conference AQ on the line, they find a way to prevail. LebVal looks strong heading into next season.

Kings (-24) vs. Wilkes:
After so many close games this season, Kings finds themselves ending the season strong with an overall good team performance. Wilkes played a good season, highlighted by their victory over DelVal. Wilkes proved they have potential to compete with some of the best, but still need to find a few more pieces before they find themselves in the top half of the MAC.

Stevenson (-21) vs. FDU:
Last weeks lost really stings, maybe even causes the Mustangs to start slow. The score will be close the first half; however, the second half will be when Mustangs show why they came close to winning their first conference championship. FDU has improved drastically from last season, but like many teams in the bottom of the MAC, they need a few more pieces.

Lyco (-27) vs. Misc:
Lycoming is a young team that is building for the future. Highlight of the season was last weeks victory over DelVal. They end the season with a competitive game against an improving Misc team. It's taken Misc longer than some other upstart programs, but they have shown improvement. In the end this game will be too much for Misc, although I expect a close game at halftime before Lycoming pulls away.

Widener (-3) vs. DelVal:
Ending the season not in the NCAA playoffs has to disappoint Widener after their previous season. Building strong for next season, Widener has motivation to prove they aren't going away in the near future. DelVal has a great future with their core of freshmen, but again they're freshmen. Mistakes will be made, and it will be close. In the end Widener finds a way to win late in the 4Q.

[wone3]

Albright vs Leb Valley - Albright wants the AQ and should get it. They win by  7-10

Stevenson vs FDU - Stevenson should want to play on the 21st and FDU doesn't have enough to hang along. Hopefully the Offense continues to improve into next season and the defense doesn't fall off after graduation. Stevenson wins by 21

Lyco vs Misercordia - Lyco will win this by 14-17 range. It is a growing year for both to gain experience for the next year

Wilkes vs Kings - Think Wilkes has a bit more than Kings. Wilkes by 14-17

Widener vs Del Valley - I think the difference here is the youth of Del Valley and Widener's D. Widener by 7-10.

[bman]

Love seeing the picks and the discussion....

Albright 45 - Lebanon Valley 28    Albright takes it home, after being angered by not chosen as the 1 seed in the regional rankings.
Stevenson 35 - FDU 21                FDU makes a run, but then get's distracted by the start of Women's basketball
Misericordia 28 - Lyco 27             In a fit of rage, Simba drinks an extra Yuengling
Kings 35 - Wilkes 20                    Wilkes ran out of upsets
Del Val 28 - Widener 21              Del Val decides to get on the other end of an upset

...disclaimer

I don't really believe a couple of these 

[wone3]

I hope so bman.....

Especially your last pick, I'd like a chance for one more home game for my kiddo to perform this year and a shot for her grandparents to see it.

[wone3]

What in the heck went on today with Widener?? Looks like the boys called their season a week early it seems, based on game play; and decided not to show even though they would have had a shot to play in the bowl, one more week ( guess they are above that it seems). Congrats on a great defensive game by Del Valley.

[gordonmann]

Albright 62 Wilkes 9
Wilkes 12 Delaware Valley 7
Delaware Valley 28 Albright 23

Widener 48 Lycoming 7
Lycoming 43 Delaware Valley 42
Delaware Valley 20 Widener 3

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Congrats to Albright for leaving no doubt in its game against Lebanon Valley. From my perspective, the Lions were the best team in the conference in an entertaining race.

And congrats to a young Del Val team and an inspired performance from the seniors on defense, especially Lighty and Wynne.

[jmcozenlaw]

Love seeing the picks and the discussion....

Albright 45 - Lebanon Valley 28    Albright takes it home, after being angered by not chosen as the 1 seed in the regional rankings.
Stevenson 35 - FDU 21                FDU makes a run, but then get's distracted by the start of Women's basketball
Misericordia 28 - Lyco 27             In a fit of rage, Simba drinks an extra Yuengling
Kings 35 - Wilkes 20                    Wilkes ran out of upsets
Del Val 28 - Widener 21              Del Val decides to get on the other end of an upset

...disclaimer

I don't really believe a couple of these 

I see what you did there 

[jmcozenlaw]

Predictions for Saturday, November 14:

Albrighttoldyouitwastheiryear - 31      LebVal - 16
King's - 24      Wilkes - 13
Stevenson - 31      FDU - 20
LycoSimba - 48      Misery - 20
Widenerwillthrowit80timesfor500yardsand5TD's - 37     DelValcan'tstopthepassandtooyoungonoffense - 20

Eagles - 24      Dolphins - 16 (Cowboys game started a four game run........until the Pats smack 'em)   

A few end of season observations about the MAC & the Aggies:

1. Based on replacing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..........this coming from a Jewish guy  (Wilmer, Bailey, Smallwood) and 8 other offensive starters (after the early season Josh Wallace injury), 6 defensive starters and the four year starter stud kicker/punter, I honestly thought that the Aggies would finish in the 5-5 area. After the loss to Wilkes in the second game of the year, I actually had this team winning 3 or 4 games. It is a testament (and somewhat of a miracle) to the coaches and players that they were able to turn it around and finish 8-2. That being said...........

2. Had you told me at the beginning of the season that the Aggies would somehow beat Albright, Stevenson AND Widener..........I would have said that they would finish 10-0 or 9-1

3. The Wilkes game is still mind boggling in so many respects

4. The Lyco game is still even more mind boggling. If QB Darden does not run backwards and take himself out of a first down.......game over. If all 11 players on the kickoff return team don't freeze in place, all at once, during Lyco's onsides kick last week......game over.

5. Albright needs to send the small fruit basket to Wilkes.......but the HUGE fruit AND chocolate basket to Lyco as they were the differences between Albright's finding out their seed in the NCAA Playoffs or finding out if they were hosting Moravian or traveling to Muhlenberg, a little later today

6. Outside of the Wilkes and Lyco losses, I've never been as stunned at a final result as I was at yesterday's DelVal vs. Widener game. I thought the Aggies would come out listless with the knowledge that last week's debacle cost them the MAC and a playoff birth. With no passing game all year, even when there wasn't any wind, Widener knew that DelVal was going to run all day, or at least try to do so. Widener's veteran defense is big, fast and was stout against the run all year. DelVal followed suit and attempted only 7 passes. Widener followed suit and put 9 in the box, with an occasional cheating safety to make it a quasi-10. With all of that, the Aggies ran for 208 yards. Again.......mind boggling. On the flip side, I'm not sure that I've ever seen a Widener offense as inept. I swear it was like watching Misericordia. Widener gave up 6 sacks, 4 interceptions and had 3 fumbles. The Aggies gave up 0 sacks (again, only attempted 7 passes), with 0 interceptions and had 0 fumbles. This is the beauty of sports......and football. You never know. Beat Albright, Stevenson and Widener........lose to Wilkes and Lyco. That's why the gambler loses and Vegas always eventually wins 

7. Since the G.A. Mangus inspired turnaround of the Aggies program in 2003............the Aggies are now 9-4 against Widener (I read that this morning and need to confirm.........had no idea it's been flipped on it's head to that extent) 

8. Understanding that financial/academic/family matters can change who and what returns each year, if DelVal returns all 11 offensive starters (freshman QB, junior and a ton of freshmen WR's, sophomore and junior RB's, sophomore and freshmen linemen), takes this off season to develop a solid passing attack and has another good recruiting year.........this offense could be right up there with Albright's, or close to it. On the defensive side, they have to find a safety to pair with Miller (a stud) and a few linebackers (Nick Wright is only a sophomore and Frank Law should be back after missing this season due to injury)......they could be middle-of-the-MAC solid. You now need to be able to play pass defense in the MAC, more than ever (except against the Aggies this year) and they need to get a more consistent pass rush to take the pressure off the defensive backfield. There is certainly a lot of work to be done, but the building blocks are in place for the next year or two.

9. It's now time to see if our Eagles can finish 10-6 or 9-7 and take this division. Thank God it's yet another year of Cowboys irrelevance       

10. Oh yea.......it is time to see the Aggies wrestling team kick some arse. Replacing three All-American's and four Regional Champions is one helluva task........but it should be interesting for those who enjoy the sport

11. Last one (promise)........it was sooooooooooo beautiful to watch that loudmouth, cocky, arrogant Ronda Rousey get her you-know-what handed to her. Just saying. Karma is a biatch!! 

[wone3]

JM...

Stevenson was/is in the same boat as your team was with the exception of the defense that had a bunch of solid senior leadership.

The offense never really 100% blossomed against the better teams in the league ( I say that after yesterday's record setting performances for the program...previous records were against the same school in different years). Stevenson's returning sophomore QB's disappeared off of the team as a new offense was being installed; not sure of the reasons whether academic, rules or just disagreement about the new offense. The new QB was only a freshman tossed into his first start at Homecoming against a Widener team that preseason everyone was saying would walk away with the title. Not only that, Stevenson had never beaten Widener or Lyco in the previous 4 years. I called the Lyco victory for Stevenson because of the young secondary that was any decent throwing team would be able to beat usually.

The Del Valley game against Stevenson came down to a great defensive play early on, with the strip as Stevenson player was close to the goal line. Had they scored and that game probably had had a different feel. That also being said Stevenson had some great ball bounces etc against Leb Valley and "stole" away the win; so it all evened out there.

Oh yeah, Albright also has to send a HUGE basket to whomever in the Stevenson coaching staff called the halfback option play on the Albright goal line early in the first quarter that got run back. Stevenson was running the ball down their throat and had huge momentum that disappeared after that and Stevenson never got it back. That was also the difference as was later found out ( this game finished before the Lyco Del Valley game was) for Albright to move forward and be in great position this week.

This year was great for Stevenson ( another program record for regular season wins etc) and even the losses were tight. Hopefully the next man up mentality comes up in the defense and there is little to no drop off and the offense stabilizes and grows further with this QB staying on full year next year.  The future looks nothing but promising for Stevenson going forward. I think they have become another Lyco like team in that they'll play you tough and are definitely no longer a walk over.

Now onward to the bowl game and represent the league, gaining respect back in the nation's eyes and kick the centennial team's behind.

[wone3]

MAC used to be a decent ranked conference ( top 10) and now maybe 15, course I wasn't looking how ugly the centennial is but it would be nice to get some respect back.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

D3football.com has MAC at 14, one behind Centennial, at the end of this season: http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2015/re-ranking-the-conferences-for-2015