FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[tweisman5]

Below are a few links to season previews for my Stevenson Mustangs! I'm so excited for the season to kickoff this week it's hard to focus on anything else. I plan to post my conference prediction the hopefully sometime tonight; otherwise, it will be by mid-week.

http://gomustangsports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/releases/20180824-preview

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/08/15/stevenson-football-preview

Cool to have a pumped Stevenson poster here. +k

I bleed Stevenson colors as anyone who knows me understand that I'm just as passionate about my Mustangs as any D1 fan, including the Crimson Tide fanatics! Thanks for the +k

[Pat Coleman]

I'm surprised by the vast area Alvernia has covered to recruit for their program. I didn't think they would search the entire east coast the first year as a team.

I think that's a stretch. Lots of kids from their area of PA and a bunch of kids from the DC area where Clark has lots of ties.

[LineCat]

Tier I (Championship Contender)
1. Widener
2. Stevenson
3. Del Val

Wideners defense will win the day again but the offense should be much better this year without the former OC Matsakis. I never understood what Coach Kelly saw in him at all. They have two experienced junior QB's, McGaughey is more of a pocket passer and Jesperson more of a duel threat but both should be much better with out Matsakis tying them up in knots. The guy drove Klein crazy.  I'm excited to see what Coach Kelly can do running the offense this year. Should be a great year for the Pride!

[bman]

I'm definitely interested in seeing the QB play this year.   Hopefully it plays out as you predict.

[tweisman5]

It's GameDay! My Stevenson Mustangs have an opportunity to send a statement tonight facing a very difficult and future D2 opponent Frostburg State. I hope my week 1 prediction for this game is wrong as I would love to see the upset and put the rest of the teams this season on notice. It's not impossible for it to happen; especially being home. Below is the link to the pregame preview with good information on the matchup along with the depth chart if you click on the pdf.

http://gomustangsports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/releases/20180829oqo088

Go Mustangs!

[wone3]

Just got home after watching the game and meeting up with my gal (Senior year...where did time go). Here are my thoughts on the game:

Does Frostburg live up to the 8th ranking? I'd say yes but they definitely are beatable. They did at times have issues stopping Stevenson's run, if the runners had made some better choices (cutting a bit more outside instead of going toward center, there were spots to gain some significant additional yardage.
That being said if Stevenson has to rely on its defense, and that is supposed to be the better of the 2 sides given the mass graduation of the offense; it could turn into a long year. Frostburg ran over top of them with multiple runners. I give the Frostburg play calling an A especially in the 1st half with the mix of pass and run. The long bomb certainly hurt Stevenson 3-6 times but otherwise they did well at least in that respect. Special teams for Stevenson was a nightmare and they better figure it out quickly. Too many drives for Frostburg started in shorter fields due to massive returns from lack of tackling or not maintain lanes; or the bomb would get Frostburg out of the hole.

That being said, this was a nice test and Frostburg looked everything like they were ready for next year move to D2. Hopefully, they find a fire cause the Mustangs looked like they were flat and played like no chance and no spark. Frostburg had everything to lose with the ranking and being upset while the 'stangs had nothing to lose if they played hard and left it out there like there was nothing to lose.

[wesleydad]

If Widener is going to win the MAC they better fix special teams real quick.  2 kickoff returns, a blocked punt, a missed field goal, failed to cover the gunner on a punt, luckily for them Rowan did not go to the auto fake in that situation, and several other kickoff returns that were not covered well.  Positive on the special teams, the punter is good.  All of that mess and a QB who was very erratic and a missed field goal away from still winning the game in regulation.  2 nice running backs and Gillespie is a real nice receiver.  Defense was ok, except for the 80 yard TD run after the play was all bottled up, cant let the happen.  Gave up too many rushing yards but will probably not see a running back group like Rowan has at any time the rest of the year.  They looked like the better team, but that doesnt matter with all the mistakes they made.

[Western PA Football]

Widener's defense is a bit over-rated! Poor tackling, Wr's got behind the secondary consistently. RB's ripped off several big runs. Rowan ran the same 5 or 6 plays all night Widener struggled stopping them.

Offensively #2 was impressive

[RowanPhan]

If Widener is going to win the MAC they better fix special teams real quick.  2 kickoff returns, a blocked punt, a missed field goal, failed to cover the gunner on a punt, luckily for them Rowan did not go to the auto fake in that situation, and several other kickoff returns that were not covered well.  Positive on the special teams, the punter is good.  All of that mess and a QB who was very erratic and a missed field goal away from still winning the game in regulation.  2 nice running backs and Gillespie is a real nice receiver.  Defense was ok, except for the 80 yard TD run after the play was all bottled up, cant let the happen.  Gave up too many rushing yards but will probably not see a running back group like Rowan has at any time the rest of the year.  They looked like the better team, but that doesnt matter with all the mistakes they made.

Rowan made a ton of mistake too. Widener was clearly the better team in the 1st half, but the profs were gritty and held on. 

Rowan's DL is under-rated, they had a solid game. The Profs have a bunch of dogs in the line backing corp. 

[jmcozenlaw]

To all of those who doubted me and my "inside sources" regarding this year's Aggies team..................You DO NOT lose the best safety in the East (Miller) and his starting counterpart, both starting CB's (and the #1 backup), ALL FOUR starting LB's and the stud nose tackle/heavyweight wrestler (Issac) (total loss= 9 of 11 defensive starters)...................as well as the top RB in the MAC (Ellis), his two primary backups (Rhoane and Wharton), three starting OL's (including two All-MAC honoree's, Walsh and Sylvester), their best WR (Ellis) (total loss= 6 of 11 offensive starters)................as well as the MAC's most dynamic punt returner (V. Nelson) and kick returner (Nesbitt) and compete with a team like Wesley, on the road, with all that they have coming back (including 7 All-NJAC performers), double revenge for the consecutive losses to DelVal AND the emotion of playing the game (and season) for Coach Drass.

If Widener and Stevenson (both of whom have the Aggies on their home turf) as well as Albright and Lycoming (who come to Doylestown) don't take advantage of this very rare down year in Doylestown, before the Aggies get the chance to really reload (along with a defense that is only starting two seniors), then shame on them...........especially Widener and Stevenson!!!

How do I monetize this brilliance? I'd ask Lycosimba, but he won't reappear until Lycoming is at the top of the MAC again.

[bman]

To all of those who doubted me and my "inside sources" regarding this year's Aggies team..................You DO NOT lose the best safety in the East (Miller) and his starting counterpart, both starting CB's (and the #1 backup), ALL FOUR starting LB's and the stud nose tackle/heavyweight wrestler (Issac) (total loss= 9 of 11 defensive starters)...................as well as the top RB in the MAC (Ellis), his two primary backups (Rhoane and Wharton), three starting OL's (including two All-MAC honoree's, Walsh and Sylvester), their best WR (Ellis) (total loss= 6 of 11 offensive starters)................as well as the MAC's most dynamic punt returner (V. Nelson) and kick returner (Nesbitt) and compete with a team like Wesley, on the road, with all that they have coming back (including 7 All-NJAC performers), double revenge for the consecutive losses to DelVal AND the emotion of playing the game (and season) for Coach Drass.

If Widener and Stevenson (both of whom have the Aggies on their home turf) as well as Albright and Lycoming (who come to Doylestown) don't take advantage of this very rare down year in Doylestown, before the Aggies get the chance to really reload (along with a defense that is only starting two seniors), then shame on them...........especially Widener and Stevenson!!!

How do I monetize this brilliance? I'd ask Lycosimba, but he won't reappear until Lycoming is at the top of the MAC again.

JM
I didn't doubt your original commentary, as you can see both in my MAC predictions and my top 25 vote.   I did watch a good amount of the game last night, and though you are absolutely correct in the impact of losing those players, Del Val was pretty competitive last night against a very good Wesley team.
Wesley as normal, hurt itself with senseless/lack of discipline penalties, but in looking at the performance aspect only, DV was able to move the ball, did compete defensively (big plays and the mid passing game needed work), and made a game of it until mid/late 3rd quarter.

Despite the losses, things are not as dire in Doylestown as you predict.

I also watched a good portion of the Albright game last night.
Albright was competitive but lack of a running game, and the inability to stop the inside run absolutely doomed them.  I was waiting for an adjustment to add a man or perhaps go to a 4-4 to eliminate the QB/Superback dive (which makes SU very one dimensional), but Albright never did it...

FDU saves the MAC from an early NJAC sweep with a dominating performance against TCNJ.  TCNJ is a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde team.   After losing early last year they played great at the end of the year, and seemed poised to bring that back this year.   They looked bad...but FDU looked good.  They dominated the game and the QB for FDU played great.   Not quite the 500 yd. offensive output from last year, but if FDU plays every week like they have in the last 2 first weeks, then they will be very competitive...
Hopefully I will get to see some of todays games....

[Western PA Football]

IMO Del Val did not look as bad as you predicted. I was impressed with the young defense. They made plays and kept Del Val in the game. Offensively the DVU O-Line struggled with Wesley's defensive line. Wesley is a very talented team. And there defensive game plan was superb. Del Val had several opportunities to take the lead or tie the game....... I think the game would have been a lot closer if DVU would have chosen to kick field goals instead of going for it several times on 4th down. DVU did show up for 3 quarters but I think the inexperience really surfaced in 4th quarter. Nonetheless it was a very competitive game.

[bman]

IMO Del Val did not look as bad as you predicted. I was impressed with the young defense. They made plays and kept Del Val in the game. Offensively the DVU O-Line struggled with Wesley's defensive line. Wesley is a very talented team. And there defensive game plan was superb. Del Val had several opportunities to take the lead or tie the game....... I think the game would have been a lot closer if DVU would have chosen to kick field goals instead of going for it several times on 4th down. DVU did show up for 3 quarters but I think the inexperience really surfaced in 4th quarter. Nonetheless it was a very competitive game.

Getting stuffed at the 1 on 4th and goal really hurt them IMO

[gordonmann]

Particularly since it was followed a 99-yard drive (helped by a roughing the punter penalty) that culminated in a TD.

I was impressed with some of the young DVU players. Simmons and Strothers both ran the ball better than I expected and the Nobile brothers are studs. Michael had 15 stops, 2 TFL and 2 forced fumbles in his first game. I can't remember a more impressive defensive debut by a freshman. His brother had six stops and 1.5 sacks.

I'll take four more years of that, please.

Secondary has to play way better. Burroughs made a perfect throw on the first TD to Kemp but the second was totally blown coverage and the third one to Peele looked bad, too.

[Graham8020]

In attendance at the Del Val game last night and I definitely didn't see the doom and gloom that some were predicting.  The kids came out with a lot of intensity ready to play. I'm sure the element delays and the hour +ride played a minor roll in their performance, but it seems like in big games like this the coaches don't know when to be cautious vs letting it all ride.  Pound for pound Wesley was a bigger, better team, but Del Val had some opportunities to take control of that game. The OLine, QB, and DBack play needs some tweaking. but if we're basing the season on week 1; having watched Widener and Stevenson I'm not counting Del Val out for a MAC repeat just yet.