FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

Let's see........................... (Wesleydad, you were right)

Oline89: NCC - 61        DelVal - 14 "DelVal gets Orangutan Mashed"

Johnny Utah: NCC - 56     DelVal - 14

Ice Bear: NCC - 52     DelVal - 10

Machiavelli: "DelVal gets absolutely destroyed". No score, but that comment puts a score in the Oline89 range of 61 - 10

Thank God we don't do predictions for a living!!

Total yardage: NCC - 365 (5.14 yards per play)     DelVal - 324 (5.40 yards per play)
QB Comparison: Gagliardi Finalist - 23/33, 263 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT / One Year Starter (and non-Gagliardi Finalist) - 21/36, 232 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
Rushing Yardage: NCC - 38-102 (2.7 per carry & Greenfield held to 95 yards on 28 attempts)     DelVal - 23-92 (4.0 per carry)
**Both teams had two sacks

Statistically speaking, an incredibly close game. The huge difference was the Nigro fumble on the NCC 15 yard line. They score and it's a 24-21 game. From 17-0 at halftime to a fumble away from 24-21, to a team that went into Mount Union and put 59 points up on the road.

This DelVal defense was much better than anybody thought (see the NCC score predictions of 61, 56 and 52), especially for game #3 on the road. They gave up slightly less than half the yardage and half the points that NCC put up at Mount Union. I think the close score will shock many.......................and the game was much, much closer than the final score indicates.

DelVal has seven defensive starters back next year, starting with two more years from the Nobile brothers (DE's), their best LB and their entire secondary (3 sophs and 1 junior). This defense could be scary again next year as the LB depth in the program is very deep. Offensively, if the backup QB can hold down the fort next year, they have many returnees at RB, WR and on the OL.

With a better seeding and 2, maybe (unlikely though) 3 home games, they could return to the National Quarterfinals, maybe even the semi's if they catch a huge break here or there. All in all, a fantastic, and unexpected great season given the number of new offensive starters and youth across the board. If they have a good recruiting year, they might be right back in the National Quarters (third time in the last four years) next season!

Great job Aggies!!

[gordonmann]

Yeah, they had 3 field goals all year. The kid with arguably the best range might not have been dressed because of roster limitations.

[jmcozenlaw]

Great effort by Del Val today. Hard to come back from down 17 in the first half on the road against that team, but they showed a lot of fight. Penalties were a killer with two personal fouls and two offsides penalties on fourth down to keep the drive alive. You can't survive that against great teams.

But overall it was a great run. Road playoff wins are really rare (though not so much today) so you savor those.

Fontana matured as a quarterback throughout the year, Dan Allen was a total stud and Simmons showed a spark that I look forward to seeing again next year. The defense was outstanding and should be very good again next year.

When Del Val lost to Mount Union years ago, it felt like the Aggies were far away from competing at that level. It doesn't anymore.

If Nigro doesn't fumble that ball at NCC's 15, I would have love to seen what happens from 24-21. The defense could be sick next year, especially with another great recruiting year!

[thewaterboy]

Good season Aggies! Way to represent the east well.

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear was very impressed with the Aggies today. He certainly underestimated them today and possibly all year. What a great season from what continues to be an excellent winning program. Ice thinks next year may be even better for this young team depending on graduation. Well ****ing done!!!

[jmcozenlaw]

Ice Bear was very impressed with the Aggies today. He certainly underestimated them today and possibly all year. What a great season from what continues to be an excellent winning program. Ice thinks next year may be even better for this young team depending on graduation. Well ****ing done!!!

Jay appreciates the kind comments from his Ice Man. Jay thinks Ice Man might be spot on about next year as well. Jay knows of a player or two who played at DelVal in 2018 and did not come back in 2019 (financial issues)..........who might be coming back in January. Two difference makers. Jay will see.

[kate]

Hey, all you Cardinal fans out there - two words 'Beat Muhlenberg' next Saturday!    We're from Easton, and actually, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown are practically one sprawled out city (Lehigh Valley).   My family & i have been to Muhlenberg, in Allentown, more time than i could count.   That being said, the Team that beat our Aggies gets the nod from this died in the wool DVU fan.   Go all the way!

[New Tradition]

Hey, all you Cardinal fans out there - two words 'Beat Muhlenberg' next Saturday!    We're from Easton, and actually, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown are practically one sprawled out city (Lehigh Valley).   My family & i have been to Muhlenberg, in Allentown, more time than i could count.   That being said, the Team that beat our Aggies gets the nod from this died in the wool DVU fan.   Go all the way!

Thanks, Kate!  Del Val was extremely impressive, and with what they have returning they're going to be a FORCE for a few years here.  Looking forward to following them in the coming years.

[kate]

Thank you so much New Tradition!   Go Cardinals!!!

[jmcozenlaw]

21 - 0 with 5 minutes left in the first quarter. I said it all week, had Nigro not fumbled at the 10 and made it a 24 - 21 game..................and had DelVal pulled off the miracle and beat North Central on the road, I would have LOVED their chances at Muhlenberg. Absolutely loved their chances!

I honestly do believe that DelVal had a better defense than Muhlenberg. They gave up 31 for the entire game (on the road) and Muhlenberg has already given up 21.

Ah, what could have been. Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. Horseshoes and hand grenades (for those enough to remember that reference)

[jmcozenlaw]

Math is my game. Numbers are my life (manage risk capital for people with a lot of money..........and continue to short volatility thru leveraged ETP's and ETN's ).

Here are a few numbers:

Muhlenberg has given up 7 more points, AT HOME, at THE HALF than DelVal did to North Central, ON THE ROAD, FOR THE GAME.

Muhlenberg gave up 334 yards in the FIRST HALF. DelVal gave up, on the road, 365 yards, FOR THE GAME.

Greenfield has run for 132 yards in the FIRST HALF. DelVal held him to 95 on 28 carries, FOR THE GAME.

Kamienski has 11 catches for 132 yards AND 4 TD's in the FIRST HALF. DelVal gave him 7 catches for 82 yards and 1 TD, FOR THE GAME.

Math is beautiful. Math has irrefutable laws. Math is beautiful, she's sassy. I love you math.

[ITH radio]

Makes sense to me

[jmcozenlaw]

Makes sense to me

No doubt about it.

DelVal > Muhlenberg

[bill]

Just read that Frank Sheptock was named HC at Bloomsburg...congrats Frank!!!

[G-manWU]

Just read that Frank Sheptock was named HC at Bloomsburg...congrats Frank!!!

Thanks for highlighting this, Bill. I was certainly surprised to hear the news last year, but it is certainly a great fit for Coach Shep. I wish him all the best; the PSAC is as competitive as ever, but if he still has at least some of his best mojo with him from the Wilkes days, I expect the Huskies to be more than competitive.

On another note, it looks like the Wilkes-FDU gridiron matchups will take a brief hiatus as the teams rotate off each other's schedules in the next few seasons. The Devils will be missed by the Colonels faithful; there have been some great games between the teams and in my day, many of the players knew each other from their high school days.