FB: Conference of New England

[waggle09]

Hats off to the Westfield state defense... They gave their offense multiple opportunities to win the game over a good Me maritime team,although they played sloppy as well. The D held  THEIR BIG BACK TO ABOUT 40 YDS. Westfields offense had 9 turnovers. Has WSC always been this anemic on offense..
Whats the story.

[Footballmom]

I was at the Westfield-Maine Maritime game.  Westfield's defense played their hearts out.  The offense let 9 turnovers.  It was pathetic actually. We were in the Red Zone numerous times.  Once on the 1 yard line and once on the 3 yard line and the quarterback threw the ball to the other team.  All the fans and parents couldn't believe it.  Westfield should be up there if it wasn't for the offense.  They are a great bunch of guys but haven't gotten it together.  Oh well.  With all the seniors graduating this year I have no idea what will happen next year.  Maybe we will tie with Framingham for last place. Hats off to the D.  They are the best in the league and top 10 in the country.

[brewskiin05]

three years ago westfield state graduated almost their entire offensive line, two years ago they lost the best quarterback and wide receiver in the schools history. truth be told they simply have never recovered from these two losses. the defense that has played so well this year is the last bunch of guys from those great westfield teams of three years ago. look for westfield to be rebuilding on both sides of the ball for the next couple of years

[footballfan2005]

I read this a lot, but I don't always right stuff, but I got one for ya, how bout ya stop blamin WSC's coaching staff and give credit to the BSC players.  Bascon and Kavey along with the defense all played a sick game, and the quarterback Cam had the best rushing game of his life.  I'm pretty sure that's what won the game not WSC's coaches.

Yes, I agree that BSC players made the plays to win the game... however if the coaching of WSC prepared their players a receiver would have never gotten behind a saftey and a corner... secondly, the option was working all second half and WSC defensive staff never made an adjustment... it would have been a simple adjustment.. hit the frickin qb on every option.

What pisses me off more than anything is Cullen's game plan of playing not to lose! He has the ball w/first and 10 at the 14 yard line with 2min to play in the game and runs the same play 3 times in a row to play for the fieldgoal and 3 point lead... that's what you call playing NOT to LOSE... The way BSC college was throwing the ball deep all day i wasn't very comfortable w/a 3point lead... esp. since the db's from WSC have been getting beat long all game and all year long.

So to answer your question or statement; yes the BSC players made the plays to win the game... but if the WSC coaching staff had their heads out of their asses the BSC players wouldn't have been in a position to win that game!

[Popsman]

There's a lot of criticism of coaches on these pages.   The WSC - BSC game was not won or lost by any of the coaches.    WSC lost 3 fumbles  BSC lost 2 or 3.   WSC threw three interceptions.   BSC had a TD called back on a penalty.   I can't see any of that a coaches fault. 

The rap that WSC didn't adjust to the option is easy to say after the game is over.   Obviously, the game plan was to stop Kavey and stop the QB from pitching it to him.  Which they did.  Kavey had 130 yds, 71 on one run so the WSC defense came thru.   

That game and most games are won  or lost by the players on the field.

[Moose50]

just a thought, who is going to play for the win this week @ fitchburg vs wsc?  should haverty rest the starters and hope for the best or should cullen try to get some respect after last weeks debacle and try to beat fitchburg?  likewise, what should nelson do? i hear that one of his best players may have left the team, rb, don't know his name and maybe he wats to get on a roll

[fballking19]

I have read in some of the posts written on this board, "that Salve was supposed to be good this year". A good Salve football team will be an impossibilty as long as the current coaching staff is in place. Arthur Bell might be the worst division 3 football coach in America, Salve currently has 4 recievers over 6'2 and are playing a wing T offense that features only one reciever at a time in some instances. The facilities at Salve do not hold a candle to the likes of Curry and Endicott, they play on a high school field without lockerrooms. As long as the administration at the school leaves the team high and dry in terms of competitive accomadations and the coach continues to preach ignorance Salve will continue to fight M.I.T for last place in the NEFC.

[Jonny Utah]

Is that the same Art Bell that coached at Mansfield in the 1990s?   Those mansfield teams let up like 70 points a game

[coachzilly]

Art Bell is former RI high school coach who was an assistant to former Salve headcoach Tim Coen.  He has continued the use of the wing-t that Coen ran, without the same caliber of player, therefor without the same success.  Salve featured many of RI's top high school prospects, many of whom now head to DII Bryant or to 1AA or DI's.  Kids like Will Blackman and Jamie Silva at BC, Steve Silva at Holy Cross and Liam Coen, Tim's son at UMass are now moving on and up.  In the 90's many of these types may have played at Salve.

[footballfan2005]

 

The rap that WSC didn't adjust to the option is easy to say after the game is over.   Obviously, the game plan was to stop Kavey and stop the QB from pitching it to him.  Which they did.  Kavey had 130 yds, 71 on one run so the WSC defense came thru.   

When you play the option the de-end should hit the qb everyplay and the outside linebacker plays the tailback... The main objective is to knock the qb out of the game or hit him so much his game is effected... Your telling me that allowing a receiver to be behind a cb and  a saftey w/under a minute isn't bad coaching?  If that doesn't qualify then what does?

[waggle09]

I've seen both teams play twice.. Worccester State and Bridgewater state.. Both good teams but BSC more balanced on offense and not as one dimensional. WSC Qb is not really a threat to run ball like BSC qb. BSC had there chance against FSC  but no cigar. Westfield LBs: the best in the league and all should be nominated to post season honors.....

[Bomber Backer]

Is it bad coaching to let the WR get behind the CB with a minute to play? I would say that it is bad playing. I can't see the coach coaching the corner and safety to let the WR behind him, come on. Let's stop complaining about the coaches so much on this post and put a little blame on the players. Obviously the coach has to put players in a position to be successful, but players have to execute the play. Maybe that corner and safety bit on the option, perhaps they didn't prepare as much as they should, who knows. In a conference of inferior talent as a whole, players are going to make mistakes. It's hard to recover from mistakes when you have limited talent.

What a dominating performance by Fitchburg this past weekend. From looking at the stats the Fitchburg coaches decided to send a message in response to people (myself included) talking about passing the ball too much the previous year while having a big lead. I think they only passed the ball 6 times and totally dominated Fram with the run.

Good luck to FSC and Curry in the championship game. Lets hope one of them can go on and get a playoff win and bring credibility to this conference.

[63Center]

I agree Bomber Backer,  the coaches can tell a player what to do but it is up to the  player to execute the play.  Just like a teacher can teach people to spell and use proper grammar, but it is up to the people posting to Post Patterns to properly spell and use proper grammar.  I have witnessed many instances, including twice over the past week where a coach yelled from the sidelines to tell players what they were to do (e.g., watch for a fake punt) and still the players did not react to the fake punt.  There is only so much a coach can do.  Also as far as letting a receiver get behind the cb or safety, by the time a player gets to college level football, even if it is D3 and the NEFC, they should know that towards the end of a close game you don't let anyone get behind you.  They should not have to be told by the coach.

[ctforce]

I want to start out by saying something has to be done at Framingham.  I have all the respect in the world for those players going out on the field every week to play in games were they will be totally dominated.  This was extremly evident this past weekend.  How can you play college football with only 38 players suited?  Plus, they were outmatched physically, atheltically and fundamentally in all areas of the game.  I do not mean that as any disrespect to the players that were out there giving it they're all.  I respect them for being out here.  It's just that they are at a significant level below even the majority of our league.  It seemed like every play one of their players were getting hurt, but they had to go back in beacuse of the lack of numbers.  It isn't right to put these athletes in this type of situation.  This program definetly needs a huge upgrade in talent and coaching.  Again, I know they played their butts off and are probably performing the best they can at their level, but, if you were at the game and witnessed the legal hits they took you would see what I mean. 

Now, lets give credit were credit is due.  Other than the one pass while way up,  Fitchburg show some class and rotated the starters out very early in this game.  The starting D-line dominated early and were shelved by the second quarter.  The rest of the defense, except for a position or 2 were into the 3rd string by the end of the second quarter and the same goes for the offense.  The dominated early and were removed early.  None of these guys played in the second half and Fitchburg still pretty dominated them.  I think this shows a lot of sportsmanship/class on Coach Haverty and his staff's part.  While talking about coaching sportsmanship, despite calling off the dogs early in this one, I'm told that Sully would not shake Coach Haverty's hand when going through the line.  If true, whats that all about?

So, its Fitchburg and Curry.  How the heck does Curry get the home game here!  I understand that schools put in for this game in advance not knowing if they'll be in the game, but having a home field advantage in conference championship game is not right.  [b]NEFC, you need to look at your policies and ensure this game is always played at a neutral sight.[/b]

OK, so with that game decided, does Fitchburg go for the win over Worcester to outright own the MASCAC title or do they rest key players down the stretch in preps for Curry?  Remember last year, some key injuries that were sustained in the Worcester game played a factor in the championship game.  Could be an interesting game from this standpoint!

[63Center]

I think that Fitchburg will play to win for two reasons: (1) to go into the championship game on a high note, and (2) they rested starters last week against Framingham and will want to make sure that they work off the rustiness.  Who knows maybe they will get a big enough lead against WSC that they can rest the starters some more. 

As far as the game being played at a neutral site maybe the NEFC should see if they could use Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.  If Framingham had better facilities they could just schedule it there since there is little chance of them playing in the play-offs.  I agree it would be nice if it were played on a neutral field, but it appears to be too late for this year.  It should be a good game.