Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents

[jknezek]

You can't help but think Wesley will be in or out of the playoffs by 5p.m. on 10/4. So long as they don't slip up, and I just don't see it happening, those 5 out of division games won't matter. Especially since Concordia-Selma, VUL, and College of Faith all are probably not good. I'm not sure on Concordia-Selma, but they eeked past Point, who used to be competitive with D3 schools, got killed by both Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Southeastern. VUL has been hammered by everyone they've played so far. College of Faith has made SportsCenter for the wrong reasons...

Anyway, Menlo is always interesting when they play D3 schools. and I fully expect Charlotte to be spoiling for a fight after last year. That game is one I'd be worried about getting kids hurt going into the playoffs...

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to drive down for the Concordia-Selma game. Be nice to see Wesley one last time!

[Teamski]

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to drive down for the Concordia-Selma game. Be nice to see Wesley one last time!

Not telling us something? 

-Ski

[jknezek]

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to drive down for the Concordia-Selma game. Be nice to see Wesley one last time!

Not telling us something? 

-Ski

I live in AL and Wesley is joining a 9 or 10 team conference in the mid-atlantic. One or two OOCs a year is unlikely to be a team around here. Especially since I heard the LC series was continuing somewhere on this board. I'd go back and reference it if I wasn't so lazy! But it's been nice the last two years seeing a top D3 team at Huntingdon and BSC (although the BSC game was NOT entertaining). So I have to decide if sitting on the sidelines at Concordia-Selma is a good way to use up some stored points with my wife.

[Teamski]

I live in AL and Wesley is joining a 9 or 10 team conference in the mid-atlantic. One or two OOCs a year is unlikely to be a team around here. Especially since I heard the LC series was continuing somewhere on this board. I'd go back and reference it if I wasn't so lazy! But it's been nice the last two years seeing a top D3 team at Huntingdon and BSC (although the BSC game was NOT entertaining). So I have to decide if sitting on the sidelines at Concordia-Selma is a good way to use up some stored points with my wife.

Gotcha.....Yeah I am going to miss all of the "exotic" games that Wesley has played against teams from all over the US and from every division.  At least I have the memories of traveling with the team to places like Huntingdon, Capitol and seeing Wesley beat an FCS team on their homecoming! 

-Ski

[PA_wesleyfan]

 I wonder if the NCAA will move Wesley to the East next year. I don't think they can put all five schools joining the NJAC in the east region. I suppose they will put a circle around the outter most schools for regional purposes!
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[PA_wesleyfan]

Wesley may have an easier time traveling to play a top team next year with all trips being a bus ride away. I know the players loved staying in Nj when they traveled that way in the past!!

[jknezek]

I wonder if the NCAA will move Wesley to the East next year. I don't think they can put all five schools joining the NJAC in the east region. I suppose they will put a circle around the outter most schools for regional purposes!
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Only three would move. The cheap steaks and the cold ones are already in the east. Of course at this point it really only matters at Pool C time...

[Teamski]

Another solid game by Wesley today.  As a gauge of how well they did, all of the points scored in the game were in the first half!  The second half featured a lot of experience for the back-ups!  Wasn't too happy about Wesley having another 10 penalty game, but man, there was some good action on the field!  A fumbled ball recovered on a sack, a blocked punt by a single blitzer, Kyle George getting 141 yards receiving with a TD catch  that  was something to see with Callahan's pass threading between two defenders and Callahan himself with 5 TD passes in a single half!   Not too shabby.   The D was intense with 6 sacks for the day.

That said, I was impressed by SVA's handling of Wesley's run offense and their special teams smothered the Wesley returners all day.  They have some talent on that team.

I really wanted Brandon Wright to get that huge TD run that was called back for a hold.  Man, that guy put on the jets on the sidelines! 

So, with more work needed on special teams, Wesley moves onto Louisiana College next week to finish off their DIII season.  So far so good on injuries.....

-Ski

[wesleydad]

Did not make the trip to Dover today.  Took the week off and went to the Pa RenFaire with the family.  The game went as expected with the offense doing what they wanted and the defense playing shut down again.  1 D3 game left to play.  La College does not look as strong as they have in the past couple of years so I expect Wesley to win this game too.  Both sides of the ball continue to play at a top level and improve each week.  This is a really good team.  I do not know how far this team will go this year, but I have a feeling that they will be playing in the 2nd or 3rd week in December.

[DE Wesley Fan]

Of course there shouldn't be too much to complain about after a game like today's, but I'll give it a try   SV was able to show some weakness in our DB's today.  More sure handed receivers would have made us pay dearly on a few of those throws.  On several plays it looked like there were communication issues with our defense and the sideline.  Not sure if maybe they were just trying out some new stuff or what?  And while there were a few highlights on special teams (as Ski said, the punt block was pretty entertaining), we still missed extra points and need to improve field position when kicking punts/kickoffs.  We can get away with these things right now, but when we come up against a really strong team all those things are going to bite us every time.  It's the nuances that make the difference between good and great, between getting to the semi-finals vs the finals.

Except for the stupid holding penalties, the offense was again a thing of beauty today.  The way Callahan just seems to naturally glide away from pressure, and keep his eyes down field during a scramble are so much fun to watch.  He and George really seemed in sync today.  Looking forward to LC next week.

[thewaterboy]

After this week's game against LC we should have a pretty good idea if Wesley makes the playoffs. LC has faced Huntingdon and Texas Lutheran for the D3 portion of their schedule. Those games both seemed like shootouts so I dont think Wesley will have a problem scoring. It will be interesting to see how the DBs rebound. They got exposed a little bit last week. We will stop the run, so our weakness is in the pass D. Melancon is going to be the best QB we have seen thus far IMO.

[Teamski]

After this week's game against LC we should have a pretty good idea if Wesley makes the playoffs. LC has faced Huntingdon and Texas Lutheran for the D3 portion of their schedule. Those games both seemed like shootouts so I dont think Wesley will have a problem scoring. It will be interesting to see how the DBs rebound. They got exposed a little bit last week. We will stop the run, so our weakness is in the pass D. Melancon is going to be the best QB we have seen thus far IMO.

Yeah, I don't see a lot with Louisiana College that Wesley couldn't manage.  LC's last victory netted less than 300 yards offense.  They had 4 picks which I am sure helped secure the game against Bacone.  It looks like they actively go to the air when the running game fails.  So, yes, the secondary will be busy Saturday if and when Wesley shuts down the run.  Those slant routes need to be covered as you know LC will be using them.  Wesley's offense should be able to deliver the goods and keep the defense off the field.  As you mention, LC gives up points.  The final DIII game for the 2014 regular season should be a good one nonetheless.  I hope that Wesley can pare down the penalties this time around. And, hopefully the rain holds off for the game. 

-Ski

[PA_wesleyfan]

 I think you have t look at who was playing in the secondary last week. If I am not mistaken there were at least two starters on the sidelines not suited up!

[wesleydad]

Back to Dover this week after my annual week away from D3 football.  I have no concern about the secondary.  Most D3 secondaries are exposed at some point in a game.  Receivers get open all the time.  Can the QB get them the ball?  Wesley is very good this year getting pressure and I expect the same thing again this week.  How much can La Coll score, in the teens maybe?  Pretty sure they do not hold Wesley that low even if it rains during the game.  Wesley takes care of business and then spends the next 5 weeks sharpening up their game against non D3 teams.

[thewaterboy]

Back to Dover this week after my annual week away from D3 football.  I have no concern about the secondary.  Most D3 secondaries are exposed at some point in a game.  Receivers get open all the time.  Can the QB get them the ball?  Wesley is very good this year getting pressure and I expect the same thing again this week.  How much can La Coll score, in the teens maybe?  Pretty sure they do not hold Wesley that low even if it rains during the game.  Wesley takes care of business and then spends the next 5 weeks sharpening up their game against non D3 teams.

It really is kind of good and bad that we will know after this week whether or not Wesley will be in the playoffs. The key will be to maintain focus over those next 5 non-D3 games (which I am sure they will) in order to keep improving. Really a wacky schedule this year. One could argue that these next 5 mean nothing after LC, but 10-0 always looks nice in the record books.

Not to look ahead too far, but I am looking forward to the Charlotte game. It will really be a test to see how much Wesley has grown, and from the looks of the 49er message boards, a lot of fans seem to have written us off. So that will be another fun contest down the road in November.

Need to take care of business this weekend before all of that though!