FB: American Southwest Conference

[Kelly Boggs]

WC11, thanks. So much respect for Linfield and Coach Smith. The Cats are pure class. I believe UMHB is the position it's in right now, in part, because of Linfield. It took four tries to climb the Cat mountain. Looking back, the quarterfinal comeback in 2015 by Linfield was bitter sweet. I believe that loss planted the seeds of determination that is yielding some incredible fruit right now.

There are still more chapters to be written in the UMHB vs Linfield saga, and they will be classics.

Thanks for the great job you do helping us keep up with the Cats. Nobody does it better.

[umhbalum]

WC11, thanks. So much respect for Linfield and Coach Smith. The Cats are pure class. I believe UMHB is the position it's in right now, in part, because of Linfield. It took four tries to climb the Cat mountain. Looking back, the quarterfinal comeback in 2015 by Linfield was bitter sweet. I believe that loss planted the seeds of determination that is yielding some incredible fruit right now.

There are still more chapters to be written in the UMHB vs Linfield saga, and they will be classics.

Thanks for the great job you do helping us keep up with the Cats. Nobody does it better.

+1

[Foss]

UMHB, your D is comprised of freakish studs and your QB is a nightmare to defend. I've never seen a D3 D-line do some of the things I saw today. I think it's better than last year's, which I didn't think could be possible.

I'm happy you 'Cru fans are as cool and gracious as you are. You deserve a great team and program, and you obviously have one. I hope you whoop everyone else's ass this year.

I also hope our young team will be a little more seasoned next year and provide and bit stronger of a challenge for you.

Best of luck the rest of the way.

[Foss]

tom fans do not have a clue of the even more improved speed, quickness and determination of MBH.

The game was as it should. The early touchdown and not scoring from the 1 is on us. Didn't give us a whole lot of space to breath.
Impressed again.

Well, considering MHB is last year's National Champs, and UST has played in two title games in the last 5 years, I'm just going to take a wild guess and say we have somewhat of a clue.

Linfield isn't measuring stick for UST anymore.

He never said Linfield was UST's measuring stick.

[umhb2001]

Well, we officially have the game next week. As Gomer would say, "Sir-prise, sir-prise, sir-prise".

The game is going to be great. Looking at stats, here are some interesting things of note:

The ASC has 4 of the top 10 offensive teams in the country. UMHB beat all of them. St. Thomas is number 12.

St. Thomas has the #1 ranked defense in the country, and UMHB is 3.
St. Thomas has the 172 ranked SOS. UMHB is 41.
St. Thomas is 56th in TO margin. UMHB is 35

Just a few of the stats that stand out to me. Obviously, none of it matters on Saturday. It's a new day and a new game. But, I think there are some key elements here that point to a UMHB lean.

[jamtod]

Well, we officially have the game next week. As Gomer would say, "Sir-prise, sir-prise, sir-prise".

The game is going to be great. Looking at stats, here are some interesting things of note:

The ASC has 4 of the top 10 offensive teams in the country. UMHB beat all of them. St. Thomas is number 12.

St. Thomas has the #1 ranked defense in the country, and UMHB is 3.
St. Thomas has the 172 ranked SOS. UMHB is 41.
St. Thomas is 56th in TO margin. UMHB is 35

Just a few of the stats that stand out to me. Obviously, none of it matters on Saturday. It's a new day and a new game. But, I think there are some key elements here that point to a UMHB lean.

Despite what the Hansen ratings say, I agree that this is going to be an uphill battle and going to take a top performance from UST on all levels, including a superior game plan to overcome some physical/speed differences.

[MUC57]

UMHB fans

Just looked at some videos of the Cruthedral. What a magnificent facility. I had seen photos before but the videos really show it off. Great stadium!
Good luck, not that you need it, against UST Saturday.
I have some mixed feelings on something. Would love to see Mount play the Cru in the Stagg Bowl. On the other hand, you guys are number 1 for a reason. You're damn good. Oh what the hell, let's play for the championship. We owe you one and would love to even up the series.
We both have a few games to play first so, I'll just say -Go Cru and Go Raiders! See you in Salem?

[USTBench]

Well, we officially have the game next week. As Gomer would say, "Sir-prise, sir-prise, sir-prise".

The game is going to be great. Looking at stats, here are some interesting things of note:

The ASC has 4 of the top 10 offensive teams in the country. UMHB beat all of them. St. Thomas is number 12.

St. Thomas has the #1 ranked defense in the country, and UMHB is 3.
St. Thomas has the 172 ranked SOS. UMHB is 41.
St. Thomas is 56th in TO margin. UMHB is 35

Just a few of the stats that stand out to me. Obviously, none of it matters on Saturday. It's a new day and a new game. But, I think there are some key elements here that point to a UMHB lean.

I think the SOS is a bit misleading when it comes to UST. Unfortunately, the way the MIAC is set up, you have 4 perennial Top 25 teams (if not on paper, at least talent-wise) in SJU, Bethel, Concordia-Moorhead and UST, 3 of the worst teams in DIII in Hamline, Carleton and St. Olaf, and two average teams in Augsburg and Gustavus that duke it out for 5th place. So, you can go from playing the #5 team in the nation in front of 37,000+ (15,000 on average) to playing a team your freshmen can beat by 50 in front of 500 people the next week. I don't think this serves the MIAC playoff teams particularly well come tournament time. I know the scores in the ASC and OAC can get lopsided too, but I think from top to bottom they're just better conferences, and in a conference like the WIAC, any team can beat you if you aren't prepared, as UST found out with UW-Stout earlier in the year.

UST has played two top 25 teams in SJU and Concordia this year. UST held the Johnnies to 1 rushing yard, and though the score was close, I think everyone watching the game objectively felt UST was the better team. Against Concordia, UST managed to not let the Cobbers cross the 50 yard line one time. This is somewhat on the Cobbers for failing to evolve beyond the triple-option in 2017, but, impressive nonetheless.

The thing that concerns me the most about UST is they seem to lack a killer instinct against quality opponents. There were several times against SJU and most recently, Berry, where the Tommies would not or could not just slam the door. Granted, I think Berry is much better than people realize, but UST jumped out to a 22-0 lead and then their RBs proceeded to fumble the football approximately 7 times (*It says 5 times in the box score, but I think a few were called down-by-contact which could have easily been ruled fumbles). Luckily UST was able to get a majority of those fumbles back, but it was getting to the point that I cringed every time we handed it off.

UST's best RB right now is Tucker Trettel, but he is very banged up and left the game early against Berry. Jordan Roberts (2015 offensive POY) retired earlier this year due to lingering effects from concussions. Josh Parks is the most talented and the best athlete, but I think his instinct nearly every time is to try to bounce it outside which can lead to either a monster run or a 6 yard loss. He also has had some brutal fumbles, one was especially bad on Saturday. The fumbling got bad enough against Berry, that 4th stringer Stephen Wagner carried the ball 13 times.

UST's QB is Jacques Perra, a transfer from the University of Minnesota. He's really started to develop some great chemistry with QB-turned-WR Gabe Green, as of late, and it's been fun to see that relationship develop. Perra can press a little bit and try to make too much happen, as evidenced by a horrible redzone interception on Saturday. He also doesn't have the greatest completion percentage, due to some overthrows here and there. However, he's clearly a great talent and can tuck it and run if need be for some big chunks of yardage. He's not the best QB UST has ever had, but he's the most talented.

UST's O-Line is probably one of the poorer ones Caruso has had in his tenure. They are still dealing with the turnover from his best O-Line ever from 2015, and are often prone to leaks. Some more complicated stunts or delayed blitzes can really overwhelm them, as Berry displayed on Saturday. They've gotten much better as the year has gone on, but looked below average last Saturday. They're big, and can wear on people late in games, but they will have to play well above their mean on Saturday to have a chance.

UST frequently uses two TEs, and loves utilizing them on misdirection play action in the redzone. Matt Christensen has 6 TDs this year and I believe Jackson Hull was a preseason All-American. They even used a third TE, Jackson Finn quite a bit last Saturday.

Defensively, UST is very stout across the board. They have zero fear playing man all day as they have some longer CBs, and you'll most likely see #22 Mark Dowdle on your best WR. Dylan Andrew, Steve Harrell, Adam Brant and Blake Weber are the LBs you'll see all day. They move very quickly from sideline-to-sideline and have been incredible all year, in no small part because Austin Jochum Matt Mitchell and Johnny Heller create absolute chaos up front.

As far as special teams goes, your guess is as good as mine. They tend to be more conservative against better teams, but 2 point conversions, quick kicks, laterals and even a reverse-flea-flicker punt are not out of the realm of possibility. Chris Fondakowski is UST's best special teamer IMO, and he does some very interesting things.

I don't know that UST has the offensive discipline to win this game, but I believe they have the best defense in the country.

Heart: 14 - 10 UST
Head: 17 - 7 UMHB

Which means the final score will be 45-42, toss up.

[CruGuy]

Which means the final score will be 45-42, toss up.

I'm not a very good prognosticator, and I don't try to be, but I feel very safe saying that UMHB isn't going to give up 42 points on any day to anyone in D3. They've played 4 games against playoff teams this season. They've given up a combined 16 points* in those 4 games.

*Six points came on a hail-mary walk-off interception touchdown, when the UMHB defender caught the ball and then the referees awarded a TD to Champman while half of their peers were already in the locker room.

[Kelly Boggs]

The name of the game with UMHB is speed, speed, and more speed - all over the field.

[USTBench]

Which means the final score will be 45-42, toss up.

I'm not a very good prognosticator, and I don't try to be, but I feel very safe saying that UMHB isn't going to give up 42 points on any day to anyone in D3. They've played 4 games against playoff teams this season. They've given up a combined 16 points* in those 4 games.

*Six points came on a hail-mary walk-off interception touchdown, when the UMHB defender caught the ball and then the referees awarded a TD to Champman while half of their peers were already in the locker room.

Um...that was clearly a joke.

[nkwest]

The thing that concerns me the most about UST is they seem to lack a killer instinct against quality opponents.

This sums up UST's season in a nutshell.

[MUC57]

Kelly Boggs

The take on Mount Union is also speed, speed and more speed. Also all over the field. Hey,  a Purple Raider vs Crusaders game could be too fast to see. I'd still like to see it or, at least, watch a slowed down video. Ah but we both have a couple more games each. Let's wait and see what happens.
Pomaika'i (good luck in Hawaiian) and mult noroc (good luck in Romanian) to both teams.

[Kelly Boggs]

You're right, MUC57, both teams have plenty of work ahead of them. St. Thomas is going to be a stern test. UMHB will have to play very well in all three phases of the game to come out on top. The CRU got a little banged up on Saturday. I haven't heard the status of anyone as of yet. I am just glad we are playing UST in the comfy (warm) confines of The CRUthedral.

I know Mount will be ready to play on Saturday.

Good games for both!

[miac952]

The Toms adjusted everything about their defensive scheme and personnel based on being exposed by Mount in the 2015 Stagg. I am confident they have speed and dudes to play at the top end on that side of the football. I'm not so confident on the offensive side. It's going to take some short fields, some ball luck, and otherwise to do what it takes against this all world defense for MHB. As much as Linfield photo-man wants to speak for the Tommies (weird btw) I think we are all well aware of the lions den we are walking into.

Regardless, it should be fun: new legacy team UST gets to play, beautiful weather, spectacular stadium, and December quarterfinal football. What's not to like about that.