FB: American Southwest Conference

[CruGuy]

Can anybody explain what has happened to Southwestern? Maybe someone mentioned it, but I haven't seen it covered here. Did they lose their top 3 QB's to injury in the first 13 quarters of the season?

[CowboyAlum261]

What does the HSU loss to TLU do for HSU's playoff hopes?  Assuming UMHB beats everybody in the conference, it goes automatically to the playoffs.  But if the ASC were to get an at-large bid, unless TLU loses to someone besides UMHB, wouldn't it get it rather than HSU?  I would think for HSU to get in, they have to hope TLU gets upset by someone, or if that doesn't happen, they have to beat UMHB.  Anything can happen, but the chances of either of these things happening seems rather slim to me.  Could HSU get a bid over TLU even with the loss to them?

Realistically, it looks like HSU has to win out. If we win out, and TLU drops 2 more games, then HSU is the conference champion and gets in.

If that doesn't play out, there are no guarantees. If HSU wins out and finishes 9-1, MHB beats TLU and finishes 9-1, and TLU loses only to MHB and goes 8-2, we'd have a 3-way-tie just like in 2015. No guarantee that HSU gets in given that scenario.

The only possibility of HSU making it in as an 8-2 team that I can see would require some chaos. We'd need no more than 4 conference runner ups to finish 9-1 leaving a spot for an 8-2 team. Then, we'd need MHB to utterly monkey stomp TLU, and then for HSU to play MHB really close. We'd also need Trinity to win out and squeak into the regional ranking in order to give us a win over a RRO. Then we MAY have a chance to get in at 8-2...

Moral of the story, HSU needs to win out.

[wally_wabash]

What does the HSU loss to TLU do for HSU's playoff hopes?  Assuming UMHB beats everybody in the conference, it goes automatically to the playoffs.  But if the ASC were to get an at-large bid, unless TLU loses to someone besides UMHB, wouldn't it get it rather than HSU?  I would think for HSU to get in, they have to hope TLU gets upset by someone, or if that doesn't happen, they have to beat UMHB.  Anything can happen, but the chances of either of these things happening seems rather slim to me.  Could HSU get a bid over TLU even with the loss to them?

Realistically, it looks like HSU has to win out. If we win out, and TLU drops 2 more games, then HSU is the conference champion and gets in.

If that doesn't play out, there are no guarantees. If HSU wins out and finishes 9-1, MHB beats TLU and finishes 9-1, and TLU loses only to MHB and goes 8-2, we'd have a 3-way-tie just like in 2015. No guarantee that HSU gets in given that scenario.

The only possibility of HSU making it in as an 8-2 team that I can see would require some chaos. We'd need no more than 4 conference runner ups to finish 9-1 leaving a spot for an 8-2 team. Then, we'd need MHB to utterly monkey stomp TLU, and then for HSU to play MHB really close. We'd also need Trinity to win out and squeak into the regional ranking in order to give us a win over a RRO. Then we MAY have a chance to get in at 8-2...

Moral of the story, HSU needs to win out.

I don't think this should negate the TLU-HSU h2h result, but I think the South RAC has deployed much more subjectivity in their rankings than other regions have, so it isn't out of the question, particularly if they feel like HSU presents a better at-large profile than TLU does (which might not actually be the case). 

I do think, however, that the ASC being a one-bid league now is the far more likely scenario. 

[txtiger1]

Can anybody explain what has happened to Southwestern? Maybe someone mentioned it, but I haven't seen it covered here. Did they lose their top 3 QB's to injury in the first 13 quarters of the season?

Was wondering the same thing. How did they beat LC 50-3 and then lose to Sul Ross??

[Coolrey]

Point taken.  Again, I'm not taking issue with it.

[QB Jock Itch]

No new injuries come out of the Mcmurry game. Looks like Big Isaiah Johnson could be ready to return after setting out last 2 games. That will be a "Big " boost to the guys up front on the D-Line.

UMHB will have to continue to win on the outside with WRs, and I'd like to see them go across the middle with a couple of those tall TEs. I don't feel like they have been utilized enough. TLU will try to clamp on the run as they have done in the past. We need to get some more momentum in the run game and be prepared to wear down the DLine. I didn't keep track, but I doubt TLU has the depth to sustain a constant run game. If HSU can get Hemphill 300+, we should be able to get that combined.

Any updates on injuries out there?

[QB Jock Itch]

Another reason for throwing late on the game was Mcmurry insisted on playing man to man so that brought more guys in the box which force UMHB QBs to throw more. Had they backed out guarantee Coach Lee would've dialed up more run plays.

TLU has a very good team.  They were opportunistic on turnovers which was the key factor in this game.  Statistically, they did not match HSU and had there been no turnovers, it would likely have been a different outcome.  But turnovers count.  Just like they did in 2015 when HSU was on the ropes and TLU turned the ball over and had untimely penalties.  If TLU can hang w/ UMHB, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't get a post-season bid so long as they don't get upset by someone else.  UMHB needs to get tested.  Belhaven was not a test, even though the score indicated a tight game.  McMurry is in the first year of a new staff and is made up of mainly freshmen and sophomores, so they were in no position to present any kind of a challenge to UMHB.  Was a bit surprised that UMHB was throwing the ball so late in that game, but they do have to work on their passing game.  Just felt that it was a little bit over-the-top.

[QB Jock Itch]

I was thinking the same thing. I hope he gets a few starts so what he can do as The Guy.

So, the UMHB vs ETBU game this weekend should be the final game of Marquis Duncan's suspension right?  He was always very impressive with how shifty of a runner he was and had an amazing jump cut.  I wonder where he will fit in the running back by committee they have going.

[jamtod]

Another reason for throwing late on the game was Mcmurry insisted on playing man to man so that brought more guys in the box which force UMHB QBs to throw more. Had they backed out guarantee Coach Lee would've dialed up more run plays.

TLU has a very good team.  They were opportunistic on turnovers which was the key factor in this game.  Statistically, they did not match HSU and had there been no turnovers, it would likely have been a different outcome.  But turnovers count.  Just like they did in 2015 when HSU was on the ropes and TLU turned the ball over and had untimely penalties.  If TLU can hang w/ UMHB, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't get a post-season bid so long as they don't get upset by someone else.  UMHB needs to get tested.  Belhaven was not a test, even though the score indicated a tight game.  McMurry is in the first year of a new staff and is made up of mainly freshmen and sophomores, so they were in no position to present any kind of a challenge to UMHB.  Was a bit surprised that UMHB was throwing the ball so late in that game, but they do have to work on their passing game.  Just felt that it was a little bit over-the-top.

Good point. I've seen coaches mixing in a couple of passes late in a game against a stacked box to protect guys from injury on 11 guys keying on the run.

[Etchglow]

Another reason for throwing late on the game was Mcmurry insisted on playing man to man so that brought more guys in the box which force UMHB QBs to throw more. Had they backed out guarantee Coach Lee would've dialed up more run plays.

TLU has a very good team.  They were opportunistic on turnovers which was the key factor in this game.  Statistically, they did not match HSU and had there been no turnovers, it would likely have been a different outcome.  But turnovers count.  Just like they did in 2015 when HSU was on the ropes and TLU turned the ball over and had untimely penalties.  If TLU can hang w/ UMHB, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't get a post-season bid so long as they don't get upset by someone else.  UMHB needs to get tested.  Belhaven was not a test, even though the score indicated a tight game.  McMurry is in the first year of a new staff and is made up of mainly freshmen and sophomores, so they were in no position to present any kind of a challenge to UMHB.  Was a bit surprised that UMHB was throwing the ball so late in that game, but they do have to work on their passing game.  Just felt that it was a little bit over-the-top.

Good point. I've seen coaches mixing in a couple of passes late in a game against a stacked box to protect guys from injury on 11 guys keying on the run.

Pssh, they just wanted to win the reddit cfb cobra Kai award! (joking lol)

https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/1180855886979440640?s=19

[RLW]

UMHB did the same thing in 2018 against TLU up 40 to 14 40 seconds on clock passed for touch down. Real Sportsmanship

72 to 0
39 seconds
Take a knee
Oh that's right the other team was still trying to score.

[Coolrey]

That was kind of my initial point.  Did that final pass with .39 seconds to go and up by 72 points really accomplish anything for the Cru from a developmental standpoint?   

[Etchglow]

That was kind of my initial point.  Did that final pass with .39 seconds to go and up by 72 points really accomplish anything for the Cru from a developmental standpoint?

Well, Ryan has pretty much fallen to the #4 QB position and had only played in 3 games with 18 pass attempts.  With Jase and Luke graduating this year, I expect that varsity snaps and attempts are going to be pretty important for the QB's further down the depth chart from an experience standpoint as well as to help the coaches know how they stack up against other varsity squads.

[Wild Horse Rider]

I have always seen both sides of this argument having valid points.  The only thing I am not sure I agree with is wanting to see how your players stack up against varsity competition.  By that point in the game the backups and quite possibly the third stringers are in the ball game.  I understand that the same can be said of both teams but those are not Varsity players (potentially contributors on ST).  The TD pass was on a 3rd and 8 from the +20 with somewhere over 40 seconds remaining. UMBH ran 18 plays in the 4th with 16 of them being runs.  Without watching the film I have now way to know if the QB threw a pass into the end zone, something right at the sticks, a screen, or any other type of pass you can think about.  It could have been a check to an uncovered WR or a specific look that makes the QB throw an automatic.  McMurray threw a pass on the previous drive on 3rd and 4 and finished the game trying to throw the ball and the QB was sacked.  I really have no problem with teams running their offense as it is designed so long as they stay away from "exotic" plays like reverses, misdirection, trick plays, or just dropping back and throwing 4 verts.  I was always told that if you do not want a team to run up the score on you then you need to stop them.  If you don't have the talent that particular season then remember it and when you have the opportunity really stick it to them.

[RLW]

Total offense
UMHB 566
McMurry 54
Could have run in 5th string defense and see how they perform.