FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[labart96]

Alfred Saxons (10-2, 5-0) Profile (for OAC/MUC fans):

Alfred brings a relatively balanced offensive attack to Alliance, but definitely leans more on the pass (226 YPG) than the run (173 YPG).  On defense, the Saxons are strong vs. the run only allowing 109.2 YPG (only 10 rushing TDs over 12 games) and 155.3 YPG via the air.

Leading the Saxon air attack is #14 JR QB Tom Secky.  He's a tall kid (6' 5", 215 lbs) that has passed for 2640 yards this season (220 YPG), completing 214 passes out of 346 attempts for 26 TDs and 13 picks.

Secky's primary target is #15 SR WR Ryan Thon who has 71 catches for 931 yards and 15 TDs on the year.  Secky has spread the rock however, throwing TD passes to six other teammates, #34 SR TE DJ Koughlin-Pope being a prime target with 4 TD catches.

FY phenom #11 Austin Dwyer is the Saxons' primary TB, and this diaper dandy has racked up 1390 yards (6.4 per carry) and 8 TDs this season.  While small in size (5' 8" 165 lbs), Dwyer is a fast and strong runner (was even rumored to have been recruited by Syracuse).  He's also the team's third leading receiver having caught 32 passes out of the backfield for 229 yards and a TD.  Oh yeah, Dwyer also handles punt (9.1) and kick (21.6) returns and has a PR TD on his resume as well.

On offense the Saxons will need to improve upon their 3rd down conversion stats to hang around for a while with the Raiders.  Alfred has gone 67 for 153 (44%) on third down in 2010.  Penalties have also been a bit of an issue with the team being flagged for 65.5 YPG.  Goes w/o saying they can't afford to make mistakes vs. MUC.

The Saxons' OL is not that big (see below) save for LT Zach Morgan, but generally gets off the ball well and has generally controlled the LOS vs. the East's better defenses (e.g., 225 rushing yards vs. Cortland State)

On defense the Saxons have been exceptional in the "ball hawking" area picking off opposing QBs 23 times on the year.   #8 JR CB Roland O'Brien has 7 picks to his name.  

Alfred's defense is lead by #32 JR LB Nick Clark (73.5 TT, 10.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 FR) and #49 SO DT Mike Raplee (60 TT, 17.5 TFl, 6 sacks, 1 FR).

If the Saxons are going to stand a chance against the MUC offense they will need to have success in the turnover department as well as lean on their red zone defense which has only allowed 24 TDs (on 41 attempts) on the season.

On special teams Alfred has a pretty good kicker in #12 JR Eric Rockwood.  The JR PK has converted 5 of 6 FG attempts on the season with a long of 38 yards.

In the games that Alfred lost, they fell behind early after giving their opponents short fields and committing turnovers (e.g., 24-0 vs. RPI whose drives began on the 49, 32 and 20 yard lines, respecitively, and included 2 fumbles and vs. Rochester they fell behind 10-0 and committed 3 turnovers and allowed a 74 yard kickoff return TD).

That said, Alfred needs to get to a good start.  They have outscored their opposition 422-221 overall and have scored most of those points (247 or 20.5 APG) in the first half (compared to 126 or 10.5 APG for their opposition).

If the Alfred offense can have a few sustained drives and a least give their defense better field position, the Saxons could hang around for a bit.

Unfortunately, I imagine Alfred hasn't played O/DLs like MUC's and could struggle to get their passing game going early on which is really their forte.  My guess is MUC's best corner cover will be all over Thon, if not getting help from his safety, to force Secky to look elsewhere for completions.

One other "fun fact" - literally all of Alfred's players hail from NYS save for 5 or 6 guys from PA and 1 from NJ.

Finally, the likely starting line ups you'll see for the Saxons on SatERday (ask the Alfred fans about that spelling) are:

OFF        
LT 77 Zach Morgan (6'4" 305)
LG 63 Justin Mesi  (6'0" 240)
C 55 J. VanDewalker (6'1 240)
RG 79 Ryan Rusczak (6'0" 250)
RT 64 Ryan DiFlavio  (6'0" 250)
TE 34 Loughlin-Pope  
SE 15 Ryan Thon    
FL 13 Josh Phillips  
TB 11 Austin Dwyer  
FB 47 Justin McCombs
QB 14 Tom Secky

DEF
DE 90 Chris Steeves
NG 49 Mike Raplee  
DT 99 Stephon Brown  
DE 74 Marcellus Jones  
OLB 32 Nick Clark                            
MLB 39 Wes Smith    
OLB 44 Chad Pieri  
CB 1  Jon Jackson
FS 7  Alec Currier          
SS 5  Reggie Pressley    
CB 8  Roland O'Brien

[seventiesraider]

Thanks TGP. That's about the most stuff about Alfred Football I've found in one place. I think Secky's biggest problem(s) will be coming at him from either DE. Watch for #12 (Defensive #12, there are two) and #2 to spend a great deal of time pressuring and in many cases, catching him.

[SaintsFAN]

Sidekick, Theaprof, HurfMUC, Mtfan, etc:  With a potential trip to Minnesota for the semi-finals screwing up our annual week 14 wing & beer fest, should we consider moving it up a week and do it this Friday night?  Or do we want to roll the dice that Bethel will save us?

I'm all for moving it up too Friday night, especially after the Dukes debacle last saturday night!!!! and  Butchel being the new "Glenville of Akron".
The new wing's warehouse is fine with me!........and yes we will beer fest to a Bethel win among other things!

I'll be up next year for the Semifinals in Alliance... 2011.

[bleedpurple]

That would be great if Alfred plays to their potential, but what if Mount plays to their potential as well!

Then I guess Alfred is screwed.

BTW: The main topic of discussion on the Empire 8 board is 2011 predictions. I think they are trying to lull us into submission. 

But then again, you picked NCC, Seventies, which pretty much throws everything you have to say in question! 

[wesleydad]

now dont get me wrong, i am all for a semi game in dover, but i would have really liked making the trip to see you guys on friday night before the semis, but as hscoach has stated i must be crazy driving 6 hours with no dog in the fight.  well at least the second time wesley was playing, but we missed the friday night gathering.  good luck this week.

[theaprof]

What time should we meet at WW Friday night?  8:30 sound good?

[AUPepBand]

I hope Pep enjoys these guys and here's hoping they play this song over and over (after each score)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_e0vaMYlI8

(Please note: Seventies, John Bovyer and Terry Taylor occupying "The Spot" on the south wall in the upper left corner of said video)

Since TGP has given Mount Union a complete scouting report, Pep would like to share some information that you probably didn't care to know.

Seems like just yesterday Pep was exchanging posts with members of the Ithaca Bomber First Down Club, hoping that AU Pep Band would have an opportunity to play the fight song. (The Bombers had shut out Pep's Saxons two straight years). Pep is having the same feeling about Saterday--just hoping the AU Pep Band will have an opportunity to play the Saxons' fight song.

Here's a link to it: http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/AUPepBand/?action=view&current=PepBand10-6-07021.mp4

Pep knew the answer to the trivia question about the UMU All-American WR who hailed from Bemus Point, NY, hometown of AU junior QB Tom Secky....but did you also know that Josh Liddell was a grad assistant coach at Alfred while pursuing his master's degree? And that his brother Kiel played for Alfred while brother Josh was coaching?

If Pep has his way, the AU Pep Band, while much smaller, will show a slight resemblance to the Mount Union Marching Band. While her studies have gotten in the way of her sousaphone play with AU Pep Band this season, a certain AU sophomore from Peninsula, OH, who was a regular with the band in 2009, has a twin in the Mount Union Marching Band. While finals begin on Saturday, Pep nevertheless is hoping to coax her into a face-off with her twin at Mount Union Stadium. Battle of the Bands meets Twin Rivalry.

On another note, Alfred University, like the University of Mount Union, was coeducational from inception. Alfred was founded by Seventh Day Baptists in 1836, while the Methodists started Mount Union in 1846.

No doubt there's more to come. Stay tuned.

On Saxon Warriors!

[HScoach]

8:30 works for me

[seventiesraider]

Pep is having the same feeling about Saterday--just hoping the AU Pep Band will have an opportunity to play the Saxons' fight song.

Maybe you better play it when they take the field.  Just Kidding. Good luck convincing that Sousaphone player to haul that monster all the way from the Southern Tier with a dim glimmer of hope of playing the fight song. Our defense has been incredibly stingy since the 4th or 5th game.

I expect you to come play along the main entrance for me and the gang that never sit down. The Mount band does but for some reason they are always facing the other way. 

[mtfan]

8:30 works for me

8:30 it is!  to both HURF and I it sounds great and will be great to catch up with everyone...AGAIN !  Wesleydad, would be nice to have you along again as well but maybe in a few weeks we can do it in Salem!    Hey Pat, who's coming from D3football.com ? They're welcome to join us!

[Olinemom]

 If you'all are meeting at 8:30, please have one for me at least by 8:45 and remember some of us will be grading *%#%*) exams and not having any fun at all!!!  Hope I'll be able to find some video or audio on the computer on Saturday that doesn't cost!!  Set up as usual at the Quality Inn for the STAGG Bowl week.  Keep the snow up noath pulease (trying a little southern accent)!  Expect to see you in 2 - 3 weeks!!!
   

[runyr]

I hope Pep enjoys these guys and here's hoping they play this song over and over (after each score)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_e0vaMYlI8

(Please note: Seventies, John Bovyer and Terry Taylor occupying "The Spot" on the south wall in the upper left corner of said video)

Since TGP has given Mount Union a complete scouting report, Pep would like to share some information that you probably didn't care to know.

Seems like just yesterday Pep was exchanging posts with members of the Ithaca Bomber First Down Club, hoping that AU Pep Band would have an opportunity to play the fight song. (The Bombers had shut out Pep's Saxons two straight years). Pep is having the same feeling about Saterday--just hoping the AU Pep Band will have an opportunity to play the Saxons' fight song.

Here's a link to it: http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/AUPepBand/?action=view&current=PepBand10-6-07021.mp4

Pep knew the answer to the trivia question about the UMU All-American WR who hailed from Bemus Point, NY, hometown of AU junior QB Tom Secky....but did you also know that Josh Liddell was a grad assistant coach at Alfred while pursuing his master's degree? And that his brother Kiel played for Alfred while brother Josh was coaching?

If Pep has his way, the AU Pep Band, while much smaller, will show a slight resemblance to the Mount Union Marching Band. While her studies have gotten in the way of her sousaphone play with AU Pep Band this season, a certain AU sophomore from Peninsula, OH, who was a regular with the band in 2009, has a twin in the Mount Union Marching Band. While finals begin on Saturday, Pep nevertheless is hoping to coax her into a face-off with her twin at Mount Union Stadium. Battle of the Bands meets Twin Rivalry.

On another note, Alfred University, like the University of Mount Union, was coeducational from inception. Alfred was founded by Seventh Day Baptists in 1836, while the Methodists started Mount Union in 1846.

No doubt there's more to come. Stay tuned.

On Saxon Warriors!

+k for the history, Pep.  Based on the two video links here, if it were a playoff of the two school bands, Mount's band wins going away.  Sorry.  

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Nice article on the D3Football.com main page on Lambert Budzinski.

What a great name for a Defensive Football Player!

[Knightstalker]

Nice article on the D3Football.com main page on Lambert Budzinski.

What a great name for a Defensive Football Player!

With a name like that he sounds like someone who played for Notre Dame and then Da Bears about 60 years ago.

[AUPepBand]

+k for the history, Pep.  Based on the two video links here, if it were a playoff of the two school bands, Mount's band wins going away.  Sorry.  

There's really no comparison, runyr.

At Mount Union, you have a polished, uniformed, regimented, finely tuned, well-rehearsed marching band of superb musicians prepared to wow the crowd with their halftime drills and toe-tapping tunes. Arguably one of the finest D3 bands in the land.

At Alfred, you have just a handful of tee-shirt clad, crazed, delirious spirit-filled Alfred football fans armed with a few musical instruments--who haven't been under the direction of a  musical director since "that one time at Band Camp" prior to the start of the season.

Stay tuned,
and, oh yeah, On Saxon Warriors!