FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[seventiesraider]

Well, they are at least trying to get all those things done that they were told the first day of class would be due the day of the final.

[Ric]

Stephanie should have shared the byline with me since I asked all the questions for her story, LOL.  Actually I'm just glad someone ran with it.  McDavid has had a fine senior year.  The story is below:


Unsung senior spurs Mount

McDavid makes most of his turn on defense

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sportswriter


ALLIANCE - Mount Union fans probably haven't heard a lot about Robert McDavid.

Yet the versatile senior is the epitome of an unsung member of the Purple Raiders' defense and special teams, the mere mention of him is enough to practically reduce his coach to tears -- the grizzly bear that is Purple Raiders 20-year coach Larry Kehres, no less.

``When guys wait their turn like Robert has, switched positions to be a kickoff returner because that's where we needed him, I just can't say enough about the kind of character that takes,'' Kehres said.

Kehres spoke in an admitted emotional tone after a 34-31 win over Capital last week to advance to this week's Division III semifinal with Rowan (N.J.).

The coach knew how much it meant to the former quarterback turned defensive back to make a pair of key plays.

In the pivotal final quarter, McDavid made a clutch interception to help keep a three-point advantage. Two possessions later, after Capital took its final lead, with just under seven minutes to go, McDavid returned a kick 45 yards to give the Purple Raiders a short field to mount their winning drive.

``Those plays were absolutely critical,'' Kehres said.

The 5-foot-11, 189-pound McDavid came to Mount Union as a running-style quarterback from Pickerington.

``But I got off to a rough start when I broke my foot in camp,'' McDavid said. ``Then things weren't working out at quarterback with Mike (Jorris) coming in with such a strong arm, so I switched to defense. But there I had to wait my turn behind (safety Jesse) Clum last year.''

McDavid wasn't speaking with a poor-me attitude, but with enthusiasm: ``The best part is I've made a lot of new friends on defense, guys that I'll be close to me for the rest of my life.''

But that even pales in comparison to the place he has in his coach's heart.

[seventiesraider]

The question, as always, is who steps up and has a career day this week?

[Ajwassup]

70's:
     We dont study for finals until Sunday, and that if we even study at all.   From what i hear around campus, there are going to be a lot of students there from MUC rooting on the Raiders.  I know my group will be one of them.  I can study all day Sunday, but Saturday its MUC football time!!!  GO RAIDERS!!!

[reality check]

Just found out that the RB on the statistical spotlight for Wesley (Kevin Nelson) was the same kid that I called play by play for two years ago at University of New Haven.  He was from Delaware so basically he went home and has had two great seasons for the Wolverines.  His QB from UNH started the last two years at Western Connecticut in the NJAC and ended up throwing for 2500 yards and 25 TD's this year for 2nd team NJAC.  Pretty cool to see these kids I got to know succeed on the Division III level.  So now I have two teams to root for the weekend. 

Go Wolverines!  Go Raiders!

[skunks_sidekick]

Ok, here is my analysis of this game.  I thought I gave compelling reasons (backed by stats)  why CAP wouldn't win the game last week, only to have them score at a much higher level than was indicated by previous games.  So most likely this analysis will be worth squat come Saturday afternoon.

Offensively, Mount just needs to keep doing what they have been doing.  My ONLY suggestion is we mix up our first down play selection some, but I have been bitching about this over the past few years, and as of yet LK isn't listening to me.     I think Mount scores at least 28-35 points in this one.  They have to double Garcon, so Casto and company should be free to make plays over the middle, while Kmic and that offensive line continue their sterling play-off performances.

Defensively - get a healthy Watson back this week.  I have watched this kid for two years, and in that time I have never seen him get beat like he did last week.  If he is back up to speed, it will make our whole defense just that much better.  And, if he isn't 100%, do NOT have the safety on his side of the field rotate over when the offense puts a guy in motion to the other side.  We finally stopped doing this at the end of the 4th quarter, and we covered #10 at the right time. 

It doesn't seem like either team will get too far down or up getting or giving up an early score.  Consistency, lack of turnovers, and a decent kicking game will further showcase what I believe to be the superior talent of Mount. 

Mount - 35   Rowan - 21

[jdean]

Local paper quotes the Rowan coach as saying they'll be leaving by bus (2) tomorrow after practice. Arriving in our area early Friday morning, spending a leisure morning and evening with a practice sandwiched in between. Says its the same thing they did in 1999.

[stoonk]

Reality Check,
I predict the score of  Mount Union College vs Rowan University to be 24-17.The mighty Mount knows the way to Salem and the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl."Los Purple"Raiders winning in a tight one..Those men in the purple outfits will get the job done with Nate "The Skate" Kimic and Pierre "Speedo"Garcon playing key roles in the win. Later RC--gotta get my mule train up the hill for another payload.  

[theaprof]

21 pages on Saturday and only 2 pages since--is there a playoff game this week or not?  The Rowan boys seem tohave conceded the game--they're not even talking football on their page.

[pakownr97]

The more posts I read from Wisconsin-Whitewater fans, and from personal experience with Rowan and Wesley fans, I think I am rooting for Mount Union to win the Stagg Bowl.  But first take care of Rowan.  As Roseann Roseannadanna used to say, "They belong in New Jersey!"

Mount fans treated us Bridgewater fans fairly at "our" Stagg Bowl.  Hopefully we can meet in Salem again.  I know, but not this year.

Good luck.  Especially this week.

[zman]

Pakownr97:

At least in New Jersey we have clocks that work.

[JT]

Way to go Z-man.... Zing! Maybe you should arrange a sit down with ol'pak and make him an offer he can't refuse 

[wrighthall220]

zman,
Our clock works fine, it was the clock OPERATOR that had a malfunction.. at least zing the right object! 

[JT]

theaprof,

We tend to get the kinda crap talking from other teams during the regionals just like Mount gets.  There isn't much to say.  Six years is a long time. Familiarity has waned. Fans don't get to see film.

Now you might get some fringe Profs fans coming in here to stir some **** up, but the majority of knowledgeable fans won't be doing it.  Both teams have their strong points.

A few breaks one way will probably decide this.  I'm looking forward to the game.  I hope it is a great one.

[zman]

Wrighthall whatever:

Oh really?  It was the CLOCK OPERATOR? Hmm...I believe you're right.  But you know, up until now,  nobody seemed to know just WHAT happened.  We've heard clock malfunction....loose wire...all the jumping around in the booth.  It's good to know that it was actually the operator who deliberately stopped the clock at 1 second rather than allow it to expire.  You should've brought Homer up to Wesley so he could've stopped the clock right after the opening kickoff.

Yup...still pissed about that little misadventure.

If Homer lived in Jersey, he'd have a horse's head in his bed.