FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

JCU in ot! How sad that its a playoff game and the empty seats outnumber the filled seats 10 to 1. It looked like the same wAs true at the UMU game.

It's like that everywhere on Thanksgiving weekend, honestly.

In D3.  Not in Columbus today where they set an all-time attendance record for Ohio Stadium (and which will probably never be bettered since they're removing some seats in the off-season).

Well, since this is ... what's it called again? D3boards.com? I figured that was obvious.

Yeah, it was!  I just thought I'd toss out that little tidbit I learned from the announcers.

[Sir Battlescars]

I guess the OAC isn't all that bad this year after all 
Congrats to John Carroll and Mount Union.

[Dr. Acula]

Great 2nd half by the Raider D.  They looked to be reeling in the first half and they came out and clamped down the 2nd half.  Good adjustments at halftime as always.

Game ball to coaches.

Ditto on that! Great adjustments at half by the coaching staff! To shut out an offense like that in the 2nd half was great to see, especially after giving up 21 in the first half. I have to give it to the Dline, they didn't get many sacks in the first 3 quarters, but they were getting pressure and hands in the face of the QB. Redman and Vidal had a nice game. There were too many missed tackles and missed assignments in the first half though.

Our punt team played well, but Kennedy has been trying way to hard to create something on punt returns. Please just take what they give you and let the O do their thing.

Very happy for this team and excited that they get to keep playing. Now time to make a decision of whether to make the trip or not.

Also, congrats to JCU on another win. The league may not be good, but at least we have two teams that have won two games each in the playoffs!

I had to look it up...Vidal has 12.5 sacks now.  I'll take that all day long from a DT. 

[mr_mom]

In the 2016 OAC Playoff Pick-em, it was déjà vu all over again as our first round leaders were also among our second round leaders.  BillyRayJimBob and desertcat1 were joined by Mr. Ypsi, missing a single game and garnering 14 points.

Spreads for Round #3 will come out Monday night.

[Toph]

David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead.  The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground.

[wesleydad]

Mount guys, anyone planning on making the trip to Alfred this weekend to catch the game.  Let me know as I am thinking about making the trip, nice place to watch a game.  Also, nice win by JCU in a hell of a defensive battle.  Made the play that was needed, blocked field goal, and then won it in OT.  Good luck next week at UWW.

[BillyRayJimBob]

In the 2016 OAC Playoff Pick-em, it was déjà vu all over again as our first round leaders were also among our second round leaders.  BillyRayJimBob and desertcat1 were joined by Mr. Ypsi, missing a single game and garnering 14 points.

Spreads for Round #3 will come out Monday night.

A blind squirrel picks up an acorn every now and again!
Where is RealityCheck?  That dude owes me wings!

I talked to Kevin Burke's Mom yesterday .. HOTTIE!!!!

[Raiderplaybyplay]

David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead.  The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground.

UWW is definitely beatable this year. They've looked good the last couple playoff games but their offense really showed inconsistency against weaker conference  opponents. Usually UWWs oline wears down opponents who just can't play with them,  but I think JCU has an elite D line that should match up well.

Should be a good game.

[mr_mom]

Spreads are out now. 

[Desertraider]

I have read a couple of comments regarding Mount's opponents thus far that really read like a "backhanded compliment". The one referenced this Hobart team being one of the weaker Bart teams in the last 8-10 years and the same about JHU (may have been 'less talented'). That may be true in both cases but when it is prefaced with 'nice win for the Raiders against...(insert weaker team reference)'. I mean really? Let us not forget this is not exactly the best team Mount has put on the field in the last 10 years either. Mount has found ways to win - which is often harder than blowing teams out and certainly builds more football "maturity". I mean maybe Hobart and JHU were not the best teams they have had historically - which begs the question, where does the 2012 JHU team that came to Alliance and got beat 55-13 or the 2008 Hobart squad that got beat 42-7 rank?

I know I am being nit picky but it's Monday and this has been stewing since Saturday. Oh well. On to Alfred.

[Dr. Acula]

I thought I saw people saying this was one of JHU's best teams?  Definitely saw multiple posts about it not being one of Hobart's best teams though.  Just beat who they put you against.  That's all you can do.  I think Mount is going to beat Alfred.  After that?  The ride could get bumpy down in Texas.  Remember the 2013 squad that somehow willed their way to Salem only to be completely overmatched by a good UWW team?  Yeah, me too.  What would make a trip to Belton possibly more impressive is that team had Burke to pull a rabbit out of his hat again and again.  This team does not.  But first things first, take care of business Saturday.  We can worry about UMHB Sunday hopefully. 

[Pat Coleman]

Concur with Dr. Acula -- never heard anyone say this wasn't one of JHU's best teams.

[ITH radio]

I have read a couple of comments regarding Mount's opponents thus far that really read like a "backhanded compliment". The one referenced this Hobart team being one of the weaker Bart teams in the last 8-10 years and the same about JHU (may have been 'less talented'). That may be true in both cases but when it is prefaced with 'nice win for the Raiders against...(insert weaker team reference)'. I mean really? Let us not forget this is not exactly the best team Mount has put on the field in the last 10 years either. Mount has found ways to win - which is often harder than blowing teams out and certainly builds more football "maturity". I mean maybe Hobart and JHU were not the best teams they have had historically - which begs the question, where does the 2012 JHU team that came to Alliance and got beat 55-13 or the 2008 Hobart squad that got beat 42-7 rank?

I know I am being nit picky but it's Monday and this has been stewing since Saturday. Oh well. On to Alfred.

Here's the thing....

This year's Hobart team has sometimes been viewed as "weak" b/c they had to comeback and win a lot of close games this year. The reality is that the LL was improved, it's not a "weak" league (and was maybe even better than the E8 overall this year) so the Statesmen couldn't steam roll their conference foes as they did in prior playoff years. If not for a litany of penalties (-150+) in the RPI game, they'd have been 10-0 and probably wouldn't have met Mt or a Top 10 team like them until now and we'd have seen a similar close game, with the Raiders probably out-lasting them because of coaching and better defensive players / team speed.

It should be noted, if it hasn't been already, that this year's Hobart passing offense was the best in their 120+ year program history. Period. It was probably one of, if not the best the Raiders had seen coming into Rd1 or will see all season. I think the stats back it up. What's lacking (and what critics of Hobart point out) was any semblance of a running game. This is partially due to play calling / system and due to the OL no longer having All-American type guys named Marpet and Smith on it. Letizia had a nice half vs. Mt but they seemed to go away from running him in the second half.

Defensively the Statesmen were ok and played with some younger guys who had to fill in b/c of graduations and injuries which happens to every team, every year. This year's Hobart defense was definitely below their 2014 and 2012 versions (once again prob bc of all-time guys like Tyre Coleman and Devin Worthington having moved on), but they weren't a bad unit overall. Main criticism was their MLBs weren't that fast and I'm sure Coach Kehres saw and exploited the fact that the Statesmen's corners are very aggressive and tended to bite on play action, hence the Ruth TD and other plays like the screen pass on the 3rd & 15 on the opening drive.

I also think the NE teams Alfred played are legitimate playoff opponents. Both programs have built up over time and deserve to be viewed as solid  Eastern FB schools going forward. WNE probably would have beaten Alfred w/o the turnovers. You have to credit Alfred however, they keep finding ways to win close games. Their QB Johnson and WR Bish are as good a combo out there and the Saxons' OL is big and should match up well w/ the Raiders not unlike Hobart and JHU did.

Ultimately it seems what's being missed here is Kehres' halftime adjustments, especially defensively, and how that's helping his team close out ball games. Coach (and his DC) has done a great job here against two strong offenses in Hobart and JHU.

I stand by my Mt to Stagg Bowl pick and it's mostly bc of coaching.

[Desertraider]

I have read a couple of comments regarding Mount's opponents thus far that really read like a "backhanded compliment". The one referenced this Hobart team being one of the weaker Bart teams in the last 8-10 years and the same about JHU (may have been 'less talented'). That may be true in both cases but when it is prefaced with 'nice win for the Raiders against...(insert weaker team reference)'. I mean really? Let us not forget this is not exactly the best team Mount has put on the field in the last 10 years either. Mount has found ways to win - which is often harder than blowing teams out and certainly builds more football "maturity". I mean maybe Hobart and JHU were not the best teams they have had historically - which begs the question, where does the 2012 JHU team that came to Alliance and got beat 55-13 or the 2008 Hobart squad that got beat 42-7 rank?

I know I am being nit picky but it's Monday and this has been stewing since Saturday. Oh well. On to Alfred.

Here's the thing....

This year's Hobart team has sometimes been viewed as "weak" b/c they had to comeback and win a lot of close games this year. The reality is that the LL was improved, it's not a "weak" league (and was maybe even better than the E8 overall this year) so the Statesmen couldn't steam roll their conference foes as they did in prior playoff years. If not for a litany of penalties (-150+) in the RPI game, they'd have been 10-0 and probably wouldn't have met Mt or a Top 10 team like them until now and we'd have seen a similar close game, with the Raiders probably out-lasting them because of coaching and better defensive players / team speed.

It should be noted, if it hasn't been already, that this year's Hobart passing offense was the best in their 120+ year program history. Period. It was probably one of, if not the best the Raiders had seen coming into Rd1 or will see all season. I think the stats back it up. What's lacking (and what critics of Hobart point out) was any semblance of a running game. This is partially due to play calling / system and due to the OL no longer having All-American type guys named Marpet and Smith on it. Letizia had a nice half vs. Mt but they seemed to go away from running him in the second half.

Defensively the Statesmen were ok and played with some younger guys who had to fill in b/c of graduations and injuries which happens to every team, every year. This year's Hobart defense was definitely below their 2014 and 2012 versions (once again prob bc of all-time guys like Tyre Coleman and Devin Worthington having moved on), but they weren't a bad unit overall. Main criticism was their MLBs weren't that fast and I'm sure Coach Kehres saw and exploited the fact that the Statesmen's corners are very aggressive and tended to bite on play action, hence the Ruth TD and other plays like the screen pass on the 3rd & 15 on the opening drive.

I also think the NE teams Alfred played are legitimate playoff opponents. Both programs have built up over time and deserve to be viewed as solid  Eastern FB schools going forward. WNE probably would have beaten Alfred w/o the turnovers. You have to credit Alfred however, they keep finding ways to win close games. Their QB Johnson and WR Bish are as good a combo out there and the Saxons' OL is big and should match up well w/ the Raiders not unlike Hobart and JHU did.

Ultimately it seems what's being missed here is Kehres' halftime adjustments, especially defensively, and how that's helping his team close out ball games. Coach (and his DC) has done a great job here against two strong offenses in Hobart and JHU.

I stand by my Mt to Stagg Bowl pick and it's mostly bc of coaching.

I will say that Hobart's WRs were incredible and the QB was legit. Probably the best combo Mount has seen in a while. JHUs QB was really good as well. You are right about the haltime adjustments. VK, Cappas and crew have been spot on with those the past couple games. Mount has a history of excellent halftime adjustments. Not sure I agree on Mount to Stagg, but let's go one at a time. No bigger game for Mount than Alfred right now.

[AUPepBand]

So Pep is just wondering how well Mount Union fans travel? Pep understands that this is really the first year in a very long time that  Mount fans have had to travel (other than to Salem, VA) for playoffs. How many might we expect in Mayberry this Saterday?