FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Raider 68]

Congrats to all the Raiders for a gut check, never give up effort. I was proud to witness
one of most exciting wins in Mount history. Enjoy the moment, then get ready for St. Thomas next Friday. I have felt for some time that this would be Mount's year and now one game away for all the players and dedicated seniors. Bring home #11!

[raiderpa]

Great game, but the thing I take away is that when Mary Hardin  HAD to get it done, they couldn't, and when Mount HAD to get it done, they did.  Kudos for the defense who held MHB to about 50-60 percent of their  yards per game average while being put in impossible situations by the offense and Mount #5 fumbles again to begin the parade!  Why does this kid carry the ball? He did it last week too.
  The pick six was there, #15 was sitting on it all game and almost had another.  Collins, IMO, stepped up to another level today, the level of Garcon and Shorts.
I said at the beginning of the game that I thought we would need 42 to win..
Simon has been steady his entire career, and this td will be one for his scrapbook cover.
I told several that the 3OT game at JCU was as exciting as this one, but I was a lot younger then and my blood pressure was much more stable...so this one definitely has more of an impact on mind and body..haha
Finally, I have never seen anyone put the wood to Mount ball carriers and receivers like MHB tacklers did...wow, I hope we came out healthy.  I saw Modrak on crutches and hope that is preventative. Was good to see Stewart and LaForce back on the field.

[emma17]

Congratulations Mt on a great gut check victory.  I'm sure like many I was wondering if Mt would be able to mount the comeback as this was all new territory.  So many of the Mt players made great plays and I was especially impressed with Burke's toughness and moxy.  That kid doesn't back down from anything. 

[Small but Slow]

Amazing finish to a game Mount tried to give away. UMHB took advantage of every opportunity they were given and were worthy opponents. Kevin Burke grew up today. He overcame some poor decisions and was money down the stretch. At halftime I told Kira and Jaxon's Dad I didn't like our chances of coming back. The first half seemed similar to 2003 Stagg Bowl against St. John's. I am glad to be proven wrong!

The touchdown run from the 19 with 11 seconds left was gutsy. I don't recall if Mount had a timeout remaining, I imagine they did, but calling that play in that situation took some serious stones!

Look forward to the trip up from Florida. 

[edward de vere]

Simon's touchdown:  Biggest hole I've ever seen on any play, in any game, at any level in my life.

It is theoretically possible that Edward De Vere would have scored on that play, and he's been dead for 400 years.

[BrowardRaider]

Amen Raiderpa, one of those lumber laying, slobber knocking shots made SportsCenter's Top plays tonight

[runyr]

Finally, I have never seen anyone put the wood to Mount ball carriers and receivers like MHB tacklers did...wow, I hope we came out healthy.  I saw Modrak on crutches and hope that is preventative. Was good to see Stewart and LaForce back on the field.

Amen.  The Cru has nothing to be ashamed of.  Those guys are very good football players who play as tough as anybody in D3 ever.  Total respect for MHB.

[skunks_sidekick]

WOW....just WOW!  Worst/best game ever...all in the same game.

Loudest crowd ever at Mount stadium.

UMHB was the fastest, hardest hitting team Mount has played.  If UST is close to that, it will be one H#$ of a Stagg!

I saw a defense that just put on a "oh not this half" display in the second half.  No matter what crazy Mount's turnovers threw at them, they just kept slugging. 

And Jr. Collins has now put on a display in these playoffs that I don't think has been duplicated from a Mount receiver.  3rd and 20...pick it up....really?

WOW....just....WOW!

[runyr]

PS - I'm going to the Stagg Bowl! Coming all the way from Portland, Oregon to be there.

[skunks_sidekick]

Last thoughts for tonight.....

Saints Fan........

MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS AWESOME.........he totally outkicked is marriage coverage.  Mrs. Saintsfan is not only beautiful...she is a great trouper, and was all in at the margarita breakfast this morning.  My man......you done GOOD!   

[ron doney]

Is there any player, maybe a fith year senior, on the UMU team who's won at Salem?

[jaypeter]

Can't wait till Thursday night when I get to finally see the game on the ESPNU rebroadcast

[dlippiel]

Congrats to Mount on a hell of a win yesterday! Dlip was impressed!

[HScoach]

Wow.  What a game.   My heart rate still hasn't returned to normal.  So many thoughts racing thru my head.  Just randomly typing:

1.  congrats the seniors for leading this team back when they were on the edge of getting blown out in the 3rd quarter.   One more big play by MHB there and it's ball game.

2.  Best crowd/atmosphere I've ever seen at Mount.  That had the feel of a Stagg, one of the early ones before we got used to attending.  And the crowd emptying onto the field at the end was electric.  Way to go Mount Fans!

3.  Never thought I'd see it, but MHB's defense is a little faster than ours.  Our D-line was more active, but their LB's all could run.  Looked like they were playing three safeties at LB.   Very impressive.

4.  Ugh, the offense.  5 turnovers?  The first 2 unforced?  Really?  What a way to lose game to keep you from the Stagg.

5.  Wow, the defense.  Bailey finished 9-19 passing for 113 yards and he ran for 24 yards on 16 carries.   That's a stat line against the South Region Offensive Player of the Year that is hard to believe.  Only 275 yards of total offense, just over half of their average, and scored 1 TD on defense, one on a 10 yard drive.    The scoreboard might say MHB scored 35, but the Mount defense played GREAT.

6.  Wow, the offense.   After pissing the game away in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, what a performance in the 4th.  Over 200 yards and clutch play after clutch play when they HAD to have it.   Burke showed a level of composure and maturity that we haven't had in a few years.  This kid is going to be a good one.

7.  Junior Collins is officially a STUD.   Another 200 yard game when the defense KNOWS he's getting the ball.  Has incredible hands.   Reminds me of Adam Marino in that regard.  Put it near him and he's catching it.

8.  O-line played very well, even after losing Modrak on the first play of the game.   Picked up the MHB blitz much better than I thought they would.  And paved a 5 yard wide hole for Simon's game winning TD.  Well done fellas.

9.  Jake Simon.  I couldn't have felt better for a kid to have scored the winning TD.  One of the many tough kids that could have gotten frustrated earlier in his career by being moved to another position (came in as TB, plays mostly FB) and not getting the carries he would get elsewhere.  But he keeps fighting and then scores the winning TD into the end zone crowd in the most improbable Mount win I've ever seen.  If I could have picked the guy on the roster to score than, it would be Jake.

10.  Nick Driskill and Matt Fetcko.  Both of those guys stood out on a defense that played great.  Fetcko was like a man possessed at the line of scrimmage and Driskill did what he does.  Makes plays all over the field.

11.  I know LK will get them focused, but it's going to hard to duplicate that energy level in only 6 days.  If this senior class wouldn't be so bent on etching their name in history, I'd be really worried about them pulling a Rowan and not even showing up on Friday night.  Even so, it's going to be tough mentally to recover.

12.  I wonder if I'll be back to normal by Friday morning to make the drive to VA?   I'm still pumped beyond belief.

13.  I find it rather ironic that yesterday was a complete role reversal from 2004.  Was a lot more fun being on the winning side of a great comeback.

WAY TO GO RAIDERS!

Mount had five turnovers, compared to MHB's on TO on the game's final play.

[HScoach]

Last thoughts for tonight.....

Saints Fan........

MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS AWESOME.........he totally outkicked is marriage coverage.  Mrs. Saintsfan is not only beautiful...she is a great trouper, and was all in at the margarita breakfast this morning.  My man......you done GOOD!   

I couldn't agree more.  Still can't figure what in the world you did to fool her into saying 'yes'.  You did well young man.  Take good care of her.