FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Craft_Beermeister]

I chatted briefly with LK before the game and he seamed to be real relaxed and trying to avoid getting in the way of the new coach and his team.

The Dom Capers Press Box looks real nice from the outside and even more impressive from inside. It got a bit tense in there in the 4th quarter.

[Dr. Acula]

JCU is smoking St. Norbert 41-0 in the 4th.

Musky loves playing Waynesburg tough only to fall short. 21-17 this year.

Ott was completely shut down by SJF 28-0.  As expected, they were totally ineffective running it gaining a total of 14 yds on 30 carries.  7 of those yards came as the clock was running out in the 4th.  When you only turn it over once and still only have 145 yds of offense that's not good.

Cap struggled on offense (190 yds) but that's to be expected with the new system.  We know they can't throw and it will take some time to see dividends running it.  In spite of that I'm sure Candeto expected more than 2.8 ypc today.  Defensively TMC was balanced and Cap allowed over 6 ypc on the ground.

Poor Wilm. Olivet is not good. Olivet was up 42-13 after 3.  That's really all there is to say.

Berg trounced Alma 52-7. Obviously Alma stinks, but they did what they should. Took care of business.  Nice games from Mees, Brooks and Lacey.  Hopefully going forward Berg will up the scheduling a few notches for the opener.

ONU was consistent as can be putting up 2 TD in each qtr.  Alfred State's QB had a day to forget going 3-16 for 5 yds and 3 picks. Oh, and 2 of those were pick 6's.  ONU got a nice ground game from Bodden who went over 100 yds.  Odd for a 55-0 game, but Angle struggled at QB (4-14, 41 yds, INT)

[raiderpa]

Mount mistakes kept Franklin in game, however, they were good enough to take advantage.  The Mount DB's never look for the ball and run with backs to QB..this is good when they can reach in and knock away, however, Franklin wised up in second half and threw back shoulder passes and the receiver, mostly Linville, came back and easily caught ball.  Also, Mount D seemed to tire out in 4th and gave up stuff that wasnt there earlier.
Burke was the key to the win, and Germany was, to me, disappointing. Minnich picked up where our noted fumbling RB left off last year  and I hope that is all we see of the fumbles, he has been solid in the past.
We knew Franklin would be a great opener, and they played their guts out, I applaud them.  They have another tough one next week, but I see them easily as conference champs and playoff bound.
Franklin fans were great for their team.
Class group

To finish, IMO  Pat Coleman is the BEST, this website is the BEST, and as a Mount Union alum and fan, D3 football should have run the Namdar story or he would have been shirking his responsibility as a journalist and unbiased website. Keep up the great work Pat and crew, we D3 nuts need your coverage and forums.

[Dr. Acula]

Holy crap!!  Where is desertraider?!  His Hiram Terriers are WINNING 23-13 with 4 min to go!  Maybe he's poised to rush the field?

+k to Bishopleftiesdad for pointing out this rare sight over on the NCAC board.  It's like missing Halley's comet.

[Raider 68]

I would love to hear from anyone who was at the game! Great game Franklin - they never quit and almost pulled it out. We have seen alot of team go down 3 scores, give up, and get pasted by 60. The Griz are not one of them.

desertraider.

I was at the game like so many more before. Everyone stayed until the end.

Here is my accessment;

1. Defense started great. pic and block punt ( having 2 guys on the same side of the ball and lose
    a TD, coaches were not watching this)

2. Franklin was a big strong solid team and I thought months ago this would be closer than most
   thought.

3. A fumble on a sure TD from the 2 would have given the Raiders 27-0 at half and it would not
     have been close.

4. The defense was on the field way too long, sure the TOP favored Franklin.

5. Obviously the O line needs much work,, but it is fixable and will improve. Woods did not show
    me that he is a quick to the hole runner, he hesitates, but the Frankllin D line was handling
    the Raider O line in the second half.

6. Nichols is going to be a top receiver, great hands, speed and moves. Not real sure on the WR's
    as a group as yet.

7. Burke gave the Raiders the opportunities, thank goodness.

8. Thought the play calling was OK, but the Raiders did not execute like they normally do.

This may have been the best thing to happen to a young team early in the year. Franklin brought
a veteran team in with most of its returning starters. Now we all know, players, coaches and fans
that the O line needs work, the WR's have to seperate for the deep balls. The team showed poise
in the late going when it had to. But, the Raiders helped Franklin by their mistakes.

[Desertraider]

Holy crap!!  Where is desertraider?!  His Hiram Terriers are WINNING 23-13 with 4 min to go!  Maybe he's poised to rush the field?

+k to Bishopleftiesdad for pointing out this rare sight over on the NCAC board.  It's like missing Halley's comet.

HIRAM WINS! HIRAM WINS! HIRAM WINS!! The crowd goes wild..all three of them. The Terriers starting a dynasty - now 1 and 0 in their last 1 game and a startling 3 and 28....ooops.

Raider 68 - Great assessment. I am going to watch the rebroadcast to get a better idea. I am looking on the positive side of this - Mount learned more about Mount than Berg learned of themselves today. Here is my "Raider Positive Outlook":
1. We know that Mount's chin is not made of glass. Franklin gave them their best shot and Mount found a way.
2. Woods, while disappointing, sat out an entire year. He is only going to get quicker to the hole as reaction time speeds up.
3. Champions answer and score when they have to. Mount is young, but that young O answered the call.
4. The o-line will gel the more they play. When was the last time Mount's starters played 4 qtrs before the playoffs? It is a plus.
5. This group of WR (especially Nicholls) is talented and quick.
Bottom line - when the O-line gels (and it will), and Woods "re-footballizes" himself (and he will) the offense will score a lot of points.

As far as the D goes - I was expecting more. The DBs (from the radio call) seemed confused/slow. This will pick-up. Aside from that the D "played well" - they did however seem to lack discipline. Heard a lot of over pursuit, penalties, miscues. We know coming in Mount was young and it showed today.

And in case you missed it: HIRAM WINS!!!

[TheBerg40]

Just a day at the office for the Big Bad Berg!

[Desertraider]

Just a day at the office for the Big Bad Berg!

Nice win for the 'Burg'. I am sure Alma gave it all they had. Forgive my laughter though. I mean on the one hand you have Alma. 1-9 last year, 2-8, 3-7...basically they are what 'Burg' was like 3 years ago - pretty sad. And then considering 2 years ago the 'big, bad, berg' had a handful of fans, ya know cuz they were so big and bad. Find it funny that one good season in the last 40 suddenly makes you a dynasty. Enjoy the ride.

[edward de vere]

As we all know by now, one of the great hazards of internet communication is misinterpretation.  If you don't put an emoticon at the end of every friggin' sentence, it's easy to have your comments taken the wrong way.

Personally, I think the Heidelberg posters are just having some good-natured fun.   When I see somebody refer to "The Big Bad Berg", I picture a Happy Face emoticon nearby, with a Wink emoticon just behind the curtain.

(Note:  If I'm wrong, the Heidelberg posters should come on here and post Snarly Face emoticons, so we'll know they're some serious badazzes.)

[ExTartanPlayer]

TheBerg no doubt considers the Student Princes the OAC favorite now since they pasted a lower-echelon MIAA team while Mount struggled to put away a team that's been to the playoffs 5 out of 6 years.

Based on the accounts of the game here, it does sound like Mount has some very real issues that need to be worked out. On the other hand, they were two flukes (the aforementioned gaffe on the blocked punt and the fumble going in for a TD) from turning this into a laugher by halftime, and even with that Franklin was only able to launch the rally with yet another gift from Mount with the fumbled second-half kickoff setting them up 10 yards from the endzone.  Think of it this way: Mount was breaking in a new head coach, 17 new starters, dealing with a distraction (Namdar), made crucial mistakes that cost them several touchdowns...and still managed to beat a team that's been to the playoffs and stared down the Purples before. What happens when the new guys gel, Mount doesn't fumble the ball away or put two #2 on the field...

I do think Franklin deserves a TON of credit for keeping their heads up and scrapping their way back into the game, and I expect that this is why Leonard has been willing to play UWW and Mount over the years - he's trying to develop a hardened team that won't blink on the road in the playoffs. Even if they needed some gifts to get back in the game, the Griz have to feel like that mission is accomplished. They might not be quite as talented as the Raiders, but they'll be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs with this game under their belts.

[RoyalPurple]

When Big Bad Coach Mike thinks Da Berg is Big and Bad, maybe he'll find the key to the trophy case and put some air in the Stagg Bowl football from when they really were Big and Bad. for 30 years in between they were just bad

[purple]

Mount Union should not be ranked No.1.

[RoyalPurple]

and Alma still gets to play UW-Oshkosh,,,,,,,,,,

[MUCRaker]

Congrats to VK on his first win as HC.  You have to appreciate the fact that he is working with a new staff, few returning starters, and a ton of young players.  All that has been stated already.  Maybe he should look back at the way his predecessor coached the 98 team.  The cardiac Raiders.

[Desertraider]

Mount Union should not be ranked No.1.

At this point I agree. I watched the game last night and really had a hard time justifying the No. 1 - right now. Too many mistakes (both players and coaches). Regardless - here is my take:
1. The o-line looked small....maybe not the right word more "thin".
2. #88 needs a ham sandwhich with cheese and a XXXXXXXL order of fries and gravy. He looked stick thin last year - did he lose weight?
3. #88 has a ton of potential. Really nice grab at the 2yd line.
4. Odd seeing a HC wearing shorts on sidelines. Everytime they scanned the sidelines I thought it was a trainer.
5. Nicholls is the go to for this season.
6. Woods looked more sluggish than it sounded on the radio.
7. Rosalva is only a Junior!!!
8. Minnich appeared to need a handle and Lester Hayes' stick-em to hold onto the ball. 2 fumbles - but he also bobbled a couple of others.
9. The defense is super quick - but over pursues too often.
10. The DBs need work. Not many D3 QBs can hit that back shoulder throw again and again - but Raiderpa was right, the DBs need to turn their heads. Whole second half was back shoulder passes with success.

As was mentioned Mount overcame alot- 17 new starters, and all that. I am glad they have 2 weeks before we see them again. Something tells me practice is going to be a bear - I'll know if I have players falling asleep in class.