FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[BrowardRaider]

Agreed Tiger, first playoff game for many starters playing and perhaps overlooking what many assumed was an overmatched and undermanned opponent. Playoffs are a pass/fail and by getting the W- move on with much to improve between now and next Saturday. No risk of overconfidence in Raidernation one would hope and who isn't sky high coming into Alliance?

[Dr. Acula]

Wow.  Wesley got the ball back with 44 seconds and no timeouts needing a TD and got it.  5 plays, 82 yards in 32 seconds.  All 3 completions to the same kid (36, 13, 33 yds).  JHU has to be beside themselves.  Crazy!  As always, we have it so good with real playoffs decided on the field.

And congrats to SJF.  Heck of an effort up there.  Defense came to play big time.  Unfortunately, that's 2 straight years the OAC runner up was one and done.  Need to take advantage of the years when the runner up gets sent to a different region and win a couple games.     

[raiderpa]

JCU could not handle field conditions.  Their receivers were not able to run routes or adjust and QB threw where they should have been on a dry day and they weren't there.
SJF had decent coverage all day, but the Blue Streaks were sooooo disappointing. Thought they could score after kickoff return that put them down 22-16, but int ended the threat.  JCU qb after great season looked pedestrian. forced passes into double and triple teams all day...
Better team, IMO didn't win, but the team that hung tough and handled adversity did. They were better today when it counted.
Congrats to Fisher.

[Upstate]

JCUs speed was apparent early on, they were flying all over the place on both sides of the ball. However once the weather and field turned sour their speed advantage went by the wayside. Fishers size leaned on the smaller JCU defense and really moved the ball on the ground.

The SJF Defense dropped 8 most of the game and JCU struggled to complete passes downfield.

I really thought JCU was going to run away with it at the beginning but Fisher really took advantage with the weather turning and completely changed the game.

[formerd3db]

Wow.  Wesley got the ball back with 44 seconds and no timeouts needing a TD and got it.  5 plays, 82 yards in 32 seconds.  All 3 completions to the same kid (36, 13, 33 yds).  JHU has to be beside themselves.  Crazy!  As always, we have it so good with real playoffs decided on the field.

And congrats to SJF.  Heck of an effort up there.  Defense came to play big time.  Unfortunately, that's 2 straight years the OAC runner up was one and done.  Need to take advantage of the years when the runner up gets sent to a different region and win a couple games.   

Wow, that is exciting.  That same thing happened in the Albion/Hope MIAA Championship game a week ago.  With less than 3 minutes left in the game, each team marched right down the field within a minute (Albion had 3 plays starting from their own 25 and got down to Hope's 7 yard line, before getting stopped 3 plays and settling for a field goal. With 57 seconds left in the game, Hope came right back and with 4 seconds left missed a game-tying FG that would have sent it into OT (ball hit left goal post upright and bounced down); final score 34-31.  Anyway, we all hate that when it happens to our team i.e. 3-4 plays down the field for a score, yet obviously it is a high for the team that does it.  A tough loss today as has been mentioned, however, congrats to SJF; they never gave up.

I still think Mount will get to the Stagg Bowl, however, from the accounts you guys have shared today from the W&J 1st round game, it might be a slightly tougher road.  At the same time, Mount is capable of coming up with the plays they need to do to get there. Congrats for the 1st round win today. But...you Mount guys are used to this!  

[Craft_Beermeister]

With the gusting winds not letting much throughout the entire Mount Union W&J game made for some very nasty conditions to watch a game.   The wind was blowing crosswise and slightly to the North, but not the typical strong northerly winds that make passing to the south end zone a challenge. 

,There were many empty seats and there the energy level wasn't very high for a playoff game.  Mount Union looked good in spurts but with both the offense and defense not showing a lot of sustained consistency Mount let W&J stay in the game.  I seems that this year's young Mount Union  team doesn't have the knockout punch mentality that past Mount Union teams had. I was at the Franklin, BW, JCU. and today's game and I felt that all four of those games could have easily been blowouts if Mount would have been consistently focused.  In the past, many opponents, especially in cold uncomfortable conditions, surrender when the Mount Union machine got in high gear and I'm not seeing that yet this year.

[bushman]

Different captain, same ship:)

[Desertraider]

"The top seeds had little trouble, although UW-Whitewater got off to a slow start in its first-round game. Mount Union ran out to a 21-7 lead on Washington and Jefferson on three Kevin Burke touchdown passes and cruised to a 34-20 win."

Took this from the D3football write-up on the front. Can't say that I agree that Mount had little trouble, and not real sure of the "cruised" part either. A win is a win - this is true - but....next week is going to be interesting to say the least.

I agree with CB on teams surrendering in the past - but I have not seen this Mount get in the high-gear that previous Mount teams have been able to get it. This one has yet to play a full game. I have seen great quarters - but not a complete 4 quarter game. I thought today would be the first - but the first quarter was great and the third was ok and the fourth they were able to coast.

[Pat Coleman]

Tickets for the W&J vs Mount Union game are selling for $8, one dollar less than a season ticket.  I understand that the price is set by the NCAA.  John Carroll apparently feels they are the exception as they are selling reserved for $15 and general admission for $10.  (Students get in for $4).  I guess they want to make some bucks while they can, big time program that they are.

Ticket prices are not set by the NCAA. Minimums are set by the NCAA.

[formerd3db]

Tickets for the W&J vs Mount Union game are selling for $8, one dollar less than a season ticket.  I understand that the price is set by the NCAA.  John Carroll apparently feels they are the exception as they are selling reserved for $15 and general admission for $10.  (Students get in for $4).  I guess they want to make some bucks while they can, big time program that they are.

Ticket prices are not set by the NCAA. Minimums are set by the NCAA.

Thanks for clarifying that Pat.  With the variances in prices for tickets, it seemed that would be the reason i.e. NCAA requiring at least a minimum price since they set the regulations for essentially almost everything for playoff games.

[mr_mom]

It's crowded at the top.

Eleven of our 29 players ended up with double-digit scores, with MasterJedi and rams1102 leading the way with 12 out of 16 points.

Round  2 games will be worth 2 points; spreads will be out Monday night.

[Craft_Beermeister]

"The top seeds had little trouble, although UW-Whitewater got off to a slow start in its first-round game. Mount Union ran out to a 21-7 lead on Washington and Jefferson on three Kevin Burke touchdown passes and cruised to a 34-20 win."

Took this from the D3football write-up on the front. Can't say that I agree that Mount had little trouble, and not real sure of the "cruised" part either. A win is a win - this is true - but....next week is going to be interesting to say the least.

I agree with CB on teams surrendering in the past - but I have not seen this Mount get in the high-gear that previous Mount teams have been able to get it. This one has yet to play a full game. I have seen great quarters - but not a complete 4 quarter game. I thought today would be the first - but the first quarter was great and the third was ok and the fourth they were able to coast.

desertraider, I pretty much agree with your summation though if Mounts DBs would react better to the rainbow passes put up the last two weeks both games would have been over early in the 3rd quarter.  I didn't try to go back and watch both games, but it seem that both Meyers and Coughlin on 4th down float passes that seemed to be up for grabs only to have the Mount DBs not get hands on them.

[SaintsFAN]

,There were many empty seats and there the energy level wasn't very high for a playoff game.  Mount Union looked good in spurts but with both the offense and defense not showing a lot of sustained consistency Mount let W&J stay in the game.  I seems that this year's young Mount Union  team doesn't have the knockout punch mentality that past Mount Union teams had. I was at the Franklin, BW, JCU. and today's game and I felt that all four of those games could have easily been blowouts if Mount would have been consistently focused.  In the past, many opponents, especially in cold uncomfortable conditions, surrender when the Mount Union machine got in high gear and I'm not seeing that yet this year.

Makes one appreciate the more dominant teams from Alliance a little bit more, no?

I think this team could win the Title but is definitely giving perspective to those who choose to see it.  Mount Union has had a helluva run (not that it's over).

[HScoach]

An opening round game against 8-2 W&J in 20 something temps with 20-30 mph winds?   I wouldn't have there watching either if had to be outside.

I'll give the fans a pass today.

[mr_mom]

An opening round game against 8-2 W&J in 20 something temps with 20-30 mph winds?   I wouldn't have there watching either if had to be outside.

I'll give the fans a pass today.

I felt cold just listening to the wind on Ric and Mark's microphones!