FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[merlecanlas]

After 31 plus years, Mount Union has won 391 times out of 422 games. No college football team has matched that.

Mount's been playing football since 1893 and has 761 wins.  391 have come in the past 31 years...unreal

[bluestreak66]

I wondered if UWWs run was done and am on the fence a bit. However, I am losing my balance and leaning towards the "run is done camp". It isn't because of the 1-3 start, rather the start is the result of the failures. A team can start 1-3 when it is reinventing itself with new staff, new approach, new coordinators, etc. But Bullis and staff are in year 3. My concern is that he took over a great program and system and didn't change much - if anything in years 1 and 2. They had a great run game, timely passing, a big o-line and the always stellar LB and DBs. But they were guys that LL and staff brought in. What I noticed was the play calling was different. The 36-6 loss to Mount left a lot of UWW fans scratching their heads in Alliance (I talked to 2 after the game and 1 during the 4th qtr) and heard the cursing of many. UWW went out to a 6-0 lead and Mount responded with 15. It was 15-6 at half and then - panic. They abandoned the run. The play calling was  like they were 6 scores down. The dfensive play calling was suspect as well - no pressure, LBs weren't active, DBs out of position - dline was nonexistent. I kept waiting for UWW to what UWW does - and it never happened. The sidelines looked defeated  and so did the coaches. It was midway through the 3rd qtr.

I haven't seen a new offensive or defensive approach this year - the formations the plays all look the UWW fotball. What I see now mostly Bullis guys. Some of the straters were brought in when LL was still there (the QB Wilbur is now a 2nd year starter, they still have Hudson and Ware) but the bulk are Bullis guys and I don't see the same level of intensity or talent - UWW stonewalled at the 1 with the game on the line?? Fumbling in the red zone with the game on the line? UWW doesn't have a line that get a yard when it has to? I still believe Hudson and Ware could play anywhere and that Wilbur is one the better (I would argue maybe top 5%) QBs in DIII. I see a few holdovers from LL with little around them in terms of talent - and m not sure the coaches are developing the players the way the previous legends have. This leads me toward the side of the fence that The Titans are the new WIAC giant. I just wonder how far UWW falls - LAX fell to the basement after their run.

I don't know if any of the above makes any sense to anyone but me - but Mount fans have asked over the years "how long can this run continue?". Every year Mount doesn't win a title (and I do this too) "oh the season was bad" or "the talent", or "the youth" - "OMG Mount lost to jcu, can it get worse?" Yes it can. Right now UWW is showing what it looks like when it crashes and I don't want to see Mount go through this. My .02 cents.

Something to point out too is that it's not just loses this year. In their last 5 games, dating to the quarterfinal, they are 1-4, with 3 losses coming to 2nd tier teams from good conferences. Those are all games that just 3 years ago they would have won comfortably, in my opinion

[BergAlum]

Well Mount Union week...

Last win was in 1988, closest game in the last two decades was in 2013, a 34-44 loss.

The Hansen Ratings site gives Heidelberg a probably generous 9% chance of winning this Saturday. I hope my team shows up to play; but its real easy for teams to suffer defeatism against you guys after just one quarter.  Its weird to think that we probably will be the biggest "test" in the OAC for the Mount folks.  Nonetheless, my money is on a very similar score as Mount's game against ONU; but hopefully we at least can get a few more yards rushing    I do hope my team makes it through the rest of the OAC schedule with five more W's and earns that pool c playoff spot, and earns the school's first playoff win.  That would make me proud of the school/team as an alum. 

[Dr. Acula]

I think the score will be closer than ONU.  Or at a minimum it will be 1's vs. 1's scoring.  You've already proven you're better than ONU by beating them.

[Desertraider]

Have to be honest I just can't get a read on Mount/Berg. Last weeks Mount game wasa  headscratcher. When was the last time Mount had a 47/17 run/pass breakdown? I mean the name of the game has always been balance. They run 60 plays - 30/30, maybe 31/29, you get the idea. They had 64 plays from scrimmage and threw it only 17 - went deep once. Could be a lot of reasons. Saw something in ONU secondary that didn't match well, tried to be vanilla to Berg something else to consider, who knows? Anyway. This Mount team (3 or 4 guys excluded) has been challenged twice. UMHB last year and jcu last year - both losses (although really damn close!). I think this game is a legit challenge and we see if they have grown and can rise to it.

On a side note - Christian Williams (ONU) is a really, really good back. Big, fast, good vision, and very talented. For all intents and purposes - he wasn't on the field Saturday. I don't know much about Bergs backs - but running may be tough.

Roll Raiders ~ Roll!

[Small but Slow]

After 31 plus years, Mount Union has won 391 times out of 422 games. No college football team has matched that.

Mount's been playing football since 1893 and has 761 wins.  391 have come in the past 31 years...unreal

Eight of those non wins; seven losses and one tie were during the second and third years of LK's regime (1987 & '88).  I don't believe Mount has lost more than two games in a season since 1989.

[merlecanlas]

Mount 58-7.  Berg will not be able to cover any of the Mount WR.  Double Ruth, Hill will kill.  Double Hill, Ruth will roll.  Cover all of the deep routes, Friss will destroy the underneath.  The Raiders are champing at the bit for a "big game."  Berg would have been better off if Mount killed ONU 70-0.

[bluestreak66]

Mount 58-7.  Berg will not be able to cover any of the Mount WR.  Double Ruth, Hill will kill.  Double Hill, Ruth will roll.  Cover all of the deep routes, Friss will destroy the underneath.  The Raiders are champing at the bit for a "big game."  Berg would have been better off if Mount killed ONU 70-0.

Mount may score that much, but I feel like the Berg will get at least 35 points. They've looked on point this year on offense!

[Pat Coleman]

The Heidelberg offense didn't score 35 vs. JCU. Are they going to score 35 vs. Mount Union?

[merlecanlas]

Mount 58-7.  Berg will not be able to cover any of the Mount WR.  Double Ruth, Hill will kill.  Double Hill, Ruth will roll.  Cover all of the deep routes, Friss will destroy the underneath.  The Raiders are champing at the bit for a "big game."  Berg would have been better off if Mount killed ONU 70-0.

Mount may score that much, but I feel like the Berg will get at least 35 points. They've looked on point this year on offense!

If Berg puts up 35, Mount should just turn in their jerseys and pack up for the year

[bluestreak66]

The Heidelberg offense didn't score 35 vs. JCU. Are they going to score 35 vs. Mount Union?

We'll call it my bold prediction for the week! 

[BergAlum]

The Heidelberg offense didn't score 35 vs. JCU. Are they going to score 35 vs. Mount Union?

We'll call it my bold prediction for the week! 

Bold indeed, but like it better than Mr. 58-7 .  A thing to note though last week the Berg looked sluggish against the Muskies; had difficulty running the ball too (Sure do wish we still had Brooks); only tacking on 36 points and giving up 14 to the potentially last place OAC team.  Its also going to be in the 80s on Saturday; I think the heat might of been a factor in the JCU game as the field gets like 15+ degrees warmer on sunny days.  Hopefully the team will come into this game all energized, playing their best mistake free game, with all the luck on our side, 0 turnovers.  And lastly maybe Mount's receivers will play as well as the Browns receivers have been.

my modest realistic prediction: Berg scoring between 10-24 points ; Mount scoring between 42-55 points

[Sir Battlescars]

Mount 58-7.  Berg will not be able to cover any of the Mount WR.  Double Ruth, Hill will kill.  Double Hill, Ruth will roll.  Cover all of the deep routes, Friss will destroy the underneath.  The Raiders are champing at the bit for a "big game."  Berg would have been better off if Mount killed ONU 70-0.

Mount may score that much, but I feel like the Berg will get at least 35 points. They've looked on point this year on offense!

If Berg puts up 35, Mount should just turn in their jerseys and pack up for the year

Merlecanlas – you obviously haven't seen Heidelberg play yet this year. The biggest reason Heidelberg is 4 -0 is because of their secondary, and as far as receiving corps go, Heidelberg has a pretty good group of receivers too, maybe the best in D3. This game will not be decided until late in the 4th quarter.  Sorry, no blowout this week.

[gizzmo13]

Mount 24-10 at half, pulls away late to beat Heidelberg 47-24.......Should be a great game.

[Dr. Acula]

I'm interested to see if last week was a bit of a dry run and they come out and try to run the ball right at Berg.  It seemed odd to me, but once I thought about it I wondered if that wasn't part of the plan.  Test it against ONU and see how it goes, what you need to work on, etc.

Berg has the best offensive skill position guys outside of Alliance.  Magee and Morris are 1-2 in the conference in receiving and they're both big play threats.  Vocke is dangerous as a runner and receiver.  It'll be a good test for the defense.