FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

Offense was ok, but no change in game plan. Go routes don't work all of the time when you aren't getting time from the Oline. When there was time, the receivers didn't make some catches. To me it looks like Fulford is seriously injured like a collarbone or something. The entire 4th quarter play calling changed because of that.

Honestly, I think the players on defense did alright. We didn't change our coverages as JCU ran the same plays with short passes over the middle. When we finally dropped Robinson in coverage he got an INT and when we brought pressure in his face, sacks and bad throws.

Special teams need some special attention because if you give a good team that field position in the playoffs, we're done. I just hope we get healthy. Lots of bumps and bruises out there.

In the second half after a sack he came off the field like he was hurt.  Favoring his left side by not moving his arm at all.  I wasn't sure he'd be back out there after that.

[pradierguy]

If Mount wins today 42-7 or something similar we'd all be wringing our hands that "Mount hasn't been tested at all this year."

Assuming everyone (notably Fulford, who does have a collerbone injury as recent as last year) came out healthy, it was a perfect type of game to end the season on.

Plenty to work on next couple of weeks to get ready for the true tests in the playoffs.

[WRMUalum13]

If Mount wins today 42-7 or something similar we'd all be wringing our hands that "Mount hasn't been tested at all this year."

Assuming everyone (notably Fulford, who does have a collerbone injury as recent as last year) came out healthy, it was a perfect type of game to end the season on.

Plenty to work on next couple of weeks to get ready for the true tests in the playoffs.

Agree, one bad game does not doom a mount union team. Does anybody remember 2011? That team played in a very competitive Stagg bowl and could have beaten UWW if not for some turnovers. That team also needed a touchdown pass with  2 minutes left to beat BW in week 9.

Not to mention the 2005 team that lost in the regular season to ONU and then won the national championship.

Point is, even great teams play bad some times. I have no doubt this team can make it to Salem.

[Sherburne]

praiderfan,
For years, desertraider was a high rate, highly regarded, high football IQ guy regarding D3, OAC and the Purple Raiders. He vanished for a time. Upon his return, it seemed as if he was 'not himself' and I came to wonder if the recent desertraider could be an impostor. I hope the real desertraider stands up. We need him, in  coming weeks to game plan, and critique coming foes and offer Xs and Os.
I was quite disturbed after the game today. I've calmed down, now, and think some of the horror that transpired today was a faulty game plan. With a victory @ JC in-hand - show coming foes nothing. It worked, they showed nothingnothing. Wrong! In hindsight, 'teach JC a lesson for 2016' may have (if not Mount-like, have served them). A week of calm cool business prep may have wreaked a bit of havoc when the Streaks gave them a game. The plan may not changed much and the shocked Raiders couldn't/didn't 'suck it up'. The JC game will result in coming foes being hyper-pumped, if unwarranted.

Sherb

I counted six passes dropped by Mount receivers today. The officials seemed flag happy, especially against Mount in the second half. I don't get all this doom and gloom from desertraider. JCU had a good game plan and their QB played very well in the second half. It was the last game for 20 seniors. JCU played their best game today. This was a good win for Mount ,not cause for desertraider to get a Zanex prescription.

[raiderpa]

St Thomas posts 97 today...threw 30 passes and 5 for 5 on 4th down. I have to wonder was all this necessary?  I never liked the HC there, not I really dislike the fool and have no respect for this person.
Mount has hung some big scores on folks, but kicking FG's on 1st down and backs running out of bounds instead of into the end zone is regular behavior when scores get it of hand and shows respect and sportsmanship, IMO.
If I were the opposing coach, I would have punched him instead of shaking his hand.

[raiderpa]

Oh and I forgot, a 61 yard TD pass when up 50-0.  Nice guy, Glen

[WRMUalum13]

Oh and I forgot, a 61 yard TD pass when up 50-0.  Nice guy, Glen

Also went for 2 pt conversion after they were up 35-0

[HScoach]

Oh and I forgot, a 61 yard TD pass when up 50-0.  Nice guy, Glen

Caruso is a pompous ass

[thewaterboy]

Oh and I forgot, a 61 yard TD pass when up 50-0.  Nice guy, Glen

Caruso is a pompous ass

And managed to score with 7 seconds left in regulation with an uneasy 90-0 lead.

Sorry. I was lurking and couldn't help myself.

[edward de vere]

No, no, no, no, NO.

You guys have it all wrong.

Mr. Caruso is a manly man, teaching his men to be manly men.  Play to the whistle and all that, don't you know.

[Sir Battlescars]

Apparently the OAC isn't quite as top heavy as we thought. After what transpired today, it will be interesting to see what happens when Mount Union plays a well coached and talented team in the playoffs.

[edward de vere]

It's not like I need an excuse, but between Merle The Pearl (in his second life) on one hand and The Doom-&-Gloomers on the other, well, I'm being driven to drink.

[Dr. Acula]

Offense was ok, but no change in game plan. Go routes don't work all of the time when you aren't getting time from the Oline. When there was time, the receivers didn't make some catches. To me it looks like Fulford is seriously injured like a collarbone or something. The entire 4th quarter play calling changed because of that.

Honestly, I think the players on defense did alright. We didn't change our coverages as JCU ran the same plays with short passes over the middle. When we finally dropped Robinson in coverage he got an INT and when we brought pressure in his face, sacks and bad throws.

Special teams need some special attention because if you give a good team that field position in the playoffs, we're done. I just hope we get healthy. Lots of bumps and bruises out there.

There was that odd series where they threw 3 WR screens to Ruth in the span of 4 plays including on 3rd and 6 leading to a punt.  It was just strange.

The offense was just not clicking yesterday.  Blame it on not being in any close games until then, blame it on it being cold finally, whatever.  Point was they didn't play well.  Anyone.  Line, Fulford, pass catchers. 

The other thing that bothered me was the combo of giving up a TD with 27 sec left in the half and then giving up a TD on the 2nd half kickoff.  JCU scored right before half largely on the back of a long kick return sparking them.  The last thing you can do is let them get another long return to give them momentum.  They take it to the house, it's 17-14 and a game you have controlled is now up for grabs.  That just cannot happen.

Positives:  I thought the defense overall played well.  The corners struggled, but at the end of the day JCU had 200 yds of offense.  It's not like Moeglin was marching them up and down the field on Mount's D.  JCU could not run the ball at all.  Golphin ran for 1 yd.  I thought Mount got good pass rush too.  I thought JEM played well.  Even when there wasn't much there he seemed to push forward for 3 yds.  All of the folks who pulled their hair out when Mitchell would dance a little and lose yards should be happy with JEM yesterday.  He did drop an easy pass, but he's far from alone on that one.

[merlecanlas]

sloppy game for Mount.  Too many penalties, dropped passes and the terrible KO coverage.  I thought the defense played well, really only allowed two JCU drives for 10 points.  Everything else was set up by the piss poor special teams yesterday.  Vidal and Berry were in on the QB all day and made plays when it was needed most.

Fulford is still just a sophomore and JCU was the best defense that he has faced so far in his career.  He wasn't helped much by all the drops.  Ruth had 3 or 4 drops that I haven't seen him have all season, I wonder how much was rust from being out 3 weeks.

I also hated how slow the offense was moving, where was the Mount Union pace?  this was the first time that I have seen Mount Union line up and then pause to look over to the sidelines and work the playclock down under 10 seconds. 

I'm glad Ray Brown learned his lesson and was able to play in the second half, the more things change the more the stay the same at JCU, amirite?


I would have loved to see Mount blowout JCU, but maybe a hard fought win is what a relatively young team needs going into the playoffs.  Hopefully, Fulford and all the other Raiders that got dinged yesterday can heal up, especially the LS who took a meaningless cheap shot and left the stadium in a sling.

JCU, its time to pass the golden bucket around and replace the playing surface.  You can see the seams in the turf on the replay online.   

[purple]

 The JCU 1997 team was at the Shula to remember the season they had, which ended at Mount Union in a blowout playoff loss. In that game London Fletcher ended his career when he was thrown out of the game for fighting with one of Mount's linemen. JCU retired his jersey, No.3, in a nice ceremony at halftime. I saw a plaque on the stadium thanking London for a gift of $250,000.00. I think this game will help the Raiders. It has been too easy for them. At JCU they had to play the fourth quarter, found out about playing in very cold weather, suffered some setbacks which they overcame, and had a lot of questionable calls against them. JCU also had more size than anyone Mount played this year. The Raider Nation certainly was out in force. I heard Chuck Long, the former Iowa QB say on the BTN he was only involved with one undefeated team in his forty years as a player and coach. We are so spoiled. Congratulations to the 2017 Mount Union football team and the coaches and support staff for going 10-0. LK was there, prowling the sidelines.