FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[purple]

 Mules receivers dropped five or six passes. 
Mount Union made every mistake in the book today, had terrible special teams play, had three turnovers and still beat a very good team.

[theaprof]

Just got home--we should have lost this game.  Actually felt bad for Muhlenberg.  Too many mistakes and too many penalties on our side. Interception in the end zone/fumble on their punt/knee down on our punt/20 yd stack-on penalty/at least two personal fouls. Not a good day/game.  I (unfortunately) expect this to be the end of this year's run.

[MUCRaker]

I know, that was not the Mount Union team we're used to watching, but they got the job done!! Congratulations Mount on your umteenth trip to the Semi finals! Good luck with NCC next week!!  Now I need a transfusion or something, I think I actually died and came back some how!  AND BY THE WAY His knee did not touch and Ruby was not out of bounds!!

[archgemini24]

Oh by the way.... That WAS a touchdown. Bad call

Yea the ref was right there too.  Replay seemed pretty clear.

I watched most of this game.  Not the Mt. Union team I'm used to clicking on and watching.  Surprised the coaches had the QB throw in OT or even right before the OT (when he fumbled).  Muhlenberg is definitely a very good team, but Mt. Union looked flat and shaky in many parts of the game.

That's because the rush O has been good but not great (Parker and Petro have both put up solid rushing and receiving numbers for splitting time, though), and this is the first year in a very long time the QB is not really a threat to run the ball, so all the read-option and zone-read stuff they still like to run is much more difficult to execute (everyone knows the RB is getting the ball). The Buckeyes have the same problem.

Also, Muhlenberg is not a bad team, and they like bring extra guys to try and disrupt runs early.

[archgemini24]

Just got home--we should have lost this game.  Actually felt bad for Muhlenberg.  Too many mistakes and too many penalties on our side. Interception in the end zone/fumble on their punt/knee down on our punt/20 yd stack-on penalty/at least two personal fouls. Not a good day/game.  I (unfortunately) expect this to be the end of this year's run.

Unfortunately, I feel the same across the board. It also took the secondary a long time to get settled in. If that happens next week, they aren't going to be able to climb out of the hole they'll find themselves in. Next week looks more likely to be Mount's worst playoff loss since the 2013 debacle then an upset.

[hsbsballcoach7]

I'm glad the Raiders pulled through,  but they certainly didn't play a clean game. Offense looked great at times and slow done other times.  Give credit to Muhlenberg's defense for creating turnovers and their QB was very accurate. Thank goodness for Mount Union's defense playing like they did because the special teams and offense didn't put them in a great spot today.  Sometimes you need games like this,  but Mount will need to put all phases together next week to beat NCC. Officials had a difficult day (I really try not to criticize as I've been an official), but there were TOO many poor calls towards both teams. One that really irked me was the Mount Union kickoff that they called out of bounds after they had a ton of momentum.  How does a ball bounce out of bounds without hitting someone from near the hash mark? Am I crazy? Muhlenberg would've had the ball around the 2 yard line.

Anyway... win and advance... correct mistakes... prepare for next week.  I hope the Raider faithful travel well.

[WRMUalum13]

First of all, I was also skeptical of the kickoff going out of bounds without hitting a player, but per the broadcast, it definitely did not touch anyone. Just a fluke bounce of the ball. Skip to 2:21:37 and you can clearly see it: https://boxcast.tv/view/ncaa-football-quarterfinals-mount-union-vs-muhlenberg-255913

Ruby's deep pass is less clear because the camera picks up right where it looks like he could have gone OB.


Hats off to Muhlenberg for a great game, their defense and passing attack were as advertised. Did a great job neutralizing Mount's speed advantage. I think this game would have been quite a bit different if Mount hadn't made so many mistakes.. but that's true for any team I suppose. Anyway the mistakes in this game really stood out to me as uncharacteristic.

Significant unforced (in my opinion) errors that Mount Union had against the Mules today. The INTs were partially a result of the Mules D, but still avoidable I think.

1) Missed XP
2) Allowed kick return to own 40 yard line
3) INT after bouncing off receivers hand (was an inaccurate pass)
4) INT in the end zone
5) Dropped Punt Return
6) Kickoff kicked out of bounds
7) Punter accidentally took a knee from a low snap
8) After Ruby went out at the 3 yard line a false start + subsequent dead ball penalty moved Mount back to the 23 yard line

[edward de vere]

Two questions:

1)  Who was the analyst on today's video?  He was excellent.

2)  How long will the video replay be available on the Mount website?

I'll hang up and listen to your reply.

Thanks!

[Dr. Acula]

That was Mark Miller with Harry in the booth.  I think(?) he's Kyle's dad. 

[edward de vere]

Is that the Bowling Green QB (cup of coffee in the NFL)?  He could definitely move up a level.  Great explanations for the layman without Cover-2 this and 3-Technique that.
 

[D3fanboy]

Mount is hosting NCC?  That won't cause a stink in the d3fb world

[hsbsballcoach7]

Is that the Bowling Green QB (cup of coffee in the NFL)?  He could definitely move up a level.  Great explanations for the layman without Cover-2 this and 3-Technique that.

Yes,  that's him.  He's recently retired and has been doing high school games on the tv/radio for the past couple of years that I'm aware of. 

[hsbsballcoach7]

Mount is hosting NCC?  That won't cause a stink in the d3fb world

I can't believe this.  IMO, that's a huge mistake, but not in Mount's control.

[New Tradition]

Mount is hosting NCC?  That won't cause a stink in the d3fb world

Yuuuuup

[Stagg Again!!]

Mount is hosting NCC?  That won't cause a stink in the d3fb world

Yuuuuup

Bad news for Mount... the NCAA just poked the bear (Cardinal).  Not sure about the NCAA decision, but we are looking forward to our trip to Alliance next week.