FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

would like to see #25 Thomas get some carries here in the 4th, he looks like a dude

[MUC 2008]

I am beyond tired of seeing field goal attempts being botched. Either misses, blocks, bobbled snaps, etc. this has been an aspect of the game that was once taken for granted that is now woefully deficient. It will cost Mount in the future; that is, if the playcalling doesn't first. I thought bringing in Jeff Wilkins would help. So far I haven't seen dividend one...

[Dr. Acula]

Maloney in at QB.

[hsbsballcoach7]

I am beyond tired of seeing field goal attempts being botched. Either misses, blocks, bobbled snaps, etc. this has been an aspect of the game that was once taken for granted that is now woefully deficient. It will cost Mount in the future; that is, if the playcalling doesn't first. I thought bringing in Jeff Wilkins would help. So far I haven't seen dividend one...

Valid point, but bad snap on the field goal and the punter was kicking the extra point.... not sure if the kicker was injured or not.

[hsbsballcoach7]

One guy I was excited to watch today was Jackson Harris (#96). He gets push and pressure on the DLine. He was the guy on the sideline that got rolled up on with the late hit in the first half. He wasn't even in the game! It looked like he either injured his knee or high ankle sprain.

[D3fanboy]

OAC playing good football this week! Everyone but JCU and Wilmington won, playing well or winning big!

with MSJ being the HCAC favorite, I wonder when the last time Muskie beat a playoff team (either the current or prior year)?  big time win

edit:
it looks like Muskie knocked off ONU in '11 after ONU made the playoffs in '10

[Dr. Acula]

Thoughts now that I've had time to go back and look at the stats after watching the game yesterday:

I thought the D looked a step slow and a little flat in the 1st quarter.  Certainly not what we are accustomed to giving up 72 yards rushing and almost 5 yds/play overall in the opening quarter against a team like Ferrum.  To their credit once they settled in they really put the clamps on Ferrum allowing just 67 total yards the remaining 3 quarters of the game.  I'm not sure how much Ferrum showed us as they did not seem like they were much of a threat throwing the ball at any point yesterday.

Offensively I thought the OL got things going well after the initial possession.  The RBs and Beaudrie had room to run all day for the most part.  Echeverry's first score was just one of those instances where you see the difference in speed between Mount and an average D3 team.  He hit the hole and just outran them.  Not to nitpick but I didn't understand the Williams goal line runs in the first half other than I suppose just trying to get him a score?  He ran well, but that doesn't seem like his best use to me.

Beaudrie looked good, but did underthrow a couple open guys.  Week 1 stuff in my mind, especially for a kid who was starting his first game and hasn't played a varsity snap in almost 2 years.  Overall he played really well and ran the ball very well.  The cutback and spin move at the goal line on the one score was nice.  He is most definitely an athlete back there who defenses are going to have to account for on every snap.

Outside of Sanders' highlight reel catch down the sideline I don't know what to think about the WRs yesterday.  I know I didn't feel like I saw a Ruby/Hill/Collins, etc. type.  Hopefully someone with better X's and O's football knowledge can share their take.

Kick return game looked really good thanks to Williams.  9 rushes for 52 yds, 4 catches for 62 yds, 3 KO returns for 139 yds.  He was Mr. Total Offense.  Dartt seemed to really like using Parker as a receiver out of the backfield the last couple years.  Williams seems like he is a natural choice to become that weapon catching passes out of the backfield this year.  He's dangerous in space.

In the box score it lists Tyler May (#14 on the roster) as having returned 5 punts.  I thought it was #80 that returned multiple punts.  But Jace Ellis (#80 on the roster) does not look like the kid returning the punts in the game to me?  I was also confused because it lists a 43 yd reception for Radford (#18) which is what the announcers said on the play.  I thought it was #16 Turner on that play just because the receiver looked shorter to me and Radford is tall.  It may have been my eyes playing tricks on me.  I'm sure it'll get figured out when they post the official stats soon.

I didn't get to watch JCU at all.  I wasn't expecting them to win at UWW, but I wasn't sure what to gauge as a good or bad performance from them in a loss.  They definitely struggled offensively, but who is going on the road to UWW with a new QB and firing on all cylinders offensively?  That's a recipe for a rough start. 

With BW actually showing up and beating a decent team (Witt) this is going to be a good early test for Mount the two weeks coming off the bye. 

[D3fanboy]

Williams is probably the most explosive offensive player on the roster, but a short yardage back he is not.  He is a home run hitter, getting him the ball in space should be his role on the offense.  I think that the Raiders' short yardage/GL back was played in the late 3rd/4th qtr

I agree that is certainly didn't look like Jace Ellis returning punts.  I'm going to guess that it was Tyler May as well.  He returned punts at Witt prior to transferring and it was likely a D3 roster # issue (i.e. five kids wearing #14 or the new #14 road jersey didn't arrive in time)

Beaudrie looked a little hesitant at first, looking to run, throwing a tad late, etc.  I think that is a rust thing from taking a year off.  He looks like an athlete that will improve over and over as the year goes on.  I get Ferrum stinks, but not a bad first career start.

The team needs to figure out how to bring the juice from the kick.  Rah-rah speeches from HC dont seem to work.  I'd expect a decent (late arriving) crowd for the home opener with JCU, but the Blue Streaks will basically be playing for their season.  Going through the motions for the first 10 mins doesn't cut it for "the standard".

Mount isn't beating anyone just because of the "RAIDERS" on their chest anymore.  They need to dominate the game from the moment that they step on the field...again.  The slow/uninspired starts can not continue

[Raider 68]

Not surprised by the UWW/JCU game. UWW will be good this year and JCU will play better against the Raiders, but not that much better. Mount should win the upcoming game by a few TD's. Beaudrie brings a more well rounded dimension than his predecessor, and will be even more effective than the 5 TD's that he is credited. My concern is that the Raiders may not have that go to WR as in years past. We will see. Play calling remains an issue, will it get better? I am hoping that changes, but I have been hoping for 5 years.  

[D3fanboy]

I don't see a pro-caliber WR, but Mount has been spoiled by that.  I do see a RB room that is stacked with talent, an OL that returns five starters plus depth and an athletic QB that is not afraid to run the ball.  "Players, Formations, Plays" is the motto right?

[Raider 68]

If the Raider O line and D line are really good, they have enough other weapons to have a great year. We will see against JCU and BW and that will be a good barometer.

[Purple13]

Does anyone know if Mount's JV football game scheduled for today is still going to be played or has it been cancelled because the soccer team is playing at the stadium now

[D3fanboy]

not that it matters, but since we live in a world of math and analytics

https://x.com/ESPN_BillC/status/1833150438096396682/photo/1

Mount is the highest ranked D3 team, higher than all but three D2 teams and higher than Temple (FBS) and only five spots behind Akron

[E.115]

Great interview: 

Author: https://x.com/FBallGameplan/status/1833547566207668689

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/the-hunt-report-meet-the-400-yard-rusher-plus-more-standouts-as-small-college-football-gets-into-full-swing/

[Dr. Acula]

The OAC has a new commissioner via W&L and the ODAC.

OAC commissioner announcement