FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[jam40jeff]

I wonder if Saxton has some sort of injury, as the last few games his passes don't seem to me to his usual zip.

I've been wondering the same thing.  He's been throwing off his back foot a lot and doesn't look as mobile as he did earlier in the season.  He's sure doesn't look like he's 100%.

[Bob.Gregg]

We should get an answer to your query regarding the PAC's strength from Saturday's post-season games.

Here's what I'm expecting Saturday:

NCAA Tournament
Case Western Reserve 31
Union 27

I'm not sure what we learn from teams with 2-3 losses beating teams with 2-4 losses in Shaughnessy Playoffs, but here they go:

Westminster College (7-3) 35
at Morrisville State (6-4) 20

Washington and Jefferson College (7-3) 14
Ithaca College (8-2) 28

Brevard College (7-2)  21
Carnegie Mellon University (8-2) 24

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (6-4) 17
Grove City College (8-2) 28

And, to be crystal clear, I DO understand what these teams get out of playing these games--another week of practice/work for underclassmen, another (final) game of wearing the helmet, being in the arena with teammates, etc.

[SpartanMom_2016]

For the IPA nerds among us:  skəˈnɛktədi.

I am looking forward to the game.

[ADL70]

https://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2019/bracket-salisbury

[E.115]

Previews from both schools:

Union: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/unionathletics.com/documents/2019/11/21/2019_11_23_Union_FB_GameNotes.pdf

Case Western Reserve:
https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/3/1/z5zjaift40dzvq/fb_Union_game_notes19.pdf

[E.115]

From Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Case Western Reserve football: Winning is big a relief from tests and labs for playoff-bound Spartans

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2019/11/case-western-reserve-football-winning-is-big-a-relief-from-tests-and-labs-for-playoff-bound-spartans.html

[E.115]

From Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Case Western Reserve football: Winning is big a relief from tests and labs for playoff-bound Spartans

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2019/11/case-western-reserve-football-winning-is-big-a-relief-from-tests-and-labs-for-playoff-bound-spartans.html

Interview with Terry Pluto:  https://www.wksu.org/post/view-pluto-case-western-reserve-football-powerhouse-field-and-classroom#stream/0

EDIt: from Cleveland.com https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2019/11/a-familiar-face-greets-case-as-spartans-mount-union-and-notre-dame-college-prepare-for-ncaa-playoffs.html

[Ice Bear]

From Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Case Western Reserve football: Winning is big a relief from tests and labs for playoff-bound Spartans

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2019/11/case-western-reserve-football-winning-is-big-a-relief-from-tests-and-labs-for-playoff-bound-spartans.html

Ice Bear says what an excellent article. Thank you for posting. This may be one of the most enjoyable student athlete D3 articles Ice Bear has read. Nothing like D3, true student athletes all day long.

Again, safe travels to all.

[E.115]

From Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Case Western Reserve football: Winning is big a relief from tests and labs for playoff-bound Spartans

https://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/2019/11/case-western-reserve-football-winning-is-big-a-relief-from-tests-and-labs-for-playoff-bound-spartans.html

Ice Bear says what an excellent article. Thank you for posting. This may be one of the most enjoyable student athlete D3 articles Ice Bear has read. Nothing like D3, true student athletes all day long.

Again, safe travels to all.

Agreed - very well written with great focus on the individuals players.  And appreciate the kind words.

[E.115]

GREAT ARTICLE: https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/11/22/union-football-ready-for-case-western-reserve-in-ncaa-tournament

[DagarmanSpartan]

Case leads Union College 21-3 at halftime.

Drew Saxton is having a great game.

GO SPARTANS!!!

[ADL70]

Déjà vu all over again. I know that the injury to Saxton played a part, but going conservative sitting on a halftime lead again.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Ugh!

Couldn't hold on.

Case loses 24-21.

At least we proved that we belonged in the playoffs, and made a highly ranked team work for a victory.

Best of luck to UC the rest of the way.

On to next year!

[E.115]

Was going to post the exact same thing as ADL70... then remembered I had the same thoughts after Waynesburg.

Don't get me wrong I'm super happy and appreciate that CWRU clinched the PAC...this is by no means an easy thing to do, especially with how balanced this league has become this year...but I don't understand why they take their foot off the gas once leading by a few scores...both offensively and defensively, they seem to switch into this "coasting" mode.

Leading 35-7 ... wins 35-19 (W & J)
Leading 30-9 ... wins 30-23 (Geneva)
Leading 27-10...wins 27-24 (Waynesburg)

I really hope this doesn't hurt them against CMU or in the Playoffs.

The Saxton injury was definitely a double blow ...it set up a series of events with the backup QB that led to the fumble and eventual TD...changing the momentum of the game that was entirely in the favor of CWRU... and of course hampered both execution and play calling for the rest of the game.

Congrats to Union College coming out the gate in the second half to take care of business.  The second half was certainly the Union team I was expecting.  You have a talented team and good luck the next round of the tournament.

[WashJeff68]

Down 17-0 to Ithaca W&J scored 20 points
for the win. A great way for the seniors to go out, and something to build on for next year.