FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

SaintsFAN · October 22, 2009, 09:31:38 PM

Not sure but in my opinoin, Thomas More without Stellman will at least be able to do as well as St Vincent.. But I agree.. Stellman is not someone they can lose and win their final 3 games and Zerhusen is not the best backup QB. Kues is.. And needs experience this week against Thiel.. No matter what.

I disagree slightly with your calls for throwing downfield. You had earlier raved about the WR and Owens downfield catching the ball. That lack of vertical threat only happened BC Zerhusen is prone to INTs and then they had a freshman playing his 1st snaps all year with zero practice time to ready himself.. The defense was gonna keep GCC out of the endzone again, they knew that. Those guys were making great plays on balls thrown downfield by Stellman all year.. They made Stellman look really good. They will be fine against W&J.. Well not fine, but they'll hold their own.. And hopefully win in the end.

PAC Homer · October 22, 2009, 11:38:00 PM

Good points. I suppose it was necessary to get conservative upon losing Stellman, but after watching the tape, I would have put 11 in the box against them for the final 2 quarters. I just hope that their already conservative play calling doesn't continue to be so predictable. They have too many weapons for most teams to handle.

Bob.Gregg · October 23, 2009, 02:13:27 PM

26 hours from now, hopefully, we can talk about THE GAME!

No stumbles, no missteps, no excuses.

Take care of business, then get on with it.

Catch up with you AFTER tomorrow's games!

SaintsFAN · October 24, 2009, 05:29:05 PM

Presidents and Saints take care of business....

Big week ahead...

Saints win 28-14 over Thiel with a hobbled Stellman. Hopefully they are ready to play this week. Lets see how far they fall in the polls -- not sure how many people know they were playing with the 3rd string QB last week. The 17-7 win against Grove City last week cost them 3 spots in the D3.com poll. They earn respect if they beat W&J for the 2nd straight year. TMC is probably the underdogs... road game and a mad President squad. Plus W&J has their annual spot in the top 12 of the country. The key to this game is the health of Stellman and Owens.

TMC's final opponent basically wrapped up the HCAC Title with a 26-16 road win against Franklin today. So if the Saints falter on Saturday in Pennsylvania, they'll have another opportunity to impress the selection committee... not sure what W&J's non-conference schedule would do for them... but I would guess that if they were to lose on Saturday, they'd be a very good candidate for a Pool C bid as well.

I look forward to seeing what the game brings next week.

Pat Coleman · October 24, 2009, 08:13:51 PM

I think last week's drop is due far more to Wittenberg and Mississippi College winning games that demanded they be in the poll, rather than Thomas More looking unimpressive.

SaintsFAN · October 24, 2009, 09:42:31 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on October 24, 2009, 08:13:51 PM
I think last week's drop is due far more to Wittenberg and Mississippi College winning games that demanded they be in the poll, rather than Thomas More looking unimpressive.

Thanks for the insight Pat... I've not figured out the movements of the polls (obviously)

SaintsFAN · October 26, 2009, 01:27:07 PM

Man this board is quiet as ever ---- I hear there is a big game this weekend in PA. Watch 'em come out of the woodwork (except Bob -- he's been around) if W&J wins...

Bob.Gregg · October 26, 2009, 02:23:06 PM

I'm ALWAYS watchin'

PAC Homer · October 27, 2009, 12:02:34 PM

This is not an easy game to call, but I'm going to give it a shot-

If given time, W&J will utilize their best offensive player and the WR will have a big day. If TMC gets pressure, this will be eliminated. I feel that W&J has the edge on the OLine to give the QB time to throw downfield. Advantage W&J

So now that we know W/J will have the opportunity to put points on the board, will TMC? Stellman will get his, and the offense will move the football on the ground with a combo of short range options. Advantage TMC

Coaching is a dead heat. I think that TMC has the defensive edge while W/J will be more diverse in their offense, IF they can run the ball.

Great football game that comes down to avoiding mistakes between two playoff teams. The extra points and the field goals will make a difference in this one for the first time for both teams.

W/J 21
TMC 20

SaintsFAN · October 28, 2009, 04:20:07 PM

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/greatlakes/2009/Collier+answers+call+for+Thomas+More

I will have more to say on Thursday...

the_burghboy · October 29, 2009, 01:03:30 AM

Quote from: SaintsFAN on October 26, 2009, 01:27:07 PM
Man this board is quiet as ever ---- I hear there is a big game this weekend in PA. Watch 'em come out of the woodwork (except Bob -- he's been around) if W&J wins...

I reserve the right to stay in the woodwork

. Haven't really had a reason to post/comment until now.

Looking forward to (finally) an opponent worth going to see play W&J this season. Safe travels to the TMC crowd making the trip!

Ralph Turner · October 29, 2009, 01:12:16 AM

I am looking forward to this game.

Having TMC as an undefeated Pool A bid, and more than 500 miles from the southern and eastern teams of "South Region", makes me think that they might be moved into the "North Bracket".

In any case, I am all for having UMHB as the leading Pool C candidate at the table from the South Region.

Mmmmm, perhaps, I should hope that TMC loses to W&J and MSJ.....

This is a fun time of the year!

Nothing personal, you understand...it's just good D3 football!

Of course, we ASC teams have matched up better against W&J than Wesley.

SaintsFAN · October 29, 2009, 03:11:14 PM

Obviously this is a huge match-up in Washington, PA on Saturday. Both teams will help eachother get ready for the Dance... I do think that both will make it again this year. More on that in a minute.

W&J's 4-2-5 defense has playmakers all over it. They have DB's leading the team in tackles... normally, this would be cause for alarm... but thats the strength of that defense ---speed and just reacting. The Presidents also have a DE who is leading the country in sacks at 11.5... this defense will be tested on Saturday just as they'll test the resolve of Thomas More's offense, just like in last year's game where Sirrianni was quoted as saying you can't really prepare for the spread option attack TMC has... you just have to hope to adjust to it in-game. TMC has MORE speed this year than they did last year and is deeper. They will play 5-6 WR's this week (they didn't play #1 because he had a birth in his family last Saturday). They will also start Collier and Owens at RB and play 3 others with them. At QB Stellman is 100% for this game and look for the Saints to keep doing what they've been doing with the mix of run/pass. There may also be a few new things that aren't on tape --- as they haven't been run yet this year. I feel the Saints will have the Presidents defense thinking more than they are used to and this will open up some big plays like last season.

Defensively, TMC knows that W&J is good... The Saints will play very fast to the ball and may be targeted by a misdirection play.. but W&J is not going to go away from what they've been doing... run and throw with efficiency. TMC is ready... they have improved their defense with a few freshman and sophomores playing at LB and DB (3 to be exact). These kids are big-time recruits for this level, with 2 of the 3 playing at Cincinnati Elder HS --- they have big game experience playing in front of 20,000. I think TMC will limit the Presidents running game and rally up on the short passing game. W&J had 10-12 play drives last year and came away with no points. That should be the plan again this year for TMC.. Though that WR, Besong... is a veteran and will find holes in the zones. I expect him to have 10 catches on Saturday... I think W&J will need a couple big plays (they JUST missed on a couple last year in KY) -- and hopefully the Saints defense will have them defended.

If everyone remembers the 6 point win wasn't really that last year... I know what the scoreboard said, but the TMC offense took over in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. I don't expect that same level of dominance over a length of time that long... but I do think TMC wins this one 31- 24.

Now... I don't think this is the end of the world for W&J... they win out, go 9-1 and will be in the playoffs.... probably even a better seed than TMC again in 2009. If TMC loses... they must win their final 2 --- with a win over MSJ, they will be in as well...... though I don't think they could get the #5 seed in the South as 2nd place PAC team. Make no mistake, this game is about respect and TMC knows the only way to gain it and show EVERYONE that last year wasn't a fluke... is to make a statement on Saturday. They respect W&J and love the competition with them... and have nothing bad to say about that program... TMC obviously doesn't have the history W&J does --- TMC is trying to write some history of their own though.

Win or lose, I will be here on Saturday night and Sunday... to talk about playoff ramifications. Heres to a healthy week for all PAC teams.

Bob.Gregg · October 30, 2009, 11:48:30 AM

I'll be here. If you think I'd go home (win or lose) and deal with the huge flong of miscreants begging for an ungodly influx of processed sugar, you're out of your mind....

I'll be here, win or lose, as I have been since d3football.com appeared on the information super highway (thanks, Al Gore).

I'll be here, win or lose, because I learned a long time ago that the sun will still come up over Beau Street hill in the morning regardless of what happens at the foot of South Main Street hill...

I'll be here, SaintsFan.

The question is, will you be in Washington, PA for the game?

Cleveland Cartel · October 30, 2009, 01:37:50 PM

Exciting discussions in this conference this week due to a big game! I love what I am hearing!We finally brought Burgh Boy back from the Dead. Whether its WJ vs TMC or the Eve of Halloween its all good stuff in my mind.

Saints fan has me believing that TMC can pull off another stunner in Washington, PA just like Thiel did to win the PAC conference title three years ago. TMC is pulling talent from Cincy as Saints fan stated. I checked out their roster and counted 34 players from Cincinnatti based schools. Players from Lasalle, St. X, Moeller, Elder, McNicholas, Northwest, and Roger Bacon play in Division 1 in Ohio. Even the players from Cincinnatti Anderson which moved to D1 last year won a D2 state championship two year ago and was runner up last year in D2. These schools play the best talent across the state, out of state, and in the biggest games. St. X, Elder From Cincy, Glenville & St. Ignatius from Cleveland are constantly in the ESPN top 25 high school nationwide. They tend to go deep in the playoffs and these kids are used to playing in big games. My belief is whether they are Freshmen,sophmores, or higher all of these players are gamers, used to playing in front of 10,000 plus a night, were well coached in HS, played for schools were football is part of the Religion ciriculum, and mentally well prepared for these types of conference championship games.

If Stellman plays the entire game/takes all snaps:
TMORE 31
WJ 20

If Stellman is knocked out/shares snaps
Tmore 21
WJ 34
Turnovers by QB's allow WJ's ball hawking Defense to create turnovers and convert into scores.

Best of luck to every PAC team and stay healthy WJ and Tmore you have to represent this conference either way in the Playoffs!