FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[jam40jeff]

The "should have" stuff about CWRU vs. Chicago isn't relevant.  Losing is losing and losing that game in particular, no matter what the yardage totals may have been, puts CWRU on the back end of a pecking order. 

The point about Huntingdon is legit.  They probably shouldn't be ranked with that SOS and no results vs. RROs.  They may be a decent team, but that's a pretty poor profile and the ranking is dubious for sure.

True about the loss.  I wasn't trying to minimize it or say it shouldn't be taken into account, but rather say that there's no reason to look at it as a worse loss than Huntingdon's loss.

[E.115]

PD coverage:P  http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2015/11/case_western_reserve_qb_rob_cu.html

Quote from the Case Western head coach:

"Thomas More passes the eyeball test," Debeljak said. "They're big, fast and strong. They're enormous for a Division III team. They have great athletes everywhere and they're just demolishing teams. It's going to take a well played game to beat them."

And this is definitely a playoff game for Case Western...especially after that Sept 5th loss.   Too bad it's not like DI football where an early season loss ends up carrying less weigh than an end of the season loss.

So from what I'm understanding, Thomas More still gets in even with a loss either way?

[wally_wabash]

So from what I'm understanding, Thomas More still gets in even with a loss either way?

Nooo.  TMC is very much lingering around the last in/first out area if they lose tomorrow. 

[SaintsFAN]

So from what I'm understanding, Thomas More still gets in even with a loss either way?

Nooo.  TMC is very much lingering around the last in/first out area if they lose tomorrow.

And the team is treating it like their first playoff game - Case has their full attention because of what Wally said above.  And it's not a surprise to them to be in this spot.  They've known it would be "win the PAC or else.." ever since the CWRU/W&J game.  Frankly, their position is why there are so many fans headed North today. 

There will be no surprises this weekend on the TMC side, as the Saints know how good Case has been, and know what Case is playing for and know exactly what the result must be for the right to keep playing together.

They are excited to play in a true "winner take all" for the PAC and Playoffs. 

[wally_wabash]

My key to the game here...what on earth does CWRU do with this guy:



The riddle hasn't been solved yet this season. 

[SaintsFAN]

My key to the game here...what on earth does CWRU do with this guy:



The riddle hasn't been solved yet this season.

LOL - yeehah!  Jester's dead!

I do think he'll be an All American,  he definitely has the stats and plays like one.

[SaintsFAN]

14-13 Thomas More leads at halftime. 

Saints have forced 2 Turnovers, 2 FG's, had some big penalties and dropped 2 INTs on the goal line. 

Needless to say, the D has played well despite being on the field a lot.  TMC has been a 2nd half team all year, and they'll need to be today as well. 

The defense needs to wrap up the ball carrier better this half and play well enough so the zebras don't decide it.  I guess they see TMC as the aggressive team, refs call what they see but it's been lopsided in favor of Case in that department, I'm not sure Case has had a penalty accepted against them so far. 

Cuda has been as advertised, he's a real gamer.  And #1 at WR has made some plays as well. 

[formerd3db]

SaintsFAN:

Looks like your TM is having a tough game today.

ExTartan: 

Wow, your CM really blasted Chicago today.  What a breakout game!

[formerd3db]

SaintsFAN:

Looks like your TM is having a tough game today.

ExTartan: 

Wow, your CM really blasted Chicago today.  What a breakout game!

[SaintsFAN]

Case is a very good team with a lot of fight in them.  The turnovers forced were the difference today. 

SpartanMom - great meeting you, your son and that defense played really well.

[E.115]

Wow, your CM really blasted Chicago today.  What a breakout game!

Holy crap Carnegie Mellon!!!

[E.115]

What an epic battle today in Cleveland, and congrats to TMC for pulling out this victory.

Thomas More played like a second half team...and I admit, I was thinking CWRU had this one when they were leading 26-14 late in the 3rd.

Here is the box score: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/boxscores/20151107_50x7.xml

A few thoughts:
- TMC defense was the definition of "bend not break" today.  CWRU put up almost 500 yards of offense on them, but TMC goal line defense held strong forcing 4 Red Zone field goals (and I believe at least one Redzone INT)
- CWRU's 5 turnovers a killer.  Who knew Cuda was capable of throwing INTs?  The CWRU INT and fumble late in the 4th qtr were extremely untimely to say the least, and TMC did a nice job capitalizing.
- This was a battle -- Both teams left it all on the field and both teams were getting testy in close yardage situations.   
- Time of possession blew my mind -- CWRU 36:59 vs TMC 23:01
- TMC kick returns (Markus James) were consistently good.
- TMC is huge!  This had to be the largest team CWRU has played in a long time.
- TMC can hit.  Some of those blocks were impressive and looked painful.

Congrats to TMC on a hard-earned and impressive victory.  It's really a shame these teams won't meet again until 2018, as I'd expect similar battles. 

Now CWRU needs to face a surging Carnegie Mellon away at Pittsburgh who put a smack down on the University of Chicago. 

With the slugfest that occurred today, I truly hope the NCAA notices CWRU.

[SpartanMom_2016]

Case is a very good team with a lot of fight in them.  The turnovers forced were the difference today. 

SpartanMom - great meeting you, your son and that defense played really well.

It was great to meet you today.  I agree that the turnovers were the difference.  It was a very exciting game and both teams should be proud of their play.

[E.115]

Here are some reviews of the game:

Cleveland Plain Dealer (quotes from the coach included): http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2015/11/case_western_reserve_falls_to.html


Recap from CWRU: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151107pqkias
Recap from TMC: http://tmcsaints.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151107oxeq1j

[ADL70]

The turnovers certainly hurt, but so did four red-zone trips that yielded only FGs.