FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[E.115]

Meanwhile WashU beat Hendrix to improve CWRU's SoS

WOW, WashU may in fact win the SAA...Centre-Berry game next week, and WashU owns the head-to-head over Berry if they can beat Centre.

http://www.d3football.com/teams/Washington_U./2016/index

[ExTartanPlayer]

Couple of really fun games today:

- Case rallies from down 22-3 to win 26-22. 

- Carnegie Mellon rallies from down 24-7 with seconds remaining in the third quarter to win 37-24 thanks to a flurry of big plays (the first touchdown of the rally was a 60-yard run on the final play of the third quarter; the Tartans would then get an 85-yard pick-six to make it 24-21, a 61-yard run that led to a 10-yard TD to make it 28-24, and eventually a big punt return from dynamic frosh William Richter that set up yet another touchdown run).

Academic Bowl should be fun next week

Elsewhere in the PAC

- As expected, Thiel traded some scores with TMC early before being overwhelmed.

- W&J beats Geneva 17-7 to raise their record to 7-2.  Geneva is only 3-6, but their defense has quietly had a pretty good season and maybe they'll take a step forward next year as they get the hang of the triple-option offense.

- Bethany gets a five-touchdown day from QB Kinemond to beat Grove Cirty 33-14, their second win of the season.

- St. Vincent beats Waynesburg 30-12 for their fifth win of the season.  SVC has a chance to finish with the second winning season in program history if they can beat Bethany next week.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Whew!  That was SCARY!!!  I was really worried when I saw the halftime score!
 
Nice win for CWRU.

Next week's Academic Bowl could be one of the best ever!

A PAC co-championship and possible playoff berth on the line.

[E.115]

Whew!  That was SCARY!!!  I was really worried when I saw the halftime score!
 
Nice win for CWRU.

Next week's Academic Bowl could be one of the best ever!

A PAC co-championship and possible playoff bid on the line.

And a UAA co-championship / championship on the line...the very last one

[SaintsFAN]

- W&J beats Geneva 17-7 to raise their record to 7-2.  Geneva is only 3-6, but their defense has quietly had a pretty good season and maybe they'll take a step forward next year as they get the hang of the triple-option offense.

Sounds like the Golden T's are conquering the triple-option.  I feel like God also loves the spread passing attacks with mobile and accurate QB's, though.  The "Conquerers" need to update their website; it still shows 20 out of the last 22 years being at .500 or better in conference play (which as a goal, is downright Baldwin Wallace-y).  2016 will mark the the fourth season out of 6 in PAC play where that has been short. 

[SaintsFAN]

- Case rallies from down 22-3 to win 26-22. 

Could you see the fumble?  I really feel bad for that kid.  I must've missed the replay.  as I told Pat that there was a swarm of Case-ies around him and then they went to the ground all fighting for the ball. 

Someone needs to buy a steak for the kid who stripped that.  There was no way Case was going to hold them out of endzone on that drive.  Westminster can absolutely pound the rock, when they want to (and need to).

[ADL70]

- Case rallies from down 22-3 to win 26-22. 

Could you see the fumble?  I really feel bad for that kid.  I must've missed the replay.  as I told Pat that there was a swarm of Case-ies around him and then they went to the ground all fighting for the ball. 

Someone needs to buy a steak for the kid who stripped that.  There was no way Case was going to hold them out of endzone on that drive.  Westminster can absolutely pound the rock, when they want to (and need to).

It wasn't a strip, the RB never got the hand off.

[E.115]

- Case rallies from down 22-3 to win 26-22. 

Could you see the fumble?  I really feel bad for that kid.  I must've missed the replay.  as I told Pat that there was a swarm of Case-ies around him and then they went to the ground all fighting for the ball. 

Someone needs to buy a steak for the kid who stripped that.  There was no way Case was going to hold them out of endzone on that drive.  Westminster can absolutely pound the rock, when they want to (and need to).

Reminded me of Cleveland's own "The Fumble" with Ernest Byner...although this one was a bad handoff.

Case Western had a nightmare start to the game.  Their first offense series saw the center snap the first punt attempt out of the back of the end zone for a safety.   Then on the second possession,  Cuda's first pass of the series gets tipped and taken back for a 12 yard pick-6.  Westminster started the game 9-0 before either team even got going!  Then as ADL70 attested, Westminster played lights out pass defense shutting out Cuda for the rest of the first half, and keeping his scrambling completely in check.  Cuda was finally able to get it going in the third quarter, and after one lucky defensive stop/fumble and heads up reaction, the season keeps rolling along. 

Academic Bowl is going to be epic I feel. 

[ADL70]

I'm all for that; Case owes a visit to Crestview Hills anyway. 

I've watched both teams this year, I feel like the South RAC should have Thomas More slotted above Case. 

I feel like if they FINISH 10-0, then they should be moved ahead of TMC based upon how hard it is to win them all.  But so far, the TMC opponents have been better and the Saints are a fumble at Franklin away from being 10-0, as well. 

I also feel like the PAC should throw out the schedule next year and make sure the Top 5 teams in the conference all play one another.

10-0 and potentially have a win vs RRO (WashU) ought to be ahead of TMC.

[SaintsFAN]

I'm all for that; Case owes a visit to Crestview Hills anyway. 

I've watched both teams this year, I feel like the South RAC should have Thomas More slotted above Case. 

I feel like if they FINISH 10-0, then they should be moved ahead of TMC based upon how hard it is to win them all.  But so far, the TMC opponents have been better and the Saints are a fumble at Franklin away from being 10-0, as well. 

I also feel like the PAC should throw out the schedule next year and make sure the Top 5 teams in the conference all play one another.

10-0 and potentially have a win vs RRO (WashU) ought to be ahead of TMC.

Yep.  If they go 10-0, then they should be in front of Tommy More.  But not right now; unless WashU gets onto the Regional Rankings.  Leipheimer from Thiel was probably at the game today.  If TMC jumps Case, it will be this week. 

It's quibbling over a spot; I'm hoping TMC gets a home game as the Pool A from the PAC.

[SpartanMom_2016]

9-0 should be ahead of 9-1. 

[SaintsFAN]

9-0 should be ahead of 9-1.

Hi SpartanMom, hope you're well.  I've been in your neck of the woods a lot lately (and am headed to PB, tomorrow.  We are in one of three regions where an undefeated is behind a team with one loss.  To me, it's on case by case basis.  LAST WEEK, with Case's SOS number so low, I contend Thomas More should've been fourth.  Both are behind a 1 loss Hardin-Simmons, though.  I just think their schedule is stronger. 

For reference:  http://d3football.com/playoffs/2016/first-regional-ranking

If Case finishes unblemished, then I have no problem with it.  I don't think it's an accurate snapshot of the two teams, and that's my opinion. 

I really feel like TM is built for and is poised to make a run in the tournament. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

^I also believe that 1-loss teams can be ranked ahead of undefeated teams; it's a case-by-case thing.

This one is really close.  I agree that Thomas More has played a tougher schedule overall but that is balanced out by the fact that TMC has a loss (and with Franklin now carrying a loss of their own to a merely-okay opponent, that "result" has lost a little shine).  SOS figures aside, the quality of their best wins, at this point, is actually pretty close.  Thomas More has beaten W&J, Carnegie Mellon, and Westminster; Case has beaten Westminster and WashU (who beat CMU in overtime in the opener).  A couple of weeks ago, Case was 6-0 but hadn't played anyone of note yet; now they do have a few quality wins on the plate, which is enough to make this a toss-up IMO.

[Ralph Turner]

^I also believe that 1-loss teams can be ranked ahead of undefeated teams; it's a case-by-case thing.

This one is really close.  I agree that Thomas More has played a tougher schedule overall but that is balanced out by the fact that TMC has a loss (and with Franklin now carrying a loss of their own to a merely-okay opponent, that "result" has lost a little shine).  SOS figures aside, the quality of their best wins, at this point, is actually pretty close.  Thomas More has beaten W&J, Carnegie Mellon, and Westminster; Case has beaten Westminster and WashU (who beat CMU in overtime in the opener).  A couple of weeks ago, Case was 6-0 but hadn't played anyone of note yet; now they do have a few quality wins on the plate, which is enough to make this a toss-up IMO.

I believe that the Committee may consider the conference rules for tie-breaking in this decision. The conference schedules give a de facto common opponents platform, one of the criteria.  A conference Pool A should go ahead of a Conference Pool C in most cases.

[SaintsFAN]

Again - I was pointing out how the rankings would've been in SF's world LAST WEEK.  The Pool A vs. Pool C (now that its settled) wouldn't be valid until this week.  Neither would Case's game against Westminster.  But last week, I was looking at SOS.  The difference in SOS before this weekend's games was not small.  CWRU's SOS was .455 and TMC's SOS was .534.

Its not very often I've been able to say TMC had superior SOS numbers to someone, as usually its been pretty low like where CWRU's was at .455.  Usually, the Saints are looking at a SOS of .47 or so, but the conference has gotten better and they've went out and scheduled teams like St John Fisher, Wesley and Franklin in the OOC since MSJ took their football (but not the Bridge Bowl Trophy) and went home.

It will be closer this week, like ExTP is saying.  TMC will go backwards on SOS with the win against 3-6 Thiel, CWRU will move theirs up a bit with the Westminster win today.  But, Ralph brings up an interesting point I didn't consider before.  I still think 10-0 will end up in front of 9-1 here.