FB: Northwest Conference

[speedybigboy]

dawgcat's got nuthin'.
Did you know Hampden-Sydney is all men?

http://www.hsc.edu/About-H-SC.html

Does that include the placekicker?

[dawgcat]

Thanks for the props; like many of you I am a huge fan of CAT football. I really appreciate the feedback from WC11. In my book, he is the most respected CAT supporter and has done so much to support the program. In case some of you do not know, he was also a great CAT DE.

DOC, not sure I understood your post. However, the fact that HSC is an all male college has no impact on their performance as a football team or on the statistical facts relating to that performance. I think all CATS will respect them for playing hard enough and well enough to earn a visit to the CatDome. There are not a lot of teams that can say they had the honor of being hosted by the CATS, especially in the playoffs.

By the way DOC, it was your post months ago listing all the CAT posters that inspired me to join the ranks. I now live far away and yet I never miss a game thanks to the radio and video coverage. I do miss attending games at the CatDome. It is a great environment with lots of good people supporting the CAT tradition of winning. Attending those games will always be one of the highlights of my long life as a football addict.

[MonroviaCat]

DOC, not sure I understood your post.

Welcome to the club man!   

[criswyly]

Big welcome! Dawgcat...

I also have to admit that I was surprised to see that HS is an all mens school...I guess the plus side of that is much less distraction for studies in football...

[dawgcat]

Thanks for the welcome, Monrovia. You are right on two points: 1) Yoder does spread the ball around a lot more than Nance (very important) and 2) I do not understand "club" speak. I am too old to learn a new language. I was, however, a wide receiver and DB and I do understand trash talk. It never bothered me. Play on, CATS!

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Welcome to the party dawgcat.   

[Gig Harbor Cat]

dawgcat's got nuthin'.
Did you know Hampden-Sydney is all men?

http://www.hsc.edu/About-H-SC.html

Does that include the placekicker?

Cmon now Speedy, you didn't have to go down Liz lane again !!

  Props to your club, they are tough, and will be again next year.  Personally I think its crap that the NCAA matchups go like this but oh well.  I especially liked watching one of our former Gig Harbor players compete for you guys, Dalton Darmody  LB,  he was a stud here for The Tides, and has shown well for PLU.

[OldCatProf]

Demonstrating confidence in our WildCats (and firmly placing the cart beyond the nose of my horse) I went out yesterday and purchased a Wisconsin-weather-type coat. You just never know when one of those things will come in handy. Given that I live in Phoenix, Arizona most of the year (but not during Linfield's football season) I have a somewhat narrow window of opportunity to use it...but expect to do so quite soon.

Go WILDCATS!!!!

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome 'Cats Win!!! Linfield eliminates PLU with an opening round 42-21 dismissal at the 'Catdome

[dawgcat]

WC11,

Your passion always shows in your videos.

Funny thing, I think I saw you and your video camera pass in front of the game feed video camera in the north end zone right before the game started last Saturday. Am I correct or was it CAT ghost image from a previous decade? 

[criswyly]

"The Beaverton Bakery is jealous of that kind of turnover production." Wildcat11

An instant classic, Wildcat11, classic.....

[MacQuiz]

Holy Guacamole Batman....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laz2ymBq2K0
I forgot how much this made me want to reach for the Nitro Tabs!!!
Good Grief Fellow Cats....This is too freakin good to forget. 
GHC and some of the rest of us can remember what it's like to attach great performance to great performance. 
Just Outstanding!!!
WC11...get this "Giddyupp and get to it" in front of the lads.  WOW...I'm an old brokedown athlete from the 70s and this message comes from my coach,  when it's tough out there... "Get your doubber outta the dirt, use your head, make a hit and..."Get it Done!!!!"
I live for this....(I know...old and tired line but come on...you guys can dig it!)

[swede]

Great Ceasers Ghost

'A cut above the rest'

[D O.C.]

Just dawned on me what playing George Fox the next 10 years is going to do to the LINFIELD SOS.

[HSCTiger fan]

Comparing the CATS and the Tigers: Post One

In general, Hampden-Sydney has a pass oriented offense. The CATS have a more balanced attack with a much stronger running game. 

The quarterback match-up is a pretty interesting one. Of course, CAT fans are very familiar with Josh Yoder. We know what he can do and we know how important he is to the CAT offense. The Tiger quarterback, Nash Nance, is practically a mirror image of Yoder, both physically and statistically. This similarity should merit Nance instant respect from the CAT fans and players.

Nance is 6'4" and weighs 210 lbs while Yoder is 6'4" and weighs 220 lbs.

They both like to run the ball; in fact, both lead their respective teams in rushing. Nance has gained 652 yards on 129 attempts (5 yard average). Nance has 16 rusing touchdowns. Yoder has gained 760 yards on 134 attempts (5.7 yards carry). Yoder also has 16 rushing touchdowns.

In the passing game, Nance has attempted 344 passes and completed 224 (65%) for 2779 yards. Nance is averaging 12.4 yards per completion. He has thrown for 20 touchdowns. He has a TD/Interception ratio of 20/13. Yoder has attempted 227 passes and completed 145 (64%) for 2070 yards. Yoder is averaging 14.2 yards per completion. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns. Yoder has a P/I ratio of 19/7.

Nance made ODAC first team all-conference last year as a sophomore. He, most likely, will repeat in 2013. Since he leads the conference in numerous offensive categories and his team reached the D3 playoffs for the first time, he will, most likely, be named the 2013 conference Player of the Year. Of course, Yoder reigns as the 2013 NWC Offensive Player of the Year.

Unfortunately, for the Tigers this is where the favorable comparisons end. I will have more on how I see the two teams matching up in a future post.

The favorable comparisons are far from over. 

Both teams have great defense - LC ranks 7th Nationally allowing 250 yards per game.  HSC ranks 18th allowing 279. 
HSC ranks 28th nationally in preventing 3rd down conversions and your Cats rank 23rd. 
On forth Down LC has allowed 8 of 24 (33%) attempts and HSC has allowed 20 of 42 or (47%)
HSC ranks 14th in passing yards allowed and LC ranks 83rd.
But against the run LC ranks 2nd to HSC 77th.
Scoring defense LC averages giving up 12 points HSC 18

Both teams have great offenses.
Passing offense - HSC ranks 20th (285 yards per game) LC ranks 98th (224 yards per game)
HSC has given up 18 sacks in 400 pass attempts or 1 in every 22 pass attempts. LC has given up 20 in 243 pass attempts or 1 sack every 12 pass attempts.
HSC QB has ran for 16 TDs and thrown for 25 (not 20 as mentioned above) Yoder has 16 rushing and 19 passing
HSC WR Walker leads the nation in receptions and yards - 103 receptions 15 TDs and 1559 yards.  LC's leading WR Poppen has 35 catches 585 yards and 6 TDs.
HSC runs 3 guys Nance 540 yards, Macko 557, and Shembo 461 these 3 total 1558 - 4.58 per rush.  LC's top 3 Yoder has 611, Hilll has 600 and Willis hasa 300 totaling 1511 on 339 carries - 4.45.
To say LC has a "much stronger running game" is fair- I guess. - total rushing yards yards for HSC 2042 vs LC's 2900.  But if thats fair then HSC has a much stronger passing game - 3143 yards to LC's 2239.
LC's offense has ran 732 plays averaging - 5.85 yards per play.  HSC has run 843 plays and averages 6.15 yards per play.

As for the post that said Yoder distributes the ball more evenly - I don't think as much so as you think.  Yoder has completed 145 passes.  6 players have caught 129 of those passes or 89% of the caught balls.  Nance has connected with Walker 103 times this season and that represents 39% of his completions.  BUT 89% of our caught balls are from 9 different receivers.  Additionally our top 7 receivers after Walker (all have 11 catches or more) have caught 124 passes for 1389 yards. Yes he definitely has a favorite target but our other guys aren't too bad either.

I am excited about the game.