FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat82]

Much improved game today by the Cats, but still lots of work to do.  Still to many fumbles, QB not throwing all that well and unable to convert on 4th down and short situations (at least two that I can recall.)  Should have had at least 2 more touchdowns in the first half but mistakes keep killing this team.  If UPS had any kind of passing game, things might have been a closer.  They had some big backs that ran hard.  But in the 3rd quarter being down 23 to 0, and still running the ball 97% of the time?  Southern Oregon is big and physical like WOU, Cats need to bring mistake free ball on the road if they want to win next Saturday!  Mr. Masters was impressive...hits the hole quick and has great vision....but was sucking air big time.  Not use to playing half back.  He had better go run some 240's this week!

[speedybigboy]

Toivo, Pride, 509, pinecone:

Great win for your guys.  I couldn't watch the video, but I listened to the internet radio broadcast.  It sounds like turnovers were the real difference in the game, and that's not a knock on Whitworth, unable for me to tell if your guys caused them or if they were just mistakes.  Given your turnover stats I'd guess on the former.  

I'm confused by your posts.  Did you want Whitworth to throw more in the second half?

Whitworth is now in the drivers seat for the conference title.

[George Thompson]

Wildcat82 was right about his Linfield game observations.

This was a much different Wildcat team than in the first 3 games.

Offense:  Passing was a little down; the strong wind was a factor.    Still, far better than most teams.

Running:  We may have a good tailback finally.    Masters' running was the best debut I have ever seen for a wildcat runner.    Great speed, balance and agility.   WOW!    And Lever looked good also.     

Passing D looked much better.   Unfortunately, UPS's passing is weak.

Rushing D looked great all day.

Kicker - Still grade A.     A 53 yard, school record field goal.    Broke his own record set 3 weeks ago!

Fumbles - Still a problem.

Control of time - VAST improvement.    We actually had the offense on the field for over 1/2 of the game.

SOU will be an excellent test for this Wildcat team.     

GO CATS! GO!

George   

[MonroviaCat]

Great Win for the Cats--I agree with most of what George said but have a few comments to add. 

T
Passing D looked much better.   Unfortunately, UPS's passing is weak.

Hard to really say if passing D was much better--there were several times that UPS had a guy (I'm thinking of the TE in particular) wide open but was overthrown.  We did get better penetration at the line but UPS leads the conference in Sacks allowed so I think our passing D still has something to prove and will get their test this week against an SOU team that likes to throw.

Rushing D looked great all day.

Yeah, I think for the most part our rushing D has looked good all season.  The big change yesterday was that they did not allow any really big runs and did not let down on the 3rd and 4th down situations.

Fumbles - Still a problem.

Ahmen to that---fumbles didn't end up hurting us yesterday but we certainly can't count on that moving forward. 

SOU will be an excellent test for this Wildcat team.     

GO CATS! GO!

George   

Yeah, I must say I'm nervous about SOU because of their passing attack and the  Cat's struggles stopping the pass this year.  Big test indeed--if their roster is even close to accurate they have some good height and size all positions epecially on the lines.  They have a good Sophmore QB and a couple of good receivers--D line needs to figure out how to get to the QB and DBs need to stick to their guys and know their assignments.  APU seemed to stop the passing game last night (or SOU decided to try to establish a running game ala the Cats yesterday) but have otherwise been a fairly strong and efficient passing team.  Their defense has not been as effective and teams have been able to run or pass on them though they shut down APU last night.  Could be a good game.

[Wildcat'64]

The Cats have a lot of work to do if they are going to beat a very good Southern Oregon on their home field....always a tough place for the Cats to play in the past.

Looking at comparative scores (but not always the best indicator) Southern beat Azusa Pacific also a very good team.  Azusa Pacific lost in OT to Wisconsin-Lacrosse who we know handled Hardin-Simmons easily.  Southern also beat Willamette 34-27 but the game was actually much more lopsided than the score indicates.

Southern brings a Division IA QB transfer with some good receivers.  They have a very strong passing game that will be a real challenge for the Cats to defend against.  Southern also has a good  transfer running back from Washington State.

Overall if the Cats improve as much this week as they improved last week over the prior three weeks they will win.....but know they have been in a very tough ball game.  One game at a time......and this will be a tough one!

GO CATS

[OregonCityCat99]

Great game bythe Cats yesterday......fumbles are an issue that we need to figure out soon.  It helped that UPS QB was horrendous.....but we needed the confidence boost. Credit to the coaching staff for making the change at RB.....it was something that needed to be done. Masters will get in game shape, but he held up great for 25 carries.  Scharer had his worst game yesterday, but made big throws when he had too, that's the sign of a good QB.

On to SOU next week.

[cawcdad]

For any Menlo or Lewis & Clark lurkers checking out the boards, there are pictures of yesterday's game on line to check out.

WOW! 217 yards rushing and 147 yds for Masters.

From the Pick 'em board.

Puget Sound at Linfield: The Cats running game had flashes of breaking out against the Bearcats and I believe it will against the Loggers.

Now just hang on to the rock and these Cats will soar.

[MonroviaCat]

Now just hang on to the rock and these Cats will soar.

Flying Cats? 

[cawcdad]

LOL MC.
The Cats will claw, rip, shred, chew up up the rest of the competition. Better? 

[Tuxguy]

It's a good day in Catland.

Masters had a great game, he brings the abilaty to get to the outside and turn it up field for good yards. I can only say grade A+ for his effort. And I like Lever as the power back, wraps up the ball and get the needed yards A+ also.

Scharer had an off day, but what a great time  to have your off game. He still made the plays when we needed them. Most of them.

I can't say enough about our kicking game, A++ 53 yards.......That's crazy. The funny thing was it wasn't one of Birkhofers better kicks, but what can you say!!!

Fisher's punt after he leaped to  grab a bad snap, was A+ as well, got good yards, not what we are used to but to just get the punt off was a big play at that point of the game.

So, did you guys see blue and I on the web cam? We had our face's painted purple & went shirtless for the cat web launch..... ..............NOT! Now if GHC would have been there with the longie jug I might have thought about it.
See all you guys at Homecoming.

GO WILDCATS
ONE PLAY AT A TIME
ONE GAME AT A TIME
LET'S LEAVE NO DOUBT!

[Pat Coleman]

Now if GHC would have been there with the longie jug I might have thought about it.

I'm not sure that "thought" is the right word to use for that process.

[Wildcat'64]

Tux,

The CATSEYE video was absolutely great.  Unfortunately all of the camera angles showed the fans on the visitor side of the field as well as some endzone shots.  They never did focus the field camera (s) on the covered stadium,  the cheerleaders or the band.  Consequently, we missed the "raving decorated fans" in the stadium.  I'm sure they'll get down the finer  points of the production as time goes along but for now absolutely no complaints and clearly the best addition to the Catdome since the field turf and video scoreboard.

GO CATS.....ONE GAME AT A TIME

[Pat Coleman]

There aren't many reverse angles in general because it would have left/right confused from the broadcast audio.

Plus that's a lot of cable.

[(509)Rat]

Great win for your guys.  I couldn't watch the video, but I listened to the internet radio broadcast.  It sounds like turnovers were the real difference in the game, and that's not a knock on Whitworth, unable for me to tell if your guys caused them or if they were just mistakes.  Given your turnover stats I'd guess on the former.  

I'm confused by your posts.  Did you want Whitworth to throw more in the second half?

1st TO: Safety Phil Entel chased down a reciever who had beat him for a BIG gain and punched the ball out from behind (Whitworth forced that one)
2nd TO: Marshall intercepted a ball that was batted up in the air at the line by LB Greg Caster (Whitworth forced that one as well)
3rd TO: Gordon is hit as he throws, pass goes well inside of his reciever and Tully picks off the ball (Whitworth forced that one as well)

As far as what I wanted Whitworth to do in the second half was exactly what they did the first half.  If something worked for you to the point you put up 28 points in the first half, why simply attempt to run out the clock in the second half?  I don't think Whitworth needed to throw more the second half...because they really didn't throw a whole lot in the first half.  The passes they did make were short dumps off of play action or high percentage passes (stops, slants, etc. as opposed to verticle routes).  But I do think they needed to stick with the gameplan they had going for them in the first two quarters.  In my opinion the only team that needs to make halftime adjustments is the one that is losing.  All I wanted was a more imaginative running game, much like the first half (different formations, different blocking schemes, etc), and the play-calling to stop settling for three and outs every series!

[D O.C.]

So let me reflect to get this straight...

Travis "Kick Return Extraordinaire" Masters now has the pole position, Cruickshank on the outside lane and my 'Number 9' pick in the race, Ragan, has been scratched?
Anything to improve a running game, I suppose.