FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

A few more seniors announcing NESCAC commitments:

Coleston Smith, LB, Ridgewood (NJ) H.S., Williams
Conor Kennelly, P/PK, Watertown (MA) H.S., Amherst
Evan Ohuabunwa, OL, BC High, Trinity
Kalvin Guillermo, OL, Central Catholic, Trinity

[JEFFFAN]

So ... if Amherst wins out and Trinity loses out, Jeffs win the NESCAC outright.   Correct?

Not very likely, however, so best for the Jeffs to do what EJ does best - stay focused on the upcoming game.  Jeffs have outgained every opponent by over 100 yards (total passing and rushing yardage) with turnovers being the crushing blow in the Middlebury loss.

Go Jeffs.

[Nescacman]

So ... if Amherst wins out and Trinity loses out, Jeffs win the NESCAC outright.   Correct?

Not very likely, however, so best for the Jeffs to do what EJ does best - stay focused on the upcoming game.  Jeffs have outgained every opponent by over 100 yards (total passing and rushing yardage) with turnovers being the crushing blow in the Middlebury loss.

Go Jeffs.

MAMMFAN, that is correct. The LM's would be 8-1 and Hartford State would be 7-2.

However, if the Lord Mammoths beat the 'Staters this week and HS beats Wes next week they would both be 8-1. In football, despite the LM's winning the head to head against HS, they would be declared Co-CAC champs. Apparently, in football, they would be co-champs at 8-1 since head to head does not come into consideration.

BTW, there are multiple other scenario's where some of the 5-2 teams could tie for the championship at 7-2 and claim a piece of the title. Not likely, but possible.

Bottomline...if Hartford State wins this week, they clinch the NESCAC title.

[westcoastDad]

Lord Mammoths by a point in a wild finish

[westcoastDad]

Off the NESCAC record....there's a rumor that your Patriots may sign Kaepernick in next 10 days.  Would that go well?  Does Kraft have that much cache to pull off that twist?  What's your thoughts?

[middhoops]

WCD, seems that Kaepernick would have to drop his asking price by a lot.  The Pats won't pay much to a back up QB if history is any indication.

[PolarCat]

Its Tebow Time!

[Nescacman]

2017 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week #7

Some thoughts on week 7....

1.   Let's start with ...Colby, Colby Colby (again)...Colby explodes for 24 for the second straight week yet still figures out a way to lose. Three times tied, yet never ahead...we continue to believe the biggest issue with this offense is weakness at the QB position. O'Brien has only thrown 8 TD's in a 13 game career, has more INTs than TDs in his career, completes only a little more than 50% of his passes, his long career pass is 45 yards and the biggest issue, his career yards per attempt is a paltry 4.5 yards. Lack of any sort of a vertical passing game severely limits your offense and allows Teams to defend you in a certain way....hence, the issue with the Mules O... 
2.   Congrats to the Ephs for clinching their first winning season since 2012...TTUN still has a chance to win the Little 3 and tie for the NESCAC crown...
3.   Speaking of the Ephs, former HCOF Kelton is 0-9 at Shorter with 101 points for and 400 points against...we can't help ourselves...some amazing stats for his Team that we have to publicize...they give up 498 yards a game or an average of 7.4 yards per play including 243 yards per game on the ground (6.3 yards per rush), they've given up 53 TDs, and 212 first downs...all of this from a theoretical defensive genius...
4.   As predicted, Hartford State rolled up on the Lebowitzless Pants 27-5.... apparently back-up Pant QB is not ready for prime time going 18-41 with 2 ints and no TDs...
5.   Looks like a 2 player race for offensive POTY between Hartford State's Mac Chipouras and WES WR Mike Breuler...
6.   For defensive POTY, we like Wes LB Brandon Morris, who leads the league in tackles, has 4 sacks and 4 TFL and Amhurst Buck Andrew Yamin who has 11.5 sacks and 16.5 tackle for loss.
7.   We went 5-0 last week and stand at 30-5 for the season....
8.   The C-B-B is 1-20 on the year...
9.   Hartford State can clinch the NESCAC title this week with a win against the Lord Mammoths in Amhurst...
10.   Columbia Lions lost their first game to Yale to drop to 6-1...
11.   In a statistical oddity, 3 of the top 6 rushers in the league are QB's...

1. Hartford State (7-0; Last Week-1): #1 vs. #2 this week in Amhurst for all the NESCAC marbles....should be a classic...
This week: at Amhurst

2. Amhurst (6-1; LW-2): See 1 above.
This week: Hartford State in Amhurst

3. Middlebury (5-2; LW-3): Need Lebowitz back in the worst way.
This week: Hamilton in Middlebury

4. Wesleyan (5-2; LW-4): Will get many of the walking wounded back this week. Feels like Wes is yet to play a complete game. This team plays down to the competition.
This week: TTUN in Middletown

5. Tufts (4-3; LW-5): Will put a beat down on the Mules. Colby's 2 game stretch of competitive games ends on Saturday.
This week: at Colby

6. Williams (5-2; LW-6): First of 2 big weeks for the Ephs. 
This week: at Wesleyan

7. Hamilton (2-5; LW 7): Yet to beat one of the better teams in the league, this is the Conts last chance in 2017.
This week: at Middlebury

8. Conn College (0-0; LW-8): Would love to see them play any of the bottom 3.
This week: at Vassar

9. University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) (016; LW-9): Bates can wrap up the 2017 version of the C-B-B with a win on Saturday.
This week: Bowdoin in Lewiston

10. Colby (0-7; LW-10): Tough match-up vs. Tufts this week. Will head into week 9 with a potential for a winless season.
This week: Tufts in Waterville

11. Bowdoin (0-7; LW-11): Bowdoin's super bowl. Can salvage their season with back-to-back wins over the last 2 weeks. 
This week: at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)

[ColbyFootball]

2017 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week #7

Some thoughts on week 7....

1.   Let's start with ...Colby, Colby Colby (again)...Colby explodes for 24 for the second straight week yet still figures out a way to lose. Three times tied, yet never ahead...we continue to believe the biggest issue with this offense is weakness at the QB position. O'Brien has only thrown 8 TD's in a 13 game career, has more INTs than TDs in his career, completes only a little more than 50% of his passes, his long career pass is 45 yards and the biggest issue, his career yards per attempt is a paltry 4.5 yards. Lack of any sort of a vertical passing game severely limits your offense and allows Teams to defend you in a certain way....hence, the issue with the Mules O... 

I want to reassure everyone, I did not hack Nescacman's account. This was his post not mine. The only comment I have is that Michaeles is 0-7, and I will leave the reasons for this dismal year and his past dismal years to others.

[Trin9-0]

It's Amherst week, so here's your annual reminder to always play to the whistle:


Hi Lumbercat.

p.s. Nescacman, what's up with your obsession with Kelton? The Ephs are well on their way to recovering from Kelton era; why are you still so fixated on him?

[jumpshot]

Trin8-0 is so right ----Nescacman's remote, continuing bullying of Aaron Kelton from a hidden bunker is cowardly and completely wrong.

[nescac1]

I don't recall that play, Trin 8-0, and I don't understand it.  It appears that this was a punt?  If a punt, and not touched by the receiving team, how could the kicking team advance the ball?  Maybe I need a rule refresher ...

[Trin9-0]

I don't recall that play, Trin 8-0, and I don't understand it.  It appears that this was a punt?  If a punt, and not touched by the receiving team, how could the kicking team advance the ball?  Maybe I need a rule refresher ...

Amherst was the kicking team. The punter shanked a short kick and their coverage team never downed the ball, meaning it was still live.
Here's the full clip along with the ensuing 2 point conversion play that tied the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlS-PQXp86w

The Bants went on to win and then topped Wesleyan 53-0 the following week to complete the first undefeated season in 10 years. #GloryDays!

[nescac1]

Ahhh, now I see .... thanks.  Crazy play. 

[Trin9-0]

I don't recall that play, Trin 8-0, and I don't understand it.  It appears that this was a punt?  If a punt, and not touched by the receiving team, how could the kicking team advance the ball?  Maybe I need a rule refresher ...

Amherst was the kicking team. The punter shanked a short kick and their coverage team never downed the ball, meaning it was still live.
Here's the full clip along with the ensuing 2 point conversion play that tied the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlS-PQXp86w

The Bants went on to win and then topped Wesleyan 53-0 the following week to complete the first undefeated season in 10 years. #GloryDays!

Unlike kickoffs, punts are not live unless touched by the kicking team, or blocked by the receiving team. I did not see it touched by the kicking team, but it was likely partially blocked by Trinity. That would also account for the poor kick. That's the only explanation.

Huh...? Not live? Amherst punted to Trinity and it was returned for a touchdown. If Amherst had touched the ball the play would have been dead. They never touched it so it's just like any other punt return for a score. Don't overthink this guys.