FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Vandy74]

2019 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week 5

Two undefeated teams still remain....Wes and MID... Here are this week's rankings:

1). Middlebury (2019 record: 4-0; LW Rank: 1-tie): Fortunate to come away with a win against Amhurst...has won despite 10 turnovers...-1 in net turnovers...amazing how those MID fans have come out of the woodwork...don't count your NESCAC championships before they hatch...still have to play an undefeated Wes squad, a decent HAM team and Tufts who appears capable of playing a decent game here and there...don't look past the Mules...Next game: Colby in Middlebury.

Hello, from the woodwork!    Yes, Midd fans are enjoying the season.  We're also not even remotely taking the rest of the season for granted.  Obviously, unless the talent advantage is overwhelming, some things need to fall your way to put a string of wins together.  That doesn't mean they don't deserve the wins.  There are no offensive superstars, but the defense is nasty and puts constant pressure on opposing QBs.  The special trait the team has shown so far is resilience.  They've had and lost double digit leads to Williams/Trinity/Amherst, only to come back and make the plays when they needed to.  That earns them their current position in the standings. 

I love your work Nescacman, but can't help but feel your frustration with your 1-3 record on your Midd picks this year.

MidDay....you took the words right out of my mouth, although I've always referred to my humble abode as the Peanut Gallery. 

[Nescacman]

2019 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week 5

Two undefeated teams still remain....Wes and MID... Here are this week's rankings:

1). Middlebury (2019 record: 4-0; LW Rank: 1-tie): Fortunate to come away with a win against Amhurst...has won despite 10 turnovers...-1 in net turnovers...amazing how those MID fans have come out of the woodwork...don't count your NESCAC championships before they hatch...still have to play an undefeated Wes squad, a decent HAM team and Tufts who appears capable of playing a decent game here and there...don't look past the Mules...Next game: Colby in Middlebury.

2). Wesleyan (2019 record: 4-0; L| Rank: 3):  Not their best effort against the Polars although they still should have covered the spread....QB fumbled on a sneak at the 1 yard line and one of their receivers dropped an easy TD when they were left wide open...lead the 'CAC in sacks, pass defense and INTs...we will see Saturday night what they are made of...Next game: Tufts in Middletown. 

3). Amhurst (2019 record: 3-1; LW Rank: 1-tie): Tough loss at home vs. the Pants...gave up 469 yards of offense to MID...Eberth's 4 INTs did not help...only 10 of 19 in the red zone for the season...Next game: Bowdoin in Lord Jeffville.

4). TTUN (2019 record: 3-1; LW Rank: 4): Workmen like win against the Mules...they better play better this week...Next game: Hamilton in Willytown.
   
5). Tufts (2019 record: 2-2; LW Rank: 5):  Team struggled to beat UBates on the road...gave up 28 points and 373 total yards of offense...7th in the NESCAC in total O...last in rushing O....feeling the effects of an inexperienced O-line...33% on third down...only 25% in the red zone (4 of 16)...Next game: @Wesleyan.

6). Hartford State (2019 record: 2-2; LW Rank: 6): HAM gave them all they could handle in the Coop...Lead the NESCAC in interceptions thrown..Next game: @UBates.
 
7). Hamilton (2019 record: 2-2; LW Rank: 7):  Played inspired football on the road last week without their best player...the Ephs better be careful...Next game: @TTUN.

8). Colby (2019 record: 0-4; LW Rank: 8):  Do they have an upset in them in 2019?....Next game: @Middlebury.

9. University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(2019 record: 0-4; LW rank: 9): HCOF Hall 0-13 and counting...don't worry coach, only 14 games left in your UBates coaching career...Next game: Hartford State in Lewiston.

10. Bowdoin (2019 record: 0-4; LW Rank: 10):  One more loss in 2019 and they clinch their 14th straight losing season (6-2 in 2005)...Next game: @Amhurst.

Hello, from the woodwork!    Yes, Midd fans are enjoying the season.  We're also not even remotely taking the rest of the season for granted.  Obviously, unless the talent advantage is overwhelming, some things need to fall your way to put a string of wins together.  That doesn't mean they don't deserve the wins.  There are no offensive superstars, but the defense is nasty and puts constant pressure on opposing QBs.  The special trait the team has shown so far is resilience.  They've had and lost double digit leads to Williams/Trinity/Amherst, only to come back and make the plays when they needed to.  That earns them their current position in the standings. 

I love your work Nescacman, but can't help but feel your frustration with your 1-3 record on your Midd picks this year.

If it makes you feel any better, we're going with the PANTs over the Mules this week....they might even cover. 

[Nescacman]

Before looking ahead to what appears to be a pretty boring weekend slate of games (although Tufts vs. Wesleyan should tell us a lot about both teams), thought we could check in on what has been a pretty interesting year of individual performances. There seem to be a number of OPOY and DPOY candidates that all have a number of flaws, especially complicated when the top 2 teams record-wise do not have any individuals standing out either. For my money, here's what I would have so far:

OPOY: Frank Stola, WR, Williams--A ridiculous first 4 weeks, has 150 more receiving yards than the next guy, 3 more receiving touchdowns than anybody else, and 2nd in receptions as a primarily downfield threat. The last two weeks Williams has barely tried to throw the ball and he's still been the best player on the field.

DPOY: Joe Kelly, LB, Amherst--Tied for third in the league with 34 tackles, leads the league with 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Yamin spoiled us the last two years, it feels like there aren't a lot of eye-popping defensive guys this year but really we're just back to reality. Think you could argue for either Pistorius or Huggins, but they're probably splitting each other's votes right now.

ROY: Alex Maldjian, RB, Middlebury--Only guy in the league averaging over 100 yards a game on the ground, and doing it for the best team in the league. Not even sure who else you could make the case for--Joel Nicholas at Williams has stood out but if you're comparing his stats to Maldjian's it's not even close.

COY--Bob Ritter, Middlebury--Lot of Ritter talk since Saturday afternoon at around 5 PM and understandably so, but that doesn't take away from how impressive the Panthers have been this year. Wins against Williams, Trinity, and Amherst in a year where they really weren't in anyone's championship discussion.

We concur on your selections for OPOTY and DPOTY at the near midway point.

As far as ROY, our choice would be Wesleyan's Super Soph Ashton Scott, who leads the NESCAC in TD passes and completion %, is second in passing efficiency, and has thrown the least number of INTs of any starting QB plus he is 11th in yards rushing. Our runner-up would be another Wes stand-out, FY Kicker Mason Von Jess who leads the NESCAC in kicking points, FGs, XPs, and has kicked the longest field goal in the league in 2019 plus he leads the league in kick-off distance. The kid from MID would be our third choice...

As far as HCOF of the year, we would go with Coach Genious and Coach DiCenzo tie as of right now...

[MidDay]

 

If it makes you feel any better, we're going with the PANTs over the Mules this week....they might even cover. 
[/quote]

   

[Canvas Hightops]

Not that "homerism" isn't expected to be a serious component of a board like this, and not like picking award winners before the 5th game is played isn't idly filling time....however; you'd take a coach who has beaten Maine and Hamilton over a coach who has engineered comeback wins against Williams, Trinity and Amherst?

[JEFFFAN]

"As far as ROY, our choice would be Wesleyan's Super Soph Ashton Scott, who leads the NESCAC in TD passes and completion %, is second in passing efficiency, and has thrown the least number of INTs of any starting QB plus he is 11th in yards rushing. Our runner-up would be another Wes stand-out, FY Kicker Mason Von Jess who leads the NESCAC in kicking points, FGs, XPs, and has kicked the longest field goal in the league in 2019 plus he leads the league in kick-off distance. The kid from MID would be our third choice..."

Okay, riddle me this and maybe I am just missing it, but how does a sophomore win Rookie of the Year?   

[Hawk196]

OK, who can tell me who are the starters on Weslyan's D-Line?

93   Jack D'Ambrosio   DL   So.   6-0   270   Hatfield, Pa. / Germantown Academy

49   Jackson Eighmy   DL   Jr.   6-3   230   Bethlehem, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic

50   Joe Flinn   DL   Fr.   6-0   220   Dedham, Mass. / Dexter Southfield School

4   Taj Gooden   DL   Jr.   6-2   245   Brooklyn, N.Y. / Episcopal

55   Nick Helbig   DL   Fr.   6-0   245   Groton, Conn. / Fitch

90   Keith Henderson   DL   Fr.   6-1   280   Stoughton, Mass. / Boston College High School

95   Nick Richards   DL   Sr.   6-2   270   Brooklyn, N.Y. / Midwood

99   Joe Rosberg   DL   So.   6-3   240   Tewksbury, Mass. / Tewksbury

96   Owen Verespy   DL   So.   6-0   235   Lansdale, Pa. / North Penn

[bantamweight]

6). Hartford State (2019 record: 2-2; LW Rank: 6): HAM gave them all they could handle in the Coop...Lead the NESCAC in interceptions thrown..Next game: @UBates.

My take on Trinity this week:

It's amazing how much a good running game helped the QB. The OL played better and that had something to do with rushing productivity. #6 looks like a more than serviceable replacement for Lockwood.

The secondary had problems. There were a lot of open Ham receivers. DL got a good rush but too often the Ham QB broke contain to extend plays.

Overall, there's a lack of intensity. You can't just show up and expect to win when you're 2-2.

[Vandy74]

My take on Trinity this week:

Overall, there's a lack of intensity. You can't just show up and expect to win when you're 2-2.

[/quote]

bantamweight,

Prior to the game in Middlebury I was walking past the doorway leading to the visitors' locker room as the Trinity team made it's way toward the playing field which, those of you familiar with the layout know, is still several hundred feet away.  A few steps off the pavement the ground was wet and one player announced that he'd almost stepped on a frog.  This lead to a group of at least seven or eight Bantams standing around and discussing the situation in considerable depth.  I remember thinking at the time that I hoped the rest of the team was so easily distracted. 

[Nescacman]

Not that "homerism" isn't expected to be a serious component of a board like this, and not like picking award winners before the 5th game is played isn't idly filling time....however; you'd take a coach who has beaten Maine and Hamilton over a coach who has engineered comeback wins against Williams, Trinity and Amherst?

Not that we need to answer, but 4 Wins and Zero losses is undefeated no matter who you play. 3 of the 4 wins for Wes were as expected blowouts, 1 of which was against a HAM squad that we think happens to actually be halfway decent....The other 4-0 coach made a pretty good effort to blow it for his team so we factored that in as well....We'll see how the year ends...for what it's worth, our PANT correspondents agree with our midway COY poll...

[Nescacman]

My take on Trinity this week:

Overall, there's a lack of intensity. You can't just show up and expect to win when you're 2-2.

bantamweight,

Prior to the game in Middlebury I was walking past the doorway leading to the visitors' locker room as the Trinity team made it's way toward the playing field which, those of you familiar with the layout know, is still several hundred feet away.  A few steps off the pavement the ground was wet and one player announced that he'd almost stepped on a frog.  This lead to a group of at least seven or eight Bantams standing around and discussing the situation in considerable depth.  I remember thinking at the time that I hoped the rest of the team was so easily distracted.
[/quote]

Well it is Hartford State...

[Nescacman]

"As far as ROY, our choice would be Wesleyan's Super Soph Ashton Scott, who leads the NESCAC in TD passes and completion %, is second in passing efficiency, and has thrown the least number of INTs of any starting QB plus he is 11th in yards rushing. Our runner-up would be another Wes stand-out, FY Kicker Mason Von Jess who leads the NESCAC in kicking points, FGs, XPs, and has kicked the longest field goal in the league in 2019 plus he leads the league in kick-off distance. The kid from MID would be our third choice..."

Okay, riddle me this and maybe I am just missing it, but how does a sophomore win Rookie of the Year?   

Jeff, historically, the NESCAC has awarded ROY to players seeing significant playing time for the first time....could be a frosh, soph or even an upper classman...QB Scott played very little in 2018 as a frosh and Von Jess is a FY...

[nescac1]

That doesn't sound right Nescacman - who was the last player to win ROY who was not in his first year of Nescac eligibility?  I can't think of anyone ...

[lumbercat]

NESCACMAN quote:

9. University of Bates --word out of Lewiston is that HCOF Hall has inquired about getting out of Dodge early and going back to the Ivies as a position coach...UBates admin said no way unless you want to buy out your contract before the 3 years are up...we'll see HCOF Hall through the end of the 2920 season...Next game: Tufts in Lewiston.



NESCACMAN-
This is fake news- you've got to stop making stuff up- Coach Hall can walk away any time he chooses with 30 day notice and first hand, has no
intentions of moving on. I would suggest you check your sources but you have no sources on that, you just made it up.

[middhoops]

Well said, Lumbercat.