FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

Oh, hey everyone... just stopping by to update the name and signature.

[Bantam4life]

Was at Trin vs Wes today. In regards to DPOTY debate. Glantz and Casagrande were the 2 best defensive players on the field today. In big games like these if you want to be DPOTY you have to step up and those 2 did. Glantz had 2 sacks and Helbig had none. There's your answer, Glantz will and should be the DPOTY

[jmcozenlaw]

Oh, hey everyone... just stopping by to update the name and signature.

The Holy Trinity in a rout!!!!

God (yes, He does exist:) Bless.

[P'bearfan]

Congrats to the Polar Bears for defeating Colby 21-14.  It's the first 3 win season for Bowdoin since 2011.  Nice way to finish the season.

[nescac1]

Before I get to my end-of-the-season Williams post, how has NO ONE commented yet on the ridiculous show put on by NESCAC POY Berlutti and Phil Lutz yesterday?  Berlutti: 294 yards passing, 7 TDs, 181 yards rushing, 1 TD.  Lutz: 10 catches, 237 yards, 6 TDs. 

We've seen some amazing QB seasons in recent years, but I don't think anyone can top Berlutti this year.  And with two years left, he has a good chance of smashing EVERY NESCAC passing record.  26 TDs, 3 INTs, 2752 yards, 69 percent completion percentage, plus 445 yards on the ground on 6.7 ypc, with 5 more TDs.  Just crazy.  And Phil Lutz, of course, had one of the best-ever seasons for a NESCAC receiver with 1226 yards and 14 TDs.  They lose, I believe, a lot on the OL but all of the key skill guys still have eligibility.  Jaden Richardson and Cade Moore are back, plus maybe Lutz, Jackson Butler and Billy Dunn (still eligible).  Tyler Johnson still has a year of eligibility as well. 

Although I wonder if Lutz tries to transfer up?  He certainly has at least a low D1 skill set, at a minimum.  I would think nearly every Ivy would want him ... Tufts has a huge advantage over every other NESCAC school with its massive array of grad programs to entice top players back for a fifth year. 

[lumbercat]

Well stated NESCAC1. Utterly amazing performance by Berluti and Lutz in Medford yesterday.

I think the whole league threw for 300+ yards against Middlebury but yesterday was the perfect storm for their pass D.

Also agree on the advantages within the Tufts program. Credit to Civetti for understanding what he's has to sell and maximizing that leverage.

[nescac1]

Some nice highlights from Wiliiams - Amherst (the highlights for both teams). 

https://youtu.be/utQz5FKu5wo

First, regarding Amherst.  Amherst's defense is solid, although they really wore down from the physical pounding Williams put on them, but that is definitely one of the least-explosive NESCAC offenses I've ever seen.  Osenshirt is the only guy who really scares you as a playmaker and he has been banged up all year.  The stats all season long have really told the story there.  They bring nearly everyone back but I'm not sure that's necessarily a great thing.  In a losing effort, a few defenders really stood out for Amherst.  Kudos to Tim Swope who played his (presumably, he has eligibility left) last game as a Mammoth with what must be a broken hand or wrist, still very good even WITH that, heck of a player.  Andy Skirzenski was all over the field and has a massive game, and Ethan Burdo looks like he will be a defensive star going forward.  But man, until they find some explosive skill guys it's always gonna be a struggle for them. How they HECK did they beat Tufts, I have no idea. 

Second, regarding Williams.  This was the Williams team we've been waiting to see all year, just physical, smash mouth, dominant on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the field, the score really didn't tell the story as Amherst only kept it closes due to a fluky turnover and a screwed up punt play that I don't understand what was intended to happen.  The D-line was really stellar and the very young, reconstituted secondary (starting three frosh) finally held up really well, although of course playing Amherst's passing game very much helps in that respect.  Tim Landolfi was the star of the game defensively, he had some brutally hard hits and huge tackles throughout the game, his best game as an Eph for sure.  On offense, I agree with SpringSt7 that this Joel Nicholas was different than we've seen much of the year.  He was so explosive, so decisive, and finished off runs with some NASTY stiff arms, Amherst just seemed dispirited trying to bring him down play after play.  He was really tireless carrying a very heavy load and the middle of the offense line created bigger and bigger holes as the game wore on.  Dan Vaughn was also great, contributing some really tough runs up the middle in key situations.  Kudos to him for finishing his career in style in recent weeks.  Finally, Michael Bedard was the absolutely dominant lead blocker I remember from last year and also had a key catch on a really well-designed play that was among the most important of the game. 

It was just a very tough year for the Ephs relative to expectations but getting to Walk on Homecoming eases a good chunk of that sting.  A lot of things didn't go right and they (in part due to injuries) never could really figure out an identity on either end of the ball.  While the Ephs lose a ton of seniors, many were not playing late in the year due to injuries or otherwise.  I expect the three frosh in the secondary will benefit a lot of from all the reps this year and hopefully the pass D will really tighten up next season.  On offense, obviously the big question is, who is the QB - Ephs must figure out that position if they want to return to the top echelon of the league.  They also lose a lot on the offensive line but do return two starters from the Amherst game plus Bedard.  Nicholas is a big loss but hopefully Fischetti, who was unstoppable before getting hurt, can return 100 percent.  Watch out also for incoming frosh Luke Thorbahn, who just committed to the Ephs and looks like an exciting back to get some carries behind Fischetti. 

[Nescacman]

Oh, hey everyone... just stopping by to update the name and signature.

Nice to hear from you again Hs...we have def missed your wit and wisdom on the Boards. 

Congratulations as well on the win Saturday. More on the game(s) later, but not having #8 for 95% of the game after giving it a go with a high ankle sprain, definitely hurt the Cardinal cause. No excuses, HS wins and we start preparing for '23. Wes wins the Little Three which is a very big consolation prize for the Mysterious Ministers from Middletown.

BTW, unlike the Purple Cow faithful, we don't hide when we lose. Has anyone ever seen a bigger bunch of front runners? Nice to hear from them again, after they beat a 2-6 team at home on homecoming. We suppose congratulations are in order to Williams as well on their 3-6 year, escaping the NESCAC basement by one game. We love you guys, and will enjoy drinking your adult beverages next year in Williamstown, but sheeesh.

[The Ghost of John Wesley]

Congrats to Trinity on the undefeated season and league title. They were clearly the top team in the league this year by some margin--there was a sizeable gap between them and second place (Middlebury) and a significant spread between them and the teams in the third tier (Wes, Tufts).

I've said enough on it a few pages back, but a disappointing year for Wes given the expectations coming into the season and the returning talent pool. I'm still waiting for them to make the jump to outright league champion caliber, but they just can't seem to put it all together. They arguably had the talent to get it done this year, but seemed to suffer from mental lapses and breakdowns (penalties, turnovers, big plays, etc.)--all stuff championship caliber teams minimize and overcome.

The big question for Wes going into the offseason(Nescacman probably has a better bead on this than I): How many of the seniors with eligibility remaining will return for a 5th year? Wes doesn't have the plethora of grad programs like Tufts, but it has enough to pique interest.

[nescac1]

In the end, Nescacman, it's a lot easier to swallow a 3-6 season with an Amherst win and and following a 9-0 season.  (As for myself, this is the first Williams game I've actually seen in quite a few weeks, hence my actually being able to provide commentary - I've only caught a few this year and when I saw the full games I posted).  In the end I'd still rather have Willians' last two years than Wesleyan's, especially after all the endless Wesleyan hype led to a pair of ... third place finishes. 

This will go down as one of the best weekends in Eph sports history. The Amherst win plus men's and women's soccer and field hockey each winning two NCAA games, including a pair of wins over number one teams in the country.  Plus volleyball upsetting Wesleyan. After a rough year last year (other than football, of course!), Eph team sports are back!

[Nescacman]

Congrats to Trinity on the undefeated season and league title. They were clearly the top team in the league this year by some margin--there was a sizeable gap between them and second place (Middlebury) and a significant spread between them and the teams in the third tier (Wes, Tufts).

I've said enough on it a few pages back, but a disappointing year for Wes given the expectations coming into the season and the returning talent pool. I'm still waiting for them to make the jump to outright league champion caliber, but they just can't seem to put it all together. They arguably had the talent to get it done this year, but seemed to suffer from mental lapses and breakdowns (penalties, turnovers, big plays, etc.)--all stuff championship caliber teams minimize and overcome.

The big question for Wes going into the offseason(Nescacman probably has a better bead on this than I): How many of the seniors with eligibility remaining will return for a 5th year? Wes doesn't have the plethora of grad programs like Tufts, but it has enough to pique interest.

Much more on this later, but great question as far as what Wes has coming back. We believe a number of the seniors are done with no eligibility remaining including Banks, Estevez, Simco, Henderson, LeGoullon, McPhee, Folse, Ryan, Verespy. However, their are a host of others with eligibility remaining including Helbig, Tomlinson (2 years), Flinn, Von Jess who all could return. Couple that with a host of juniors, sophs, and frosh who either started or played a ton including 8 starters on defense and 7 on offense, Wes will be ready to go in September. No Purple Cow-style collapse expected in Middletown.

[bantamweight]

. No Purple Cow-style collapse expected in Middletown.

Because you don't have nearly as far to fall.

[lumbercat]

. No Purple Cow-style collapse expected in Middletown.

Because you don't have nearly as far to fall.

Huh?

[lumbercat]

Trinity is the best team in the conference.

But what is with Bantam posters appearing in sporadic, phantom posts----almost like the Cards syndicate has scared you guys off

Congratulations to the Bantams on another NESCAC title.

[The Ghost of John Wesley]

. No Purple Cow-style collapse expected in Middletown.

Because you don't have nearly as far to fall.

Huh?

This was actually a pretty good quip.

Nescacman said that Wes wouldn't have a Williams-type collapse next year (comparing Williams' 2021 9-0 season to their performance this year); the retort is that of course Wes won't have that level of collapse, as it's an impossibility--the team didn't have anywhere near the success of the undefeated Williams squad in 2021, so it doesn't even have the space to collapse (i.e. from middling to underperformance is not a collapse.

Honestly, as a Wes fan, I'm all for it. Until Wesleyan can claim an outright league title, the team and its supporters can't expect to talk trash and not get wedgied in return by teams/supporters who have actually won it all.

It's time for Wes to put up or shut up, to be frank.