FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Barn-burner in Hartford, tied 13-13 late in the fourth quarter.  Williams has the ball, one minute left.  Ephs have absolutely killed themselves with two late turnovers driving deep into Trinity territory.  Very ballsy call by the Trinity coach going for it on 4th and 8 on the Williams 43.  Trinity did not convert, we will see if it comes back to burn them. 

[nescac1]

And yet another interception on another ill-advised pass in Trinity territory for Williams ... the Ephs are just doing all they can to hand a game they should have won to Trinity.  Uggghhh. 

[nescac1]

And Trinity throws the game-winning TD.  The difference in a very evenly-played game was that Trinity converted in the red zone, and Williams turned the ball over.  Ephs played much, much, much better than last week but no moral victories in football.  Just can't turn the ball over in those situations. 

[iamhuge]

A really courageous effort by Tufts today.  They were one play away from getting the win.  Give Bates credit as they mustered up enough to finish strong and seal the victory, completing a key pass down the sideline when it looked like Tufts had them stopped and then following it with a 4th and 3 conversion.  Had Tufts made the stop, it's very likely the Jumbos would have won.

Great job by Coach Civetti rallying the team back from last week's performance.

[amh63]

Watched a bunch of football on Sat.  The Amherst game and about a quarter of the Trinity game and scanned the stats of two other conference battles.  Some random general thoughts and some on the Amherst game.
In the Trinity game, it looked like the defenses were controlling the game.  The outcome to be based on who made the fewest mistakes....or the big play...offensively or on defense.  It was like that in the Amherst game as both offenses were sputtering....the defenses are ahead of the offense it seem at this time of the season.
The stats, I find, do not reveal the drama or the turns and twist of what goes on the field.  Seasoned announcers get caught up in the game.  The Trinity announcer twice confused TDs with time outs as the Bantams drove towards the goal line in the last 50 seconds.  No mention of a field goal try!
In the Amherst game, new players stepped up.  In the second half,  two FY RBs jump started the offense.  The smallest, Gaines, with his quickness and the biggest, Kelly, with his power and speed. With the running game going, the passing game started to click.
This week, it was Garay the elusive WR, that had a big game.  B. Ragone seemed more of a decoy this time.  Too much speed for Bowdoin's defenders.
Speaking of defenders...Spears was challenged and came up big again...almost picking up more pics.  It seems teams want to stay away from, L. Lewis, the former 1st team CB...so the other backs get the work.  You will not see it in the stats clearly.  Bowdoin's TD was set up by a spectacular play in the last 4-5 minutes of the game.  Bowdoin's replacement QB was trying to avoid a sack and threw a pass downfield.  The WR made a one handed catch along the sideline..a 42 yd catch.  The QB scored a two point conversion as he was flipped over. 

[Panthernation]

Week 2 NESCAC Football podcast: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2013/09/29/week-2-nescac-football-recap/

[gridiron]

Beautiful fall weekend for NESCAC football.  While no true upsets, mostly competitive games and some scares for the favorites.  Should bode well for the rest of the season, if the up and comers can continue to improve.

Thanks Panthernation for the audio clip.  Sums it up pretty well.  Was at the game--good crowd and lots of enthusiasm.

[Trin9-0]

Another Trinity-Williams classic! Congrats to the Bants on their 48th consecutive win in The Coop.

With remaining home games against Hamilton and Bowdoin it's likely that the streak will be at 50 when the Cardinals come to Hartford on November 9th.

[AlDavis]

Another Trinity-Williams classic! Congrats to the Bants on their 48th consecutive win in The Coop.

With remaining home games against Hamilton and Bowdoin it's likely that the streak will be at 50 when the Cardinals come to Hartford on November 9th.

Goooood!!!....nice even number and that's where it will stand forever.

[maineman]

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/football/link-resources/poll.htmlhttp://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/football/link-resources/poll.html

2013 NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III FOOTBALL POLL


Week #3 - 9/30/13
Rank    Team    Record    (First-Place Votes)    Points    Last Week's Rank
1    Trinity
   2-0    (10)    173    2
2
   Framingham St.
   3-1    (7)    157    3
3    Middlebury
   2-0    
   130    4
4
   Springfield
   3-1    
   123    1
5    Amherst
   2-0    
   101    7
6
   Salve Regina
   2-1    (2)
   98    9
7    Bridgewater St.
   3-1         95    8
8
   Wesleyan
   2-0         69    10
9    Worcester St.
   3-1         32    -
10    Western Connecticut
   2-1         26    6
Also Receiving Votes (to be listed a team must receive at least one percent of the available points and appear on at least two ballots):  MIT (20), Endicott (10).

[amh63]

Maineman...thanks for the info.  Interesting that the source is off the Wes website.
Approaching Hump Day, the Federal Govt is closed, so I will post some info that caught my eye.  Due in part to the offense run by the two teams in the Super Bowl last, a writer proceeded to state that more NFL teams are going to the offense that has its roots back in the 70's...from the college systems in general and the Michagan Wolverines in particular.  More smash mouth offense with bigger linemen and use of a fullback.  My kind of football.  Missed the fullback !  Seems the NFL has slimmed down and gone to quicker and small players on both sides.  Fooled me.  Claimed the much talked about "read option" is a derivative of the U. Of Michigan and Big Ten offenses of old.  Fooled me again...but I am not an investment guy who knows about derivatives and all .  Maybe that is the offense that the Maine schools are turning to...except Bowdoin.  Bowdoin has yet to find an offense, imo.  Harsh

[frank uible]

The book of Ecclesiastes has something to say about there being nothing new under the sun.

[amh63]

Thanks Frank for the reminder.  My wife does remind me that I am short on seeking knowledge from the Good Book.
Bates has posted a preview of their game this week  in Frank's town.
Last weekend on a warm sunny Fall day, Amherst's Football announcer mentioned the Sun noticeably and the warmth....announcer does the UMass hockey games in cooler conditions.  Closed the game stating that he was going to wear a hat next time.  Remember your hat when you sit on the Home sunny side Frank!

[frank uible]

I have and wear a purple baseball cap, but it doesn't say "DARP" although I knew that great man fairly well.

[Go Continentals!]

Well, Wesleyan was better than Amherst.  So now Hamilton continues the gauntlet this weekend at Trinity.  So what are the keys to win a game?  For starters, Hamilton needs to stop rotating QB's on every down and go with the guy who can throw the ball to a receiver group that is as good as any in the league.  They need to be a little creative instead of trying to run on nearly every play.  The offense is just too predictable.  Passing as a last resort will not keep defenses honest!  They need start using their Freshmen running backs who are exacting and powerful.  They have an improved defensive unit that was not pushed around by two of the better teams in the league.  The defensive backs need to make tackles instead of just hitting ball carriers.  Hamilton has better talent this year but they need grow up fast and the wins will come.  The biggest key is that the Coaching staff needs to put the team in a position to win.  Running out the clock instead of running plays sends the wrong message to the players on the team.  It's just not right.