FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[quicksilver]

Here's some more from the Bowdoin student newspaper on the no-nonsense culture that JB Wells is trying to instill at Bowdoin.

[PolarCat]

And here's a nice article from the Lewiston paper about Bates: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/local-sports/2015/09/25/bates-football-preview-bobcats-riding-crest-historical-winning-wave/1788259

[amh63]

O.K. Posters....Amherst has its roster posted!  Headshot pictures too!  Guess the players needed time to look good. .  Now to check out the the changes.....see QB Berlutl has grown a bit.  Nay, will wait...do want to note that contrary to Bowdoin's new Coach, where he describes "game week " prep/ schedule.....Amherst this past Sunday had the team loosen up? In the swimming pool.  Saw an Instagram video of players " frolicking"...my word. 
Thanks all for the write ups...very informative.  Expect the Amherst team is on the buses about now heading to Maine.
Has anyone else notice that all the games start at 1PM except ONE....Middlebury's game starts earlier.  Why is that?  Best I leave that alone....a State that has a Socialist candidate as old as I am running for the Highest Office, a.State that gave us Ben & Jerry, A State that once had more "Williams" cows than citizens.....yes, a State that gave us Robert Frost and Calvin Coolidge!   
Just kidding around here....I'm ready for CAC Football!

[gridiron]

Amher63--funny how some players continue to grow in their 20s.  You don't suppose it was somehow related to the competition for the starting QB position, do you? Hmmmm

[Nescacman]

2015 Week #1 NESCAC Preview and Pre-Season Power Rankings

Welcome to Week 1 in the NESCAC..."the league where they pay to play".

This is the first week of what should be another exciting NESCAC season. For those unfamiliar with our weekly post, we will give our weekly preview of the upcoming games including predictions and our weekly power rankings for the NESCAC. Let's get it going...

2014 was another good year for NESCACMAN and his staff picking NESCAC games going 30-10, after going 32-8 in 2013. We look at the league in terms of three tiers. The first tier features Amherst, Middlebury, Trinity and Wesleyan. The second tier is comprised solely of Tufts. The bottom tier is comprised of Bates, Hamilton, Colby, Bowdoin and Williams.

Amherst is back as the favorite to win their second straight NESCAC and Little 3 Title. Middlebury a close second with the two best QBs in the league on their roster. The Wesleyan Football Cardinal squad is looking to reload after back-to-back 7-1 seasons with 18 new starters (albeit mostly experienced) and a very strong, large recruiting class to help them out. Trinity is looking to bounce back from a disappointing (for them) 5-3 season and could challenge for the league title. Tufts is trying to build on their improved 2014 season and break into the top tier.

2015 Pre-Season NESCAC Power Rankings

1. Amherst (2014 #1, 2015 prediction: 7-1):  Amherst is coming off the fifth undefeated season in the program's history. This is Amherst's 4th season out of the last six seasons with at least 7 wins. In 2014, Amherst celebrated both the Little Three and NESCAC championships. The big question for the Lord Jeffs is at the QB position. Other than that, they are loaded having taken full advantage of their archrival Williams' demise in recruiting.

2. Middlebury (2014 #3, 2015 Prediction: 7-1): Middlebury is coming off a great year losing only to last year #1 Amherst and #2 Wesleyan by a total of 15 points. This team has historically relied heavily on the pass and this year will be no different with 2014 co-offensive player of the year Mike Milano back to lead the Panthers and D1 transfer Jared Lebowitz waiting in the wings. 

3 (tie). Wesleyan (2014 #2, 2015 Prediction: 6-2): The DiCenzo era begins in Middletown. Despite graduating 27 seniors and 18 starters, Wes returns a strong crop of offensive performers including 2013 NESCAC First Teamer (and 2014 Pre-season offensive player of the year) LaDarious Drew and 2014 NESCAC First Teamer at RB Lou Stephens. The keys here are the newly formed offensive line with four first year performers and new QB Junior Hawkins who played his prep ball at perennial national powerhouse, Miramar (FLA). The good news is the defense should again be first rate with Sanchez, Daversa-Russo and Stone leading the charge. Look for some new wrinkles on the offensive side of the ball as new O coordinator Eric Ludwig (another former Eph) takes over for Jack Seidlecki who retired.

3 (tie). Trinity (2014 #4, 2015 Prediction: 6-2): After rolling off 5 straight wins to start the season, Hartford State lost their last 3 in a row against quality competition to end the year an uncharacteristic 5-3. 2013 NESCAC Rookie of the Year Super Soph QB Sonny Puzzo is back after a year of forced exile to lead the Bants.

5. Tufts (2014 #5, 2015 Prediction: 4-4): Congrats to the Jumbos on their first .500 season since 2008. Word is that Tufts had one of the larger recruiting classes in the league matriculate. They will need it to be quality over quantity to jump to the next level.

6. Bates (2014 #6, 2015 Prediction: 3-5): Bates won their second C-B-B title in the last three years in 2014. They ended the year winning 3 straight games and ended the year at .500. They continue to run the triple option despite being one of only a handful of teams in the country to run it. Why do most teams not run it? Well, because your QB gets killed in this offense (Bates included). In a league where having a decent QB is a luxury, maybe Coach Harriman should think about changing that up.

7. Williams (2014 #8, 2015 Prediction: 3-5): We don't know what the future is for HCOF Kelton (well actually, we do) but we expect marginal improvement in Willytown, more because the teams on their schedule are generally weaker. This should year should be the end for the HCOF and then Williams begins the long road back from Armageddon. But look out in 2018!!!

8. Hamilton (2014 #10, 2015 Prediction: 2-6): Hamilton is a look into the future as far as how Coach Wells will do at Bowdoin. Script is similar. Successful HC from a nearby school moves to a perennial NESCAC doormat that has been less than supportive of the football program. We believe the Conts take a step in the right direction but have a long way to go.

9. Bowdoin (2014 #7, 2015 Prediction: 1-7): Welcome to the NESCAC, Coach Wells.

10. Colby (2014 #9, 2015 Prediction: 1-7): Hardest place to recruit at in the NESCAC. Hopefully, they benefit from some "Walk in the Woods" spillover.

Week #1 NESCAC Preview

Should be a beautiful day of football across New England as the NESCAC opens up its 2015 schedule with a full slate of games. The season kicks off at 12:30 at Wesleyan (it is Middletown day and "Salute to Service" day whereby they are honoring those that served with a tie to Wes) where Middlebury visits Wesleyan in our GOTW.

Tufts University at Hamilton College: Tufts starts off 2015 with their first road win in many years. This is the next step in their development.

Tufts 28 Hamilton 14
Weather: Not a factor (weather courtesy of the Weather Channel).

Williams College at Bowdoin College: Would love to go against the HCOF here but I just don't see it. Too many things working against Coach Wells unless the long ride gets to the Ephs. We think the 'Bears play tough but lose a battle of attrition at home in the 4th quarter.

Williams 17 Bowdoin 7
Weather: Not a factor.

Amherst College at Bates College: Bates plays well at home but we think Amherst's tough defense is just too experienced to get beat by Dugan's triple option. We are curious to see who the Amherst QB actually is.

Amherst 35 Bates 14
Weather: Not a factor.

Hartford State College at Colby College: Tough first game of the year for the Mules. We usually don't like road favorites but with this pick, we will go 4 for 4. We think returning Hen QB Sonny Puzzo has a big day against the hapless Mules.

Hartford St. 42 Colby 7
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Middlebury College at Wesleyan University: We will go for the home underdog with this one. We expect Coach Dice to start his head-coaching career with a big win at home. We think the Card D will exploit the uni-dimensional Panther offense. The new Wes offense will show some growing pains but they have way too much skill and speed on offense to stay bottled up for the entire game. Look for Wes RB's Drew, Stephens and up and coming soph Berry to have huge days for the Cards. We think Wes kicker Ike Fuchs is the difference maker here as Wes wins a close one in Middletown.

Wesleyan 24 Middlebury 21
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC Man's Picks
Last week: 4-1 (week #8 2014)
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8

[gridiron]

Nescacman-love the effort put forth.  Excellent summaries.  Hoping for some upsets today though....

[P'bearfan]

Good luck to the Polar Bears today - especially new HCOF Wells and QB Tim Drakeley.  Not sure that I'll get to watch the game but I hope this is the start of a new era of Bowdoin football.

[frank uible]

Wait until the third week in November and then your correspondent's prognostications will be superior to any above.

[ContinentalsMan]

Nescacman, great writeup and agree that Hamilton can win at least two games this season. Today, despite you picking them to lose, will be very interesting considering they have Tufts at home and should have beaten  them in Boston last year. The attitude seems to have changed among the players though the school itself still gives the team little or no support and there is little or no confidence in the athletics director. No need to put the number out there but the overall Hamilton sports program has to be among the worst in all of the NCAA. The AD along with the administration has promised for more than a year and a half changes in the entire athletic program but there has been really nothing done except for a new locker room which only came because of a gift of a former football player and replaced a locker room that was disgusting and a health hazard. Head coach Dave Murray, however, has brought in new uniforms, helmets and a new overall look and he is the school's lone hope for a winning program. Lot of players gone from last year's squad though most of the ones that played returned. The key for Hamilton will be finishing, whether it be a play, drive, quarter or game. With games against Wesleyan and Trinity around the corner, the key to the season really is today against Tufts. There is no reason why they can't beat the Jumbos. They have them at home, there is certainly enough talent in Clinton and Tufts hasn't won a road game in what, almost five years. If Tufts wins it will be another setback for a Hamilton program that needs to get the monkey off its back much like Tufts did against them last year. I think we will all get a chance to see what Murray and his staff are made of today at Steuben Field. He won at his last school but came from a poor academic school at Alfred where he could take anyone. These are his coaches and he has a year under his belt and we will get a chance to see today what he can actually do in D3's top academic league. Murray has enough to win four games this season and perhaps even pull up a upset over one of the big four and they don't have to play Amherst. If Hamilton was ever going turn a corner where the players start learning to win, a good start would be today. Hopefully, it's AD and administration will be on hand today to watch and if a win does come see what kind of difference it can make at the school. Hamilton wonders why it is not a top 10 or now even top 15 liberal arts college. It is not just all about academics and or building some fancy theatre and arts building. It is about trying to be the best at everything. Ask Harvard or I like what Mercedes goes by: Best or Nothing!   

[P'bearfan]

At the half, Bowdoin trails Williams 0-14.  Didn't see the first half but hoping for a turnaround as the 2nd half kicks off.

[nescac1]

Nice easy win for the Ephs to start the season.  Of course, Williams also dominated Bowdoin in last year's opener and we all know how things went the next week, so hard to say the Ephs are much improved -- they will still be huge underdogs at Trinity last week, and frankly Bowdoin didn't look very good, they won't win more than a game this season I'd anticipate.

For Williams, Austin Lommen looked much improved.  He was very, very accurate all day, throwing one interception on a great athletic play by a Bowdoin defender but otherwise making no mistakes.  He got plenty of time to throw and was very precise on his throws down the field.  He regularly put the ball where only his huge receivers could grab it and they were just too physical for Bowdoin's small secondary.  Regensberg, Sime, Way and Brown all made excellent plays all day long.  Lommen was especially clutch on third down, completing MANY deep throws on third and long. That was the good news for Williams on offense. 

The bad news was the running game did not look good at all, for the most part, which is why there were so many third-and-longs.  It's hard to see how they will gain many if any yards on the ground vs. the Bantams always-stout run defense.  The run blocking was not as strong as the pass blocking.  Connor Harris remains quick-footed in space but gets brought down by the first tackle pretty much every time, and really should be used more sparingly to keep him fresh, more of a change-of-pace back.  Greg Plumb is bigger and stronger but not very dynamic at all.  Big lumbering FB Cifrino did have some nice physical runs inside.

I'd like to see a LOT more of frosh Noah Sorrento going forward and I think we will -- he reminds me of former Eph Brian Morrissey, about the same size and a very similar running style, not especially big or fast but looks like he explodes into the hole and reads his blocks very well, just a natural TB who is shifty enough to break a few tackles as he gets through the hole.  He had four carries for 43 yards and a late-game TD.  He needs to have at least twice that many carries next week, and going forward.   

The Eph defense was solid albeit unspectacular.  The Ephs rotated a lot of guys in and out and a LOT of young players were out there ... sophs Berry, Eaton, Gowen, Pederson, Hattar, and Wilson all played a lot on defense, as did FYs Austin Thomas and Barber (who secured a big INT in the end zone).  Gowen made the biggest impact of that group other than Barber's play.  Tevin Montgomery pretty much shut down James Howe in the first half but Howe looked like the explosive Howe of old as the game dragged on, getting a big sack and a few other hits on the QB and using his speed to beat Montgomery.  The Ephs' secondary played very, very well through most of the game, sticking very close to the Bowdoin receivers and breaking up a lot of passes.

The Ephs had a LOT of penalties including many mental-mistake penalties on offense.  They will need to clean that up to have any sort of prayer next week.  I do think Lommen and the good receiving crew will hurt some teams through the air this year, but the running game needs to improve a lot.  All the young defenders will need to grow up in a hurry over the next week as the competition gets much, much stiffer ... still not clear if there are any real stars on the defensive front seven other than Howe but at least there is a lot of youth. 

[P'bearfan]

Tough opening game as Bowdoin falls to Williams 27-7.

The Ephs did a great job of sustaining long drives that took their toll on Bowdoin's defense.  On the bright side, Bowdoin scored it's first passing TD to a wide receiver since 2013.  Drakeley, despite having 2 INT, looked very efficient in moving the P'bears down the field late in the fourth quarter.  The down field passing game was much more efficient as effective than last year.

Here's hoping that Bowdoin can build on the lessons from this week and get the W next week against Amherst though that will be a challenging game.

[middhoops]

Wesleyan falls short on PATs.  Midd squeaks through 28-25.

[polbear73]

Nescac1: I would dearly love to disagree with your assessment of the Bowdoin game-but I can't.  While I didn't expect Coach Wells to be a miracle worker, I did expect the Bears to give a much better accounting of themselves and even thought they would win, given the new energy surrounding the program and Coach Wells' comments about being a reset as opposed to a rebuild  (come to think of it, what else was he going say?) I have long thought that Bowdoin had a hidden amount of athleticism and talent, but today showed that whatever talent they have is just not enough. Your comment about Bowdoin's small secondary is spot on as Williams exploited them all day.

I know it's a first game and Bowdoin is sure to improve (it has to), but today's game is a reality check about how far away this program is.

[maineman]

Has anyone else notice that all the games start at 1PM except ONE....Middlebury's game starts earlier.  Why is that?  Best I leave that alone....a State that has a Socialist candidate as old as I am running for the Highest Office, a.State that gave us Ben & Jerry, A State that once had more "Williams" cows than citizens.....yes, a State that gave us Robert Frost and Calvin Coolidge!   
Just kidding around here....I'm ready for CAC Football!

The game was in Connecticut!  You'll have to ask Wesleyan why the game was played at 12:30.