FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[hamgrand]

NewToNescac

Have to give you credit for your bold Colby prediction vs Wesleyan.  I know they did not win but from the score it looks like they played Wesleyan very tough.

The Amherst - Midd game was much closer than the score.   It was 10 - 7 in the 4th Q and the Middlebury defense was very playing well.  After another good defensive stop by the Middlebury D, a good play from the Amherst special teams player caused an unfortunate fumble by the punt returner giving Amherst 1st and goal at the 3 yard line.  After holding them for three plays, Amherst went for it on 4th down and scored.

The next series Middlebury went 3 and out after not being able to convert on a 3rd and 1.  The Midd defense broke down and let up a 30 yard TD run after having been on the field a long time.

Have to give a lot of credit to the Amherst D for holding the Middlebury offense to 7 points.  Both defenses played well in this game.

Amherst QB Foy is a pretty good player.  Very quick and made some nice throws.

[NewtoNescac]

Hamgrand - I think Middlebury is a quality team. I just think they are too one dimensional on offense.

Also, I did get the Bates game wrong. I underestimated Williams. Oh, well.

[P'bearfan]

Definite sparks in the Polar Bear passing game -- both Drakely and Nelson looked good -- they combined for 381 passing yards. I was impressed with how confident Nelson seemed in moving the team although perhaps he was playing against back-up defensive players.

Since I didn't see the full second half I missed the fact that the HCOF brought in Nelson.  Have to agree that he posted some nice stats.  At that point the game was pretty much out of reach so I assume he was just trying to protect Drakeley and give Nelson some meaningful reps.

[polbear73]

I had turned it off by then as well, P'bearfan and I assume you're correct although I do know that Nelson has pushed Drakeley throughout camp.  I certainly don't think Drakeley otherwise deserved to be benched as I don't think Bowdoin has started one possession without being behind in its three games.  Also, the improvement that Bowdoin has shown in the passing game is remarkable since they have had no running game at all.  Hope Tyler Grant is okay and didn't play for a reason other than a serious injury. 

[lumbercat]

Big homecroming crowd in Medford- unlike past years the Tufts students actually came into the stadium on their way to the homecoming festivities adjacent to Ellis Oval.
Civetti deserves a lot of credit- he is building a strong program and seems to have great support throughout the Tufts community.
On the field the Jumbos were impressive scoring on their first 5 possessions. They could have scored 70 if they wanted to but Civetti took his foot of the gas in the second half.
Beleive Bowdoin threw the ball more than usual with Grant on the sidelines. Also not sure what became of RB Trey Brown who returned to the team this year after injury. Without these 2 RBs Bowdoin was hurting coming into the game.
FY QB Nelson was very poised coming off the Bowdoin bench. Although he did not see the Tufts first D he looked good. Throws a nice ball and seemed to run the offense well. Didn't look like a Freshman.
He has evidently leaped frogged upper classman Carrera and highly touted recruit classmate Kennedy on the QB depth chart.
I believe Wells will be going with younger players more and more as the season progresses.

[P'bearfan]

I had turned it off by then as well, P'bearfan and I assume you're correct although I do know that Nelson has pushed Drakeley throughout camp.  I certainly don't think Drakeley otherwise deserved to be benched as I don't think Bowdoin has started one possession without being behind in its three games.  Also, the improvement that Bowdoin has shown in the passing game is remarkable since they have had no running game at all.  Hope Tyler Grant is okay and didn't play for a reason other than a serious injury.

Unfortunately, it turns out that Drakeley was injured on the long pass he completed in the 3rd quarter that set up a touchdown.  Drakeley threw the ball while on the run and it is further evidence of his ability to throw the deep ball. 

Our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. 

[amh63]

Had a number of thoughts of how to go about conveying my observations of the Amherst - Middlebury game.  Decided to let others comment first and add my bias comments now.  Here goes.....
Concerned about Midd's QBs....a given. Last season's win was a defensive battle in wet conditions. The game had bright sun and somewhat warm Fall temperature.  Expected Midd to pass to set up the run.  Expected Amherst to run to set up the pass.  Both OCs seem to me to do the reverse early in the game.  More runs than passes by the Panthers.  More passes than runs by the LJs.  Midd's new OC actually had the Panthers run their plays at a quicker pace...even setting up faster than Amherst...hoping to catch Amherst's defense in the wrong set up.
Both teams played good defense.....both teams went on 4 th downs several times to get in scoring positions and failed.  Amherst had to settle for a field goal and Midd scored a touch down via a pass to the end zone.   
However, Amherst seemed to slowly win the battle of the lines and would stop themselves by penalties...lots of offensive "off sides" and even an unclear 25 yard penalty after a catch.
The stats, IMO, shows the difference in the game, surprisingly. 
Amherst's QB played Midd's QBs evenly in yards gained, etc.  Amherst's passing stats indicate a more efficient one.  The running game was ALL Amherst...190 yds to 21.  Amherst used four backs.
By the 4th quarter, the Midd's relative small DL was worn down...even though new players were rotated in.  By the 2nd half, Amherst's DL...also being rotated with fresher players....and its LBs was putting heavy pressure on Midd's QB.  Amherst sacked the QB 5 times vice 1 by Midd.  Amherst lost two fumbles...one on a punt catch.
One sequence in the second half illustrate the growing confidence of Amherst's defense.  Amherst was stopped twice to advance the ball one yard....Coach Mills questioned the placement of the ball strongly...turning the ball to the Panthers.  The next TWO downs, Amherst sacked the Midd QB.  yes Amherst was getting the better of Midd's HUGH OL.
The stats show that Midd QB was picked off twice.  There was a third pick that was disallowed because the CB stepped out of bounds in the process.
I feel good about Amherst going forward.  Seems the OL has been rebuilt.  Amherst has a "stable" of RBs performing well.  Amherst has found a starting QB...he was even knocked out for a play. The defense is getting better.  Still too many mistakes...Coaches will correct that soon enough.  Kicking game improving.

[quicksilver]

Unfortunately, it turns out that Drakeley was injured on the long pass he completed in the 3rd quarter that set up a touchdown.  Drakeley threw the ball while on the run and it is further evidence of his ability to throw the deep ball. 

Our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Yeah -- I thought that Drakeley was probably injured. He had been playing well so there was no reason to pull him. QB actually seems to be one of the few positions where Bowdoin has some strength. The switch from Drakeley to Nelson was so smooth that the goofball Tufts announcers did not even pick it up. Both Drakeley and Nelson threw the ball well and ran the O well. And several of the Bowdoin receivers are solid too . . But obviously there is no depth at running back and the D has been placing the O in a giant hole . .   

[dadof4bz]

I'm new to the conference and just started following Middlebury.  I do agree that they seem to be a one dimensional team and I believe it's tough to be successful without a running game to keep the defense honest.  I was at another game trying to watch the Middlebury/Amhurst game.  It's amazing how much you miss viewing on a cell phone with a bad cell signal on a sunny day!!  Is there a replay out there??  I tried the Amhurst site but nothing yet.

[JEFFFAN]

With all due respect, is AMHERST ... and the H is silent !

[dadof4bz]

My apologies!  I thought I fixed all my spelling errors, and there were a lot.

[PolarCat]

The webcasts of all NESCAC sports are pretty dreadful, the exception being some MBB games.  So the fact there is no replay means you're not missing much.

No worries.  Even with the sun and the size of your phone's screen, you still probably saw more of the game than the typical NESCAC referee.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

[Nescacman]

Definite sparks in the Polar Bear passing game -- both Drakely and Nelson looked good -- they combined for 381 passing yards. I was impressed with how confident Nelson seemed in moving the team although perhaps he was playing against back-up defensive players.

Since I didn't see the full second half I missed the fact that the HCOF brought in Nelson.  Have to agree that he posted some nice stats.  At that point the game was pretty much out of reach so I assume he was just trying to protect Drakeley and give Nelson some meaningful reps.

P'bear...you should know better...there is only one HCOF, that being the Keltinator himself, the pride of Willytown.

[P'bearfan]

With all due respect, is AMHERST ... and the H is silent !

My apologies! I thought I fixed all my spelling errors, and there were a lot.

Don't apologize....one of the little joys all the non-Amherst posters have is watching an LJ fan's head explode when someone mis-spells or mis-pronounces the school's name.  If there was a way to type Amherst so that the "H" wasn't silent, we'd all probably do it just to annoy them.  Perhaps "AmHerst"??

[JEFFFAN]

Cannot really argue with that one, P'bearfan!!!  Has driven me nuts every since I went there in the 70s!!