FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[AmherstStudent05]

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time Amherst trailed a game as late as the fourth quarter?  Not sure it happened at all last year.

The Jeffs need to cut out these roughing the passer penalties. 

[jumpshot]

Panther Pride douses the plague in a sweet win for Midd.

[AmherstStudent05]

Congratulations to the Panthers on ending Amherst's two-and-a-half season unbeaten streak.  They were the better team today as they pulled out a hard-fought 27-26 victory.  An early missed extra point was the difference, but there were so many pivotal moments today.

For starters, Nick Morales was fantastic today, going 28-39 for 347 yards.  While he is not the read option threat that Foy and Berluti are, he did have one long run for a critical first down, and, running or not, he was simply superb.  Pretty impressive that someone that talented could be our third QB.  Devin Boehm was also fantastic as always.

On defense, Niyi Odewade was an absolute terror all day.

Unfortunately, as westcoastDad noted, we just could not get anything going in the running game all day.  Particularly on third and short we seemed to have real problems converting on the ground.  Credit to the Midd front 7 for playing stout run D all day -- and providing just enough pressure on Morales -- particularly on our last offensive play of the game.

For Amherst, penalties continue to be an Achilles heel.  I actually think we were a little more disciplined today than we were in the first two games (the box score currently has us committing 5 penalties for 132 yards which cannot be right).  We also had a few costly special teams gaffes.

Anyway, the game was a lot of fun to watch, even if it had a very disappointing end.  Time for Coach Mills & Co. to start a new streak! 

[polbear73]

Congratulations to both Middlebury and Amherst for playing such a great game. Both programs represent the epitome of NESCAC ideals.  It was a fun game to watch even for someone with no skin in the game. 

[middhoops]

Great game.
My take away was how incredibly smothering the Amherst defense was in the 2nd half.  It seemed that Lebowitz was hit hard on every pass, no one was open, all passes were thrown into triple coverage (I know that's impossible) and that never more than a hundredth of second passed between the moment the ball reached a receiver and a couple white jersey's pounded the guy.  Really incredible defense.
Overall an evenly played game but for an extra point.
Midd's punter played an oversized role in the game.  All benefiting his team.
Morales is a greatly under rated QB.

[amh63]

Most interesting and entertaining game....one that could have multi-lead story lines.   Midd QB wins with his feet as he runs for a first down which allowed Midd to run down the game clock.  Amherst was almost in field goal range  for Rak when Amherst called a time out.  Came out and went for a bomb to Berlutti that went thru his hands.  Next play, Morales throws a rushed pass that was picked off...into a crowd. 
Amherst's punter bobble the ball and gets his kick blocked.  Never returned.  FY kicker replacement ok but his punts does not have the distance yet.   Noticed that Wall's kicks were not deep. 
Another headline could be...Midd's special teams outperformed Amherst's special team.  I blew that comment.
Congrats to the Panthers....their day today and the wet weather arrived too late
Other interesting outcomes.  Need to check Midd's running yardage....over a 100?

[westcoastDad]

What a game indeed!  I repeat....the read option offense DOES NOT work if your QB never keeps the ball.

[IslandTime]

What a game indeed!  I repeat....the read option offense DOES NOT work if your QB never keeps the ball.

I do not understand why Mills doesn't use more multi back sets. The read option with a slower power runner like Hickey is not ideal. Just my 2 cents but to have Hickey with a speedy compliment in the backfield would be more effective. Some misdirection run game, something. I just do not see Amherst ever breaking off a 50-60 yard run because the speed isn't there.

However, that speed is on the sideline in clean uniforms.

With all that said, the Amherst offense scored enough points to win and Morales, having just 1 week practicing with the 1's, played very well. The defense didn't shut down Midd O enough given the fact that they were using their #3 QB on offense.

After getting the PAT blocked, I couldn't understand why Mills never went for 2. Should have done it in the very next TD they scored. Had a sinking feeling all game it would come back to haunt.

[Vandy74]

What a game.  Performances from both teams that should make their fans proud.  Significant contributions from the non-players on both elevens.  The decider, a BLOCKED XP. 

[AmherstStudent05]

What a game indeed!  I repeat....the read option offense DOES NOT work if your QB never keeps the ball.

I do not understand why Mills doesn't use more multi back sets. The read option with a slower power runner like Hickey is not ideal. Just my 2 cents but to have Hickey with a speedy compliment in the backfield would be more effective. Some misdirection run game, something. I just do not see Amherst ever breaking off a 50-60 yard run because the speed isn't there.

However, that speed is on the sideline in clean uniforms.

With all that said, the Amherst offense scored enough points to win and Morales, having just 1 week practicing with the 1's, played very well. The defense didn't shut down Midd O enough given the fact that they were using their #3 QB on offense.

After getting the PAT blocked, I couldn't understand why Mills never went for 2. Should have done it in the very next TD they scored. Had a sinking feeling all game it would come back to haunt.

Agree that the blocked PAT was unfortunate.  But I don't blame Coach Mills at all for never going for 2.  As it turns out, our last TD was early in the third quarter.  At the time, especially given the flow of the game, it hardly seemed likely that that would be our last TD.  There was plenty of game left and chasing points could well have been costly.  Usually coaches wait until the fourth quarter before going for 2.  Also, in light of how poorly we were running the ball in short yardage most of the day, I would not have loved our chances had we gone for 2.  Obviously, with the benefit of hindsight, Coach Mills would have made a different decision. 

[westcoastDad]

Definitely suspect play calling by Mills and staff considering a 3rd string QB.  1st and 10 at 30 yard line they were within FG range.  Play 1 was up the middle foe loss of 2 yards.  Play 2 is a long pass into end zone to their shortest receiver Berluti.  Devin Bayne(sp) is a 6'5 target.  3rd down all out Blitz.  QB had zero chance.

Ballgame. 

Great calls by the Middlebury defensive coordinator.  All game long he sent his LBs daring Amherst to pass to the release guy. 

Morales played awesome.

We definitely should have gone for 2 when we went up 25-21 with the early score in 2nd half.   A 4 pt lead is the time to do so. 

Again, put your QB under center and put in two backs and things will be lot different running wise

[AmherstStudent05]

We definitely should have gone for 2 when we went up 25-21 with the early score in 2nd half.   A 4 pt lead is the time to do so. 

Don't think this is right.  At least not necessarily so.  If you go for 2 and miss you are stuck at 25-21.  If Midd scores a TD, you are now down 28-25 and so a subsequent field goal only ties rather than wins/takes the lead.  In thinking about the correct decision it is worth noting that heading in to today Midd had not made a single fg.  Now, it is a small sample size (two games) and Midd changed its kicker after week 1, but if you are Coach Mills in the early third quarter you have to think that to the extent Midd is going to score again it is more likely to be by TD than by FG.  In that case, 28 is the likely number you need to beat (although, it is true that even if you assume Midd will not be converting FGs, they could still botch the EP attempt -- as they have done earlier in the season -- making 27 relevant again).  27 doesn't beat 28.  If you get to 26, a fg beats 28.  So that is the incentive to get to 26 points.

But there are tons of factors that go in to this decision.  Again, the other two big ones are (i) why was Rak's first kick blocked and what level of confidence do you have that he will make this one, and (ii) do you have a 2-point conversion play you feel strongly about.  Not sure the answers to these questions are ever really "knowable," but to the extent anyone has the answers to these pivotal questions, that person would be Coach Mills, not you or me.

On our penultimate offensive play it sure looked like Morales and Berluti were about to connect on a big time TD.  Berluti had a step or two on the defender.  The ball just seemed slightly out of his reach.  Oh well. 

[westcoastDad]

-13 yards rushing for MB.  But, only 78 for Amherst. 

[PolarCat]

Wait.  What happened to all the voices on here a couple days ago saying kickers and punters aren't "real" players?

[jburrell21]

I would like to give a shout out to the best coaching staff in the "CAC (Ritter, Caputi, Mandigo, et.al.) for their victory today.  The streak is over.  Cheer boys cheer!