FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[BantamMom]

Amherst pulls out the win against Wesleyan! 

[IslandTime]

I'll be there in two weeks, Amdad, for the first time.  Doubt if I'll get an audience with the coach but will absorb the vibe.

Go tour Middlebury's indoor facility. It's sports complex puts (and this is no exaggeration) 50% of Div 1 School's facilities to shame. It is AMAZING that is for a student body of under 2500 students. You have to see it it to believe it.

[westcoastDad]

Great atmosphere at Pratt stadium.  Details later but the Mammoths got the much needed W.  First leg complete.   Also met a board blogger.  That was cool.

[mariner75]

Midd and Williams turn the lemon of being in the sticks into lemonade. Others in the sticks have not found the recipe.

Excuse me, but Williams is the number one liberal arts college in the country.  I think that may be an advantage.  Sticks or no sticks.

See my post on page 865 from 10/16.  Whether sticks or no sticks it's all good.  Good win for the Jumbos today at Williams.  Sets up the game next week nicely with Amh.  Should be an interesting rest of the season.

[middhoops]

I personally hope not but we may see the Oklahoma Rifle this Saturday in Lewiston. If Midd gets a lead we may see Leibowitz yanked and Meservey will get some reps.

.
Prescient, LC.
Meservy had more tosses than Lebowitz.
Midd's #2 QB had a couple of TD passes and the #3 had a 55 yd. rushing TD.

[maineman]

I personally hope not but we may see the Oklahoma Rifle this Saturday in Lewiston. If Midd gets a lead we may see Leibowitz yanked and Meservey will get some reps.

.
Prescient, LC.
Meservy had more tosses than Lebowitz.
Midd's #2 QB had a couple of TD passes and the #3 had a 55 yd. rushing TD.

With Lebowitz and Cosolito dinged up, it will be a costly win if both are not healthy to play for next week's game vs Trinity.

[PolarCat]

Did I read the box score from the Coop correctly?  Trinity (leading 56-14 at the time) scored another TD with +/- 2 minutes remaining to run the score up and blow out Bowdoin 63-14?

[Hamiltonian]

See my post on page 865 from 10/16.  Whether sticks or no sticks it's all good.  Good win for the Jumbos today at Williams.  Sets up the game next week nicely with Amh.  Should be an interesting rest of the season.
[/quote]

Sets up the game next week between Hamilton and Williams.

[frank uible]

Box score says Trinity's last score against Bowdoin was a 3 yard rush with about 2 minutes remaining. Blood thirsty?

[TheFlock]

The game we saw in The Coop had Trinity taking a knee to end the game.  How many passes did Trinity attempt in the second half? Just because the Bantams scored doesn't mean Decanney ran up the score.  Bench was cleared again.  I wonder what the Participation Reports says? 

[frank uible]

The Bowdoin President should refuse Bowdoin's future participation in football games with Trinity.

[PolarCat]

The game we saw in The Coop had Trinity taking a knee to end the game.   

So they could have won 70-14, but elected not to?

[PolarCat]

Random observations from Garcelon Field today.

While I was rooting for the opponent, it really was fun to watch the Panthers aerial attack shred a secondary.  (I just wish it hadn't been our secondary).  Liebowitz is very, very good.  It was unfortunate he elected not to slide for the first down in the second half, and took a monster hit from Joe Frake.  Both players left the game, though Frake returned.  We're rooting for Midd to knock off Trinity, so are hoping Liebowitz bounces back.

Midd played FOUR different QB's, and TEN different receivers caught passes.  We're in awe of Midd's depth.  And it must be said: he and his kid have taken a lot of crap on this board, but Dave Caputi did a masterful job as OC today.  I'm sorry my son won't face him again; Dave has always been a class act.  (No slight intended to HC Ritter; he obviously sets the tone for the team, and his Panthers won with style and class today).

The only bright spot for Bates was Special Teams.  Jaason Lopez had some spectacular returns (though at least one was negated by a block-in-the-back penalty), and the punter and kicker both did their jobs.  Unfortunately for Bates, their punter gets too much work, and their kicker too little.

One of the best moments of the day (and the season) came after the handshakes were finished, when the Midd and Bates kickers and punters met at midfield to hang out together, take a couple photos, and wish each other well down the stretch.  Lots of mutual respect, regardless of the respective W-L records, and it helped to remind me of the principles NESCAC embraces (at least in theory).

I think Bates will have some promise in future years: FY QB Brendan Costa is the real deal, and there are some good playmakers coming up.  But they need to solve the depth problem, and find some money in the budget to improve the coordinators and A/C's.  Even then, I am not sure there will ever be true competition between the Top Dawgs and the Little Dawgs in the CAC.

With our menu of Top Dawg games complete, the Cats can now move on to the part of the season where they can compete: the CBB and Hamilton.  Long-suffering fans can now look forward to at least the possibility of a W each week.  I can't wait.

[westcoastDad]

Quick recap of the Wes v Amherst showdown

Was a beautiful sunny Homecoming day.  Flew in on the redeye with a few recruits (not planned).  Got a chance to get some amazing insight from a parent on the recruiting tactics and financial tactics within both Nescac and the Ivy's.  Makes me want to have another kid so I can do it again lol.  I won't divulge but will say that Bowdoin is definitely trying.  Oh, here's another tidbit for those Helton lovers out there.  Was told that the kids who are actually making things happen for Williams this year......are actually Helton recruits that were benched last year.  I don't know the program well enough but that comes from a reliable source (a kid on the team).

Now to today's game. 

Very evenly matched teams.  Was very physical.  Wesleyan wins if their QB was more accurate.  Lots of overthrows to open receivers.  But, also received several Pass Interference "saves" that were not even questionable calls.  They were just bad calls by the refs of excellent coverage by Amherst DBs.  They came at key possessions in the 2nd half and in the last series on 3rd and 12.  Somehow, they weren't able to capitalize down 21-17 and throwing several passes into the end zone that could have ended the game in their favor.  I don't think I've ever seen QB with over 20 carries yet not even gain 30 yards (but the Weselyan QB did just that with 26 carries and 25 yards rushing.)  Wesleyan must have some injuries.  They were lacking the skilled athletes we have been accustomed seeing the last few years.  I've watched them (in person) the last 5 seasons.  Always a tough team.  Well coached.

As for the winners.  Well done!  Despite unusally sloppy FG results (two blocked by Wesleyan) were able to establish a strong rush attack in the 2nd half that in the end prevailed.  Cannot remember the last time an Amherst team has not scored by a pass when scoring over 20pts.  Today, 3 rushing TDs and the last was a gem with 1:26 to play near mid field ..traiing 17-14 ......one time out and the HomeComing crowd yelling Pass the ball Pass the Ball (after 2 consecutive rushes from near midfield).  Welp, that 3rd handoff from around the 45?......we saw Hasan Figueroa '18 (fastest player on team) make one cut after going thru a nice opening provided by his OL .......and he was off to the races untouched to the roar of the crowd. 

My first thought was that there was still over a minute to play.  But, my 2nd thought was .....TB12 plays Sunday night so we still have a chance. 

Defense held.  Offense took over and ran out the clock. 

Tufts is next up and just like my prediction of a Nail biter for today's matchup with the Cardinals......I expect a tough road game at Tufts.

Was good to see the Mammoths formerly known as the Lord Jeffs establish our rushing attack especially with one of the Mammoth's key lineman (3 year starter and all nescac too) out for the year.

3-2 versus Wesleyan since following this rivalry either in person (4 times) or via streaming.   It's a wrap.  Will never see them play again in person.  Will miss the NewYorker style Wesleyan fans.  They are grumpy!

Fans were great too (both sides). 

[middpantherpride]

Random observations from Garcelon Field today.

While I was rooting for the opponent, it really was fun to watch the Panthers aerial attack shred a secondary.  (I just wish it hadn't been our secondary).  Liebowitz is very, very good.  It was unfortunate he elected not to slide for the first down in the second half, and took a monster hit from Joe Frake.  Both players left the game, though Frake returned.  We're rooting for Midd to knock off Trinity, so are hoping Liebowitz bounces back.

Midd played FOUR different QB's, and TEN different receivers caught passes.  We're in awe of Midd's depth.  And it must be said: he and his kid have taken a lot of crap on this board, but Dave Caputi did a masterful job as OC today.  I'm sorry my son won't face him again; Dave has always been a class act.  (No slight intended to HC Ritter; he obviously sets the tone for the team, and his Panthers won with style and class today).

Midd Offense does have great depth. They always have senior WRs who have not played that end up having a great senior year. James Burke comes to mind last year. Before him was Billy Sadik-Khan. This year Tanner Contois is the guy who has battled injury (two torn ACLs) and is now making plays.

That said... Trinity has incredible depth too. Their second team would finish in the top half of the CAC. Maybe even compete for a top 4 spot if everything went right.

This week will be a battle at Youngman field. Before knowing the extent of injuries... I like Midd to push Trin. I am gonna have it at a one score game. I think Midd shocks Trin and wins 34-31. Two great offenses and two real good defenses. Will Midd be able to stop the Trin ground game? This game is won or lost by Midd QB/ Trin secondary.

MIDD: 34-31.

Call me crazy and a homer... but... Cheer. Boys. Cheer.