FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Williams-Hamilton was ugly for the Conts.  Ephs were in total control up 35-0 before extended garbage time. 

For the Ephs, injuries continue to be a concern.  Stola did not play, Burke left the game early (looked like he got his bell rung so hopefully OK), Chaz Cotton left the game after delivering a big hit,  and Wesner has yet to return.  Coleston Smith was however back and looked great.  Hopefully they are just playing it safe, keeping guys out with minor stuff until the big game against Trinity.  The Ephs' conference leading pass defense was ridiculous today, totally shutting Hamilton down 28 yards passing is pretty much perfect.  It's gonna be strength against strength when they go up against Trinity's heretofore unstoppable aerial attack!  But hopefully they don't fall prey to the classic trap game next week, first. 

The Eph offensive line has really played great since Pat Watson returned.  Finally some continuity with the same starting unit two weeks in a row, they've been blowing holes open and today both Nicholas and Vaughn were very explosive through the hole.  Not Maimaron's best day through the air, definitely missed his favorite targets, but he still managed three TD passes.  Great to see senior Ethan McCullough with two big TD catches, he's persevered through like 3-4 position changes but is now someone who can make plays from the slot with his quickness.  Frosh WR Cam Lee also had a deep TD grab and I think he is going to be a player in future seasons for the Ephs.

The entire D played great.  I've noted that Rocco Giandomenico has played especially well at CB in recent weeks.  He's made some really big hits and has been all over the guys he has been covering.  As usual Ian Devine was disruptive rushing the passer. 

Two things the Ephs can maybe clean up: they do struggle sometimes with the screen play (not surprising for a team with such an aggressive pass rush, may just be something they have to live with) and they have wayyyy too many holding / block-in-the-back penalties in the return game, if they keep that up it will cost them hugely in field position at an inopportune time.  But those are, obviously, very minor quibbles for a team that is absolutely rolling right now ....

[D3FLETCH]

Another outstanding effort from the Civetti Jumbos.

[xPolarDadx]

Another outstanding effort from the Civetti Jumbos.

Given the nearly identical scores versus Wesleyan, the Bowdoin / Tufts game next weekend is shaping up to be pretty interesting.

[D3FLETCH]

Another outstanding effort from the Civetti Jumbos.

Given the nearly identical scores versus Wesleyan, the Bowdoin / Tufts game next weekend is shaping up to be pretty interesting.

I think Bowdoin will roll at home. Most Jumbo defenders couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

[muleshoe]

Great win for the Mules over Midd this afternoon!

Defense came up huge in critical spots, holding Midd to 1-6 on redzone opportunities. Special teams and big plays favored the Mules all day with a 50 yd punt return in the 3rd quarter to set up a short TD drive, putting the Mules ahead 14-7 (Midd missed a short FG on the next drive). After Midd tied the game late in the 4th, Colby resopnded on the next drive with a long TD pass on a beautifully executed play-action off an end around. The Mules iced the game 2 drives later with an 89 yd pass to go ahead 28-14.

After disappointments the last 2 weeks, things are looking brighter up on Mayflower Hill with lots of freshman contributing today. Mules still need to learn how to run the ball, but the CBB is shaping up to be a fun one this year!

[SpringSt7]

Another outstanding effort from the Civetti Jumbos.

Given the nearly identical scores versus Wesleyan, the Bowdoin / Tufts game next weekend is shaping up to be pretty interesting.

I think Bowdoin will roll at home. Most Jumbo defenders couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

Don't think I'm quite ready to predict a program that just picked up their 2nd win since 2016 will roll against anybody.

[JEFFFAN]

Kudos to Bowdoin on a complete beat-down of my beloved Lord Jeffs.   The final score did not reflect the dominance that the Polar Bears exhibited today, from beginning to end.   Just a terrific game from a program that is clearly on the rise.

As for my LJeffs, not sure when I have seen less talent on the field during the EJ Mills era.   There have been rumors circulating that the new admissions director from MIT combined with Biddy Martin's 100-MPH drive to the far left hand line as her tenure ends has hurt EJ's ability to get players admitted.  Maybe true, maybe not, but suffice to say EJ didn't forget how to coach meaning that he doesn't have the players he used to.  They will certainly lose out this year and the Billsville game will be a public humiliation.   Rough current times, rough times ahead for Amherst.

[VoodooDoc]

Spring St 7
They may be wearing Bowdoin uniforms, but all but a very few are new.  This isn't the JV team from the Little Sisters of the Poor that you are used to.

[Nescacman]

More thoughts tomorrow from NESCACMAN but hats off to Wes on their 5th win...the good news besides the win is that Wes breaks the school record for total O in a game with 618 yards and presumptive offensive NESCAC POTW, QB David Estevez sets a new school record with 484 yards of total offense...the bad news, for the third game in a row the Wes D continues to look like they belong on a Reuben sandwich...

[Nescacman]

Another outstanding effort from the Civetti Jumbos.

Given the nearly identical scores versus Wesleyan, the Bowdoin / Tufts game next weekend is shaping up to be pretty interesting.

I think Bowdoin will roll at home. Most Jumbo defenders couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

Don't think I'm quite ready to predict a program that just picked up their 2nd win since 2016 will roll against anybody.

We're with our friend Spring on this one...we think everyone needs to relax as far as expectations for the upstart bottom feeders of the NESCAC..sure Boel looks good but reality is he is two starts into his NESCAC career...he's going to have his good days as well as his bad days..before the C-B-B puts away their pillows we need to see a lot more consistency and progress on both sides of the ball...with that being said, it's nice to see some excitement in the North Country...

As an aside, where did all of the Middlebury boardsters go?!? Hahaha...

[polbear73]

Bowdoin's youth will cost them too, as it did with the drives in the 1st quarter yesterday when they came away with zero points.

[nescac1]

It's shaping up to be quite the POY race between Maimaron, Estevez, and Fetter.  All three are leading undefeated teams with absolutely tremendous individual performances. Maimaron is now slightly behind the other two statistically, but (1) he's sat out huge chunks of games since Williams has been blowing teams out in the first half, (2) the Ephs are very clearly limiting his runs until late in the season to prevent him from wearing down, and (3) so much of his value lies in his unquantifiable decision making in the option - that kid was born to coach football, he sees everything. 

Back to Estevez, the load he is carrying right now is ridiculous.  I'm just surprised Wesleyan hasn't tried him at safety yet!  Obviously a very tough kid but can he sustain this through the three tough rivalry games ahead? 

Ultimately, the head to head match-ups among those three will decide it but all three will end up having better years than the 2019 POY ...

Another loaded position this year is WR.  The Trinity duo, Tomlinson, Lutz, all having huge years (one of those guys won't make first team which is crazy), Fahey is rising fast, and you can't count out Stola, who is always a threat to explode but has lower stats in a run-dominated offense (Ephs are the only team in Nescac with more rushing than passing yards and no one else is remotely close to that allocation).

[VoodooDoc]

Nescacman

If the Nescac ever decides to send a team to the Division 3 playoffs, having a stronger conference from top to bottom will make a difference in seedings for the playoffs.

[polbear73]

Moot point, Voodoo, the playoffs will never happen. The only reason that the 9th game was approved was to eliminate scrimmages and bring in all game activities under the league's non hitting in season protocols.

[D3FLETCH]

Not sure my heart could handle NESCAC teams in playoff. I would endorse an ECAC bowl.