FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Yeah. I think Woodson, Berluti, and Crowley would all likely be starting next year on Colby, Bates, Hamilton, Midd and Amherst, barring a really elite recruit coming in.  Maybe Williams too, we will have no idea until September how good Maimaron's replacement is, notwithstanding that clearly there are some well regarded guys there.  Berluti was the third stringer before the other two got hurt and he looks great.  Any of them could end up as really good starters for the rest of their careers.  Really, Estevez/Scott, Boehl and Fetter are the only sure things at QB in Nescac next year, so the Tufts trio will be three of the seven most impressive (that we've seen!) QBs in the league. 

[The Mole]

A lot of turnover in that QB position, for certain. Pretty high correlation of team success with QB play recently in the league. With no spring practice and roster limits, coaches cannot afford to miss on the replacements. You are right, hard to tell who is next man up for many programs. Also will be interesting to see the 5th year players that come back.

Yeah. I think Woodson, Berluti, and Crowley would all likely be starting next year on Colby, Bates, Hamilton, Midd and Amherst, barring a really elite recruit coming in.  Maybe Williams too, we will have no idea until September how good Maimaron's replacement is, notwithstanding that clearly there are some well regarded guys there.  Berluti was the third stringer before the other two got hurt and he looks great.  Any of them could end up as really good starters for the rest of their careers.  Really, Estevez/Scott, Boehl and Fetter are the only sure things at QB in Nescac next year, so the Tufts trio will be three of the seven most impressive (that we've seen!) QBs in the league.

[Nescacman]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-Week 8

What we learned in Week #8:

1. The Purple Cows are the best team in the NESCAC, hands down.
2. HCOF Devanney has solidified his position as public enemy #1 in the NESCAC.
3. Wesleyan's defense is much improved from earlier in the season; should bode well for Hartford State and 2022.
4. We think the OPOTY is a 3 man race between Maimaron, Estevez, and Costa....honorable mention to Eden, Fetter, Girard, Reid and Lutz.
5. We think DPOTY is wide open with Helbig, Hooks, Ortiz, Rothman, Devine, and Glantz all in the mix.
6. We think Berlutti is a lock to win offensive rookie of the year (and to think, he started the year as #3 on the depth chart).
7. Defensive rookie of the year is wide open with DB Price (Polars) and DL Carney (Ephs) leading the charge (it's a shame that MID's DL Kenary is not eligible)...
8. MID wins the "Old Rocking Chair", again; turnovers and big plays sink the Conts (Conts out gained Mid by 100 yards btw).
9. Colby continues to prove that you need to be able to have some semblance of a running game (even in 2021) to win games...Colby is ranked near the bottom in NESCAC and Nationally (228 out of 240 teams).
10. Speaking of bad offensive weeks...forget that the Lord Jeff's lost by 6 touchdowns....73 yards of total offense on 53 plays? Its hard to believe they had any first downs (they had 7, for the record) and scored at all. BTW, Lord Jeffrey had -9 yards rushing on the day.
11. Hate being right, but Brendan Costa pretty much single handidly beat the Polars.
12.  TTUN is #1 in scoring offense AND scoring defense.
13. Colby is last in total offense AND last in total defense....that seems really hard to do.
14. Williams is far and away the best running team in the NESCAC....in fact, they are 24th nationally.
15. Hamilton needs to learn how to protect (and get to) the QB allowing a NESCAC high 28 sacks and only recording 6 sacks in 8 games (pathetic).
16. Top 3 teams (Ephs, HS, and Wes) are all averaging north of 80% in the red zone and north of 33 mins per game in time of possession....that's how you win games.
17. Nicholas can break the all-time season rushing TD record this week (17 in an 8 game season) and has a shot at the all-time points scored record of 114 (in 8 games as well).
18. Andre Eden has a chance to top 1,000 yards rushing for the season this week.

This week's rankings:

1). TTUN (2021 Record: 8-0; Last Week Rank: 1): Best team in the league in 2021, hands down...Purple Cows should have no problem with Lord Jeffrey and will cruise to the Little 3 and league title...next up: @ Amhurst

2). Hartford State (2021 Record: 7-1; LW Rank: 3): Big win in final home game against Lord Jeffrey...looking for a miracle NESCAC championship tie with win against rival Wes and Eph loss to the LJs...next up: @ Wesleyan

3). Wesleyan (2021 Record: 6-2; LW Rank: 2): Cards kept it close for awhile against the formidable Ephs...can salvage the season this week with a win against Hartford State...next up: v. Hartford State

4). Amhurst (2021 Record: 5-3; LW Rank: 4): Trounced by the Bants, will look to somehow get it done this week against Ephs...we hope HCOF EJ is spending his time recruiting offensive fire power; they need it...next up: v. TTUN

5). Tufts (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 6): Congratulations to Tufts on their 3-game winning streak...need to beat MID to go 4-5 in 2021 and have some momentum headed into 2022...the coaching staff needs to recruit some defensive guys that can tackle and cover...next up: @ Middlebury

6). Colby (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 5): Need win against the Polars to win another C-B-B crown...we would say a stud RB and some offensive lineman is on Coach Cos's Christmas List...next up: v. Bowdoin

7). Middlebury (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 7): Jernigan coming up big against the weak sisters of the NESCAC .......should have another big game in a potential shoot-out with Tufts...next up: v. Tufts   

8). University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(2021 Recrd: 2-6; LW Rank: 10): Fortunately they have Costa, our sleeper pick for offensive player of the year in the NESCAC...should end the season with a win...next up: v. Hamilton

9). Bowdoin (2021 Record: 1-7; LW Rank: 8): Typical record but with more style points in 2021...HCOF Hammer needs to get much better on defense to win in this league...next up: @ Colby

10). Hamilton (2021 Record: 2-6; LW Rank: 9): Would lose to Bowdoin by a lot if they played them now instead of September 18th...bad football team...need a real QB in the worst way...have lost 5 in a row...can we trade Hamilton for MIT???...next up: @ UBates

[SpringSt7]

Can we pump the brakes on Costa a little bit here? I appreciate his tenacity, he clearly has some moxie/swagger to him and I understand that there isn't much in the way of a supporting cast, but they are still 2-6 after all. And it's not like he's throwing 4 TDs every week and they are losing 42-35. He has 9 TD passes against teams not named Bowdoin College.

I think he's a good player and if they decide to put 2 QBs on each all-league team I would have no problem with him being named to the second team. But I think this board tends to have a little bit of an infatuation with good players on bad teams and I ultimately just can't justify a POTY candidate being on a 2 win team.

[nescac1]

I mean Fetter is having the best statistical year for any Nescac QB ever other than Foote and maybe even including Foote.  That has to get him in the top three at least, right?

[D3FLETCH]

Can we pump the brakes on Costa a little bit here? I appreciate his tenacity, he clearly has some moxie/swagger to him and I understand that there isn't much in the way of a supporting cast, but they are still 2-6 after all. And it's not like he's throwing 4 TDs every week and they are losing 42-35. He has 9 TD passes against teams not named Bowdoin College.

I think he's a good player and if they decide to put 2 QBs on each all-league team I would have no problem with him being named to the second team. But I think this board tends to have a little bit of an infatuation with good players on bad teams and I ultimately just can't justify a POTY candidate being on a 2 win team.

Bowdoin Defense brought to you by the "Make A Wish Foundation"

[D3FLETCH]

I mean Fetter is having the best statistical year for any Nescac QB ever other than Foote and maybe even including Foote.  That has to get him in the top three at least, right?

His stats are crazy good. 

[nescac1]

Foote in 2012: 2897 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs, 64 percent completion.  Fetter through 8 games so an even comparison: 2324, 26-2, 74 (!) percent.  Fetter's season more efficient, Foote threw for a lot more yardage per game, so hard to say which is better.  But those have to be the two best ...

[lumbercat]

I think the telling stat that might decide that comparison is yards per attempt- would love to see it.

[Nescacman]

Can we pump the brakes on Costa a little bit here? I appreciate his tenacity, he clearly has some moxie/swagger to him and I understand that there isn't much in the way of a supporting cast, but they are still 2-6 after all. And it's not like he's throwing 4 TDs every week and they are losing 42-35. He has 9 TD passes against teams not named Bowdoin College.

I think he's a good player and if they decide to put 2 QBs on each all-league team I would have no problem with him being named to the second team. But I think this board tends to have a little bit of an infatuation with good players on bad teams and I ultimately just can't justify a POTY candidate being on a 2 win team.

Once again, Costa accounts for 86% of the UBates offense and has had a hand in 17 of their 18 TDs....pretty remarkable stats if you ask us....the question isn't where they are with him...the question is where would they be without him?

Is NESCAC OPOTY an MVP award or is it a "best stats" award? If it is an MVP, Costa is our man because no one is more important to their team, not even the Ephs #2....

[Nescacman]

I think the telling stat that might decide that comparison is yards per attempt- would love to see it.

Yards per attempt

Foote (2012): 7.21

Fetter (2021): 9.56

[Nescacman]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-Week 8

What we learned in Week #8:

1. The Purple Cows are the best team in the NESCAC, hands down.
2. HCOF Devanney has solidified his position as public enemy #1 in the NESCAC.
3. Wesleyan's defense is much improved from earlier in the season; should bode will for Hartford State and 2022.
4. We think the OPOTY is a 3 man race between Maimaron, Estevez, and Costa....honorable mention to Eden, Fetter, Girard, Reid and Lutz.
5. We think DPOTY is wide open with Helbig, Hooks, Ortiz, Rothman, Devine, and Glantz all in the mix.
6. We think Berlutti is a lock to win offensive rookie of the year (and to think, he started the year as #3 on the depth chart).
7. Defensive rookie of the year is wide open with DB Price (Polars) and DL Carney (Ephs) leading the charge (it's a shame that MID's DL Kenary is not eligible)...
8. MID wins the "Old Rocking Chair", again; turnovers and big plays sink the Conts (Conts out gained Mid by 100 yards btw).
9. Colby continues to prove that you need to be able to have some semblance of a running game (even in 2021) to win games...Colby is ranked near the bottom in NESCAC and Nationally (228 out of 240 teams).
10. Speaking of bad offensive weeks...forget that the Lord Jeff's lost by 6 touchdowns....73 yards of total offense on 53 plays? Its hard to believe they had any first downs (they had 7, for the record) and scored at all. BTW, Lord Jeffrey had -9 yards rushing on the day.
11. Hate being right, but Brendan Costa pretty much single handidly beat the Polars.
12.  TTUN is #1 in scoring offense AND scoring defense.
13. Colby is last in total offense AND last in total defense....that seems really hard to do.
14. Williams is far and away the best running team in the NESCAC....in fact, they are 24th nationally.
15. Hamilton needs to learn how to protect (and get to) the QB allowing a NESCAC high 28 sacks and only recording 6 sacks in 8 games (pathetic).
16. Top 3 teams (Ephs, HS, and Wes) are all averaging north of 80% in the red zone and north of 33 mins per game in time of possession....that's how you win games.
17. Nicholas can break the all-time season rushing TD record this week (17 in an 8 game season) and has a shot at the all-time points scored record of 114 (in 8 games as well).
18. Andre Eden has a chance to top 1,000 yards rushing for the season this week.

This week's rankings:

1). TTUN (2021 Record: 8-0; Last Week Rank: 1): Best team in the league in 2021, hands down...Purple Cows should have no problem with Lord Jeffrey and will cruise to the Little 3 and league title...next up: @ Amhurst

2). Hartford State (2021 Record: 7-1; LW Rank: 3): Big win in final home game against Lord Jeffrey...looking for a miracle NESCAC championship tie with win against rival Wes and Eph loss to the LJs...next up: @ Wesleyan

3). Wesleyan (2021 Record: 6-2; LW Rank: 2): Cards kept it close for awhile against the formidable Ephs...can salvage the season this week with a win against Hartford State...next up: v. Hartford State

4). Amhurst (2021 Record: 5-3; LW Rank: 4): Trounced by the Bants, will look to somehow get it done this week against Ephs...we hope HCOF EJ is spending his time recruiting offensive fire power; they need it...next up: v. TTUN

5). Tufts (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 6): Congratulations to Tufts on their 3-game winning streak...need to beat MID to go 4-5 in 2021 and have some momentum headed into 2022...the coaching staff needs to recruit some defensive guys that can tackle and cover...next up: @ Middlebury

6). Colby (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 5): Need win against the Polars to win another C-B-B crown...we would say a stud RB and some offensive lineman is on Coach Cos's Christmas List...next up: v. Bowdoin

7). Middlebury (2021 Record: 3-5; LW Rank: 7): Jernigan coming up big against the weak sisters of the NESCAC .......should have another big game in a potential shoot-out with Tufts...next up: v. Tufts   

8). University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(2021 Recrd: 2-6; LW Rank: 10): Fortunately they have Costa, our sleeper pick for offensive player of the year in the NESCAC...should end the season with a win...next up: v. Hamilton

9). Bowdoin (2021 Record: 1-7; LW Rank: 8): Typical record but with more style points in 2021...HCOF Hammer needs to get much better on defense to win in this league...next up: @ Colby

10). Hamilton (2021 Record: 2-6; LW Rank: 9): Would lose to Bowdoin by a lot if they played them now instead of September 18th...bad football team...need a real QB in the worst way...have lost 5 in a row...can we trade Hamilton for MIT???...next up: @ UBates

BTW, we would like to add 2 items to our "What we learned in Week #8" list:

1. Who knew Berlutti could also punt? He is now the Dumbo's punter.
2. Does anyone else think the Dumbo's Phil Lutz got completely screwed for OPOTW??? 

[lumbercat]

I think the telling stat that might decide that comparison is yards per attempt- would love to see it.

Yards per attempt

Foote (2012): 7.21

Fetter (2021): 9.56

Thanks NM.
To me that's a very telling statistic. I thought it might have been the other way around but this kid Fetter is checking all the boxes.

[nescac1]

The Fetter yards per attempt numbers clinch it - he's having the best statistical passing year of any Nescac QB, ever.  The only reason he WOULDN'T be POY is because an enormously talented. dual-threat player like Maimaron is also having a great statistical year and has led his team to a (so far) better record, playing a unique style that makes him just as hard, if not harder, to defend. But the idea that someone who is 80 percent of a bad offense like Costa is better than someone who is 65 percent (or whatever it is) of an absolutely elite offense is kind of ridiculous I think.  I think Hooks has a much better argument for individual honors than Costa, honestly. 

Maybe because his team has been just OK or maybe because the Trinity guys get so much hype, but it seems like Lutz is having the least-noticed 1000 yard receiving season in Nescac history - and there haven't been very many.  He's 200 yards from the single-season record - not unthinkable he could get close. 

[The Mole]

Forgive my ignorance, is there a DROY and OROY award or just one overall?

The Fetter yards per attempt numbers clinch it - he's having the best statistical passing year of any Nescac QB, ever.  The only reason he WOULDN'T be POY is because an enormously talented. dual-threat player like Maimaron is also having a great statistical year and has led his team to a (so far) better record, playing a unique style that makes him just as hard, if not harder, to defend. But the idea that someone who is 80 percent of a bad offense like Costa is better than someone who is 65 percent (or whatever it is) of an absolutely elite offense is kind of ridiculous I think.  I think Hooks has a much better argument for individual honors than Costa, honestly. 

Maybe because his team has been just OK or maybe because the Trinity guys get so much hype, but it seems like Lutz is having the least-noticed 1000 yard receiving season in Nescac history - and there haven't been very many.  He's 200 yards from the single-season record - not unthinkable he could get close.