FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[CC_Camels]

I was in Middletown for the Wesleyan - Bates game and the atmosphere was great with a good sized crowd and lots of fans of both teams were at the game.

The Cardinals looked very good; balanced attack with lots of different players getting touches on offense and Estevez looked poised and confident both in the air and on the ground.  Defensively Wesleyan did a nice job in the red zone and had an impressive goal line stand early in the first half and an interception in the end zone early in the 3rd quarter. The Wesleyan kickers were also excellent.

The Bobcats played hard and they definitely have some talented players on both sides of the ball and there seems to be a good infusion of enthusiasm throughout the program.

[Scoops]

Woah?! Just looked at the box score for the Trin/Tufts game. Looks like Trin held on by the skin of their teeth?

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

They put up 23 unanswered in the second half and had 250+ yards in the half.

[Nescacman]

Congratulations to the reigning NESCAC DPOTY, Cardinals DL Nick Helbig on picking up where he left off in 2021 and winning the Golden Helmet Award this week. Nick was pretty much unstoppable leading the Cards D with 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles despite being double and triple teamed all day. More to follow on that game and the rest of the league but want to give a shout-out to Nick who should also be named the NESCAC DPOTW.

Also, kudos to Wes kicker Daniel Yoon on a stellar day with 5 XP's and 2 FG's (including a 45 yarder). He should also be recognized by the NESCAC this week as Special Teams Player of the week.

[Charlie]

Woah?! Just looked at the box score for the Trin/Tufts game. Looks like Trin held on by the skin of their teeth?

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

They put up 23 unanswered in the second half and had 250+ yards in the half.

Lets take a step back on the Jumbos making Trinity look silly. First off one of the TD the Trinity punter lined a punt in LB hands on their 10 yard line giving excellent position. Then on another series after stopping Tufts the the Refs came up with head scratching calls constantly giving Tufts first downs and totally botched a fumble which Trinity recovered and the refs said was down when runner was not. Everyone witnessed this on the great new Jumbotron Tufts installed. I will say they renovations of the stadium are coming out nice.Tufts did a good job on this so far.

On a side note Trinity dominated the game in first half and should have been 30-3. As such there was a mental let down on Trinity dont know why or how but they seemed to loose focus. I will say Tufts played well second half and Trinity Secondary kept biting on play action and they were burnt deep. But leave it to Tufts down by 10 kicking a field goal trying a fake field goal and then called back for illegal procedure but then trying it again. They needed two scores no matter what. Awful Coaching as I have said with this staff they will be the would have could have team of the NESCAC. They looked good but will always have the but....after that.

[Nescacman]

2022 NESCACMAN Week 1 Power Rankings

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (1-0; Last week: 1-tied): Cards took care of business as expected against the Bobkitties...Expect a tougher game this week in Coach Ritter's final opening game at Middlebury.

2). Hartford State Bantams (1-0; LW: 1-tied): Fortunate to get away with the win on the road at Tufts...Home opener this week against the upstart White Mules of Colby...We will find out very soon if Colby is for real.

3). Tufts Jumbo's (0-1; LW: 4): Showed that they are one of the elite teams in the conference with a spirit comeback in the second half and nearly pulling the victory out against Hartford State...This week the Jumbo's travel to Lewiston to face HCOF Coyne and the Bobkitties who should be hungry.

4). Colby Mules (1-0; LW: 8): Big win for Colby at home against the Purple Cows...We'll see if they are for real this week at Hartford State, the worst away game in the NESCAC.

5). Middlebury (1-0; LW: 6): Didn't look particularly energized against the Lord Mammoths last week, who appear to be a shell of their former greatness...Better bring their "A" game this week as the Cardinal train comes rolling into Vermont on Saturday led by the conductor, #11 Nick Helbig.

6). Williams Purple Cows (0-1; LW:3): Only one thing better than a Wesleyan win....a Purple Cow loss!!! Rumor has it that the AD has HCOF Kelton on speed dial...They will try to rebound against the Polars this week at home.

7). Bowdoin Polar Bears (1-0; LW: 9):  QB Boel and RB Eden were quite the dynamic duo, albeit against the worst team in the league, by far, Hamilton...We think a dose of reality sets in this week as they travel to Williamstown.

8). University of Bates Bobcats (Lewiston Campus)(0-1; LW: 7): Not how HCOF Coyne would have scripted it out...UBates definitely played hard...Doesn't get any easier this week at home against Tufts.

9). Amhurst Lord Mammoths (0-1; LW: 5): Just did not look very dynamic last week against Middlebury...Should fatten up this week against the Conts....just what the doctor ordered!

10). Hamilton Continentals (0-1; LW: 10): Just not a good football team...Will have a tough time at home this week against the Lord Mammoths.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 3-2
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 264-81 (.765 winning percentage)

[Scoops]

After going back and looking at the game outside of just the box score, I have to disagree with you here Charlie (shocker I know). Tufts was the dominant team for the majority of the game. Their 1st quarter was a DISASTER. Big TD run on the second play of the game, followed by their snapper putting the ball a mile over the punters head for a safety, spotted the Bants a quick and easy 9pts. Outside of that, Tufts was entirely in control of the game. Fetter looked rattled and was running for his life all day. The Bants run game was non-existent. And in the second half the Tufts offense torched the Trinity secondary. Special teams blunders definitely cost Tufts in this one (again, shocker). The fake FG fiasco was one of the most head scratching calls I've ever witnessed in all my years watching the game, but their kicker had missed one earlier and maybe they weren't confident in him from there? Doesn't excuse the play call, but that's the only possible explanation I could give. If's and but's for the Jumbos, but the thing I took away from the game is that Tufts was, by far, the better team on the day.

Woah?! Just looked at the box score for the Trin/Tufts game. Looks like Trin held on by the skin of their teeth?

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

They put up 23 unanswered in the second half and had 250+ yards in the half.

Lets take a step back on the Jumbos making Trinity look silly. First off one of the TD the Trinity punter lined a punt in LB hands on their 10 yard line giving excellent position. Then on another series after stopping Tufts the the Refs came up with head scratching calls constantly giving Tufts first downs and totally botched a fumble which Trinity recovered and the refs said was down when runner was not. Everyone witnessed this on the great new Jumbotron Tufts installed. I will say they renovations of the stadium are coming out nice.Tufts did a good job on this so far.

On a side note Trinity dominated the game in first half and should have been 30-3. As such there was a mental let down on Trinity dont know why or how but they seemed to loose focus. I will say Tufts played well second half and Trinity Secondary kept biting on play action and they were burnt deep. But leave it to Tufts down by 10 kicking a field goal trying a fake field goal and then called back for illegal procedure but then trying it again. They needed two scores no matter what. Awful Coaching as I have said with this staff they will be the would have could have team of the NESCAC. They looked good but will always have the but....after that.

[Charlie]

After going back and looking at the game outside of just the box score, I have to disagree with you here Charlie (shocker I know). Tufts was the dominant team for the majority of the game. Their 1st quarter was a DISASTER. Big TD run on the second play of the game, followed by their snapper putting the ball a mile over the punters head for a safety, spotted the Bants a quick and easy 9pts. Outside of that, Tufts was entirely in control of the game. Fetter looked rattled and was running for his life all day. The Bants run game was non-existent. And in the second half the Tufts offense torched the Trinity secondary. Special teams blunders definitely cost Tufts in this one (again, shocker). The fake FG fiasco was one of the most head scratching calls I've ever witnessed in all my years watching the game, but their kicker had missed one earlier and maybe they weren't confident in him from there? Doesn't excuse the play call, but that's the only possible explanation I could give. If's and but's for the Jumbos, but the thing I took away from the game is that Tufts was, by far, the better team on the day.

Woah?! Just looked at the box score for the Trin/Tufts game. Looks like Trin held on by the skin of their teeth?

................................Tufts offense just started making the bantams look silly.

Really? ---I gotta see that tape.

They put up 23 unanswered in the second half and had 250+ yards in the half.

Lets take a step back on the Jumbos making Trinity look silly. First off one of the TD the Trinity punter lined a punt in LB hands on their 10 yard line giving excellent position. Then on another series after stopping Tufts the the Refs came up with head scratching calls constantly giving Tufts first downs and totally botched a fumble which Trinity recovered and the refs said was down when runner was not. Everyone witnessed this on the great new Jumbotron Tufts installed. I will say they renovations of the stadium are coming out nice.Tufts did a good job on this so far.

On a side note Trinity dominated the game in first half and should have been 30-3. As such there was a mental let down on Trinity dont know why or how but they seemed to loose focus. I will say Tufts played well second half and Trinity Secondary kept biting on play action and they were burnt deep. But leave it to Tufts down by 10 kicking a field goal trying a fake field goal and then called back for illegal procedure but then trying it again. They needed two scores no matter what. Awful Coaching as I have said with this staff they will be the would have could have team of the NESCAC. They looked good but will always have the but....after that.

I totally agree Tufts played extremely well. All I was indicating was that Trinity first two plays TD , Tufts snapping blunder another TD and so on. I just think there was a level of complacency by Trinity after they got up by so many. Tufts did play extremely well. But is that not Tufts they always seem to find a way to loose. The back to back fakes was insane. Why not just line up and go for it then look that pathetic. I will give you that on this day Tufts played better and wake up call for Trinity.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Definitely think Tufts has the talent on offense and showed they have the talent on defense to compete with Wesleyan and if Trinity drops 1 which I think is definitely possible then they are right back in the hunt. Will be really interesting to see how both those teams respond this week.

[Scoops]

Special teams has been the source of their woes. If they start taking that phase of the game seriously, then they have a chance.

Definitely think Tufts has the talent on offense and showed they have the talent on defense to compete with Wesleyan and if Trinity drops 1 which I think is definitely possible then they are right back in the hunt. Will be really interesting to see how both those teams respond this week.

[Nescacman]

Special teams has been the source of their woes. If they start taking that phase of the game seriously, then they have a chance.

Definitely think Tufts has the talent on offense and showed they have the talent on defense to compete with Wesleyan and if Trinity drops 1 which I think is definitely possible then they are right back in the hunt. Will be really interesting to see how both those teams respond this week.

The Jumbo's: Special teams is a problem and so are in-game coaching decisions....and defense is actually more problematic for them. The Jumbo's gave up almost 400 yards/game in 2021 and game one in 2022 was no different. The game this Saturday at UBates should be an interesting test for them. We're not crazy about UBates QB and RB, but they have a cadre of good WR's who could give the Jumbo's fits. UBates also has a good return game and we would not be surprised to see UBates return a kick or two on Tufts.  We love the Jumbo offense, and Berluti/Lutz specifically, but they have so many other question marks, we're still from Missouri on the Jumbo's.

[Charlie]

Special teams has been the source of their woes. If they start taking that phase of the game seriously, then they have a chance.

Definitely think Tufts has the talent on offense and showed they have the talent on defense to compete with Wesleyan and if Trinity drops 1 which I think is definitely possible then they are right back in the hunt. Will be really interesting to see how both those teams respond this week.

Agreed lets not loose the fact that the Jumbos were stopped and refs made two extremely questionable calls against Trinity giving Tufts multiple chances. In addition Tufts had a fumble called back that would have given Trinity another easy score.

Again taking nothing away from offense but I beleive the defense and terrible in game decisions will keep this team in the middle of the pack.

The Jumbo's: Special teams is a problem and so are in-game coaching decisions....and defense is actually more problematic for them. The Jumbo's gave up almost 400 yards/game in 2021 and game one in 2022 was no different. The game this Saturday at UBates should be an interesting test for them. We're not crazy about UBates QB and RB, but they have a cadre of good WR's who could give the Jumbo's fits. UBates also has a good return game and we would not be surprised to see UBates return a kick or two on Tufts.  We love the Jumbo offense, and Berluti/Lutz specifically, but they have so many other question marks, we're still from Missouri on the Jumbo's.

[LochNescac]

Enough of this "game analysis" ....

What happened to the "uniform review" thread?

Seriously....that was a fun read!   Bring it back!

[BigKat]

Agreed -let's get to the important stuff-uniform grades. Some interesting "are they for real" games going on this weekend in Hartford and Purple Cowville. I think we will get a better feel for who the 3-4 contenders might be post Sat.

[LochNescac]

Prognostications?

Point spreads?

Picks?

[The Mole]

My "best guess" for weekend results:

Amherst over Hamilton 21-7
Tufts over Bates 38-14
Williams over Bowdoin 24-17
Trinity over Colby 27-17
Wesleyan over Middlebury 28-14