FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Scoops]

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

[The Mole]

Not testy, asking you to clarify comments intended to troll. Also, what is the defensive game plan? You did not answer that with any specifics. You did not watch, obviously.

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

[Nescacman]

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

Reid without Girard around hasn't (arguably) been the best receiver on his own team thus far in 2022, let alone the best receiver in the league..that honor would belong to former Ramapo High School, NJ standout Sean Clapp...we would rate Reid as, at best the 5th or 6th best receiver in the league thus far in '22...maybe 2nd team all-NESCAC, if he's lucky, through a third of the season...in fact, we might rate him as the most overrated offensive player in the league thus far, right there with Mid's Alex Maljdian, he of the 2.8 yards per carry average (no show in game 3...did he quit again?)...

[Scoops]

Re: Mole's comment, I'm sorry you feel like I'm "trolling". Simply stating my opinion on the Colby/Wes matchup. As for how they stop Wesleyan, it's basically a matter of duplicating what they did to Trinity. Make the ball stay in the hands of the RBs, and out of the hands of Estevez, both on the ground and through the air.

To your point Nescacman: yes, Tomlinson is currently having more success, but I still say Reid is the better talent. he's clearly been the focus of opposing defenses, and as a result the ball has gone away from him. The focus against Wes is Estevez, and rightly so. Which opens up opportunities for Tomlinson, therefore boosting his profile. Again, agree to disagree as to who the better player is. As for the Midd RB, kind of a low blow as I've heard he's once again suffered a season ending injury. Hear he's a tremendous kid, and hope to see him back on the field next year.

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

Reid without Girard around hasn't (arguably) been the best receiver on his own team thus far in 2022, let alone the best receiver in the league..that honor would belong to former Ramapo High School, NJ standout Sean Clapp...we would rate Reid as, at best the 5th or 6th best receiver in the league thus far in '22...maybe 2nd team all-NESCAC, if he's lucky, through a third of the season...in fact, we might rate him as the most overrated offensive player in the league thus far, right there with Mid's Alex Maljdian, he of the 2.8 yards per carry average (no show in game 3...did he quit again?)...

[P'bearfan]

Hearing there will be a fly over of three F35 Lightning Jets during the national anthem prior to Tufts vs Bowdoin Community College at Ellis Oval Stadium this Saturday. Pretty cool.

pretty DAMN cool....

The F-35 is the joint strike fighter so it could be Air Force, Navy or Marines.  I wonder how this was arranged? I have to figure, one or more of the pilots is a Tufts or Bowdoin alum and got permission to do a training flight over Medford.

More than pretty cool!!

I was once at a Ga Tech v ND game in Atlanta and they were projecting a cockpit view of a GT alum flying a fighter plane on the jumbotron.  We all assumed he was in Iraq but just as he finished his radio greeting, his plane dropped down a bit as he flew over Bobby Dodd stadium.  It was wild (also made me glad he was on our side).

[Nescacman]

Re: Mole's comment, I'm sorry you feel like I'm "trolling". Simply stating my opinion on the Colby/Wes matchup. As for how they stop Wesleyan, it's basically a matter of duplicating what they did to Trinity. Make the ball stay in the hands of the RBs, and out of the hands of Estevez, both on the ground and through the air.

To your point Nescacman: yes, Tomlinson is currently having more success, but I still say Reid is the better talent. he's clearly been the focus of opposing defenses, and as a result the ball has gone away from him. The focus against Wes is Estevez, and rightly so. Which opens up opportunities for Tomlinson, therefore boosting his profile. Again, agree to disagree as to who the better player is. As for the Midd RB, kind of a low blow as I've heard he's once again suffered a season ending injury. Hear he's a tremendous kid, and hope to see him back on the field next year.

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

Reid without Girard around hasn't (arguably) been the best receiver on his own team thus far in 2022, let alone the best receiver in the league..that honor would belong to former Ramapo High School, NJ standout Sean Clapp...we would rate Reid as, at best the 5th or 6th best receiver in the league thus far in '22...maybe 2nd team all-NESCAC, if he's lucky, through a third of the season...in fact, we might rate him as the most overrated offensive player in the league thus far, right there with Mid's Alex Maljdian, he of the 2.8 yards per carry average (no show in game 3...did he quit again?)...

We've said it before and we'll say it again, ALL of these student-athletes are great kids, no matter what team they play for (yes, even if they play for Hartford State, the Purple Cows and the Lord Mammoths)...as far as Maljdian being injured, that's too bad...seems like he's on track to be the next Frank Stola...btw, as far as being hurt "AGAIN", to the best of our knowledge, he quit the Middlebury football team after his stellar freshman year, he was not injured...

[lumbercat]

Jeez- lets drop the College academic debate banter. We know Bowdoin is ranked highly in US News review. Mr Rabbit Ears from Bowdoin couldn't let a a mild dig pass.......And Tufts is a fantastic school too.....You guys should probably compare SAT scores to settle the debate.

Now, we've got a Football game under the lights in Medford which should be a good one.

Not sure who posted that Wesleyan receivers are "OK" maybe Scoop.......a huge understatement there. Tomlinson is a beast and then you've also got to deal with Simco.....not to mention Elkoury, only a sophomore, who would have been on the field day 1 at another NESCAC school.....and don't sleep on TE Jennifer either. And by way, in your game plan don't forget to pay some attention to QB Estevez who they run on wheel routes out of the backfield from time to time.

In trying to figure out some of Cards unexpected losses like the loss against Middebury last week I believe they are are a great team when playing with a lead yet they are a team that struggles and underachieves in close games.

If Colby punches them in the mouth early it could be a ballgame.......if that explosive Cards offense jumps out in the first half it's all over.

[Nescacman]

Jeez- lets drop the College academic debate banter. We know Bowdoin is ranked highly in US News review. Mr Rabbit Ears from Bowdoin couldn't let a a mild dig pass.......And Tufts is a fantastic school too.....You guys should probably compare SAT scores to settle the debate.

Now, we've got a Football game under the lights in Medford which should be a good one.

Not sure who posted that Wesleyan receivers are "OK" maybe Scoop.......a huge understatement there. Tomlinson is a beast and then you've also got to deal with Simco.....not to mention Elkoury, only a sophomore, who would have been on the field day 1 at another NESCAC school.....and don't sleep on TE Jennifer either. And by way, in your game plan don't forget to pay some attention to QB Estevez who they run on wheel routes out of the backfield from time to time.

In trying to figure out some of Cards unexpected losses like the loss against Middebury last week I believe they are are a great team when playing with a lead yet they are a team that struggles and underachieves in close games.

If Colby punches them in the mouth early it could be a ballgame.......if that explosive Cards offense jumps out in the first half it's all over.

Thank you Lumber...always the voice of reason...and don't forget about Soph Chase Wilson either who already has 3 TDs in 3 games...and Wes has a cadre of other stud receivers coming up through the system...they have been stellar in the 2 JV games that Wesleyan has played (yes, for those new to the Board, Wesleyan has a JV team) as Wesleyan blasted WPI's JV and Bridgeton Academy's Varsity (comprised of 5th year prep D1 recruits) by a combined 76-7...

[BigKat]

Let's pump the brakes on what Bridgton football is re D1 recruits-sure they might have a few. A few frosh Ivy teams had to turn the scoreboard off vs them this year.

Look for the Wooly Mammoths to get their first W this weekend.

Also agree that several other games on the slate will be well contested. Happy footballing all

[Bucket]

Re: Mole's comment, I'm sorry you feel like I'm "trolling". Simply stating my opinion on the Colby/Wes matchup. As for how they stop Wesleyan, it's basically a matter of duplicating what they did to Trinity. Make the ball stay in the hands of the RBs, and out of the hands of Estevez, both on the ground and through the air.

To your point Nescacman: yes, Tomlinson is currently having more success, but I still say Reid is the better talent. he's clearly been the focus of opposing defenses, and as a result the ball has gone away from him. The focus against Wes is Estevez, and rightly so. Which opens up opportunities for Tomlinson, therefore boosting his profile. Again, agree to disagree as to who the better player is. As for the Midd RB, kind of a low blow as I've heard he's once again suffered a season ending injury. Hear he's a tremendous kid, and hope to see him back on the field next year.

Very testy there Mole. I understand that the Wesleyan offense has put up numbers, but you're missing the very obvious point... They've put up the bulk of their numbers against two of the worst teams in the league this year. I'll give you Tomlinson as a top-5 or 6 guy in the league but the rest of the cast hasn't done anything impressive. Agree to disagree on Reid. I take him over Tomlinson any day of the week personally.

Wesleyans receivers are okay

Cardinals top 5 Receivers (4 in top 20 of NESCAC):

21-271-4
9-146-3
8-85
7-127
6-121

Scoops, please let me know what is good....

Reid without Girard around hasn't (arguably) been the best receiver on his own team thus far in 2022, let alone the best receiver in the league..that honor would belong to former Ramapo High School, NJ standout Sean Clapp...we would rate Reid as, at best the 5th or 6th best receiver in the league thus far in '22...maybe 2nd team all-NESCAC, if he's lucky, through a third of the season...in fact, we might rate him as the most overrated offensive player in the league thus far, right there with Mid's Alex Maljdian, he of the 2.8 yards per carry average (no show in game 3...did he quit again?)...

We've said it before and we'll say it again, ALL of these student-athletes are great kids, no matter what team they play for (yes, even if they play for Hartford State, the Purple Cows and the Lord Mammoths)...as far as Maljdian being injured, that's too bad...seems like he's on track to be the next Frank Stola...btw, as far as being hurt "AGAIN", to the best of our knowledge, he quit the Middlebury football team after his stellar freshman year, he was not injured...

Regarding Maljdian: He injured his knee in preseason of his sophomore year, knocking him out for the season.

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #4 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...It's Week #4 in the league where they "pay to play"...several juicy match-ups on the docket for this week including the Purple Cows/Panthers, Polars/Jumbos, and White Mules/Cardinals...enjoy the games!!!

Williams College Purple Cows at Middlebury College Panthers: #1 rushing offense of Williams v. #2 rushing defense of Middlebury...Mid looked good in their only home game of the year v. Wesleyan...hardest part of the Middlebury schedule with back-to-back games against Williams and Hartford State...Keys to Victory ("KTV") for Williams: If Williams gets the ground game going against MID, it could be a long day for the Pants...we expect the Purple Cows to throw a bit more against MID as they are definitely susceptible to the pass...Pants offense has looked very ordinary (other than QB Tauber and WR Wood) so Williams defense should be able to keep this one close... KTV for Middlebury: Need to rekindle their running game...starting to look like the Pants of old with their pass first/run second offense...defense has been solid with their bend but don't break approach...we think Middlebury's luck runs out this week...we like the Purple Cows in a low scoring affair in a mild upset...

Williams 17 Middlebury 13
Point Spread: Middlebury -3 
Weather (weather courtesy of The Weather Channel): Partly cloudy skies. High of 53.

Hamilton College Continentals at Hartford State Bantams: Not a good match-up for the Conts...Hartford State has won the last 25 meetings between these two teams dating back to 1994...we give them less than a 1% chance of beating Hartford State in the Coop... KTV for Hamilton: Punt on first down? Kidnap HCOF Jeff and the rest of the coaching staff? Not sure even that would matter...Would be good to see Hamilton act as if they actually wanted to play a football game...KTV for Hartford State: Show-up...would be nice to see their offensive line step-up and play a little better...Warm-up the bus Hamilton...another W in the books for the Bants...not sure HCOF Jeff will be as nice to Hamilton as Wes was and take the foot off the gas in the second half...

Hartford State 31 Hamilton 7
Point Spread: Hartford State -21
Weather: Partly cloudy skies. High of 58.

University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) College Bobkitties at Amwurst College Lord Mammoths: Amwurst has had their way with UBates historically leading the all-time series 28-4-2...UBates looked alive in the first half against Colby...can they put two half's together against the Lord Mammoths??? KTV for UBates: Reduce the number of turnovers...get the running game going...KTV for Amwurst: Generate some offense to take pressure off the defense...We think HCOF Coyne UBates gets win #1 in a mild upset on the road against the Lord Mammoths...

UBates 17 Amwurst 13
Point Spread: Amwurst -3 
Weather: Some clouds in the AM will give way to sunny skies in the afternoon. High of 57.

Bowdoin College Polar Bears at Tufts University Jumbo's: Homecoming day in Medford... Tufts top-ranked pass offense goes against Bowdoin's top-ranked pass defense...Since the first half v. Hartford State, Tufts has played as well as anyone in the league...despite that, as with most of the teams in the league, they are not perfect (running game has not looked great, 8th ranked total defense, 9th ranked rushing defense, challenges on kick-offs and place kicking)...Bowdoin is improved enough to beat the lower tier teams but still not improved enough to compete with the upper echelon of the league..Bowdoin O-line still giving up way too many sacks and QB Boel constantly has men in his face..KTV for Bowdoin: Somehow stop Berluti which is not an easy task and try to force Tufts to run the ball...give Boel time to pass which will make it easier for Eden to break loose on the ground...KTV for Tufts: Don't look past Bowdoin to next week's huge game under the lights in Medford...Throw early and often to Lutz & Co...stop Eden and force Boel into 3rd and long situations...defense has to play better if Tufts is going to challenge for the league title...We think Tufts has too much talent offensively to lose to the Polars at home...should be a fun game to watch...

Tufts 35 Bowdoin 24
Point Spread: Tufts -7 
Weather: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High of 59.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Colby College White Mules at Wesleyan University Cardinals: For some reason, this doesn't feel like the "Game of the Week", but both teams are 2-1 on the year, Colby has looked better in 2022, and it is the ONLY match-up between teams with winning records in the NESCAC this week...Wes righted the ship last week against Hamilton and looked every bit as good as advertised...Wes has won the last 11 meetings between these programs including the last 5 in a row in Middletown...Colby looked very beatable at times last week against UBates, especially in the first half...Wes leads the league in sacks with 8 while Colby's o-line has only allowed one opposing sack...KTV for Colby: Run the ball effectively against the very good Wes front 7 and control the clock...continue to get turnovers...contain the excellent Wes receiving corps...KTV for Wesleyan: One game at a time for Wesleyan...get out early and hold the lead...avoid dumb penalties...don't let Hersch run around and beat you with his legs...We think this will be the most competitive game between these schools in a long time but Dice wins a lot at home, especially against the White Mules, and tomorrow is no exception...

Wesleyan 27 Colby 17
Point Spread: Wesleyan -6
Weather: Sun and a few passing clouds. High of 58.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 10-5 (4-1 last week)
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: 271-84 (.763 winning percentage)

Follow us on Twitter @realnescacman

[middhoops]

Nescacman, you're the gift that keeps on giving for Middlebury.
Please, don't pick Midd to win the rest of the season.
Your aversion to Middlebury football is hurtin' your prediction stats, but we thank you.
Keep the faith, man.

[The Mole]

Checking in to see how this worked out:

Colby keep away plan

20 rushes 21 yards, 17-37 168 yards

189 yard total offense

31-7 @ Half

2 Krispy Kremes, please!

Wesleyans receivers are okay. I don't think the matchup there is as one-sided as you make it out to be. Reid is better than Tomlinson, and the Mules handled him just fine. It's also a question of QB play. Again, against a real defense the Wes Q's went 50% with 3 picks and no TDs. Mudd's defense is elite, but I don't think Colby is a big drop off. Their new DC has improved upon their '21 defense, and I thought their previous guy did a solid job there. I don't see it as a stretch at all to have Colby stifle the Cards offense. If Hersch and the Mules O can play keep away with the ball, this game will be tight. Wes has a chance to prove that they're not pretenders. Excited to see what they do with it.

Scoops what would the defensive game plan be to hold them to 13 points? It is not likely for the Cards to come up that empty in the red zone again. There are mismatches that can be exploited at WR and I am not sure the Mules will be able to close that gap.

I will bet you a glazed donut Wesleyan scores more than 13

Can we make it 2 donuts?!?

[The Mole]

Looking forward to the battle of the 4-0 Bantams and Panthers next week!

Nescacman, you're the gift that keeps on giving for Middlebury.
Please, don't pick Midd to win the rest of the season.
Your aversion to Middlebury football is hurtin' your prediction stats, but we thank you.
Keep the faith, man.

[Nescacman]

Nescacman, you're the gift that keeps on giving for Middlebury.
Please, don't pick Midd to win the rest of the season.
Your aversion to Middlebury football is hurtin' your prediction stats, but we thank you.
Keep the faith, man.

All the fun ends next week for the Muffy's and Buffy's of Middlebury...