FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[GroundandPound]

DPOY for Region 1?
Kenary:            46/9 = 5.1 tackles per game
Meropoulus:     42/10 = 4.2 tackles per game (per Pat Coleman play-off game stats are not included in Regional Votes so two tackles were subtracted from their last game)

Kenary:            11.5 = 1.27 sacks per game
Meropoulus:      4/10 =  0.4 sacks per game
Kenary: 3x as many sacks per game

Kenary:            19.5 / 9 = 2.11  TFLs per game
Meropoulus:     10/10 = 1.0       TFL per game
Kenary 2x as many TFLs per game 

Kenary: 31 solo tackles 3.1 per game
Meropoulus: 16 solo tackles 1.6 per game
Kenary almost 2x as many solo tackles per game 

Forced Fumbles:
Kenary: 1
Meropoulus: 2

Pass Break Ups
Kenary: 1
Meropoulus: 1

Interceptions:
Kenary: 1
Meropoulus: 0

Recovered Fumbles:
Kenary: 1
Meropoulus: 0

Blocked Field Goals
Kenary: 1
Meropoulus: 0

JU, if my view that rushing three men on passing plays is more likely to result in a double team or blocking assistance from a second blocker than when rushing four men makes me "ignorant." Then so be it. If your view that rushing four men creates no increased likelihood of getting to the quarterback than when rushing three men makes you a "genius," then so be it.  Did Middlebury send 4, 5, or 6 on some passing downs? Yes.  As did Endicott.  In looking at two Endicott game films, they also occasionally rushed three, however, a four man front and pass rush was most prevalent.

No coaches watch all the game film of players in other conferences.  In fact, I would be surprised if any CCC coaches watched any NESCAC game film and if any NESCAC coaches watched any CCC game film.  And even if coaches did watch film of players from other conferences they did not play against for purposes of POY recognition, it is unlikely they watched all the games and broke down double teams or holding penalties called v. each candidate.  Hence, it is a good thing that football conferences keep track of how players perform during the season with something called statistics.

These things called statistics, are maintained in several different categories to help keep track of how players have performed during a season.  When statistics of two players are in the same ballpark and coaches, sportswriters, or SIDs or others recognize one above the other, not much can be said. But when most statistics are significantly in favor of one player compared to another player when both play the same position, and the recognition goes to the player with statistically significant lower production, one is justified to ask how or why that occurred and to believe the voters got it wrong.   

The only explanation offered so far as to why the DPOY went to Meropoulos instead of Kenary in light of the significant statistical difference is that "Endicott had a tougher schedule than Middlebury." I agree, Endicott did have a tougher schedule, but against the four weakest teams on Endicott's schedule he only got 2.5 sacks.  So does the tougher schedule justify the outcome?  I do not think so. 
0 sacks v 0-10 Hilbert
1 sack 3-7 Nichols
1 sack v 3-7 Curry
1/2 sack v 3-7 St Lawrence
He made 2.5 sacks in 4 games against teams with a combined 9-31 record

Meropoulus is a stud who earned First Team Region 1 in 2023. It appears, however, Meropoulus may have gotten the short end of the stick in 2022 by only getting 3rd Team recognition with an amazing 14 sacks.  As the saying goes, two wrongs do not make a right, but two Wrights do make a pretty good airplane.

[GroundandPound]

The "make up" theory does not explain the vote either.  Hector Johnson had 14.5 sacks for Endicott last year not Merolopous.  Merolopous had four sacks last year and four sacks this year. 

[nescac1]

I haven't seen a ton of Williams committed recruits so far but it does seem at least like the Ephs are bringing in a lot of size.  Obviously, this is no the majority of the class and they definitely need more speed and quickness on both sides of the ball, so hopefully that is also coming in this recruiting class (*edited with a few more additions, now up to, likely, around half the incoming group):

James Muller, 6'6 290 OL Hun School (NJ)
Jimmy Montesano, 6'4 200 WR/TE, St. Joseph's (NJ)
William Gale, 6'3 300 OL, Falmouth (ME)
Owen Fitzsimmons, 6'3, 285 OL, Noble and Greenough
Finn Carley, 6'2 185 DB, Duxbury
Zach Falls, 6'4, 195 WR,  Duxbury
Henry Machnik, 6'1 205 QB/ATH, Nobles
Nick Dlugos, 6'0 190 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic (PA)
Tommy Cottrell, 6'1 200 LB, Stepinac (NY)
Ben Yedid, 6'3 240 DL, Choate
Andrew Kreakie, 6'0 180 DB, Westerville (OH)

A few guys to watch here: Zach Falls is a great athlete and with a rate great size/speed combo and was hugely productive as a senior despite only playing football since his junior year.  If he can develop his route running he could be a big time target for the Ephs in time; high upside guy.  Muller is obviously massive and looks like a guy who may be able to contribute early on the offensive line.  Machnick was first team all NEPSAC and looks like he could be an asset as a dual-threat QB or as an athlete playing elsewhere. 

With two Dlugos on Williams next year and one on Amherst, expect about 20 features about the Dlugos family rivalry over the next year ...

[nescac1]

Jaden Richardson now has offers from Washington, Cal, Iowa State, Wisconsin and UCF, among many others.  Wow!

[GroundandPound]

https://go-knights.net/news/2023/12/10/football-grover-named-first-team-afca-all-american.aspx

Congratulations to Trinity's kicker Matthew Jumes from Franklin, Mass...
FIRST TEAM AFCA-ALL-AMERICAN- way to go. 

[The Mole]

Travis Cepalia from Tufts 2nd Team OL as well

Kudos

https://go-knights.net/news/2023/12/10/football-grover-named-first-team-afca-all-american.aspx

Congratulations to Trinity's kicker Matthew Jumes from Franklin, Mass...
FIRST TEAM AFCA-ALL-AMERICAN- way to go.

[nescac1]

Williams announced its captains for next season, and four are seniors who will be returning for their COVID year - Jack Dickinson, CJ Vilfort, James Hemmer, and Tim Forth.  (The fifth captain is star LB Ethan Scott).  Vilfort, Hemmer, and Forth are all guys who could compete for all-league honors, so having them back is big for the Ephs.  Dickinson is a good athlete so I would not be shocked to see him playing somewhere other than QB next year (he's already a strong special teams player). 

The most notable omissions from the list is Tim Landolfi, this year's leading tackler, punter Tim Brown, rotation LB Zach Barnes, and starting DL Calvin Jackson, who are likewise eligible and whose return would also make a real impact for the Ephs.  If they all return, Williams will have all but four starters returning (with the most significant losses to graduation being OL Freeman and Walsh).  By my count, only seven seniors on the Eph roster exhausted their eligiblity. 

[jumpshot]

Just a note to express my gratitude, and that on behalf of many others, to nescac1 whose fair and balanced reporting on all aspects of NESCAC sports provides insight and pleasure to readers of this board. nescac1's knowledge, passion, and ability for communicating effectively, not simply about Williams College and its student athletes, includes many NESCAC institutions and members of other conferences. Well done, nescac1 !

[JEFFFAN]

Just a note to express my gratitude, and that on behalf of many others, to nescac1 whose fair and balanced reporting on all aspects of NESCAC sports provides insight and pleasure to readers of this board. nescac1's knowledge, passion, and ability for communicating effectively, not simply about Williams College and its student athletes, includes many NESCAC institutions and members of other conferences. Well done, nescac1 !

Completely agree!  NESCAC1's objective reporting puts us all to shame but even more important is how detailed his analysis is.   Great work, NESCAC1!

[lumbercat]

I'll second that!
N1 extremely knowledgable on the NESCAC and his knowledge applies to Football and Basketball.
No greater authority on NESCAC sports.

[nescac1]

Thanks, jumpshot, JEFFFAN and lumbercat, I very much appreciate your kind words! 

[BigKat]

Williams announced its captains for next season, and four are seniors who will be returning for their COVID year - Jack Dickinson, CJ Vilfort, James Hemmer, and Tim Forth.  (The fifth captain is star LB Ethan Scott).  Vilfort, Hemmer, and Forth are all guys who could compete for all-league honors, so having them back is big for the Ephs.  Dickinson is a good athlete so I would not be shocked to see him playing somewhere other than QB next year (he's already a strong special teams player). 

The most notable omissions from the list is Tim Landolfi, this year's leading tackler, punter Tim Brown, rotation LB Zach Barnes, and starting DL Calvin Jackson, who are likewise eligible and whose return would also make a real impact for the Ephs.  If they all return, Williams will have all but four starters returning (with the most significant losses to graduation being OL Freeman and Walsh).  By my count, only seven seniors on the Eph roster exhausted their eligiblity.

Hopefully this doesn't hinder Williams' excellent punt flopping program? Assume that secret sauce to their ST unit will be passed down to other part time punters?

Williams needs some(additional) skill players on offense. Has been their biggest deficiency the last two years.

[RoostersBy90]

Hartford State's very own kicker Matthew Jumes was named an AFCA First Team All-American. Tuft's Travis Cepalia was named to the second team and no other NESCAC players were named. This leads me to conclude that the best player in the NESCAC this year was a 5'8" kicker. It should be noted that Jumes finished the season with 195 career points, which puts him 6th all time on Trinity's top scorers. Barring any major issues, Jumes will most likely finish as Hartford State's leading scorer all time (Which is currently Max Chipouras with 248). His 46 made PATs this season is alos a NESCAC record, one which he previously held at 39. Moral of the story is that Lord Jeff zigs where others zag, recruiting a kicker who's automatic when it matters and not one who has to worry about having to try multiple 40+ yard kicks a game.

[BigKat]

Ha, let's say he was best at his position-and agreat weapon to have. Fetter and Berluti were the two best players in the league regardless of who makes what post season team.

[Hawk196]

I'll second that!
N1 extremely knowledgable on the NESCAC and his knowledge applies to Football and Basketball.
No greater authority on NESCAC sports.

I'll 3rd it!!