FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[PA_wesleyfan]

Wow   That was a game. Callahan is something special to watch. He has taken his game up to another level this year. Never really ran the ball much before. WE play So Va next week.. Salisbury put 91 on them today.

[Teamski]

Wow   That was a game. Callahan is something special to watch. He has taken his game up to another level this year. Never really ran the ball much before. WE play So Va next week.. Salisbury put 91 on them today.

Yeah..... Smacks of VUL and College of Faith.  Time to seriously spread the reps.

-Ski

[Teamski]

I am always impressed with how Wesley can pull things together in the second half.  As with the Linfield game, the defense made some great adjustments to limit NCC's passing game.  That was critical.  The offense was always there. A tweak and Callahan's running ruined the NCC defense.  If he hadn't fumbled when  he did, Wesley would have gone up by 14 simply from the momentum that the offense generated.  Just like the Johns Hopkins game, Callahan's cool head engineered yet another long ass drive with less than 2 minutes left.  Simply amazing stuff.   Time and time again.

-Ski

[MasterJedi]

I am always impressed with how Wesley can pull things together in the second half.  As with the Linfield game, the defense made some great adjustments to limit NCC's passing game.  That was critical.  The offense was always there. A tweak and Callahan's running ruined the NCC defense.  If he hadn't fumbled when  he did, Wesley would have gone up by 14 simply from the momentum that the offense generated.  Just like the Johns Hopkins game, Callahan's cool head engineered yet another long ass drive with less than 2 minutes left.  Simply amazing stuff.   Time and time again.

-Ski

It's an impressive come from behind win and gutsy 2 point conversion but I don't think it would be enough to win the Stagg Bowl. The problem is still the defense. UMU can outscore Wesley and UWW and MHBs lines can take control and run the clock like crazy and still put up big points.

I guess my main point is defense is still the main thing holding Wesley back. 49 points is a lot, even though they won.

[Teamski]

I am always impressed with how Wesley can pull things together in the second half.  As with the Linfield game, the defense made some great adjustments to limit NCC's passing game.  That was critical.  The offense was always there. A tweak and Callahan's running ruined the NCC defense.  If he hadn't fumbled when  he did, Wesley would have gone up by 14 simply from the momentum that the offense generated.  Just like the Johns Hopkins game, Callahan's cool head engineered yet another long ass drive with less than 2 minutes left.  Simply amazing stuff.   Time and time again.

-Ski

It's an impressive come from behind win and gutsy 2 point conversion but I don't think it would be enough to win the Stagg Bowl. The problem is still the defense. UMU can outscore Wesley and UWW and MHBs lines can take control and run the clock like crazy and still put up big points.

I guess my main point is defense is still the main thing holding Wesley back. 49 points is a lot, even though they won.

Oh well.  One game at a time.....

[NedM]

Unfortunately for me I missed the latter parts of the game so did not see the winning drive and conversion. I certainly was not optimistic at halftime.

I was surprised watching the game on nctv17.com at the number of empty seats. I imagine the home side was filled but with a top 5 team as your opponent I would think the visitors side would have been much more populated than it was.

I have yet to see Wesley in person this season and was hoping to attend next weeks game but with an opponent who has lost 3 games by an average score of 66-8 I'm not sure. I just hope no one gets injured.

[USee]

I am always impressed with how Wesley can pull things together in the second half.  As with the Linfield game, the defense made some great adjustments to limit NCC's passing game.  That was critical.  The offense was always there. A tweak and Callahan's running ruined the NCC defense.  If he hadn't fumbled when  he did, Wesley would have gone up by 14 simply from the momentum that the offense generated.  Just like the Johns Hopkins game, Callahan's cool head engineered yet another long ass drive with less than 2 minutes left.  Simply amazing stuff.   Time and time again.

-Ski

It's an impressive come from behind win and gutsy 2 point conversion but I don't think it would be enough to win the Stagg Bowl. The problem is still the defense. UMU can outscore Wesley and UWW and MHBs lines can take control and run the clock like crazy and still put up big points.

I guess my main point is defense is still the main thing holding Wesley back. 49 points is a lot, even though they won.

Careful here.  Lots of presumptions in this post. While defense has certainly been the UWW calling card in the last few title runs there are plenty of Purple bowls where one team had to out score the other.  Using your lens some might raise their eyebrows at the Warhawks 30 point defensive effort this week.

[Red Hawks Pride]

tough tough loss for the Red Hawks!!! One hell and I mean one hell of a defensive performance!!! I don't know what the stats were but other than that one wr screen, Rowan was very limited because of our swarming d...still love my squad, gotta keep fighting, must keep pounding!

[thewaterboy]

Crazy game. You could feel the momentum flip after Shades long TD. Callahan was extremely elusive today. Today was right up there with Linfield, but the Linfield one still takes the cake cause its was a playoff game.

Obviously that performance wasnt "Stagg Bowl worthy" but its week 3. Not week 12-15. Considering who we beat, i say wesley did just fine.

[Stagg Again!!]

Crazy game. You could feel the momentum flip after Shades long TD. Callahan was extremely elusive today. Today was right up there with Linfield, but the Linfield one still takes the cake cause its was a playoff game.

Obviously that performance wasnt "Stagg Bowl worthy" but its week 3. Not week 12-15. Considering who we beat, i say wesley did just fine.

Great game by Wesley today on the road against our young Cardinal team. Best of luck during the rest of the season.  Looking forward to seeing a deep playoff run.

[wesleydad]

Wow what a game and man am I glad I got to see it in person.  It was a great trip and I would like to thank Ane One for his generous hospitality and tour of the campus, what a facility for the sports teams.  They have 2 buildings that may be large enough to hold most of Wesley's campus.  I also met several other NCC posters before and during the game.  Really nice people.  Just a great experience that I got to share with my dad.  Now about the game.

Callahan was fantastic both throwing and running.  Add in the ability to run between the tackles with Baynard, third 100+ rushing game in a row - when was the last time that happened, and you have a tough team to stop.  The O line has to keep improving on pass blocking since Callahan was forced to scramble too much today.  Lucky for them he was able to make things happen.  The receivers are good and was glad to see George getting some catches in the second half.  They went to the well too often with fades to Okike in the first half and it cost them on the interception in the end zone at the end of the first half.  Great offensive performance.

Now the bad, the defense is poor right now against the pass.  If the D line does not get pressure the linebackers and secondary look lost.  They fail to cover the slant or 7 - 15 yard seam passes.  I believe they have to play like they did after giving up the first TD in the second half.  At that point they went to straight press man coverage and were able to disrupt the short passes.  Once NCC had to try and throw the ball over defenders they struggled.  This gave the D line a chance to record I think close to 6 sacks in the second half.  If your backers and secondary are that athletic then challenge the other team to throw the ball over your head.  I would rather give up 1 or 2 bombs than watch a team go down the field on simple 7 - 15 yard passes that are wide open.  The run defense is ok, but too often don't make hits on the runner until 2 - 3 yards past the line of scrimmage.  Nice gut check in the second half to do what was necessary to help the team win.

And the UGLY, the special teams.  They are not good.  The kick off coverage and return are not getting it done.  NCC was able to return the ball past the 35 almost every time and it is not due to the kicker, which has been the problem.  He used directional kicking to put the ball into a corner of the field and the coverage failed to finish it.  The returners drop too many and make poor decisions on too many.  The fumbled punt yesterday was just bad.  I know players try to make plays, but when your team has come all the way back from the brink you can't try to be the hero and run 15+ yards and try to field what was a poor punt.  I like using #5 as the punter since he is a receiver and was a QB, the option pass today was well designed, just didn't work, because he can fake a punt at some point in a game when it will change the game.  Seidel is dong well.  I disagreed with the 41 yd attempt in the game and I thought that changed how the game was going.  4th and 1 and NCC had not stopped a run for less than 3 yards at that point in the game.  Go for it.

If you are only firing on 1 of 3 cylinders you are not a contender to win the Stagg bowl, period.  Any thoughts of that at this point in the season would be crazy.  Top teams will slow down the offense and if your defense cant stop the other team or your special teams can not produce more than they let up you end up with a game like Mount last year.  This could be a very good team with the offense as it currently is, let alone how much they could improve during the season, but the other 2 parts need to show vast improvement if they are gong to contend for it all.

[CNU85]

With CNU having a bye week, I took the opportunity to spend some time with my 27 yr old son. We made a trip to see a Nats game and watch Strasburg work his magic, with 13 K in 8 innings. But I was keeping an eye on the live stats of the Wesley/NCC game. My eyes couldn't believe it when I saw the score jump from 48-49 to 50-49. What a call. But of course, it's easy to say that was the right call after the fact. But I believe it was. It made sense. On the road. Top 15 opponent. Out of region. Will undoubtedly win the NJAC anyway (yeah yeah... All that coachspeak about one game at a time, that's why they play the game, yada yada yada). Nicely done Wesley!!! Was fun to "watch". Callahan is one poised QB.

Next week Rowan is coming to town. And I'm leaving town. Bummer. Going to TN to visit my daughter. But you can bet I will have live stats open on my phone- annoying my family!!!

[jmcozenlaw]

Question to all of the Wesley fans on the board. It this team the one that finally takes out Mount Youngstown State Union and the University of Wisconsin ww in the semi's and finals this year or will the defense leave them just a hair short?

[jknezek]

Question to all of the Wesley fans on the board. It this team the one that finally takes out Mount Youngstown State Union and the University of Wisconsin ww in the semi's and finals this year or will the defense leave them just a hair short?

I don't think the defense and special teams they showed yesterday can hold those teams. They will need to improve to have a shot.

[thewaterboy]

Question to all of the Wesley fans on the board. It this team the one that finally takes out Mount Youngstown State Union and the University of Wisconsin ww in the semi's and finals this year or will the defense leave them just a hair short?

I don't think the defense and special teams they showed yesterday can hold those teams. They will need to improve to have a shot.

Agree with jknezek. I'm sure they will improve its just a question of how much. And usually, if you are going to get to Wesley, it has to be early in the regular season.