FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[thewaterboy]

Wesley does have a real stable full of playmakers on offense, and a whole bunch of those guys - Callahan, Shade, Baynard, George - were all major contributors in the crazy 2013 comeback almost-win at Mount (Baynard had three touchdowns, Shade had two touchdowns, George had 74 receiving yards).  That has to count for something, right?  All of the dudes handling the ball for Wesley on Saturday have dented the Mount defense before, even if it was a different defense in 2013 than it is today.  Those guys should remember what it was like to actually compete with Mount Union, once upon a time.

Of course...the same was true last year, they got absolutely torched, and I'm having a really hard time getting past that.  But if Wesley has any shot at all on Saturday, it has to be at least in part because they're taking along a whole bunch of guys who a) have been to Alliance twice for playoff games and b) remember that 2013 game and c) have convinced themselves that the 2014 game was a fluke that got away from them (I don't necessarily think that's what actually happened - I think Mount just plain beat the heck out of them - but that's what Wesley has to convince themselves) and they're capable of competing like they did in 2013.  By all accounts the 2015 Mount defense is light-years better than the 2013 Mount defense, so I don't think they can count on coming back from a 31-0 hole.  Maybe, just maybe, one of those dudes listed above will make a play or two early and remind themselves that they can play on that field.

As someone who observed both the 2013 and 2014 games from a very close perspective, I truly feel that the 2014 team almost seemed to pack it in. The mood and atmosphere of the Wesley sideline was distinctly different from the year before where they nearly erased the 31 point deficit. If we recall, the 2014 Wesley team was not required to win in tougher conditions past the halfway point in the regular season. Once they beat LC in week 5, they were essentially a shoo in for the playoffs. After 4 meager non-D3 opponents, they got a test in FCS Charlotte, but even then that game meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. They whalloped Hampden-Sydney and HSC, then pulled away from Hobart in a game that IMO was never really in doubt. When they got to Alliance, I think they were not ready to fight as hard as Mount Union wanted to fight for it. Mount was the more tested team, and Wesley was unprepared. I love Wesley, I loved that team, but I think they gave up when Mount started to put pressure on them.

The 2013 team was tested almost every step of the way. With two D3 regular season losses, they had to fight for every win to just get into the playoffs vs. Widener, Salisbury, Huntingdon, and BSC. They then went to Charlotte and beat them. They beat Johns Hopkins on the final drive and the D shut down Ithaca in round 2. When the road got tough at Mount, the mood was to just keep clicking along, to keep fighting until something worked because thats what they were doing all season. The focus was on the next play. When they trailed 31-0, you wouldnt have known from the sidelines the way you knew it in 2014.

I think the NJAC helped in that Wesley was required to win every game. Losing to Salisbury was the gutcheck. Responding to and beating NCC was a show of the character this year's edition of the Wolverines has in them. I am optimistic (at least that they wont get blown out of the water) because Wesley has faced adversity this year prior to coming to Mount. Last year, I think they imposed their will all season and got too comfortable.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I think the NJAC helped in that Wesley was required to win every game.

I think this is a really great point (whether it makes a difference this year or not).  The best thing about Wesley being in the NJAC, besides not having to hunt for games, is this right here.  From now on Wesley will have to fight for and win a conference title to get into the playoffs against league rivals they play every year, and that should result in more battle-tested teams going forward.

[Desertraider]

I think the NJAC helped in that Wesley was required to win every game.

I think this is a really great point (whether it makes a difference this year or not).  The best thing about Wesley being in the NJAC, besides not having to hunt for games, is this right here.  From now on Wesley will have to fight for and win a conference title to get into the playoffs against league rivals they play every year, and that should result in more battle-tested teams going forward.

It hasn't worked that way for Mount (the exception being 1 or 2 games every 5 or 6 years). For the most part Mount has steamrolled the conference for 24 years straight. So while Wesley now has a conference they must win - they may just dominate it because they will see the same teams over and over. I know that those teams will see Wesley again and again - but...well who knows. Wesley may just turn into the NJACs "Machine".

[ExTartanPlayer]

I think the NJAC helped in that Wesley was required to win every game.

I think this is a really great point (whether it makes a difference this year or not).  The best thing about Wesley being in the NJAC, besides not having to hunt for games, is this right here.  From now on Wesley will have to fight for and win a conference title to get into the playoffs against league rivals they play every year, and that should result in more battle-tested teams going forward.

It hasn't worked that way for Mount (the exception being 1 or 2 games every 5 or 6 years). For the most part Mount has steamrolled the conference for 24 years straight. So while Wesley now has a conference they must win - they may just dominate it because they will see the same teams over and over. I know that those teams will see Wesley again and again - but...well who knows. Wesley may just turn into the NJACs "Machine".

Fair point.  I just think (relative to where they were before) it's better for them to have a series of conference rivals that they have to battle instead of the weird situation from a couple years before, where they had odd games against College of Faith and other non-D3 teams. 

I think the likelihood of Wesley turning into the NJAC's Machine is pretty low.  Wesley, for all of their playoff accomplishments the last few years, has lost to NJAC teams in 2011 (Kean), 2013 (Rowan), and 2015 (Salisbury).  Mount hasn't lost an OAC game in a decade.  If Wesley does launch a run where they're about to kill everyone in the league for a decade straight, that means the program is improving (or the league is declining, which I don't think it is).

[Div3Fan]

Is the NJAC a tougher conference that the OAC (sans Mount) ?

I think it is, but I'd like to hear others opine on this.

[Swish3]

Without Mount?  Yeah, I would certainly think so...

[wally_wabash]

Is the NJAC a tougher conference that the OAC (sans Mount) ?

I think it is, but I'd like to hear others opine on this.

Yes and I don't think it's particularly close. 

[theaprof]

Is the NJAC a tougher conference that the OAC (sans Mount) ?

I think it is, but I'd like to hear others opine on this.

Yes and I don't think it's particularly close.

I would agree that, on the basis of balance, NJAC is "tougher" but mainly because they are more balanced.  OAC regularly has two teams in the top 25--not just by record but also by vote.  It would be interesting to see how the top five teams in each conference stack up.

[thewaterboy]

Looks like Wesley will be getting some Ben Power this weekend! The plan is for Ben Knapp to make is first trip to Ohio in over 4 year for the game! Definitely shaping up to be a great weekend!

[Teamski]

Looks like Wesley will be getting some Ben Power this weekend! The plan is for Ben Knapp to make is first trip to Ohio in over 4 year for the game! Definitely shaping up to be a great weekend!

That will be a special trip indeed.

-Ski

[Teamski]

Wesley's Mount Union game preview video has been posted!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIgxhJuuXJs

-Ski

[D3MAFAN]

Is the NJAC a tougher conference that the OAC (sans Mount) ?

I think it is, but I'd like to hear others opine on this.

I would love to see an OAC vs. NJAC challenge.

[redhawks]

This should be a great weekend for D3 football. I expect all 4 games to be close. I have played both Wesley and Mount Union within the past 5 years with both games being at their places. Taking the long ride out there will not help Wesley. As many people have mentioned the Wesley defense is not as great as in years past. The Wesley offense converts 58% of their 3rd down plays, so for Wesley to have a chance the offense must come close to that % to kept Mount's O off the field. With Callahan at QB Mount will finally truly be tested on defense this year. My prediction is a close 1st half but eventually MU pulls away with Wesley scoring a late touchdown to only lose by 10. It will be interesting to see early if Wesley tries to establish a run game to be balanced or comes out trying to challenge the MU secondary with spread formations.

MU 38 Wesley 28

[HScoach]

^  I could see that overall game scenario, though I think the scoring will be about 10 points higher for both.    I also think the Mount running game could wear Wesley down as the game goes along too and Mount pulls away late. 

Really hard to predict as the Mount offense, specifically QB Scott, has NOT been pushed at all.  With Burke, you knew he'd be cool in big pressure situations,  but we have no idea about Scott.   He could piss down his leg as easily as shine. 

At the end, I just think Mount is too good everywhere else for Wesley to win.  Next week against a WIAC team, that will not be the case.  Scott is going to have to be THE reason they win. 

[Div3Fan]

I'm hoping Wesley pulls a Salisbury this weekend... 

Goodluck to both teams, and I hope everyone traveling to Alliance gets there safely.