FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Hawks88]

While this is obviously next year, I was looking at d3football's open dates page for the 2019 season. Wesley will have to fill 3 non-conference slots as So Va is headed to the ODAC and Frostburg is headed to D2. Notable opponents this side of the Mississippi that share Wesley's listed open dates are:

Week 1: North Central, St. Johns, UMHB, Olivet, Mount St. Joseph
Week 3: NCWC, UW-Oshkosh
Week 4: UW-Oshkosh, Morrisville St.

Very interesting.

I think I heard Huntingdon may be talking to Oshkosh to replace Thomas More.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Well that was an interesting homecoming game, the game did not go as I expected. However, a W is a W.  I was very impressed with our Defense, Top 10/15 no doubt. However, I was totally disappointed in our offense and special team display this past weekend (last two weeks actually). I do not blame this on the players, this was solely a coaching blunder. I want to give kudos to Montclair Defense of coordinator, but there really was no adjustment to be made by them. Now let's talk about special teams first because this is something that can be fixed, but it's on coaching to put the right players in the proper position, maybe there needs to be more starters on the punt team, you can't allow two block punts in one game, which continues to put your top 10 defense in bad position.You can't keep expecting them to continue to bail you out. Now regarding the offense, this is where Salisbury has hit their ceiling, the guys on offense do not have what it takes to execute or dominate the option offensive formula against good to great teams, this will lead to 3 to 4 losses over the next 6 games.  I think the coaching staff needs to reevaluate somethings, maybe go to a shot-gun RPO option attack to allow the short QB to be able to see lanes, because he currently can't see over the line to see scraping lb's or make quality throws on play actions. To be honest with you, I don't think the staff really knows anything other than the option, so as much as I want Salisbury to be this great team and run the NJAC table and make the playoffs, I don't think they can do it offensively and with no special teams help, looks to be a very interesting finish. 

However, highlight of the game was a one-handed interception by Salisbury Safety Sean Carroll, hopefully Pat and Crew can get the footage of that and hopefully be in consideration for play of the week.

[Teamski]

My annual St Thomas ranking rant follows:

How does St. Thomas get ranked ahead of Wesley after getting whomped by a lower ranked St. Johns and has no wins over a ranked opponent this year?  Can anybody explain that except that of a subjective bias because a big crowd? 

-Ski

[MRMIKESMITH]

My annual St Thomas ranking rant follows:

How does St. Thomas get ranked ahead of Wesley after getting whomped by a lower ranked St. Johns and has no wins over a ranked opponent this year?  Can anybody explain that except that of a subjective bias because a big crowd? 

-Ski

I think that's based upon eye test and history. However, they have some big guys and solid coaching. I wouldn't get too much worked up about that, I think they are still a very solid team. There are quite of few teams that are ranked based on same factors, however history would tell of us to keep them where they are until they get a second loss.

[thewaterboy]

My annual St Thomas ranking rant follows:

How does St. Thomas get ranked ahead of Wesley after getting whomped by a lower ranked St. Johns and has no wins over a ranked opponent this year?  Can anybody explain that except that of a subjective bias because a big crowd? 

-Ski

I think that's based upon eye test and history. However, they have some big guys and solid coaching. I wouldn't get too much worked up about that, I think they are still a very solid team. There are quite of few teams that are ranked based on same factors, however history would tell of us to keep them where they are until they get a second loss.

That'd be the only way I could explain it. Doesn't make sense that Wesley loses by 1 to the team ranked 1 ahead of them and moves down a couple. St. Thomas loses by 20 to a team below them and doesn't get bumped more than a few places. But recent history has had St. Thomas having more success in the playoffs compared to Wesley. So there's that. East coast stigma also prevails IMO.

[Bobcats47]

My annual St Thomas ranking rant follows:

How does St. Thomas get ranked ahead of Wesley after getting whomped by a lower ranked St. Johns and has no wins over a ranked opponent this year?  Can anybody explain that except that of a subjective bias because a big crowd? 

-Ski

I think that's based upon eye test and history. However, they have some big guys and solid coaching. I wouldn't get too much worked up about that, I think they are still a very solid team. There are quite of few teams that are ranked based on same factors, however history would tell of us to keep them where they are until they get a second loss.

That'd be the only way I could explain it. Doesn't make sense that Wesley loses by 1 to the team ranked 1 ahead of them and moves down a couple. St. Thomas loses by 20 to a team below them and doesn't get bumped more than a few places. But recent history has had St. Thomas having more success in the playoffs compared to Wesley. So there's that. East coast stigma also prevails IMO.

It's because Wesley Sucks! Seriously there is a stigma about teams from the east coast and their overall top rankings. The only way this changes is if one of us finally wins the entire thing.

[Red Hawks 12]

I blame Rowan, they failed us when they got smoked years ago by the West Coast team in the Stag bowl.

"Keep Pounding"

Sam Mills

[Pat Coleman]

Seriously there is a stigma about teams from the east coast and their overall top rankings. The only way this changes is if one of us finally wins the entire thing.

Or beats one of the teams you're complaining about. Wesley has had three cracks at UWW, Hobart and St. John Fisher had their shot at St. Thomas, RPI had its shot at St. John's, Widener had its shot at home against Linfield, Salisbury had its shot at UWW, Rowan had its shot against PLU and Linfield -- the automatic-bid era is full of these things. Wesley with one win against Linfield is a very small dissenting point against this narrative of losses, primarily blowouts.

[Pat Coleman]

Just to add some of the actual data to this comment:

Doesn't make sense that Wesley loses by 1 [at home] to the team ranked 1 ahead of them and moves down a couple [two spots].

St. Thomas loses by 20 to a team below them [on the road]  and doesn't get bumped more than a few places [actually four, which most people see as more than a few] .

[Bobcats47]

Seriously there is a stigma about teams from the east coast and their overall top rankings. The only way this changes is if one of us finally wins the entire thing.

Or beats one of the teams you're complaining about. Wesley has had three cracks at UWW, Hobart and St. John Fisher had their shot at St. Thomas, RPI had its shot at St. John's, Widener had its shot at home against Linfield, Salisbury had its shot at UWW, Rowan had its shot against PLU and Linfield -- the automatic-bid era is full of these things. Wesley with one win against Linfield is a very small dissenting point against this narrative of losses, primarily blowouts.

You forgot FSU had its shot at MU last playoffs. Funny how we play 2nd most wins in d3, 3rd most win in d3 then first most wins in d3 ever. Neat scheduling quirk.

[thewaterboy]

Just to add some of the actual data to this comment:

Doesn't make sense that Wesley loses by 1 [at home] to the team ranked 1 ahead of them and moves down a couple [two spots].

St. Thomas loses by 20 to a team below them [on the road]  and doesn't get bumped more than a few places [actually four, which most people see as more than a few] .

I dont put a whole lot of stock into home and away. IMO, in D3 every game is critical to attaining the goals of a conference appearance and/or playoffs, and it isn't often crowds are big enough to sway the outcome. For consistently good teams, venue doesn't matter. That's why they are good. A 1 point loss at home is a bit more respectable than a 20 point loss on the road when two top 10 teams go at it.

Seriously there is a stigma about teams from the east coast and their overall top rankings. The only way this changes is if one of us finally wins the entire thing.

Or beats one of the teams you're complaining about. Wesley has had three cracks at UWW, Hobart and St. John Fisher had their shot at St. Thomas, RPI had its shot at St. John's, Widener had its shot at home against Linfield, Salisbury had its shot at UWW, Rowan had its shot against PLU and Linfield -- the automatic-bid era is full of these things. Wesley with one win against Linfield is a very small dissenting point against this narrative of losses, primarily blowouts.

You forgot FSU had its shot at MU last playoffs. Funny how we play 2nd most wins in d3, 3rd most win in d3 then first most wins in d3 ever. Neat scheduling quirk.

When you go 9-1 and grab a pool C, usually you dont get a very easy road, but I dont think they consider all time wins for a program when making brackets.

[Pat Coleman]

Seriously there is a stigma about teams from the east coast and their overall top rankings. The only way this changes is if one of us finally wins the entire thing.

Or beats one of the teams you're complaining about. Wesley has had three cracks at UWW, Hobart and St. John Fisher had their shot at St. Thomas, RPI had its shot at St. John's, Widener had its shot at home against Linfield, Salisbury had its shot at UWW, Rowan had its shot against PLU and Linfield -- the automatic-bid era is full of these things. Wesley with one win against Linfield is a very small dissenting point against this narrative of losses, primarily blowouts.

You forgot FSU had its shot at MU last playoffs. Funny how we play 2nd most wins in d3, 3rd most win in d3 then first most wins in d3 ever. Neat scheduling quirk.

I was referencing West Region teams, since that was the topic. Wesley has also had its shot against Mount Union a few times itself.

[Pat Coleman]

IMO, in D3 every game is critical to attaining the goals of a conference appearance and/or playoffs, and it isn't often crowds are big enough to sway the outcome.

No doubt, but you did just pick this nit when we were talking about a game that drew nearly 17,000 fans. I agree it doesn't make a huge difference but I thought we would try to compare apples to apples.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Congrats to Sean Carroll, Safety for the Seagulls for making the D3Football.com team of the week. We will continue to need that effort from him and the defense and more to be able to contend for an NJAC championship.

[Red Hawks 12]

The Safety from Salisbury is a Stud! have to give a shout out to my Red Hawks as well!

Montclair, NJ – Senior linebacker Maura Altamura and freshman linebacker BRENNAN RAY each landed honors from the New Jersey Athletic Conference on Sunday as they were named the Defensive Player and Defensive Rookie of the Week respectively.

It is the fourth time that the Red Hawks have swept the conference weekly defensive accolades and the first since C.J. Conway (Defensive Player) and NICK CATALANO (Defensive Rookie) were honored in 2014. John Turi and Ros Lee were selected in the same week in 2000 with Robert Davis and Chris Knapp doing the same in 2001. Ed Kirschenbaum and Bobby Skinner were chosen in 2010 following MSU's win over Hampden-Sydney in the first round of the NCAA Divison III Playoffs.

Altamura and Ray led an outstanding defensive effort by the Red Hawks, who fell at Salisbury 17-15 on Saturday. Despite the loss, the duo was relentless as Montclair held the high-powered Sea Gulls offense to just 200 total yards of offense, 239 below their season average and scoreless for the final three quarters of the contest.

Altamura, who was named for the second time this season, registered 14 tackles, including 4.5 for loss of minus-16 yards, a sack and a forced fumble. He also blocked a punt that helped set up Montclair State's first touchdown. Altamura currently leads the conference in tackles for loss with 12.5.

Ray posted double digits in tackle for the first time in his career. He finished with 12 that also included two for a loss in addition to a force fumble. He is 10th in the NJAC in tackles for loss with 5.5.