FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DuffMan]

Monkey Stomp!

[OzJohnnie]

Monkey Stomp!

[DuffMan]

How do we feel about Bethel's new helmet?  I'm not a fan.

[DuffMan]

My parents were watching the stream and really liked the Bethel broadcast guys. 

[sjusection105]

#9 SJU Defense (*Hoyt?) was a back up starting because of injury- took on #2 Kidder of Bethel and played well  with 2 Int. #GoJohnnies

[faunch]

Not posting this to insult or offend BU supporters. If SJU had not screwed up that drive at the end of the 3rd the quarter...why no timeout and what the hell was that pick 6 pass?  Game should have been 52-13.
If this Johnnies team can fix some mistakes they could make a deep run. Speaking of running...they need to learn to trust the run game.

[OzJohnnie]

How do we feel about Bethel's new helmet?  I'm not a fan.

Penn State.

[hazzben]

#9 SJU Defense (*Hoyt?) was a back up starting because of injury- took on #2 Kidder of Bethel and played well  with 2 Int. #GoJohnnies

They spent most of the day bracketing Kidder or rolling a safety overtop. One of the picks was a tipped pass where Kidder slipped on the route. Another was late in the game into double coverage where we were just trying to take a shot.  SJU secondary played well, but it was more about Drews being under pressure and getting a little rushed in his progressions than anyone shutting down Kidder. It's a team game, but #9 on Kidder without help or front 7 pressure is a totally different story.

On the flip side Wheeler looked really good all day. Add to that Syverson had some absolute dimes against pretty good coverage. A balanced O with elite QB and WR play is just a handful. Johnnie's looked really good on O all day long.

[Retired Old Rat]

Beautiful day in Arden Hills yesterday.  A little hotter than I like it.

Johnnies played about as complete a game as should be expected.  Offense and defense both operating at a high level. Only big issue is tackling. Syverson is really throwing the ball well.  He does have a very talented group of receivers.  Some new guys like Riley Schwellenbach and Owen Amrhein emerging.  Caden Wheeler looked great, especially since this was his first playing time this year.  Several new guys standing out on defense.

Cooper Drew had not seen a defense like the Johnnies.  He got rattled. Matt Jung is a real stud.  That interception return and the long touchdown reception were both very impressive.

Bethel is always a good place to tailgate.  A group of Bethel grads came by looking for some beer.  One Armed Scot even made an appearance.

All in all, a satisfying way to spend a Saturday.

[DuffMan]

...than anyone shutting down Kidder.

In fairness to 105, he never said that anyone "shut down" Kidder.  The guy's a playmaker; you just need to limit his impact, and like you said, it takes a strong performance up front, too.

[DuffMan]

So, there is a house in my neighborhood that has had a Bethel flag up on Saturdays for the past couple of years--guessing they have a grandson on the team.  There may need to be a covert op this Friday evening. 

Some chalk art may have appeared in this driveway on Friday evening. 

[hazzben]

...than anyone shutting down Kidder.

In fairness to 105, he never said that anyone "shut down" Kidder.  The guy's a playmaker; you just need to limit his impact, and like you said, it takes a strong performance up front, too.

Fair call out. It was an interesting chess match to see how Bethel tried to get the ball to him and how SJU was working to take him away.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Well, that was rough!

I figured SJU would probably win by at least a couple of touchdowns, but hoped it would leave the feeling that given an end of season rematch, it could be a good game.  I don't know that there is much realism in that hope, as SJU looked very machine-like throughout much of that game.  Wheeler looks really impressive - I was wondering if they'd have someone to pick up for the yardage that was lost with Alex Larson's graduation, and they definitely did.  Larson was sharp, and the defense looked tough too.

 Maybe BU can close the gap a bit if they play again, but I'm not sure that flipping the outcome is possible.  SJU seems to have a team that is primed for a long post-season, assuming all of the key cogs can be somewhat healthy.

Also - I thought that given the extremely tough competition, Drews did alright for what was his first start against a team that really pressured him hard.  I think he's got a relatively high ceiling, with two more seasons beyond the current one.

[Retired Old Rat]

I agree re. Drew. Meant to comment on that in my previous post. 

I hope you are right about a potential 2nd game. At least this year the loser should still have a good chance to make the playoffs if results are as expected. 

[DuffMan]

Drews can transfer back after this season.