FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Still pouting from yesterday's outing...

But a few thoughts come to mind.

First, kudos to the Ithaca Bombers. Their bend-but-not-break defense thwarted a heretofore potent Saxon attack. Offensively, they exploited AU's young secondary and the Bomber offensive line was outstanding in giving Grastorf all the time he needed. And, Ruggerio, who burned the Saxons last year on Merrill Field, kept the AU defense honest with some solid running.

Even with a poor first half, the Saxons had a shot at being only 7 points down at the half....Ryan Thon had two hands on the ball in the end zone on the Hail Mary but when he tried to pull it in, from Pep's view, it appeared there were defenders right there to prevent him from doing so.

Pep contends that even down 17-3 at halftime, the Saxons were still in it. The first drive of the second half showed resolve on the part of AU, with Hendrix getting the bulk of his yards and the Saxons more in character, moving the ball as they have all season. But when that excellent drive came up empty, it took the pep out of their step.

The one consolation is the fact that AU need not say, "Wait 'til next year!" but can actually say, "Wait 'til next week!"

This Alfred team is special. And while that cornered skunk used its anal scent glands at Butterfield, back in Mayberry the Saxons will bathe in tomoato juice and work to get back to form in taking on the loose Moose of Utica at Merrill Field this Saterday.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

Still pouting from yesterday's outing...

But a few thoughts come to mind.

First, kudos to the Ithaca Bombers. Their bend-but-not-break defense thwarted a heretofore potent Saxon attack. Offensively, they exploited AU's young secondary and the Bomber offensive line was outstanding in giving Grastorf all the time he needed. And, Ruggerio, who burned the Saxons last year on Merrill Field, kept the AU defense honest with some solid running.

Even with a poor first half, the Saxons had a shot at being only 7 points down at the half....Ryan Thon had two hands on the ball in the end zone on the Hail Mary but when he tried to pull it in, from Pep's view, it appeared there were defenders right there to prevent him from doing so.

Pep contends that even down 17-3 at halftime, the Saxons were still in it. The first drive of the second half showed resolve on the part of AU, with Hendrix getting the bulk of his yards and the Saxons more in character, moving the ball as they have all season. But when that excellent drive came up empty, it took the pep out of their step.

The one consolation is the fact that AU need not say, "Wait 'til next year!" but can actually say, "Wait 'til next week!"

This Alfred team is special. And while that cornered skunk used its anal scent glands at Butterfield, back in Mayberry the Saxons will bathe in tomoato juice and work to get back to form in taking on the loose Moose of Utica at Merrill Field this Saterday.

On Saxon Warriors!

Keep the faith Pep. I can't Alfred imagine losing to Utica at home. Utica played the most confounding game I've seen this year this week against Mt. Ida. After being up 40-6 at half time, the allowed 34 straight points and the game was tied until a TD pass with 22 seconds to go gave the Pioneers the win.

Butterfield seems to do some strange things to the Saxons. But at home, with Secky having gotten his feet wet last week, I like Alfred to pull it out. Probably not the same at doing it at Ithaca and getting that elusive win at Butterfield, but it probably will get the celebratory parties started a few hours earlier.

Good luck next week!

[BoSox0322]

DC I might have to call you Socrates .... now Utica is one of Alfred's toughest test in a must win situation

[tecmobowler]

A team I coached last year had two games to clinch our division.... while I tried to create a sense of urgency in the first, it was unsuccessful and we got beat.

In the second that urgency was real, and we ran the team out of the place.

Alfred wins big this weekend!

[bomber3]

Utica looked good in the first half vs Mount Ida today...

Up 40-6 at the half...

However they had drives that ended in fumbles to start the 2nd half, turned the ball over on downs and punted 3 times...

Mount Ida then made it a 40-40 game before Utica scored with 22 seconds left to win it 47-40...

woww doesn't anyone else think that would have been one of the greatest comebacks in memory? i know its utica vs mount ida but a 34 point comeback?? that would have been impressive...did mount ida think they were 1993 buffalo bills?

[pg04]

No, everyone should aspire to be from "parts unknown"

Says the kid from Newfane!

Well your parts are as unknown as mine!  ... wait that didn't sound right 

[AUPepBand]

Utica looked good in the first half vs Mount Ida today...

Up 40-6 at the half...

However they had drives that ended in fumbles to start the 2nd half, turned the ball over on downs and punted 3 times...

Mount Ida then made it a 40-40 game before Utica scored with 22 seconds left to win it 47-40...

woww doesn't anyone else think that would have been one of the greatest comebacks in memory? i know its utica vs mount ida but a 34 point comeback?? that would have been impressive...did mount ida think they were 1993 buffalo bills?

During Alfred's unbeaten campaign of 1971, the Saxons had rolled to a 33-0 halftime lead over the Fordham Rams deep in the Bronx at Jack Coffey Field.

The Rams, who had revived its football program after many years without, revived its game fortunes with a freshman quarterback who rallied the Rams to 33-27 and, after another TD, would have taken the lead were it not for the Saxons blocking the PAT.

Thus, with the game tied at 33-33, the Saxon starters drove to the game-winning TD in the final minutes to take a 40-33 lead. The AU defense then tacked on a safety by tackling the Ram QB in the end zone for the 42-33 win.

[saxontad]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

[Yanks 99]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

Man...you guys are way too down.  If we started at the beginning of the year and said that to get to the big dance and your first E8 title, all you would need to do is beat Utica in your last game...you would literally take it one million out of one million times.

[Saxon73]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

Yes indeed using his "Golden Arm" throwing to the Young brothers from Hornell.

[maxpower]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

Man...you guys are way too down.  If we started at the beginning of the year and said that to get to the big dance and your first E8 title, all you would need to do is beat Utica in your last game...you would literally take it one million out of one million times.

Seriously... beat Utica and you won't even have to play Mount.... in the first round, anyway.... 

[Yanks 99]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

Man...you guys are way too down.  If we started at the beginning of the year and said that to get to the big dance and your first E8 title, all you would need to do is beat Utica in your last game...you would literally take it one million out of one million times.

Seriously... beat Utica and you won't even have to play Mount.... in the first round, anyway.... 

Haha...hopefully not anyways...you have to figure if they beat Utica that they don't get the 8th seed...but the committee has done some strange things, so who knows.

Congrats to Ithaca on securing another winning season.  39 in a row now?  All E8 rivalries aside...that is absolutely amazing.

[sjfcards]

Pep,
Thank you for taking my mind off of yesterday's mortification.  Wasn't our current AD  (playing for the legendary Alex Yunevich) associated with that '71 team?  Let us now focus on Utica and making the best of what we have left this season.

Go Saxons!!

It is a pretty amazing accomplishment considering that they have usually played a difficult schedule. Cortland every year in a rivalry game. Buff State and Brockport when both teams were near the top of the east region. Now playing in what I consider the best conference year to year in the East Region. It is quite an accomplishment.

Man...you guys are way too down.  If we started at the beginning of the year and said that to get to the big dance and your first E8 title, all you would need to do is beat Utica in your last game...you would literally take it one million out of one million times.

Seriously... beat Utica and you won't even have to play Mount.... in the first round, anyway....  

Haha...hopefully not anyways...you have to figure if they beat Utica that they don't get the 8th seed...but the committee has done some strange things, so who knows.

Congrats to Ithaca on securing another winning season.  39 in a row now?  All E8 rivalries aside...that is absolutely amazing.

That is a pretty amazing accomplishment when you consider that they typically try to play a tough schedule. Playing Cortland in that big rivalry game where anything can happen. Playing Buff State and Brockport when those teams were at or near the top of the East Region. And, playing these days in what I consider the toughest conference in the East Region, it is really a feather in their cap.

[maxpower]

And, playing these days in what I consider the toughest conference in the East Region, it is really a feather in their cap.

This is one of the main reasons I wish there was more E8-LL interaction in the regular season.... or even E8-NJAC.

[Yanks 99]

And, playing these days in what I consider the toughest conference in the East Region, it is really a feather in their cap.

This is one of the main reasons I wish there was more E8-LL interaction in the regular season.... or even E8-NJAC.

I do too...but man, that would be a brutal schedule, and the problem now is that you get a few losses, and people start knocking you out of the Pool C contention.  I mean...look at Ithaca's schedule this year...on top of the "normal" tough opponents (SJFC, SC, Alfred), Wick played them tough again, UC played their best game ever against them, they played the probable LL champ in Union, and still have Cortland...

I just think there is so much balance and no gimmie's in the E8 the last few years...