FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Saterday is almost here and Utica faces a hungry Salisbury.
I'm glad we have them at home.  This is the best Utica D
(I know, previously an oxymoron) I've seen in the three years I've been
around the team.
I think Utica has the offensive firepower to stay in this game.
Ball control will be the key.  Oh, Duh...

Elsewhere in the Central-Leatherstocking region...battle of the 3-0's..Ithaca..Hartwick.

...and Buffalo State travels to the Southern Tier to face the Saxons at their Homecoming game at Yunevich Stadium. At least one band alum will be joining in at the game which is sure to be a barn-burner.

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

I am excited for this Saterday in the E8, as there is a lot of interesting games. Some predictions for conversation:

Fisher 41
Frostburg 10
I suspect this will be the easiest game for any team in the E8.

Ithaca 28
Hartwick 7
I just don't buy Hartwick at 3-0. Combine that with how I feel that IC is pretty good this year, and I see a fairly easy win for IC. I watched the IC/Buff State game and still see some offensive issues for the bombers, but I think they will do plenty against the Wick Defense.

Salisbury 37
Utica 28
I like what I have seen from Utica so far, but I just don't believe they have enough in the tank to beat SU. They played Hobart well last week, and I think the offense keeps them I. The game this week, but I can't get myself to pick the upset. I expect a really entertaining/tight game however.

AU 24
Buff State 21
I really don't know how to predict this game. Does AU' QB change give them enough offense to move the ball and keep Kacz on the sidelines? Does Buff State struggle to move the ball like they did against IC? I picked AU to win strictly on the previous years results and that they are home. I think this is more of a pick em game than anything. Should be a really fun one.

Mrs Cards is forcing me to go to a wedding today, so I don't think I will see a lot of football, but cell phones were created for a reason. Enjoy your Saterday boys!

[fisheralum91]

Taking the kids to the UC SU game today.
Ill be interested in seeing this UC team.
More to follow-getting ready for the tailgate as we speak.
Should be a telling game!

[drt]

I guess everyone else as stunned/speechless by the day's outcomes as I am...

[AUPepBand]

I guess everyone else as stunned/speechless by the day's outcomes as I am...

Just emotionally drained..... 

[D3MAFAN]

I guess everyone else as stunned/speechless by the day's outcomes as I am...

There are only four undefeated teams left in the East Region, Hobart, SJF, Hartwick, and Gallaudet. Not to mention two of the four play next week, so there may be only 3 after next week. I guess our number 1 is going to be a #2 or #3 seed in somebody bracket again. I want to say that the East is really good this year and that we are beating each other up, but the way today looked, we only may have one undefeated team in the region by the end of the year.

[mattvsmith]

This was an AMAZING week for football fans all over the country. Last week was a week of blow outs (BO-RING!!!) This week was an tremendous week of nail biters and upsets, winning by the skin of our teeth, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat kind of week.
Reading the post-game write ups and comments a guy can feel the emotion. I wish every week were like this. Blood pressure be damned!

[fisheralum91]

Back from the UC - SU game.
There are no words to describe this disaster.
Is UC that bad?  I don't think so- but they were pitiful today.
Is SU that good? No..Any quality E8 team that stacks the box and plays the option well wins out.
There was absolutely no downfield threat and yet they were successful.
This may be the year that Fisher beats SU...but after that Frostb performance--who the hell knows!

Posted on the other page---im still scratching my head from yesterday

[sjfcards]

I dint get to watch the Fisher/Frostburg game yesterday so I can't really comment on what happened. I can say that in years past I feel like yesterday was a game Fisher found a way to lose. Coach Vos said it on the recap Fisher does that two weeks in a row Fisher was kind of their own worst enemy, and they have to get that cleaned up. But, at least they have found a way to win the last two weeks and get to 4-0. Hartwick may have done Fisher a big favor by beating Ithaca as well. Hartwick beating IC and Fisher playing a tight one with Frostburg should add up to them being ready to go next week. A win to get to 5-0 would be huge.

[Upstate]

They had a blocked punt returned for a TD, teams have been close all year at getting to the Fisher punter but they got one yesterday.

Just seemed like there was a lot of undisciplined play during the play as opposed to after the play for Fisher this week. Lots of guys out of rush lanes and letting their QB scramble and either pick up big gains or complete passes. Break downs in zone coverages also let Frostburg move the ball. Credit to Frostburg for making plays though. They made some great plays yesterday especially that fade pass in the back of the endzone, dropped it right over the WRs shoulder and the DB never had a chance.

[AUPepBand]

Pep had to check the calendar for a couple reasons. First, Pep is convinced that with the temperatures and humidity, it must be July or August. Second, with the silent boards, it must be June or July....just waiting for football season to start!

[sjfcards]

Fisher drops a single spot in the rankings (down to 20 this week) for the second straight week. I feel this week the drop in the poll is much more justified, but as I said before, it really doesn't make a difference as long as Fisher keeps winning. 4-0 so far with a game against Hartwick that seems much more interesting after the games this weekend.

[drt]

So I was horribly wrong about Utica's offense against Salisbury.
I will say that I was much more impressed with the Seagulls than with
the Statesmen.
I think we will see Salisbury's stock rise as they move through their
conference schedule.
Big matchup in two weeks in Pittsford.

[boobyhasgameyo]

So I was horribly wrong about Utica's offense against Salisbury.
I will say that I was much more impressed with the Seagulls than with
the Statesmen.
I think we will see Salisbury's stock rise as they move through their
conference schedule.
Big matchup in two weeks in Pittsford.

I believe the game will be in Maryland.  It's a shame because I'd really like to see it in person.  I have been saying all along that Salisbury has likely been undervalued.  Teams can improve throughout the course of a season and breaking in a new QB into that system takes time.  They lost in a close game to Christopher Newport and in a heartbreaker to Wesley.  If that hail mary by Wesley at the end of the game didn't happen - Salisbury would be ranked in the top 20 right now. 

[fisheralum91]

Booby,
SU looked good, but not great.
A coaching friend of mine noted that their lack of downfield attack would really kill them if they played a team with a defense that understood how to contain the option.
It was rather cookie cutter.
Effective- but pedestrian.
Time will tell, but I wasn't in awe of what I saw Saterday.