FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

I am very impatient.

[sjfcards]

OK, maybe it was an over reaction.

[sjfcards]

How about some random stats...Fisher has now scored two touchdowns in 5 straight quarters...Weird.

[fisheralum91]

I dont get the Fisher game--stuck watching hobart....
How does Fisher look--radio only does so much

[labart96]

I dont get the Fisher game--stuck watching hobart....
How does Fisher look--radio only does so much

hobart game is pretty defensive so far...

[fisheralum91]

bart game is ok....
special teams doing a nice job for them
blocked punt for td just now
bart up17-0 over dickenson

[sjfcards]

I am not a football analyst, but IC looks to be the better team early.

[Touch The Rock]

TD IC, Zappia with the rushing TD on 4th and 1 from the 1

[Bombers798891]

Bombers looking pretty good to finish the season with 7 wins, maybe 8. Doesn't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things since I don't even know if a 9-1 IC can get in to a Pool C bid, but it's good for them.

Defense continues to be a force. Coney does next to nothing on the ground. Defense couldn't stop Gallo, but other then that, solid job.

Offensively, holy cow. Rob Zappia looked a TON better. I guess that's what happens when your top three pass catchers are back. 67% completion, zero picks. 17 of his 21 completions go to Higgins, Vossler and Ruffrage.

Running backs again struggled, as Ruggerio and Ardion manage just 107 yards on 30 carries. Special teams continues to be a concern as two more missed field goals by Rogowski (one from 29) figure to eventually start to hurt them.

One thing that bugs me is how conservative IC gets defensively when they get a big lead. They rush three, and they still manage to give up big pass plays. They stepped it back up on the last two drives, but I'd like to see them be more aggressive.

Has my overall opinion of IC changed? Yeah. I have more confidence in Zappia to keep the Bombers in games, but he's going to need some help from his running game at some point. Defense looks like it will be stout. Widener and Lycoming will be interesting on the road. Let's see how the Bombers respond

[Touch The Rock]

I agree with most of that. But, ill say. 9-1 IC team is in the playoffs.

[dewcrew88]

I agree with most of that. But, ill say. 9-1 IC team is in the playoffs.

depends. but a 9-1 Ithaca probably gets the aq anyway.

[Bombers798891]

I agree with most of that. But, ill say. 9-1 IC team is in the playoffs.

depends. but a 9-1 Ithaca probably gets the aq anyway.

Ithaca won't get the AQ. I can't see them beating Fisher. I think Fisher gets the AQ and it comes down to how good Alfred/Cortland/Union turn out to be

[bomber3]

I agree with most of that. But, ill say. 9-1 IC team is in the playoffs.

depends. but a 9-1 Ithaca probably gets the aq anyway.

Ithaca won't get the AQ. I can't see them beating Fisher. I think Fisher gets the AQ and it comes down to how good Alfred/Cortland/Union turn out to be

Mark it down -- if IC is 9-1 with their only loss to Fisher they will get a pool C.  The E8 is the best conference in the East with no team being an easy out and any one of four teams getting the AQ nod.  This is a LONG ways away though with four games remaining where IC would be the underdog/slight favorite (Springfield, Alfred, Cortland, Fisher).  7-3/8-2 is the likely direction they're headed but I will cross my fingers for 9-1.

That being said, they looked very good for the majority of the game.  They dominated the first quarter and still didn't have anything to show for it.  Take away the two possessions early in the fourth quarter and Union had about 140 yards.  This game could have very easily been 35-7 if they converted opportunities in the first quarter and tightened things up in the fourth.  It just seemed like the game was never in doubt, even in the first quarter.

In regard to the special teams I am not worried.  Rogowski still is one of the better kickers in the country and, despite the early troubles, should be able to bounce back nicely.  It looks like Ruffrage/Jamison will split the punt return duties and should pair up to be one of the better return tandems in the region. 

[dlippiel]

Well a tough day for the Dutchman over at Butterfield Stadium. For now, dlip congratulates the Bombers on their victory and will sleep on his thoughts regarding Union's performance. dlip feels both teams played hard today and for that dlip tips his hat to the players.

[Bombers798891]

I agree with most of that. But, ill say. 9-1 IC team is in the playoffs.

depends. but a 9-1 Ithaca probably gets the aq anyway.

Ithaca won't get the AQ. I can't see them beating Fisher. I think Fisher gets the AQ and it comes down to how good Alfred/Cortland/Union turn out to be

Mark it down -- if IC is 9-1 with their only loss to Fisher they will get a pool C.  The E8 is the best conference in the East with no team being an easy out and any one of four teams getting the AQ nod.  This is a LONG ways away though with four games remaining where IC would be the underdog/slight favorite (Springfield, Alfred, Cortland, Fisher).  7-3/8-2 is the likely direction they're headed but I will cross my fingers for 9-1.

That being said, they looked very good for the majority of the game.  They dominated the first quarter and still didn't have anything to show for it.  Take away the two possessions early in the fourth quarter and Union had about 140 yards.  This game could have very easily been 35-7 if they converted opportunities in the first quarter and tightened things up in the fourth.  It just seemed like the game was never in doubt, even in the first quarter.

In regard to the special teams I am not worried.  Rogowski still is one of the better kickers in the country and, despite the early troubles, should be able to bounce back nicely.  It looks like Ruffrage/Jamison will split the punt return duties and should pair up to be one of the better return tandems in the region. 

The tricky thing will the Pool C's is it depends so much on who you beat. If Union goes in the tank and winds up 5-4, or if Cortland goes 7-3, it's going to look like the Bombers pulled a Boise. If Union winds up winning the LL and Cortland contends in the NJAC, then it's a different story.

The E8's terrible OOC scheduling won't help the conference's pedigree. Thankfully, the Bombers have the best of the contenders (so it would seem), but Fisher beating Hobart would be nice. Hartwick plays a bunch of nobodies. Utica's got RPI and Wilkes, although the Engineers scoring 6 points against Endicott makes me think they're not great. That's Alfred's one tough OOC game too. Springfield gets Union later.

I don't know. Being the best conference in the East is a weird designation. Kind of like being valedictorian at Cortland. If someone besides Fisher would have won an NCAA game once in awhile it might have helped.

Right now, I am loving Delaware Valley's stomping of W&J. Can they keep UMC/MUC whatever they are now out of the East?