FB: Empire 8

[D3viewer]

Well..impressive win by SJF. Going on the road and winning again against a quality opponent. I didn't watch any of it, but TBH I would've picked Cortland before the game. My confidence in that pick would not have been super high because Cortland's D was looking a little suspect again in their 2-0 start. Fisher looked  a little more balanced statistically but I would've kept picking Cortland to win until they lost. Same with Alfred I guess. They looked impressive as well winning on the road (not sure how good Buff St is this year, but always a quality opponent). Fisher just seems to always to field a tough competitive team no matter what.
Brockport survives Hartwick. They could have easily lost. Hartwick missed a chance to scoop and score  a Brockport fumble that would have given them the lead and possible win. Not only didn't they scoop and score, they couldn't even land on the fumble and Brockport got it back, you could see the air let out of Hartwick at this point. But it shouldn't be this hard if Brockport wants to be good. They should dominate up front, but their defense seems suspect again..no matter who the DC is. That pass defense is looking very porous and if Fisher's passing game is as good as I keep hearing the Fisher poster's rave, then look out. The problem is..Brockport can sling it a bit as well. Brockport's HC is an offensive guy, and he just can't seem to get the defense right..it's been quite a problem for years now. Kinda the opposite type team of Ithaca.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Fisher is 3-0, but truly the least impressive undefeated in the East.  The offense is the best since '06, and the defense is as bad as it gets when it comes to stopping the run. 

Not getting my hopes on the Cardinals. 

As far as the E8 and I'll say the east in general -- I think St. Lawrence who has yet to let up a point, Alfred, and winner of Hobart/Ithaca should get a look at the Top 25.   

SJF will get a biased ranking based on prior performance - anyone who watched the Cortland game though knows how bad SJF's D truly is -- and it is AWFUL.  So they'll lift into the teens but it won't last.  PERIOD. 

Where's Boobs I owe him some Karma

Refer to my last post in the E8 game updates section.  I just couldn't disagree with you more.  This is your classic agree to disagree scenario haha. I'll still hug it out with you though.

One more thing about the defense.  You have referred to them as historically bad for Fisher (citing since '91) and I was going to go back and look at ppg for previous seasons.  But really I stopped after just one...last year.  They gave up on average 26.7 points per game.  And that includes pitching the two shutouts against Ithaca and the mighty Alfred State.  This year's defense has markedly improved from last year.  I assure you they aren't historically bad.  This is one of the better defenses I've seen from Fisher since the golden era of their defense in the 2006-2007 period. 

Under Fox they had so many games where they would just get flat out gashed (see the Hobart game of 2011, virtually any Salisbury game ever, etc.)  Defense is the primary reason we were kept out the the playoffs during the Bailey years as has been previously mentioned.  Those were some of our most potent offenses and the defense couldn't get it done.  This year's team is giving up 18 points per game right now.  I'll take that. 

[sjfcards]

I was at the game, so it was hard to catch everything that was happening, but it seemed like Fusco was non - existent in the 2nd half today. I couldn't find him on the sideline either. Did something happen to him? Wondering if the radio team mentioned anything.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I believe he was chop blocked or some other type of cheap shot during a return in the second half.  Out for the rest of the game.  He came off the field swearing, throwing his helmet and pissed that he got hurt under some questionable circumstances. 

I'd imagine that the Cortland QB felt similarly getting knocked out of the game on a roughing the passer call. 

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca's offense has now scored 51 points in its past 7 games. A perfect summation of their issues would be these back to back drives last night:

14 plays, 49 yards
13 plays, 41 yards

I have to start agreeing with Utah on this. How in the world can you have lengthy drives averaging three yards a play? And the second drive took 7:30! Just a total slog. On some level, this is (for now) a temporary problem. There's going to be a new HC next season, and even if they hire internally, there's no conceivable way the OC comes back. But it's disappointing

[Bengalsrule]

Congrats Alfred and AUPep for thier total domination of my beloved BENGALS yesterday.  Better team and better band made a wet Saturday afternoon that much more unbearable!

At least I had an opportunity to chat with Pep and learn of his 3 decades plus long relationship with his Saxons. Was hoping to meet his 89 yr old father, who was also in attendance yesterday but Pep had a band to lead.... and LEAD he did. Those kids love him!  I hope to see Pep again when my BENGALS basketball team comes to Alfred on November 29th ( I'm a BIIGGGG) basketball fan!

Not sure the future holds for my BENGALS, but something tells me that that question will be answered over the next 3 Saturday's ( Morrisville, Fisher and Cortland). Here's to hoping that we turn it around quick! Don't know how long I could take my BENGALS and BILLS losing in the same week again!

[sjfcards]

I believe he was chop blocked or some other type of cheap shot during a return in the second half.  Out for the rest of the game.  He came off the field swearing, throwing his helmet and pissed that he got hurt under some questionable circumstances. 

I'd imagine that the Cortland QB felt similarly getting knocked out of the game on a roughing the passer call.

Thanks. I remember the chop block call but must have missed him coming out at that point. Hope it is nothing serious.

As for the game, it looked like two quality teams in a battle. Both teams made big mistakes early with Fisher muffing a punt to give it back to Cortland, and Cortland fumbling a kick off to give it back to Fisher. Fisher looked very good early on, but Cortland looked to be the better team in the second half. A couple big plays ended up being the difference.

I think both teams will win a lot of games from here on out, and in this league top teams are never really out of it.

[jdex]

No one here has yet commented on just what the loss of Cortland qb S. Ferreira in the first half meant .......

A heap! Little doubt he makes the RDragons go. Not only a bigtime passer, but a scrambler and very good runner. It's the latter where we figured the C-land faithful would be holding its collective breath. Don't yet know the extent of his injury, but it didn't look good Saturday. His loss would be a major blow, though Cortland has gone through these things in the past and done well with backups. But will be hard to replace the all-star caliber play and leadership of Ferreira.

And we take nothing away from Fisher. Naton is certainly a great match for Ferreira. Thought Naton could complete passes vs. Cortland at will, but became a bit tentative there in favor of running clock and protecting the lead. And, yes, Fusco's absence in the second half certainly took away a solid weapon.

[boobyhasgameyo]

No one here has yet commented on just what the loss of Cortland qb S. Ferreira in the first half meant .......

A heap! Little doubt he makes the RDragons go. Not only a bigtime passer, but a scrambler and very good runner. It's the latter where we figured the C-land faithful would be holding its collective breath. Don't yet know the extent of his injury, but it didn't look good Saturday. His loss would be a major blow, though Cortland has gone through these things in the past and done well with backups. But will be hard to replace the all-star caliber play and leadership of Ferreira.

And we take nothing away from Fisher. Naton is certainly a great match for Ferreira. Thought Naton could complete passes vs. Cortland at will, but became a bit tentative there in favor of running clock and protecting the lead. And, yes, Fusco's absence in the second half certainly took away a solid weapon.

I certainly wish Ferreira well.  I hope his injury is not serious and he is back playing next week. 

However I will say Cortland's offense turned around completely after he left.  Once they started running the wildcat or option or whatever you wish to call it with Walker...that's when Cortland started effectively moving the ball.  And I'm not talking about when they would occasionally run it.  I'm talking about the point in which they were running it 90% of the time and would only have Schneider come back for obvious passing downs. 

[XREDDRAGON77]

Congrats to you Fisher guys. Good win. Hope the C-Dogs can get back on track. Losing qbs is our M.O.! Lots of football left to play. On to the next one. Season's from from being locked up.

[Upstate]

The Fisher D isn't the 2006 defense however when it comes down to it they're making plays when it matters the most.

Week 1 when it was early on in the game Olivet had a quick slant and the WR had a clear path to the end zone, but a LB punched the ball out and saved a touchdown.

Week 2 Springfield had the momentum in the 4th quarter and after the offense went three and out after the botched punt snap (that resulted in a SC touchdown) Fishers D got ints on the next two SC offensive drives.

Yesterday the two INTs in the final moments was what won the game. The Fisher O couldn't ice the game with a first down after the first one but the D came right back out and made another play when its back was against the wall to win it.

Could the D bite them vs an offense like Brockport, Utica or Hartwick? Sure, however better defenses at Fisher have been ripped up in a game before. It'll happen again but I'm good as long as they're making plays when they need to make them.

[AUPepBand]

Congrats Alfred and AUPep for thier total domination of my beloved BENGALS yesterday.  Better team and better band made a wet Saturday afternoon that much more unbearable!

At least I had an opportunity to chat with Pep and learn of his 3 decades plus long relationship with his Saxons. Was hoping to meet his 89 yr old father, who was also in attendance yesterday but Pep had a band to lead.... and LEAD he did. Those kids love him!  I hope to see Pep again when my BENGALS basketball team comes to Alfred on November 29th ( I'm a BIIGGGG) basketball fan!

Not sure the future holds for my BENGALS, but something tells me that that question will be answered over the next 3 Saturday's ( Morrisville, Fisher and Cortland). Here's to hoping that we turn it around quick! Don't know how long I could take my BENGALS and BILLS losing in the same week again!

Was a pleasure chatting with you, Bengalsrule! +K

As far as the 3-decade relationship with the Saxons, Pep had that when he was half his age. As for your Bengals, they graduated much of the Empire 8's best defense from 2015...defense is young. AU's best defense was to keep Dale Stewart off the field...and the Saxon offense can be credited with a stellar job at that (look at time of possession...yikes!). When Stewart took it to the house from the wildcat, Pep, remembering the 2012 game at Coyer when Chuck Beckwith went wild, thought to himself, "Oh no! They're giving us a dose of our own medicine!" Was glad to see the AU defense adjust to the wildcat and key on Stewart....AU's A.J. Licata came up with some big stops.

Honestly, Pep had not heard until just before the game that Kyle Hoppy would not play. He's an outstanding QB. Were it not for his injury in last year's game at Merrill Field, the Bengals would have prevailed.

Best of luck to the Bengals the rest of the way!

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

The Fisher D isn't the 2006 defense however when it comes down to it they're making plays when it matters the most.

Week 1 when it was early on in the game Olivet had a quick slant and the WR had a clear path to the end zone, but a LB punched the ball out and saved a touchdown.

Week 2 Springfield had the momentum in the 4th quarter and after the offense went three and out after the botched punt snap (that resulted in a SC touchdown) Fishers D got ints on the next two SC offensive drives.

Yesterday the two INTs in the final moments was what won the game. The Fisher O couldn't ice the game with a first down after the first one but the D came right back out and made another play when its back was against the wall to win it.

Could the D bite them vs an offense like Brockport, Utica or Hartwick? Sure, however better defenses at Fisher have been ripped up in a game before. It'll happen again but I'm good as long as they're making plays when they need to make them.

It is also worth noting that the offenses Fisher has seen are pretty good. Olivet was outmatched sure, but did have the reigning offensive player of the year in their conference as their QB, SC runs that option offense that Fisher has always struggled with, and Cortland won the E8 last year and has one of the better offenses in the conference.

Especially with Cortland, I agree that the Fisher defense looked better before Ferreria went out. Fisher looked a little unorganized against the option/wildcat package when Cortland adjusted to their backup. I am sure Fisher didn't prep for that type of look from Cortland. If nothing else the D has playmakers, like Upstate mentioned. Bottom line is they have played well enough to be 3-0 including a win over what could potentially be the best team on their schedule.

I'm not too worried about the D. My bigger concern is if Fusco is injured for a length of time. I like Chambers a lot, but Fusco is more of the every down back, and Chambers is more effective as a change of pace type guy. He also really helps the offense when he lines up all over the place. Without Fusco the offense becomes a little one dimensional for me.

[sjfcards]

Also, the new top 25 is out, with Fisher and Cortland basically switching spots. Fisher is up to 16 and Cortland falls to 23. AU  is receiving votes. Other teams of note are Hobart (22), RPI and St. Lawrence (receiving votes).

[boobyhasgameyo]

Also, the new top 25 is out, with Fisher and Cortland basically switching spots. Fisher is up to 16 and Cortland falls to 23. AU  is receiving votes. Other teams of note are Hobart (22), RPI and St. Lawrence (receiving votes).

You stole my thunder here cards