FB: Empire 8

[boobyhasgameyo]

Alfred's uninspiring playoff run continues as they hold on against WNEC and win 30-24.  WNEC fumbled the ball in the final minute of the game deep in the Alfred redzone. 

Interested to see how Alfred performs next week.  Perhaps they will play to the level of their competition, no matter if the team is elite or simply solid.  Hoping that they will. 

[Upstate]

Congrats to AU for moving on...

Just one question though, what did you guys do with the team that played 2 weeks ago? This was not the same defense from a few weeks ago, the AU defense was getting gashed for a good chunk of the game...

[Bartman]

Congrats to Alfred on their win today. I am sure you need the week to let those nails grow back. WNE was a solid team , no doubt. Now we will see what level the Saxons are really capable of next week against the Purple Raiders in Mayberry. Bartman will be rooting for you.

[ITH radio]

Congrats to Alfred on their win today. I am sure you need the week to let those nails grow back. WNE was a solid team , no doubt. Now we will see what level the Saxons are really capable of next week against the Purple Raiders in Mayberry. Bartman will be rooting for you.

Congrats for sure but WNE should have won it. Credit the D with saving the day late in spite giving up almost 500 yards. Mt will be a big favorite but at least Saxons will be home. Johnson and Bish give them a chance if D can keep it close.

[wrdad]

Congrats to alfred! Is there a lot of places to park near the stadium? Thinking about making the drive next Sat. How's the seating situation on the visitors side?

[boobyhasgameyo]

Congrats to alfred! Is there a lot of places to park near the stadium? Thinking about making the drive next Sat. How's the seating situation on the visitors side?

You will soon be blitzed with a wealth of information about the history of visitor seating at Alfred, dating back from a century until today.  That's the general style of how Alfred posters operate   

We at Fisher would have a simple answer - our visitor side seating is not ideal. 

[Bombers798891]

Alfred's uninspiring playoff run continues as they hold on against WNEC and win 30-24.  WNEC fumbled the ball in the final minute of the game deep in the Alfred redzone. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

Not arguing that Bombers.  But let's not just pretend Alfred hasn't had arguably the easiest path to the 3rd round out of the remaining teams...and they've done it by the skin of their teeth. 

But yes, the name of the game is to win.  Now let's see if that philosophy can continue this week. 

[skunks_sidekick]

Booby!  Good to see you my man!  Last time I took the trip east was to watch the Mount/SJF regular season opener a while back.  I may just monitor the weather, and make a last minute decision to head over to Alfred.  Mount is definitely not the usual "machine", but it's been fun watching them the last few weeks.  I would think they are the favorite next week, but trust me when I say I don't think any Mount fan thinks it's a forgone conclusion. 

[Bombers798891]

Not arguing that Bombers.  But let's not just pretend Alfred hasn't had arguably the easiest path to the 3rd round out of the remaining teams...and they've done it by the skin of their teeth. 

I know. It's more that, one of the things I love about D-III football is that, with the exception of a few Pool C teams, we get to avoid a season-long discussion of "Is Team A winning more impressively than Team B? Is Team C doing enough to impress the voters? Is Team D's lackluster performance this week going to cost them in the polls?"

Here's a mind-blowing stat for you: In the first 17 years of Mike Welch's career, his team with the best point differential missed the NCAAs completely. His team with the worst point differential was an NCAA semifinalist.

[Upstate]

I guess we just expected more from AU I guess...

They're the first team ever to run the E8 and go 10-0...

They're the first East team in over 10 years to get the 1 seed in a bracket...

They were given first and second round match ups vs conferences with a history of poor performance in the NCAAs...

I'm glad they're winning but its been a bit of a letdown in terms of on the field performance. They were run up and down the field on Defense today vs a team from a New England conference. It just doesn't look good when they have UMU coming into Mayberry next week...

[AUKaz00]

Congrats to AU for moving on...

Just one question though, what did you guys do with the team that played 2 weeks ago? This was not the same defense from a few weeks ago, the AU defense was getting gashed for a good chunk of the game...

I've wondered this as well. Could be any number of reasons. Exhaustion? Injuries? Fisher misses Coon more than we thought (Frostburg handled the Fisher offense sans Coon)? New England teams are playing better than historical standards? Noise from the randomness of occurances on the field week-to-week?

WNE played like an 11-0 team, taking what the Saxons gave them and executing for the most part. Exiting game and they were worthy of a better result today. Now, everyone in Mayberry has to lock their doors for the first time as news of foreign Raiders invading has been heard!

[AUPepBand]

Not arguing that Bombers.  But let's not just pretend Alfred hasn't had arguably the easiest path to the 3rd round out of the remaining teams...and they've done it by the skin of their teeth. 

I know. It's more that, one of the things I love about D-III football is that, with the exception of a few Pool C teams, we get to avoid a season-long discussion of "Is Team A winning more impressively than Team B? Is Team C doing enough to impress the voters? Is Team D's lackluster performance this week going to cost them in the polls?"

Here's a mind-blowing stat for you: In the first 17 years of Mike Welch's career, his team with the best point differential missed the NCAAs completely. His team with the worst point differential was an NCAA semifinalist.

Pep made it back to Mayberry from a Family Thanksgiving in Connecticut just before game time (on the road at 4:38 a.m.). Pep some time ago, as the Saxons began to get some votes in the polls, told a team captain that the only ranking that matters is every Saterday, whether the team is #1 or #2.

Pep keeps hearing team members express similar sentiments, that on any Saterday, the Saxons want to be 1-0. Nothing else matters. Pep was proud of the Saxons today and has nothing but kudos for the Western New England team and their fans that played well enough to win. When AU got its last TD and PAT, Pep said to Kaz: "Alfred is undefeated this season when they score 30 or more points." Point being, if the AU offense can score 30+ points, the AU defense will do its job and prevent the opponent from scoring more.

Alex Yunevich was once asked to what could he attribute his team's success? His answer? "Preponderance of score."

The AU defense held WNE to 17 points under their game scoring average.
The AU defense held WNE to 140 yards rushing, more than 100 yards less than their average per game.
The AU defense came up big with a goal line stand with 4:02 remaining. (Andy Miller and Josh Rivers)
The AU defense came up big with a strip (Charles Branwell) of a scrambling WNE QB Anthony Service and fumble recovery (Joshua Rivers) in the final minute.
The AU defense (secondary) didn't allow an open man on that (what seemed to be forever) game-deciding Anthony Service scramble.
The AU defense lost DB Jared Watkins to injury early in the game and WNE picked on his substitute sophomore Lewis Ortega, who was up to the task.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Congrats to alfred! Is there a lot of places to park near the stadium? Thinking about making the drive next Sat. How's the seating situation on the visitors side?

You will soon be blitzed with a wealth of information about the history of visitor seating at Alfred, dating back from a century until today.  That's the general style of how Alfred posters operate   

We at Fisher would have a simple answer - our visitor side seating is not ideal.

Parking near the stadium is at a premium but sufficient. If the McLane Center parking lot (closest to the stadium) is full, event staff will send cars up the hill where there's plenty of parking. Prepare for a descent from the "Green Monster" (which has since been painted black) staircase of about 90 steps directly to the ticket booth. Except for a light pole, visitor seating offers an excellent view of the entire field. Those unable to find seating in the visitors' stands (but that seldom happens) will be happy with the standing at the rail.

And yes, Pep could give you a history of the seating at Merrill Field aka Yunevich Stadium, but will save that for later this week. 

On Saxon Warriors!

[saxontad]

Well said Pep!!!!


On Saxon Warriors!!!