FB: Empire 8

[bports]

Dad I would love to make the 5.5 hour trip and I am leaning that way. I have a few friends that would also like to go so I think I am. It looks like the early forecast is 52 sunny and light wind. How are the facilities at DV? Do they have a visitor side ? I will let you no if I'm coming. Congrats on a very good season Wesley is a top notch program.

[D3viewer]

Wonder what RB Justin Morrison's status will be for Sat ? He left the game in the 3rd and never returned . His stats weren't that impressive, but he seemed to run effectively. Their offense is just not quite the same with him not in there. (Master of the obvious).  They can still throw it, but it is clear the #2 guy is not nearly as talented. That's why they try to incorporate Tyree Brown, who is more a Randall Cobb type. I think their offense lacks that 5th gear (or true balance) without him. DV's D looks to be impressive, but their offense is not as balanced as Wesley's. They are more of a running team.
On another note. I was surprised to see Wesley travelled on Thanksgiving. Wonder if they made it a 2 day trip or wanted to be in Brockport 2 days ahead of the game. Seems a bit unusual, Brockport will leave on Fri for PA as per usual.

[thewaterboy]

Wonder what RB Justin Morrison's status will be for Sat ? He left the game in the 3rd and never returned . His stats weren't that impressive, but he seemed to run effectively. Their offense is just not quite the same with him not in there. (Master of the obvious).  They can still throw it, but it is clear the #2 guy is not nearly as talented. That's why they try to incorporate Tyree Brown, who is more a Randall Cobb type. I think their offense lacks that 5th gear (or true balance) without him. DV's D looks to be impressive, but their offense is not as balanced as Wesley's. They are more of a running team.
On another note. I was surprised to see Wesley travelled on Thanksgiving. Wonder if they made it a 2 day trip or wanted to be in Brockport 2 days ahead of the game. Seems a bit unusual, Brockport will leave on Fri for PA as per usual.

Wonder if Morrison re-aggravated whatever was plaguing him from before. Seemed to be in a lot of pain on Saturday, not putting much pressure on his one leg. I believe Del Val is a little banged up too.

Wesley left at 5 pm on Thanksgiving. I imagine they went straight through. Could be wrong though. I think they prefer to give themselves a little less traveling on Friday before the game. When they have come to Mount Union, they will usually set out Thursday, go halfway and stop for the night and finish the drive Friday morning.

[bports]

Looking at the Wesley vs DV game box score DV had no business winning that game. Obviously turnovers killed Wesley because first downs were 24-12 in favor of Wesley. Total yardage was also heavily in favor of Wesley. Looks like the weather will be sunny and 50 so no weather factors.I just don't see DV putting up enough points to win this thing.

[ITH radio]

The scoop and score ended up being the difference and given the MAC's struggles in last cpl of weeks, it's hard not to view BP as the favorite in this one. Kemp got behind their secondary a couple times and Ortiz can do the same. Germiniero is a better QB than Burroughs but DelVal will bring a ton of pressure. Should be a great game.

[Jonny Utah]

Looking at the Wesley vs DV game box score DV had no business winning that game. Obviously turnovers killed Wesley because first downs were 24-12 in favor of Wesley. Total yardage was also heavily in favor of Wesley. Looks like the weather will be sunny and 50 so no weather factors.I just don't see DV putting up enough points to win this thing.

Wesley also had the QB that started for them all last year playing in that game.  He got a bad injury early this season.

[@d3jason]

Looking at the Wesley vs DV game box score DV had no business winning that game. Obviously turnovers killed Wesley because first downs were 24-12 in favor of Wesley. Total yardage was also heavily in favor of Wesley. Looks like the weather will be sunny and 50 so no weather factors.I just don't see DV putting up enough points to win this thing.

Wesley also had the QB that started for them all last year playing in that game.  He got a bad injury early this season.

He played most that game with internal bleeding from a lacerated spleen.

The turnovers were key, but I don't think that short changes the Aggies victory. If you compare yards per play by the offenses, they are essentially equal.

[ITH radio]

Jeez. Didn't realize that re the Wesley QB. Scary.

The Aggies D is the real deal. Whether or not BP can handle it early on will set the stage for how this one plays out.

[fisheralum91]

Jeez. Didn't realize that re the Wesley QB. Scary.

The Aggies D is the real deal. Whether or not BP can handle it early on will set the stage for how this one plays out.

Id say that the Bport d is a real deal as well.
I havent seen a complete team come out of the E8 like this since the Fisher runs to Alliance, and this team may be even better!

[ITH radio]

Agreed. The 3-3 stack has been working well all season for the GE's.

[fisheralum91]

Fox is doing great things over there.
Wish he stayed at home!

[MRMIKESMITH]

Agreed. The 3-3 stack has been working well all season for the GE's.

The key to a odd stack and or odd front is the NT, without a NT demanding a double team, it is basically useless. An odd stack defense is a pass protecting defensive front that keeps everything in front of you and takes advantage of the lack of depth in the D-Line. Again, without a good NT, you have many running lanes. Also, it is cover 3 base and when you do rollover for cover 4 and 2, it should be obvious to see by opposing offenses. It's hard to disguise unless you stack the secondary.

[wesleydad]

Dad I would love to make the 5.5 hour trip and I am leaning that way. I have a few friends that would also like to go so I think I am. It looks like the early forecast is 52 sunny and light wind. How are the facilities at DV? Do they have a visitor side ? I will let you no if I'm coming. Congrats on a very good season Wesley is a top notch program.

Facilities are real good.  I am not a fan of the smallish visitor stand since they are split and you can not sit at midfield.  The home side is huge and I always sit there.  I also know Gordon, the radio announcer for Del Val so I hang near there.  The main lot fills up quick and there is plenty of tailgating if you get there early enough, at least 1.5 - 2 hours before game time.  If you do not get there early enough parking is a cluster.  The forecast is nice for football.  Let me know when you know.

[ITH radio]

Agreed. The 3-3 stack has been working well all season for the GE's.

The key to a odd stack and or odd front is the NT, without a NT demanding a double team, it is basically useless. An odd stack defense is a pass protecting defensive front that keeps everything in front of you and takes advantage of the lack of depth in the D-Line. Again, without a good NT, you have many running lanes. Also, it is cover 3 base and when you do rollover for cover 4 and 2, it should be obvious to see by opposing offenses. It's hard to disguise unless you stack the secondary.

Terry McD is about as good a NT as I've seen in a long while. That pick six TD shows he's not only a run stuffer but has ups and athleticism to boot.

[Machiavelli]

I watched the Brockport game Saturday. I'll admit it's my first time seeing them this year. They were big and fast like the last really good Brockport team(s) way back when, and kind of as I had expected. They were better than I thought they'd be, however. That game was 21-21 at the half but it really wasn't close at all. Brockport was blowing them out and screwed themselves in the last few minutes of the half.

This week will be a very good test for them, but I think Brockport has a fighter's chance to run the table. They just seem to have the 'it' that we don't typically see outside of the same 2-3 teams every year, and pretty much never in the East. I have a feeling DVC will be a little 'softer' than Wesley was. They might be a better team than Wesley, but maybe a little more 'finesse'.

That said, DVC has had 2 cupcakes in the sense of playoff football.  But Brockport seems healthy and I think that could be too much much this week. I like Brockport by 14+.