FB: Empire 8

[ITH radio]

I'll take your word for it. My memory of the geography up there isn't as good as it used to be back in the day...

[Saxon73]

No issue here. Pep was flattered that anyone even noticed the kazoo, trumpet and drum and the frozen musicians that day.
[/quote]


I was there Pep and I noticed the Pep Band and it was cold (the weather).

[Bombers798891]

Couple people picking Alfred to possibly upset Cortland in the quick picks, though I'm not sure I agree.

Alfred's inability to pass the ball against Ithaca (14-for-34, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) is troubling, considering how the IC pass defense had issues against St. John Fisher, Buff State, and St. Vincent. Even St. Lawrence was able to hit several big plays.

The Saxon defense held up okay, but 27 points and 370 yards isn't especially encouraging given that IC ran out the last 9:30 and how the Red Dragons can score.

I think this is going to go a bit like the IC game, where the Saxons will hold up for a bit, but eventually just be outgunned. Cortland 31-13.

[ITH radio]

In our picks show today at 11 I went with Cortland exactly bc of what you stated. I'm not sold the Saxons offense is two dimensional enough to keep the Dragons at bay.

[Saxon73]

In our picks show today at 11 I went with Cortland exactly bc of what you stated. I'm not sold the Saxons offense is two dimensional enough to keep the Dragons at bay.

Couple people picking Alfred to possibly upset Cortland in the quick picks, though I'm not sure I agree.

Alfred's inability to pass the ball against Ithaca (14-for-34, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) is troubling, considering how the IC pass defense had issues against St. John Fisher, Buff State, and St. Vincent. Even St. Lawrence was able to hit several big plays.

The Saxon defense held up okay, but 27 points and 370 yards isn't especially encouraging given that IC ran out the last 9:30 and how the Red Dragons can score.

I think this is going to go a bit like the IC game, where the Saxons will hold up for a bit, but eventually just be outgunned. Cortland 31-13.

Understandable thoughts.   From the glass half full viewpoint, consider this:   1)  The QB riddle looks to be answered.  Casey Boston led the last two games (U of R and Mo'ville) with 70% completion rate in both.  The caveat being only 20 and 17 attempts therein.   2)  As mentioned in Quick Hits, the Saxons have sacked opponents 21 times this year.   3)  Some changes and experience on defense may show improvement versus the Dragons well balanced attack, although there is question as to how much they have been tested to date.   4) A fumble here or an INT there can change things by the physical Saxons.  I try to keep an eye on Greer and Milgate.   5)  Cortland is not Ithaca.  Could be a really exciting game.  Maybe the glass is more than half full.   

[saxontad]

Saxon 73.  All of your points are well-taken.  My main concern defensively is, after being injured against Morrisville, can Leo Pamphile go?  I haven't heard anything but he is crucial in our sack numbers this season.

On Saxon Warriors!!!

[AUPepBand]

Final from Cortland: Red Dragons 31, Alfred 21.

Two special teams score carry the home team to victory...kickoff return for TD on a reverse after Alfred's first score, then a blocked punt scoop and score. AU battled and dominated on the ground....but too much to overcome.

Curious to see the final box score. Thinking that looking at the stats, one might conclude AU won the game, but those two special team scores too much to overcome.

On Saxon Warriors!

[XREDDRAGON77]

Alfred won in the stat column.  Not a convincing showing by the Red Dragons, but there was a lot of grit and fight in that Alfred team!

[Ithaca798891]

Alfred won in the stat column.  Not a convincing showing by the Red Dragons, but there was a lot of grit and fight in that Alfred team!

Some of that's a feature of what happens when you give up special teams touchdowns. That said, like you, my thought is that this was not a good game by Cortland.

I said before the game that I wasn't sold on Alfred's passing attack. I was right, as the Saxons were 13-of-29 in the air, and counting the sack, got just 99 yards on 30 drop backs. But what I did not see coming was Cortland giving up 300 yards on the ground. Alfred's rushing attack was solid against IC, averaging 4.5 YPC and getting 185 yards (though a chunk of that came in garbage time). But 5.7 YPC against Cortland is kind of stunning.

The Saxons have a sneaky good pass defense. They gave Joe G his a really tough time, and now they did it to Segala.

This Brockport game is going to be really, really, good

[Ithaca798891]

Also, for those of you wondering why I said "We've seen this movie from Utica before" earlier this year, this last game is exactly why. Instead of building off the win over Fisher with a good performance against Morrisville, they give up 41 points in regulation and lose in 2 OT

Now, instead of being 4-2, they're 3-3, with three straight road games looming, two of which are against Top 25 teams. I'm sure they'll beat Hartwick at home, but 4-6 looks like a definite possibility at this point.

[XREDDRAGON77]

Alfred looked like they ran a lot of power and counter RPO schemes. It's a real bind for your linebackers . It's a  Crap or get off the pot type scenario...and if run correctly the D cant be correct. The D line got moved around but there was little to no down hill fill from the Lbs. Probably sitting on their heels vs. the pass read if they played overly aggressive! Hopefully Brockport is less RPO oriented on offense.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Alfred looked like they ran a lot of power and counter RPO schemes. It's a real bind for your linebackers . It's a  Crap or get off the pot type scenario...and if run correctly the D cant be correct. The D line got moved around but there was little to no down hill fill from the Lbs. Probably sitting on their heels vs. the pass read if they played overly aggressive! Hopefully Brockport is less RPO oriented on offense.

I think College should reduce the yards allowed downfield by offensive lineman from 3 to 1.5 yards, similar to the NFL.

[XREDDRAGON77]

It's definitely a tough read to make when you have 3 yards to fire up the field!

[Saxon73]

Final from Cortland: Red Dragons 31, Alfred 21.

Two special teams score carry the home team to victory...kickoff return for TD on a reverse after Alfred's first score, then a blocked punt scoop and score. AU battled and dominated on the ground....but too much to overcome.

Curious to see the final box score. Thinking that looking at the stats, one might conclude AU won the game, but those two special team scores too much to overcome.

On Saxon Warriors!

Alfred won in the stat column.  Not a convincing showing by the Red Dragons, but there was a lot of grit and fight in that Alfred team!

It's a little spooky that last year these tables were turned.  At Yunevich Stadium Cortland won the stats by far, although the Saxons won by 38 - 33.  On special teams Kevin Bragaglia returned a punt 92 yards for the decisive score.  It didn't hurt that AU's defense intercepted five passes by five different players.   

[Saxon73]

I'm thinking that the Brockport v Utica game could be very interesting.  Having lost to Hobart, Brockport has met only limited adversity to Framingham on their schedule.  Utica is the type of team that can really reach out and bite your favorite team.  Wilcox can score quickly with his arm and Buffalo St. was able to show some ability there against Brockport.

Closer than some might think or surprise upset