FB: Liberty League

[IC798891]

Ithaca is a mess offensively. There's just nothing in the passing game. Seven completions for 37 yards.

What happened to the passing offense that traded blows with Cortland in the second half last year? Heck, where's the offense that managed 250 passing yards against Hopkins in Week 1? It doesn't even look like the same 11 guys are out there.

The defense will keep Ithaca in pretty much every game. But the offense is going to need a hard reboot next year

[Bartman]

Congrats to RPI on very strong second half in 34-10 win. SLU started well and showed a decent passing game but RPI shut them down in second half.

Ithaca gets a long pass play for a TD that might save the game for them. Otherwise QB play is pretty sad. Really have not made use of 2 strong running backs IMO(Similar to Hobart last year).Ithaca defense wants the game and Rochester has some talent on Offense , but not enough to overcome IC defense.

[Bartman]

J L-O , finally breaks out for a 25 yard TD....that's what I was expecting, finally, as IC takes 17-0 lead.
It looks like the OLD guard of the LL has taken back the hill with 2 strong defensive performances and some decent offense.

[Bartman]

Bombers remove the Yellowjackets stinger with a 24-0 victory. If I had the IC QBs , I'd run the single wing or the triple option. Toerper keeps trying to run a traditional offense but he doesn't have the talent to throw, IMO. IC definitely has a very strong defense and serious talent in the run game. Yellowjackets have talent, but not quite enough for the next level.

[JacketsPride]

First half was even other than the Rochester defense who held Ithaca to 3 points despite 3 offensive turnovers(2 interceptions and a fumble) by the U of R offense.  Game was broken open in the third quarter when the almost sacked Ithaca QB made a nice pass to a streaking WR.  10-0 to start the 4th and then it was all the Ithaca O line and JLO/Williams. Not what they wanted. 

Jackets had one last chance late but Papantonis got stuffed on the one yard line.

Not the best game for the Yellow Jackets but a lot of football left for them to prove to everyone that they do belong.

U of R has a bye next week then will host SLU and Buff State.

[IC798891]

Hobart's defense is so good. I don't see them losing twice — though the offense is still uninspiring. Talent finally won out against Buff State, but 14-3 after three (with a pick 6) just sorta shows that that even the clear LL favorite has work to do on that side of the ball. They seem to sleepwalk through the game and then put everything together in the 4th.

But it's going to be hard to beat them considering they just don't give up points to anyone

[Bartman]

Hobart beats a scrappy Buffalo State team 31-3. Tru Styles shows he can manage the game well in place of Johnny Colombi and makes some nice throws today. This was important experience for Tru and Buffalo St defense gave him some tough resistance at times. Our Defense just does their job every week. Next up are the Larries with a challenging passing attack that could cause us some problems.

[Bartman]

New Top 25 out and not a point for any LL teams, which is not surprising. Rochester's loss yesterday to Ithaca also eliminated any wild chance that the LL could have two entrants in the NCAAs. So that leaves just the rest of us to FIGHT for the Championship:

Bartman's Useless LL rankings:

1. Hobart
2.Ithaca
3.RPI
4.Rochester
5.St. Lawrence
6.Union
7.Buffalo State

Game of the week will be at Butterball again ,as the Engineers try to de-fuse the Bombers. To say it's a must game for both is obvious....it will be more like a Cage Match high above Cayuga's waters . Hobart has to take care of business in the North Country, which is never easy, and the Bengals smell blood against Union.Eventually only one will be left standing. Still time for chaos.

[Pat Coleman]

New Top 25 out and not a point for any LL teams, which is not surprising. Rochester's loss yesterday to Ithaca also eliminated any wild chance that the LL could have two entrants in the NCAAs. So that leaves just the rest of us to FIGHT for the Championship:

Bartman's Useless LL rankings:

1. Hobart
2.Ithaca
3.RPI
4.Rochester
5.St. Lawrence
6.Union
7.Buffalo State

Game of the week will be at Butterball again ,as the Engineers try to de-fuse the Bombers. To say it's a must game for both is obvious....it will be more like a Cage Match high above Cayuga's waters . Hobart has to take care of business in the North Country, which is never easy, and the Bengals smell blood against Union.Eventually only one will be left standing. Still time for chaos.

Still a scenario in which Ithaca and Rochester win out and finish tied for first. Yes, someone else would have to beat Hobart. But in that case, Ithaca wins the AQ and Rochester would probably have a decent shot at an at-large.

[Bartman]

New Top 25 out and not a point for any LL teams, which is not surprising. Rochester's loss yesterday to Ithaca also eliminated any wild chance that the LL could have two entrants in the NCAAs. So that leaves just the rest of us to FIGHT for the Championship:

Bartman's Useless LL rankings:

1. Hobart
2.Ithaca
3.RPI
4.Rochester
5.St. Lawrence
6.Union
7.Buffalo State

Game of the week will be at Butterball again ,as the Engineers try to de-fuse the Bombers. To say it's a must game for both is obvious....it will be more like a Cage Match high above Cayuga's waters . Hobart has to take care of business in the North Country, which is never easy, and the Bengals smell blood against Union.Eventually only one will be left standing. Still time for chaos.

Still a scenario in which Ithaca and Rochester win out and finish tied for first. Yes, someone else would have to beat Hobart. But in that case, Ithaca wins the AQ and Rochester would probably have a decent shot at an at-large.

Pat, that is true...and possible, but what I meant to say was there was only a wild chance for 2 teams to get in and your scenario also assumes Hobart will lose two games of the four remaining against RPI, SLU and Union and Rochester...we'll play them and see...thanks for stopping by the LL board

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, but in fairness -- a scenario in which Rochester wins out is also a scenario in which Rochester beats Hobart. Just needs to be one other loss, which isn't necessarily wild considering how low-scoring Hobart games have a way of being.

[Bartman]

Yes, but in fairness -- a scenario in which Rochester wins out is also a scenario in which Rochester beats Hobart. Just needs to be one other loss, which isn't necessarily wild considering how low-scoring Hobart games have a way of being.

Thanks Pat, I'm sticking with wild 

[IC798891]

I feel like the entire LL is up for grabs. Outside of Buff State, nothing has been like we expected this year. And no one has an offense, so anyone is a goal-line stand or muffed punt away from an upset win/loss

[Bartman]

I feel like the entire LL is up for grabs. Outside of Buff State, nothing has been like we expected this year. And no one has an offense, so anyone is a goal-line stand or muffed punt away from an upset win/loss

Can't argue with this. This is the least secure I've felt going into the rest of the season, even with 2 wins and one against Ithaca. Not because of the Hobart defense, but because of unexpected turnovers that can change the day for all of these teams. That's me, but I think the team is very confident now, hopefully not overconfident.

[IC798891]

Right. I mean, IC had their own goal line stand against Rochester, and scored their only points against Endicott after returning a blocked FG deep into Gulls territory. It honestly feels like 14 points is enough to get a win most weeks, and it just doesn't take many mistakes to set a team up for that.

It's like the reverse of watching those old Hartwick teams with Boltus, where you felt like any stop you got was huge, because they were going to need 50 points to win.