FB: Liberty League

[JacketsPride]

Jackets are banged up but no excuses...we are just not paying well.
Hard to pinpoint but the overall vibe is extremely different now.

Rose was benched early after two quick INT's and without Paps the running game is non existent.
Wise came in and played solid.  He is a threat running the ball and will get better in the next three years.

Hard to watch a sinking ship...but hopefully that they will rise to the occasion this Saturday.

[IC798891]

LL awards predictions

Coach of the Year: DeWall. Not even a contest

OPOY: Either EJ Taylor or JLO. Quarterback play in the LL has been so meh this year that Matthew Parker has started just six games and is 3rd in the conference in TD passes. So it's going to go to one of these two backs, who are separated by just 9 yards from scrimmage and 1 TD. Will Hobart play Taylor all 60 minutes with a playoff spot clinched? Will Ithaca be down all game and forced to pass?

I'm guessing this will go to Taylor unless Osborne has a great game against Cortland. But FWIW, against the Red Dragons last year, he had 122 total yards, 2 TD, and completed a 32-yard pass.

DPOY: Jordy Tawa. Cole DaSilva leads the conference in tackles by a mile, but Tawa has 7 picks and 18 PD for a surprisingly good Rochester defense allowing 7 PPG less than the Chargers.

[Bartman]

LL awards predictions

Coach of the Year: DeWall. Not even a contest

OPOY: Either EJ Taylor or JLO. Quarterback play in the LL has been so meh this year that Matthew Parker has started just six games and is 3rd in the conference in TD passes. So it's going to go to one of these two backs, who are separated by just 9 yards from scrimmage and 1 TD. Will Hobart play Taylor all 60 minutes with a playoff spot clinched? Will Ithaca be down all game and forced to pass?

I'm guessing this will go to Taylor unless Osborne has a great game against Cortland. But FWIW, against the Red Dragons last year, he had 122 total yards, 2 TD, and completed a 32-yard pass.

DPOY: Jordy Tawa. Cole DaSilva leads the conference in tackles by a mile, but Tawa has 7 picks and 18 PD for a surprisingly good Rochester defense allowing 7 PPG less than the Chargers.

IC, Liberty League awards are traditionally awarded on LL game performance. So, the Bombers have played all their games , while the rest of the league still have one more game to pad statistics. I think J L-O is the best talent in the league, but EJ has been a workhorse all season.My thoughts:

COY: DeWall, Hobart
OPY: EJ Taylor, Hobart
DPY: Cole DaSilva, Union

[IC798891]

IC, Liberty League awards are traditionally awarded on LL game performance

LL only stats:

JLO: 670 yards, 7 TD
Taylor: 579 yards, 6 TD

Likely to still be very close in numbers if Taylor does not play all game — and if Hobart is smart, he won't.

Suspect it will in fact be Taylor regardless.

[UfanBill]

While I believe Union LB and two time captain Cole DaSilva is a worthy candidate for Liberty League Defensive Player of the year in my opinion DE Ethan VanderBrink is the real rock of the Union defense. VanderBrink has been double teamed by every opponent all season long and has still managed to lead the Liberty League in sacks 7.5 and is tied for second in tackles for loss, 12. He ranks 9th in total tackles, 62. He's the guy the other coach says "we have to block."

[Bartman]

Week #11 PICKS (35-7 YTD)

Ithaca (21).  @    Cortland(35)    A great opportunity for the Bombers to shock the country, although Brockport showed it's possible to make Cortland look like mortals. The Bombers need to slow the game down , win the rushing game and hope JLO has the game of his life. The Cortland defense is vulnerable , but the Cortland Offense is superior and Boyes will want to give the hometown fans a memory.I think Ithaca will have some success but they can't stop the machine.

Union (17).   @.    RPI(24).       The Shoes game will be a great game to watch, as the teams are just playing for this game, it means their whole season maybe even more than usual with no post season for either team.I think both teams have decent defenses , but the wild card is the QB play, Will Patch run for his life and make a few good throws or will Kaz make some great throws , without any ending up in the Charger DB hands? I'm leaning RPI at home but this might go to OT.

Buffalo St.(21) @.  SLU(28).       The Saints passing game should be the difference in this one, but it could be a game that comes down to the last possession with the Canton faithful rewarded with a season ending win.

U of R (10).     @   Hobart(38).    This could have been a classic, but the Yellowjackets have been banged up, especially if Papantonis is still out. Expect Hobart to try to get a big lead early and use the full roster if the game allows it. However, Hobart is definitely NOT looking past this game as they know the Yellowjackets are looking to sting.

[IC798891]

Papantonis has had such a weird career. He had that all-time historic half-quater against a really good Utica in 2022 where he had 5 carries for 233 yards and 3 TDs in the first 9 minutes of the game. I feel like I kept waiting for him to turn into this just absolute program changing back and while he became a good/very good back, we never really got to see him dominate like that again — at least against good competition.

[UfanBill]

Papantonis has had such a weird career. He had that all-time historic half-quater against a really good Utica in 2022 where he had 5 carries for 233 yards and 3 TDs in the first 9 minutes of the game. I feel like I kept waiting for him to turn into this just absolute program changing back and while he became a good/very good back, we never really got to see him dominate like that again — at least against good competition.

Union fans never got to see Daniel Papantonis in Schenectady during his four years. In 2020 Covid wiped out his freshman season and canceled his game at Frank Bailey. In 2021 against Union in Rochester Papantonis was a non-factor rushing 15/50 with one reception. In Schenectady in 2022 he was injured and DNP. 2023 back at Fauver Stadium, again he didn't do much going 16/51 and 2024,once again he did not play this past Saturday in Schenectady. So in his 4 years he played against Union only twice. Both at home and was only 31/101 total. For one of the Yellowjackets best it certainly could be called a "weird" career.

[Bartman]

Papantonis had a great game against Hobart in 2021 gaining 151 yards on 22 carries, but the Yellowjackets scored 0 points. In 2022 he went 24-88 yards but the jackets only scored 7 ponts . Last year the U of R came close to upsetting Hobart in Rochester but Daniel only went 9-21. A great talent but surely he needed more support during his career.

[JacketsPride]

Paps overall career has been outstanding. He was not an All-American every year but consistently was one of the top 3 runners in the league.  He was a workhouse for the last four years maybe to his detriment. If the Jackets would have used Will Varney (Class of 2024) more the last three years or had another solid option to lighten the load Daniel might have stayed healthy.

Carries per year=
161 (9 games) - 1st year 
195 (10 games) - 2nd year
131 (8 games) - 3rd year
136 (7 games) - 4th year (still ranked second in the league.   

He finishes his career with 3488 yards (102.76 per game) and 25 TD's.
I truly believe if he was healthy the last two games we would have won.

Predictions-

Buff St- 21
St. Lawrence- 20

Rochester- 10   Upset win over the Statesmen!
Hobart- 3       (not quite a million)

Union- 21
RPI- 14

[Ice Bear]

I think had Paps been able to stay healthy his numbers would be off the charts. Take into account all the struggles U of R have had and that they certainly haven't had a top notch line, and it's clear that this young man is and always has been special. I for one am so grateful he was apart of the LL for his career.

[IC798891]

Re: Paps, What I meant was a compliment that sorta came across as a criticism.

You know what his career sorta reminds me of? ICs Jamie Donovan.

As a freshman, Donovan became the starter midway through the year, and did this:

Brockport: 218
Utica: 170
Springfield: 140
Alfred: 39
Cortland: 203
UMass-Dartmouth: 165

His career numbers by year

Freshman: 1,224 yards, 6.0 YPC
Sophomore: 736 yards, 4.9 YPC
Junior: 779 yards, 5.0 YPC
Senior: 1,085 yards, 5.3 YPC

Donovan was a great, great, back. He's the program's all-time leading rusher and scorer, and he's in the IC Hall of Fame. (He's also a super nice guy) But I remember thinking in 2004 that he was going to be one of the best backs in the country. When Paps went off in 2022, I kind of had a similar thought — don't forget he threw up 172 on Ithaca that year.

It's not that he wasn't still a good back. But I thought we'd be looking at 1,500 yard seasons from him. And it just didn't materialize. Again, not really a criticism.

[IC798891]

Re: Paps, What I meant was a compliment that sorta came across as a criticism.

You know what his career sorta reminds me of? ICs Jamie Donovan.

As a freshman, Donovan became the starter midway through the year, and did this:

Brockport: 218
Utica: 170
Springfield: 140
Alfred: 39
Cortland: 203
UMass-Dartmouth: 165

His career numbers by year

Freshman: 1,224 yards, 6.0 YPC
Sophomore: 736 yards, 4.9 YPC
Junior: 779 yards, 5.0 YPC
Senior: 1,085 yards, 5.3 YPC

Donovan was a great, great, back. He's the program's all-time leading rusher and scorer, and he's in the IC Hall of Fame. (He's also a super nice guy) But I remember thinking in 2004 that he was going to be one of the best backs in the country. But we didn't really see 150-200 yard-game Donovan again after he had 179 against Hartwick in Week 2 of 2005.

When Paps went off in 2022, I kind of had a similar thought — don't forget he threw up 172 on Ithaca that year.

It's not that he wasn't still a good back. But I thought we'd be looking at 1,500 yard seasons from him. And it just didn't materialize. Again, not really a criticism.

[Machiavelli]

Final week of the regular season. Let's go!

Mach's Stupendously Accurate Predictions:

Season Record - 36-8

Week 10

Ithaca - 17
Cortland - 31
I mean, do I think Ithaca could win this game? Yeah. I think Cortland sharpens their dragon claws and hits the postseason running hot. I'd like to see Cortland make another deep run so last year doesn't look super flukey.

Union - 0
RPI - 112
Definitely going to be my most accurate prediction of the season. RPI shows up and shows off to the 1999 undefeated team being honored at halftime, and we all smother our faces in The Ruck Blue Cheese. F Union!

Buff State - 10
St. Lawrence - 24
After seeing Buff State last week, I still have no clue how even a banged up Rochester got absolutely dismantled by this group. I think Electric LarryLand hammers it down. Extra points if you can name that album without googling it.

Hobart - 35
Rochester 7
Rochester crawls to the finish line. Hobart finishes the regular season strong and gears up for the postseason.

RPI will drink Labatt Blues from the shoes and Union will drink warm wine and melty cheese from their Teslas.

[Ice Bear]

Final week of the regular season. Let's go!

Mach's Stupendously Accurate Predictions:

Season Record - 36-8

Week 10

Ithaca - 17
Cortland - 31
I mean, do I think Ithaca could win this game? Yeah. I think Cortland sharpens their dragon claws and hits the postseason running hot. I'd like to see Cortland make another deep run so last year doesn't look super flukey.

Union - 0
RPI - 112
Definitely going to be my most accurate prediction of the season. RPI shows up and shows off to the 1999 undefeated team being honored at halftime, and we all smother our faces in The Ruck Blue Cheese. F Union!

Buff State - 10
St. Lawrence - 24
After seeing Buff State last week, I still have no clue how even a banged up Rochester got absolutely dismantled by this group. I think Electric LarryLand hammers it down. Extra points if you can name that album without googling it.

Hobart - 35
Rochester 7
Rochester crawls to the finish line. Hobart finishes the regular season strong and gears up for the postseason.

RPI will drink Labatt Blues from the shoes and Union will drink warm wine and melty cheese from their Teslas.

They surf using an odd part of their body...