FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

matchup of the week: bc/hs-c? or pat/kid? i love this board. nice little break between film watching...
[...]

Like BC never loses to H-SC, Pat never will to me.  But like the Tigers keep trying, as will I.

[skoaltrain]

Don't lose focus this week fellas.  This week's battle will be won on the practice field!  Be the best today! 

Is that where they've moved the game too?  HSC's practice field?  Is that near by?

[mizzou_mafia]

Blackwell hasn't ever hit a big field goal to win a game anyways.  So don't count on BC to win by that margin. 

"David Blackwell booted what proved to be the game-winning field with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter Saturday to lift No. 14 Bridgewater to a tough 13-10 victory over McDaniel at Jopson Field.

"Blackwell's foot would end up sending the contest into overtime. He converted on a 36-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter, and the Randolph-Macon lead was just 13-10. Then, with 11:00 left in regulation, Blackwell nailed a 25-yard field goal, knotting the score at 13-13."

Granted, he looked horrible against McDaniel this year, but other than that, he's certainly made the most of the few opportunities he's had to win games.

[cuaplayer]

Well said Outsider ... I was hoping someone would bring up the fact that Lewis is a "first-year QB" going into the Sydney game.  Let me just add some stats to back you up;

Jason Lutz's first start vs. Sydney (1999): BC won 40-7
Robbie Jenkins' first start vs. Sydney (2002): BC won 38-7
Brandon Wakefield's first start vs. Sydney (2003): BC won 31-28 (coming back from down 21-0)

Interestingly, all three BC QBs "struggled" for parts - if not most - of the games;

Lutz finished 9-for-19, 120 yards
Jenkins finished 6-for-15, 229 yards
Wakefield finished 19-for-44, 246 yards (2 INTs)

This would suggest that Bridgewater has won the last six meetings with the Tigers because of a balance on offense, and not rely solely on whomever the QB happens to be.

So you think 19-44 and 246 is gonna get it done in a high scoring affair? It seems that unless they can run their way to 40 plus points that Bridgewater has its hands full.

This game is of little consequence to me but in "capping" this game I would have to think that HSC has the advantage and should be looked at as the favorites and not the underdogs. Its usually the games where the favorites behave like underdogs and vice versa that get ugly.

I don't know enough about the rosters to offer a high percentage prediction but I would have to hypothesize that HSC wins by alot.

I'm old and my team just won its first game in 15 games so this is gonna piss off the everyone from bc(90% of the board) but thats the only way to look at the game without bias.

[wrighthall220]

BC 56
HSC 49

[religion_major]

  "Burnnets" and the boys will be upset when they can't protect the QB.  J.Lew's gonna have to make sure he gets his legs loose. 

Am I missing something or did HSC learn to pass rush?  Did they learn to stop the run?  Remember how HSC's year was supposed to be two years ago?  Last year?  Their dreams die every year when they play the cream of the crop in the odac.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

So you think 19-44 and 246 is gonna get it done in a high scoring affair? It seems that unless they can run their way to 40 plus points that Bridgewater has its hands full.
[...]

Yup.  Got it done last year (in what was suppose to be a "high scoring affair").

We are a rush-first, pass-second team by choice.  Averaging 305 ypg on the ground so far this year, with a healthy 249 ypg in the air to accompany.  Even if we wanted to pass a lot, I'm very confident that Lewis is well equiped to have a monster game in the air (as well as our OL being able to give him time, and our receivers/backs being able to big plays).

After seeing the first four games (okay fine, I'll argue just the first three games and not the "scrimmage") in person, Lewis has become a dual-threat QB and even better leader.  I'll even dare to say that by season's end, Lewis will arguably be BC's best QB ever.

First game: 26-for-40 passing for 343 yards (1 TD, 4 INTs) and six rushes for 12 yards (sacked three times).

Last two games: 26-for-35 passing for 300 yards (4 TDs, 0 INTs) and 20 rushes for 181 yards (sacked only once).

I'd much rather have a QB who can (more so wants to) tuck and run rather than try to make a play in the air.  It can be less of a risk, as well as keeping the other offense off the field.  Lewis is doing just that.  The last two games, BC holds a +7-minute time of possession advantage.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I'm still trying to figure out why many (if not all) of you are picking a ridiculously high scoring affair this weekend.  If history means anything, it won't be:

2002: BC 38, H-SC 7 ... BC averaged 38.4 ppg that season, with H-SC averaging 32.7

2003: BC 31, H-SC 28 ... BC averaged 32.9 ppg that season, with H-SC averaging 47.2

2004: BC 37, H-SC 28 ... BC averaged 41.0 ppg that season, with H-SC averaging 39.0


So "as bad as" the two defenses are looking this season, not once has either school surpassed their scoring average the last three years that BC has finished 6-0 and H-SC 5-1 in the ODAC.  So why is that "this the year" it's a 60-50 game?!

I think both defenses will step up when they need to ... they always seem to when they take the field with one another.

[bcsportswriter]

Wow. I love this week.  It has to be one of the better current rivalries on the football field....but more importantly the best on the post board.    great facts on Blackwell.  He has struggled this year, but has been dealing with a new holder as well as long snapper.  This isnt really an excuse, but just a thought.  He will come through though. I can promise you that it isnt pressure that gets to him, cause David Blackwell could care less about pressure. 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Oh ... another "stat" to go with my last post:

Of the top 35 quarterbacks in the nation in passing efficiency, J.D. Ricca (#9) and Jacob Lewis (#32) are averaging the most interceptions per game: 2.67 and 1.33 respectively.

Like I said, the defenses will make plays.

[Jeremybozz]

    There is no comparison between the 2003 BC Defense and this year. That D was solid in all phases(with a great pass rush) until the trip to Alliance.
   Bridgewater gave up 36 to McDaniel and 42 to Hanover. HSC gave up 40 against Gettysburg and 45 to Guilford.
   HSC is very good with the pass and Hanover got most of their yards that way. BC offense may be as good as in 2000-2001. HSC D really struggled with Guilford in the 2nd half. This could be like the W&J game last year with over 100 points.
   BC does have a very good Kick and Punt Return team so that also has to be factored in. It should be a great one.

[bcsportswriter]

Another note on Blackwell.  Last year, BC beat HS-C by 9.  I think it was Blackwell that made 3 field goals in that game.  They seemed to be the difference.

[Bmore BC]

I agree with Kid, I don't know why everyone is predicting a wild west shootout. I think with all the tape watching and gameplanning both teams pretty much know the others offensive tendencies. I think the game will be won by new wrinkles added and maybe I am biased but BC's got the best o-coordinator in the game. I think the HSC has not seen speed in the backfield that BC has. I hope Clark takes over calling the D this week, if so BC could win by 3 possessions. There will be a big play on special teams and BC should win convincingly. I think BC's QB has the big game jitters out from playing in the McDaniel game. Ricca has another 2+ int day and has his thousands of yards he usually throws for (sarcastic) but doesn't win the big one.

Does this remind anyone about the Colts-Patriots. How Manning (Ricca) is so unstopable but can't beat this well-balanced team with no superstars no matter how big the game is.

BC   35
HSC 20

[Llamaguy]

Oh ... another "stat" to go with my last post:

Of the top 35 quarterbacks in the nation in passing efficiency, J.D. Ricca (#9) and Jacob Lewis (#32) are averaging the most interceptions per game: 2.67 and 1.33 respectively.

Asteric,asteric, asteric! All four of Lewis's INTs were in the first game so only 1 out of 3 teams made plays on him, excluding the scrimmage which he also had no INTs. In Lewis we Trust!

[Trenches]

 Now that we have covered the basics can you please explain to everyone on this board how in your infinate wisdom you determained that Guilford's lousy offense can put 45 points up on HSC, but BC will only be able to score 21?  

To say Guilford's offense is lousy is foolish. They have Barnette, who could be the best WR in the ODAC as well as two other WRs who could start on any team in the ODAC (including HSC and BC). Their line is 100x better then is years past. And vogelbach at QB is a big improvement. You can see they are starting to come together and if they put up an effort like they did last week... should be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds.