FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

Two quick TDs by W&L, one a long run immediately following Alma's TD and the second a long pass following an Alma punt, puts W&L up 24-7 with just under 5 minutes to go in the first half.

[jknezek]

Alma takes a nice drive at the end of the second half down for 7. Gutsy call on 4th and 4 from the 12 pays off with a TD on a poorly defended slant pass. With a little over 1 minute left in the half, the Generals drive down field and the officials have a complete brain fart. Clock winds on a first down before sticks are set, Generals emergency snap and fumble, spike, and somehow the clock keeps running forcing the Generals to take costly timeout with 12.3 seconds left. Generals pick up a 35 yard field goal to close out the half, so most likely the poor officiating didn't make much of a difference.

Both defenses look out of depth with Alma giving up over 430 yards in the first half and W&L better giving up ONLY 184. I get that these teams have little familiarity, but the defenses need to be better. W&L continues to have problems defending the pass. F&M, Centre, and Alma have all had good luck throwing on the Generals. 27-14 Generals at the half.

[jknezek]

Confused as to why either Alma or W&L is putting a defense on the field. Very porous as all 3 drives to start the second half have resulted in TDs midway through the 3rd quarter. 34-28 Generals on top. Both Alma TD drives have been quick possessions. It doesn't help that W&L's kick coverage has been awful allowing Alma starting position around the 45 and again W&L plagued by a turnover on the kickoff giving Alma the ball at the General 26. This is starting to feel a lot like the Centre game last week as W&L's turnovers and pass defense cause the team to give up huge chunks of yardage and points.

[jknezek]

End of the 3rd quarter. Alma on top of W&L 35-34 with the Generals driving. Alma has 3 possessions, 3 TDs. Two short fields from kickoffs and one incredibly short field from a Generals fumbled kick off. Once again, W&L has no answer for a passing game. I'm wondering if playing the General's offense so much in practice week in and out leaves the defense with limited ideas on how to defend the pass...

[jknezek]

And of course after W&L falls behind I had to leave to take charge of my 2 year old daughter and missed the 4th quarter comeback. Generals win 49-42 over Alma. W&L racks up 657 yards of offense, conceding over 480 to Alma. I wasn't kidding about wondering why they were putting defenses on the field. A late interception saved the Generals and set up the game winning TD. Alma with a 4-3 advantage in turnovers, and it was the only way either team was stopped in the second half. Alma had 3 punts in the first half, W&L two. There were no punts in the second half with W&L turning the ball over once on downs inside the Alma 10.

I think W&L's defense is going to be in big trouble during the conference games if they don't figure out how to cover receivers. Especially against H-SC. That being said, the offense has proven almost unstoppable scoring 24,31,42 and 49 points progressively.

[jknezek]

Anyone know what happened to Bridgewater today? Before the game, I would not have thought we were looking at that kind of score.

[Allen C]

I was not there, but it seemed like the Ferrum defense was really up for te task. Only 2 FG's allowed. I could not tell you the last time Ferrum kept an opponent from scoring a touchdown. Mayo ran for over 100 yards and scored once, and he threw for over 100 and completed a TD pass. Ten drives by Bridgewater resulted in the following:

2 FG's
1 Punt
2 INT's
1 Missed FG
1 Fumble
3 turnovers on downs

Glad the Panthers came out with the win. Best of luck the rest of the way for the Eagles!

[jknezek]

Alright everyone. Enough of the silly season, it's ODAC time! I'm pleased to report W&L's offense has reappeared as we've scored, 24, 31, 35, and 49 in consecutive games. We've also gone from total yards of 228, 414, 441 to 657. Now if only I could find a way to prevent ODAC coaches from watching film maybe they won't realize we can't stop the pass and have given up 10, 14, 42, and 42 points consecutively and total yards of 316, 256, 451, and 475. Apparently we just can't get both O and D at the same time. Of course, if we could start winning the turnover battle like we did last year, some of those big numbers would go away. I guess you can't have everything. Anyway, lets get the conference started and sort out what we all know is the most important part of any year... the ODAC Football Champion! I'll leave the playoffs and Stagg Bowl to someone else, considering how W&L's only 2 forays into the D3 playoffs have ended...

[abnrgr]

Be happy jknezek----

They are getting in the show when most are not

Put yourself in Hasa (Red Giant) Nova. He is about to pop.

[jknezek]

Be happy jknezek----

They are getting in the show when most are not

Put yourself in Hasa (Red Giant) Nova. He is about to pop.

Oh trust me, there was nothing at all about me being unhappy with our 2 ODAC championships in the last decade. That's why I consider winning the ODAC, or finishing second, to be a huge victory for the Generals. I consider going to the playoffs to be nothing more than an extra week, and if we're really lucky, 2 extra weeks, of practice for the returning players and one shining moment for the seniors. I have no realistic expectation of advancing in the playoffs.

No, no folks. For me, 6-4 is a successful season. 7-3 or 8-2 is fantasic, and an ODAC crown makes me ecstatic. Getting blown out of the playoffs? Not important...

[Hampton U SID]

Looking forward to a trip to the Shenandoah Valley this weekend and seeing a game in Bridgewater.

[tigerfanalso]

I traveled to watch my Tigers this past weekend. Defense had a tough first half but made adjustments and pitched a 2nd half shut out; offense struggled most of the day with 5 turnovers and did not score inside the zone on several different occassions. Just one of those days. You could tell the team was a little off; I'm assuming from such a long bus ride (welcome to D3). Fun game to watch and one to forget about. On to the ODAC.   

[abnrgr]

NOVA
You been quiet this week. You got your hair shaved yet for the WL game? The Bow Ties could get complacent this week.

You got the boulder at the precipice....just about to shove it over?

[hasanova]

NOVA
You been quiet this week. You got your hair shaved yet for the WL game? The Bow Ties could get complacent this week.

You got the boulder at the precipice....just about to shove it over?

Hey, Abnrgr - just got back from a business trip to the Big D.  Company's too far behind the times to spring for laptops!  lol  Even worked in a trip to the Grassy Knoll and the Texas Book Depository today - last time at those sites was in the mid-90's.  I did see a Rangers game when I was there in late July.  I'm trying to be a bit reserved about the Quakers until I see how many guys are off the injured list.  I'll be rooting for them tomorrow.  Go Quakers! 

[abnrgr]

Nova
I will root for your boys tomorrow because I do not want to see another Euripides or Sophocles tragedy played out on GC-Qs campus. Like Pericles fretted about