FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

W&L at RMC was a close game in every way except on the scoreboard. A couple of gambles by the Generals on 4th down that didn't work out, giving the Jackest decent field position after which the drove for TDs, were big factors in RMC's win.

That's a nice way of looking at it, but the Jackets are just better than the ODAC this year. I hope they get a good matchup this year and make a run! 

[BSCpanthers]

W&L at RMC was a close game in every way except on the scoreboard. A couple of gambles by the Generals on 4th down that didn't work out, giving the Jackest decent field position after which the drove for TDs, were big factors in RMC's win.

That's a nice way of looking at it, but the Jackets are just better than the ODAC this year. I hope they get a good matchup this year and make a run!

I think if the region 3 does not have a Pool C, y'all will host Belhaven.  That's my prediction.

[Pat Coleman]

W&L at RMC was a close game in every way except on the scoreboard. A couple of gambles by the Generals on 4th down that didn't work out, giving the Jackest decent field position after which the drove for TDs, were big factors in RMC's win.

That's a nice way of looking at it, but the Jackets are just better than the ODAC this year. I hope they get a good matchup this year and make a run!

I think if the region 3 does not have a Pool C, y'all will host Belhaven.  That's my prediction.

It's 932 miles from Belhaven to Randolph-Macon. If you're going to put Belhaven in a plane -- and you probably would have to -- you can send them just about anywhere.

[BSCpanthers]

If Berry sneaks in by Pool C, they will host Belhaven. Then R-MC gets someone else closer to them.

[jknezek]

593 from Belhaven to Hardin-Simmons. I forget what the cutoff is these days. 358 to Berry. Otherwise, they will be flying. 

[y_jack_lok]

W&L at RMC was a close game in every way except on the scoreboard. A couple of gambles by the Generals on 4th down that didn't work out, giving the Jackest decent field position after which they drove for TDs, were big factors in RMC's win.

That's a nice way of looking at it, but the Jackets are just better than the ODAC this year. I hope they get a good matchup this year and make a run!

Well, that's how I saw it. W&L was very good. They could probably have thrown the ball more. They were 14 of 22 passing. That's about 10 more passes than they normally throw in a game. With that kind of completion percentage, more might be better. The Generals' QB was a good scrambler and completed a couple of critical passes under pressure.

Those failed 4th down gambles were costly. Punting and forcing the Jackets to make longer drives could have made a difference.

RMC still has to win out to hopefully earn a first round tournament home game. There's the long road trip to Ferrum next week, then home vs a good H-SC team on 11/11. Take nothing for granted.

[HSCTiger74]

W&L at RMC was a close game in every way except on the scoreboard. A couple of gambles by the Generals on 4th down that didn't work out, giving the Jackest decent field position after which they drove for TDs, were big factors in RMC's win.

That's a nice way of looking at it, but the Jackets are just better than the ODAC this year. I hope they get a good matchup this year and make a run!

Well, that's how I saw it. W&L was very good. They could probably have thrown the ball more. They were 14 of 22 passing. That's about 10 more passes than they normally throw in a game. With that kind of completion percentage, more might be better. The Generals' QB was a good scrambler and completed a couple of critical passes under pressure.

Those failed 4th down gambles were costly. Punting and forcing the Jackets to make longer drives could have made a difference.

RMC still has to win out to hopefully earn a first round tournament home game. There's the long road trip to Ferrum next week, then home vs a good H-SC team on 11/11. Take nothing for granted.

  That's a very prudent attitude to take, but I don't see the Jackets losing to either of those teams. I'd be happy for my Tigers to win of course, but rivalry emotion aside R-MC is just better.

[jknezek]

Well... R-MC has sown up the ODAC again. Very impressive. I believe they have lost something like 3 conference games since the end of the 2017 season. Never know what will happen in a rivalry like The Game, but I don't doubt that R-MC is the better team going in. I hope the Jackets make a nice run in the playoffs. They certainly have the tools to be dangerous.

As for the rest of the post-season, lets talk about this year's first ever Chesapeake Challenge, something I find way more exciting than a post-season game against Apprentice! Still lots of possibilities for teams on both the Landmark and ODAC side. The Challenge is set up this year so #2 in the ODAC (or the first ranked team left out of the playoffs, which will be #2 this year) hosts #3 in the Landmark (again, accounting for playoff teams. It is possible that the Landmark could get 2 teams in the playoffs if Lycoming beats Susquehanna to the AQ. Susquehanna will hold one win over a RR opponent in Cortland, possibly 2 with Brockport. Bridgewater losing to W&L didn't help for a third. But Susquehanna would definitely be in the mix for a Pool C if they lose to Lycoming.

The ODAC is much more straight forward. Assuming the order of finish is logical, conference record with ties broken by head to head, W&L has 2nd place and hosting duties locked up. Even an upset by Shenandoah won't knock W&L out of second as they would have, at most, 2 conference losses. The only other teams that can tie with 2 conference losses are Bridgewater and H-SC, and W&L holds h2h wins against both.

So that leaves the ODAC 3rd place, and the trip to the Landmark's first non-NCAA playoff team, up for grabs. There are two teams in play, Bridgewater who hosts Guilford and H-SC who travels to Ashland. In theory, if both H-SC and Bridgewater lose, and Shenandoah beats W&L, they could all be 4-3 in conference. But both H-SC and Bridgewater hold head to head wins over Shenandoah.

Bridgewater, by the slimmest of 1 pt margins, has the head to head over H-SC. So if Bridgewater beats Guilford they should be the third place ODAC team and travel to the first non-NCAA Landmark team. If Bridgewater loses, and H-SC upsets R-MC in The Game, then H-SC would hold 3rd place in the ODAC. If both Bridgewater and H-SC lose, Bridgewater with the h2h should get the nod.

Sorting out the Landmark is somewhat harder.

First scenario is easier.... Susquehanna beats Lycoming at home. Susquehanna gets the AQ, Lycoming is farther from the running for a Pool C than W&L. At this point, Lycoming is 4-2 in conference and the only thing that matters is who wins the Wilkes at Moravian game. If Wilkes wins, Wilkes will get the 2nd spot and host 3rd in the ODAC, as they have a head to head over Lycoming, and Lycoming will travel to W&L. If Moravian wins, Lycoming will be second in the Landmark courtesy of a head to head, they will host 3rd in the ODAC and Moravian will travel to W&L.

Second scenario... Lycoming beats Susquehanna for the AQ. Susquehanna will be second in the Landmark courtesy of the head to head loss. If they don't get a Pool C, they will host ODAC #3, and the winner of Wilkes at Moravian will travel to W&L.

Third scenario... If Susquehanna does get a Pool C, then the winner of Wilkes at Moravian is the Landmark host. The Landmark travel team will be Moravian if Wilkes wins, courtesy of a head to head over Catholic. If Moravian wins, it will be Catholic travelling to Lexington courtesy of a head to head over Wilkes if they beat hapless Juniata.

One thing I like about these post-season games is that it gives teams more to play for the last week or two of the season. Sadly it doesn't look like I'll get the W&L hosting Wilkes game I was hoping for, my alma mater vs my parents. My dad and I had made plans to travel to that game if it would have happened. But maybe over the next couple contract years we will get the chance.

As for how I think this all shakes out? R-MC (AQ), W&L (host Chesapeake Challenge), Bridgewater (travel CC), Susquehanna (AQ), Lycoming (host CC), Moravian (travel CC) seems most likely to me. Prior to Wilkes losing to Catholic last weekend, I would have thought they would have taken second in the Landmark, pushing Lycoming to the travel spot. But that was not a good loss for Wilkes. I just don't see Bridgewater losing to Guilford or Susquehanna losing to Lycoming. That leaves only Moravian hosting Wilkes to sort stuff out.

Of course, all this is dependent on using head to head to break placement ties. If there is something else in the documents, then I've wasted my time.

[HSCTiger74]

Well... R-MC has sown up the ODAC again. Very impressive. I believe they have lost something like 3 conference games since the end of the 2017 season. Never know what will happen in a rivalry like The Game, but I don't doubt that R-MC is the better team going in. I hope the Jackets make a nice run in the playoffs. They certainly have the tools to be dangerous.

As for the rest of the post-season, lets talk about this year's first ever Chesapeake Challenge, something I find way more exciting than a post-season game against Apprentice! Still lots of possibilities for teams on both the Landmark and ODAC side. The Challenge is set up this year so #2 in the ODAC (or the first ranked team left out of the playoffs, which will be #2 this year) hosts #3 in the Landmark (again, accounting for playoff teams. It is possible that the Landmark could get 2 teams in the playoffs if Lycoming beats Susquehanna to the AQ. Susquehanna will hold one win over a RR opponent in Cortland, possibly 2 with Brockport. Bridgewater losing to W&L didn't help for a third. But Susquehanna would definitely be in the mix for a Pool C if they lose to Lycoming.

The ODAC is much more straight forward. Assuming the order of finish is logical, conference record with ties broken by head to head, W&L has 2nd place and hosting duties locked up. Even an upset by Shenandoah won't knock W&L out of second as they would have, at most, 2 conference losses. The only other teams that can tie with 2 conference losses are Bridgewater and H-SC, and W&L holds h2h wins against both.

So that leaves the ODAC 3rd place, and the trip to the Landmark's first non-NCAA playoff team, up for grabs. There are two teams in play, Bridgewater who hosts Guilford and H-SC who travels to Ashland. In theory, if both H-SC and Bridgewater lose, and Shenandoah beats W&L, they could all be 4-3 in conference. But both H-SC and Bridgewater hold head to head wins over Shenandoah.

Bridgewater, by the slimmest of 1 pt margins, has the head to head over H-SC. So if Bridgewater beats Guilford they should be the third place ODAC team and travel to the first non-NCAA Landmark team. If Bridgewater loses, and H-SC upsets R-MC in The Game, then H-SC would hold 3rd place in the ODAC. If both Bridgewater and H-SC lose, Bridgewater with the h2h should get the nod.

Sorting out the Landmark is somewhat harder.

First scenario is easier.... Susquehanna beats Lycoming at home. Susquehanna gets the AQ, Lycoming is farther from the running for a Pool C than W&L. At this point, Lycoming is 4-2 in conference and the only thing that matters is who wins the Wilkes at Moravian game. If Wilkes wins, Wilkes will get the 2nd spot and host 3rd in the ODAC, as they have a head to head over Lycoming, and Lycoming will travel to W&L. If Moravian wins, Lycoming will be second in the Landmark courtesy of a head to head, they will host 3rd in the ODAC and Moravian will travel to W&L.

Second scenario... Lycoming beats Susquehanna for the AQ. Susquehanna will be second in the Landmark courtesy of the head to head loss. If they don't get a Pool C, they will host ODAC #3, and the winner of Wilkes at Moravian will travel to W&L.

Third scenario... If Susquehanna does get a Pool C, then the winner of Wilkes at Moravian is the Landmark host. The Landmark travel team will be Moravian if Wilkes wins, courtesy of a head to head over Catholic. If Moravian wins, it will be Catholic travelling to Lexington courtesy of a head to head over Wilkes if they beat hapless Juniata.

One thing I like about these post-season games is that it gives teams more to play for the last week or two of the season. Sadly it doesn't look like I'll get the W&L hosting Wilkes game I was hoping for, my alma mater vs my parents. My dad and I had made plans to travel to that game if it would have happened. But maybe over the next couple contract years we will get the chance.

As for how I think this all shakes out? R-MC (AQ), W&L (host Chesapeake Challenge), Bridgewater (travel CC), Susquehanna (AQ), Lycoming (host CC), Moravian (travel CC) seems most likely to me. Prior to Wilkes losing to Catholic last weekend, I would have thought they would have taken second in the Landmark, pushing Lycoming to the travel spot. But that was not a good loss for Wilkes. I just don't see Bridgewater losing to Guilford or Susquehanna losing to Lycoming. That leaves only Moravian hosting Wilkes to sort stuff out.

Of course, all this is dependent on using head to head to break placement ties. If there is something else in the documents, then I've wasted my time.

  You're usually pretty well dialed in, so I suspect you got things right.

[jknezek]

I think so, but there is precious little available on how the teams are chosen and W&L has not announced they will host. So I'm interested to see what happens in the end.

I suspect nothing will be announced until after the playoff field is selected. While the odds of W&L getting an at-large are... Beyond Miniscule... they are still technically in play until the last selection is made.

Also, there could be a complication if Lycoming wins and Susquehanna does not get an at-large. Likely they would host Bridgewater, and it's possible that no one wants a rematch, or that a rematch is excluded by the documents. It would make sense.

So there is definitely a chance that what seems logical and easy will not be the way it turns out.

I also suspect the vast majority of my interest in these games is due to the Wilkes/W&L possibilities!

*** Edited to change AQ to at-large in 4th sentence

[y_jack_lok]

Trying to flesh out all those possibilities fries my brain. Good for you for being willing to do it. I have no doubt you got it right. Hope you get your W&L/Wilkes matchup, though you think the chances slim.

[jknezek]

W&L finished strong. A good season for the Generals and they announced they will be hosting. While still alive for the playoffs, I suspect they have realistically acknowledged they don't have a shot at a Pool C.

The opponent, however, will have to wait for tomorrow apparently. Landmark Conference website shows Wilkes in the 3 spot, but not sure if that is alphabetical order or not.

With a win over Lycoming, I suspect Wilkes will be the 2, but unsure.

Congratulations to RMC on an ODAC Championship and best of luck in the playoffs. They rolled through the ODAC this year!

[jknezek]

W&L and Wilkes claim hosting for Chesapeake Challenge. Bridgewater posts a game at Wilkes, Lycoming claims bowl birth. So the matchups will be as I thought.

W&L hosting Lycoming, Wilkes hosting Bridgewater. Not the matchup I was hoping for, but should be interesting to see how these conferences stack up.

[Macon]

Another dominating performance by the Jackets.  Watched online, but there was a good crowd there and one of the best football venues in DIII.  Jackets scored touchdowns on first seven possessions.  Not sure that the Tigers would have stopped the Jackets' first string if they had continued to play, before the second string took over in the second half.  The Jackets are clearly more athletic (bigger, stronger, faster) than the Tigers.  Good luck to the Tigers under new leadership.

On to the Playoffs!

[jknezek]

About the best draw you could imagine for R-MC. Some tough teams in that bracket, as there should be for playoffs, but it's a winnable bracket very deep. Good luck YellowJackets!