FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[HSCTiger74]

Haven't seen any game notes yet so I don't know how things progressed, but it looks as though the D still has a little more work to do. As I've said before though, any win on the road is a good one, so let's enjoy this one and get ready for Catholic next week.  GO TIGERS!

[hasanova]

Congratulations to Bridgewater for winning today's game, 27-20.  It was certainly an exciting game, but I hope the Eagles and their fans won't be too hard on me if I say Guilford gave it away as much as you earned it.  Poor play selection, goal-line interceptions to kill drives at the end of both the 1st half and the game, an off-side penalty that gave you a 1st down (and then a touchdown!) after a MISSED FG, a defensive player ejection that left that side of the field vulnerable for three quarters, a 54-yard fumble recovery for a TD, giving up a 1st down at least four times on 3rd and long (more than 10 yards), etc.  It was difficult to watch!

Anyway, my sincere thanks for your hospitality at Stone Station and the great food!

PS  Personally, I didn't feel as bad after last season's 76-28 loss at BC as I do today!

[HSC85]

Well I was wrong about the low scoring game.  Congratulations to the Tigers for a tough road win.  HSC did not play well in the first half with 4 turnovers including two inside their own 25.  However they played very well in the second half.  The game changed after Sitterson got injured at the end of the second quarter.  Washington and Lee has some talented freshman and their defense played well.  Now the Tigers need to get ready for Catholic at Death Valley.  Stay focused Tigers.

[Jacketlawyer]

The Tigers seem to be the real deal this year.  Gotta give credit where credit is due.  I knew when Marty got hired things were going to change.

So far it seems that R-M is having the season this year I thought they'd have last year, and vice versa.

[theaprof]

Dear ODAC Friends--

A friend from the OAC boards (who often posts here and is a regular with his son Kevin at the Stagg (GO Raiders!!)), seventiesraider, underwent a really rough surgery today--in through his throat--replacing vertebrae in his neck with grafted bone from his hip--I wouldn't want to have to deal with anything like it.  He will be laid up for a good long time.  Anyway, he is in St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio and, I'm sure, would welcome cards and good wishes.  Send them on to:

David Ross
St Thomas Hospital
444 N. Main St.
Akron, OH   44310-3110

He'll  be there until Wednesday or so and then home:

3650 Mogadore Rd
Mogadore, OH  44260

I just talked to his wife and the surgery went well, but it will be a long recovery--think of him often and wish him well.  His wife said I could post the home address as long as y'all promised not to egg their house! 

Thanks for thinking of our friend.

Theaprof (Rudy)

[hasanova]

Yes, absolutely best wishes to David (aka seventiesraider)!  I know I've enjoyed your posts and meeting you at the Stagg Bowl.  I hope you have a speedy recovery!  Peace

[johndooberson]

Very interesting matchups in the ODAC this weekend.

Guilford @ W&L-  With Sitterson getting hurt in last weekends loss to HSC, it will be tough for the General offense to manage without his speed and playmaking ability.  Vogelbach doesn't have the weapons in years past but should carve up a weak General pass defense.  I don't see the Generals making enough plays on defense, especially after the last two games giving up 48 to CUA and 38 to HSC.

Guilford-28 W&L-17

Catholic @ HSC-  HSC defense struggled early but managed to make enough plays for the Tigers to overcome a halftime deficit.  Sitterson getting hurt in the first half probably had something to do with that.  The Cardinals are coming off a bye week and a great offensive day against W&L.  I see this as a high scoring affair with the two best offenses in the ODAC going against two below average defenses.  Catholics Ricca and Brown should  have big days along with  HSC's Sedlar and Simpson.  I see the Tigers winning and remaining undefeated but the Cardinals giving them a good game.

HSC- 38 Catholic-31

EHC Bridgewater-  EHC is coming off a big win against RMC.  After not looking good much of the year that was a surprise to me even though RMC has had many injury problems.  Bridgewater has had a down year with some tough losses.  With EHC coming off a good game I look for them to maintain momentum and beat the Eagles in OT.

EHC- 27 B'Water-20 (OT)

[CBE]

From the Daily News Record.....

Vince Reese's quarterbacking mechanics aren't the most fluid, polished or attractive, but they do work - at least they have in limited playing time so far this season, and that's enough for Bridgewater College football coach Michael Clark.  Clark said Tuesday that Reese - a 6-foot-3, 224-pound junior - will start Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference game against Emory & Henry.

[HSC85]

CBE,


I think that is a good move for Bridgewater.  I thought Reese was very effective against HSC.  He played the second half and led the 4th quarter comback. 

[Round One]

to Dooberson:

I don't know what game you were talking about between HSC and W&L, but if you think the defense was playing poorly in the first half, you weren't at the game and didn't bother to look at the stat sheet. The Tigers gave W&L three short field possessions in the first quarter and held them to 9 points. W&L had only two real drives all day, at the end of the half and the start of the second half. During the first half, there was a huge turnover problem as HSC threw three picks. In the second half, D-end Zack Sanchez forced three fumbles and the defense stepped up to shut down the Generals over the last 25 minutes or so. Regarding injuries, to Sitterson and others, such is football. HSC played three games without Simpson and still managed to win.

Catholic poses a challenge. We'll see how that goes Saturday.

[johndooberson]

Round One-

W&L averages about 130 yards a game through the air and 185 on the ground with Sitterson.  The Generals nearly doubled what they usually get through the air.  They usually rely on Sitterson to make the offense run and he was doing a good job before he got hurt. The best part about the HSC D is that they have been getting big turnovers, which may have something to do with the competition (W&L is the only team with a winning record the Tigers have played.) The point I was trying to make was that Sitterson might be the best player in the league.  I was at the game and it was very noticeable that without Sitterson, we are a different team.  So, with your best playmaker not in, and a freshman quarterback at the helm, its a recipe for offensive failure.  HSC did force some big turnovers and set up the offense in a good spot, however, the HSC offense is and has always been the strength of the team.  HSC is 10th it the country in total offense, and without Josh Simpson, that's pretty impressive.  The HSC defense is 126th in total D in the country and 201st against the pass (with a weak schedule and a team that usually plays with a lead, those numbers are terrible.)  My Generals would have won the game if Sitterson hadn't gone down.  Cody Smith had a monster day against you and the young QB made some mistakes but also made a number of plays.  I'm very curious to see how we do against Guildord this week, and see how you all do against Catholic.  I think you all win in a 38-31 defensive struggle if the weather is decent.

[HSC85]

Round One,

I agree with your assessment of the game at W&L.  The Generals changed their whole offensive attack after Sitterson got hurt.  Washington and Lee played a great game and made some good adjustments.  The Tigers just had the answers when the game was on the line.

As for a weak schedule, check out the strength of schedule section on the front page.  HSC has the toughest ranked schedule of the in-region undefeated teams.  The opponents winning percentage is .575.  That stat takes the losses to HSC out of the opponents schedule.  When that is done Guilford and Kings are the only teams with a losing record that HSC has played so far.

[HSC85]

I think that Catholic poses a real challenge for the Tigers.  They have many players that are in the second, third or fourth year of starting.  Catholic played HSC very tough last year in DC.  Weather is a wildcard.  Looks like rain for Saturday.  But the weather conditions are equal for both teams.  Tigers need to take care of the ball better to be successful.

[Round One]

The point I was trying to make was that Sitterson might be the best player in the league.

You've got to be kidding. Simpson is playing at about 80 percent right now, and still managed to hit pay dirt three times. In the first game of the season, he set the ODAC record for Rushing Touchdowns, and if not for missing three games due to injury, would be right on track to being the Tigers All Time Leading rusher. That mark still may fall, if Simpson can get his form back.

Satterson is a good RB, no doubt. But Simpson already has stuff in the book, and you can't leave out Zak Thornton. Satterson is good, but he definitely is not the best player in the ODAC.

Also, don't you think that forcing turnovers is part of the job of a good defense, or is it just to sit out on the field and post three-and-outs? I wonder why the NFL pays so much attention to turnovers and turnover ratios. The Tiger's TO ratio has been pretty bad, actually, and it is a tribute to the defense that they have been able to stay in some games that otherwise they would not have been in.

And, in case you need a little more reproving (go look up the word), no one ever said that HSC wasn't built on offense. The argument, for what it's worth, is that the D has taken strides this year. It's the first time in four years that they have run the same defense, and the difference with the players knowing the scheme has been impressive.

Not to take anything away from the Gens. HSC knew they would be a tough opponent, and expected a tough game. It didn't help the cause to gift them 9 points in the first quarter. The only thing missing was the bow, and that was available to anyone who could have made it into the end zone.

[CBE]

CBE,


I think that is a good move for Bridgewater.  I thought Reese was very effective against HSC.  He played the second half and led the 4th quarter comback. 

I thought he had a good presence in the pocket and seemed to stay cool under the pressure.  Big throw on the 4th down TD pass.