FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

MSJ and RHIT remain unbeaten in conference play. They play week 11.
Franklin and Hanover both 3-1, Grizzlies play MSJ and Panthers play RHIT in week 10 then play for the Victory Bell in week 11.
Defiance now 1-3 while Anderson is 0-4.

In the final game today, Bluffton scored a TD and Manchester answers. Headed to OT2 tied at 37.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Bluffton convert on 4th and 14 for a TD in OT2 to tie it up at 44. We're now into the worst aspect of college football... nothing but 2pt conversions in OT. It's as bad as shootouts in hockey or soccer. Might be a dramatic finish but it's no way to decide a winner.

Several failed plays later Bluffton finally scores and gets the stop to win 46-44.

[dc_has_been]

I was excited to see that Defiance can close a game out this season!  They have a daunting task ahead of them as they head to Terre Haute, IN, to face what I believe will be the conference champs. 
I still feel DC is on the verge of becoming a better program than what they have shown in the past.  I am not claiming they will be winning the HCAC right away, but I do feel if the staff stays as well as the players, they will stop being a doormat in the HCAC. 
On another note, I am hoping on 11/12 both RHIT and MSJ are undefeated setting up a conference championship game.  I know I previously mentioned that I believe RHIT will be the at the top when the dust settles, but they do have to play at MSJ where anything can happen.

[D3fanboy]

I was excited to see that Defiance can close a game out this season!  They have a daunting task ahead of them as they head to Terre Haute, IN, to face what I believe will be the conference champs. 
I still feel DC is on the verge of becoming a better program than what they have shown in the past.  I am not claiming they will be winning the HCAC right away, but I do feel if the staff stays as well as the players, they will stop being a doormat in the HCAC. 
On another note, I am hoping on 11/12 both RHIT and MSJ are undefeated setting up a conference championship game.  I know I previously mentioned that I believe RHIT will be the at the top when the dust settles, but they do have to play at MSJ where anything can happen.

Defiance has a couple of "winnable" games to end the season too.   As a Mount Union man, I am rooting for your Yellow Jackets every week.  2-3 wins after this past off-season would be a great step in the right direction

[SaintsFAN]

I was excited to see that Defiance can close a game out this season!  They have a daunting task ahead of them as they head to Terre Haute, IN, to face what I believe will be the conference champs. 
I still feel DC is on the verge of becoming a better program than what they have shown in the past.  I am not claiming they will be winning the HCAC right away, but I do feel if the staff stays as well as the players, they will stop being a doormat in the HCAC. 
On another note, I am hoping on 11/12 both RHIT and MSJ are undefeated setting up a conference championship game.  I know I previously mentioned that I believe RHIT will be the at the top when the dust settles, but they do have to play at MSJ where anything can happen.

MSJ is a breeze in Delhi.. at least that was our experience(s). 

[wally_wabash]

I was excited to see that Defiance can close a game out this season!  They have a daunting task ahead of them as they head to Terre Haute, IN, to face what I believe will be the conference champs. 
I still feel DC is on the verge of becoming a better program than what they have shown in the past.  I am not claiming they will be winning the HCAC right away, but I do feel if the staff stays as well as the players, they will stop being a doormat in the HCAC. 
On another note, I am hoping on 11/12 both RHIT and MSJ are undefeated setting up a conference championship game.  I know I previously mentioned that I believe RHIT will be the at the top when the dust settles, but they do have to play at MSJ where anything can happen.

MSJ is a breeze in Delhi.. at least that was our experience(s).

Good to see you check in, SaintsFAN!

[dc_has_been]

Oh, how I miss SaintsFAN's HCAC jabs!

Thanks, D3fanboy!  We'll take all the support we can get.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

There's been a hole around here without the chirping at MSJ by Saint


Manchester needs to work on their 2 minute offense. Started a drive at their own 6 with about 2 minutes left in the half. Wasted way too much time early in the drive. Still managed to go 90 yards to get inside the 5 but ran out of time. A couple penalties on Franklin after Manchester was going to settle for a FG and the Spartans decide to go for it from inside the 2 and get stuffed. Grizzlies lead 17-6 at halftime in by far the closest game in the HCAC today.

Rose-Hulman has put up an eyewatering 62 points in the first half and lead Defiance 62-14. Robertson is 23 of 29 passing for 324 yards and 7 TD to four different receivers.
Mount St Joseph will continue their unbeaten streak. After leading Bluffton 49-7 at halftime it's now 56-21 midway through the 3rd.
Hanover cruising 34-3 at halftime against Anderson.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Not a huge difference in the stats between Franklin and Manchester, but the big one was Grizzlies 10/17 on 3rd down while Manchester just 2/13. Franklin pitches a shutout in the 2nd half and win 24-6
Rose-Hulman eased up in the 2nd half but it's still tied for the 2nd most points in a D3 game this year and a scorigami after beating Defiance 76-35
Mount St Joseph with only the 2nd most points in the conference today beating Bluffton 70-21
Hanover with the largest win beating Anderson 62-3.


Rose at Hanover easily the GotW next week. Can't see Franklin causing too much trouble for MSJ. Down in the bottom half Manchester at Defiance should be good as well while Bluffton should handle Anderson

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin almost came up with the upset tying MSJ at 20 with 9 1/2 minutes left but just like a couple weeks ago the Lions took care of business in the 4th and won 27-20.
Rose-Hulman dominated the 2nd half outscoring Hanover 23-0 to beat the Panthers 47-17.
Defiance led Manchester 24-7 at the half, Spartans made a run but Defiance held on 24-21
Bluffton took the lead early and wasn't threatened in a 27-9 win over Anderson.

That sets up games for 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th next week.

1st place: Rose-Hulman @ Mount St Joseph. MSJ trying to go undefeated. Winner headed to the playoffs.
3rd place: Victory Bell: Hanover @ Franklin. Grizzlies need a win to avoid finishing below .500 for the first time since I was a freshman in 2003.
5th place: Defiance @ Bluffton. Defiance looking to win 3 games in a season for the first time since 2014.
7th place: Bronze Ball: Manchester @ Anderson. Manchester has lost 8 straight after an opening week win, Anderson has lost 10 straight dating to last season.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

It's a snowy day here in Central Indiana. An inch or two on the ground and been snowing all morning. Can't recall there being much weather this season and certainly no snow or cold temps like this.
My predictions... Rose stops the unbeaten season in a 1 score game, Hanover also in a 1 score game. Bluffton wins comfortably by 3 scores and Manchester by 2 scores.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Whelp... only got one of the 4 games predicted right and it was the one I didn't want to be right on Now to wait and see who MSJ gets in the 1st round. Don't know if they host with that awful SoS dragging their regional ranking down but should hopefully avoid a Mount Union/North Central type of matchup.

Final 2022 Standings (with their preseason poll ranking)
2) Mount St. Joseph 10-0 (7-0)
1) Rose-Hulman         6-4 (6-1)
3) Hanover                 5-5 (5-2)
4) Franklin                 4-6 (4-3)
8) Defiance                3-7 (3-4)
5) Bluffton                 2-5 (2-8)
7) Anderson               1-9 (1-6)
6) Manchester            1-9 (0-7)

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

The Lions will head north to Alma.

https://twitter.com/d3football/status/1591915302802976769

@d3football
MIAA 3-21 in the five-round playoffs, HCAC 6-23. #d3fb

The last (and only) time a non-Franklin HCAC team won a playoff game was Hanover in 2000 (coincidentally against the MIAA at Hope)

[Captain_Joe08]

Kinda wish the NACC had the luck both Alma and MSJ had today. Then again in hindsight that week one loss to Hope probably came back to bite Aurora now.

[dc_has_been]

Whelp... only got one of the 4 games predicted right and it was the one I didn't want to be right on Now to wait and see who MSJ gets in the 1st round. Don't know if they host with that awful SoS dragging their regional ranking down but should hopefully avoid a Mount Union/North Central type of matchup.

Final 2022 Standings (with their preseason poll ranking)
2) Mount St. Joseph 10-0 (7-0)
1) Rose-Hulman         6-4 (6-1)
3) Hanover                 5-5 (5-2)
4) Franklin                 4-6 (4-3)
8) Defiance                3-7 (3-4)
5) Bluffton                 2-5 (2-8)
7) Anderson               1-9 (1-6)
6) Manchester            1-9 (0-7)

Happy to see DC finish the season better than anticipated!  I hope they build on this season and continue to be more competitive next season with a few more W's.

Seeing that MSJ drew Alma for a round one game seems to be a fair matchup.  I do feel MSJ should be hosting, but nothing can be done about that.