FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

in reading the score predictions on the front page, I think Pat is closest to the amount of points Washington U will score tomorrow with 14.  I don't see how they score more than that against Franklin and their defense.  And I believe West will be the difference on the other side of the ball (I know I'm going out on a limb here).  IF Franklin holds onto the ball, they will win. 

I think they have put the debacle at Bluffton behind them -- I still can't fathom how that happened.

Franklin 31-13 (a TD and two FGs for Wash U)

I think you are right.  Also, in regards to the Bluffton loss (obviously great win and accomplishment for them and a brief set-back to Franklin) that is essentially like any upset that happens at any level i.e. Appalachian State vs. Michigan, etc.  On a lesser example, I remember one time also in our MIAA several years ago when Alma was top team and got pulverized by Hope.  No way that should have happened, but, it was just one of those days when everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Assuming Franklin can hold on to the ball better than they did against Bluffton they should win, but I think it could be tighter than hoped. Of course last year we thought that Franklin-Adrian would be a tight game and that turned out 42-10

[formerd3db]

Assuming Franklin can hold on to the ball better than they did against Bluffton they should win, but I think it could be tighter than hoped. Of course last year we thought that Franklin-Adrian would be a tight game and that turned out 42-10

Good point.  Indeed, sometimes some of the playoff games are just simply hard to predict.  Good luck to Franklin tomorrow.

[SaintsFAN]

Assuming Franklin can hold on to the ball better than they did against Bluffton they should win, but I think it could be tighter than hoped. Of course last year we thought that Franklin-Adrian would be a tight game and that turned out 42-10

I never thought Adrian would make that one a game. We'll see about tomorrow, but I feel a 3 TD spread is just about right.

[SaintsFAN]

in reading the score predictions on the front page, I think Pat is closest to the amount of points Washington U will score tomorrow with 14.  I don't see how they score more than that against Franklin and their defense.  And I believe West will be the difference on the other side of the ball (I know I'm going out on a limb here).  IF Franklin holds onto the ball, they will win. 

I think they have put the debacle at Bluffton behind them -- I still can't fathom how that happened.

Franklin 31-13 (a TD and two FGs for Wash U)

I think you are right.  Also, in regards to the Bluffton loss (obviously great win and accomplishment for them and a brief set-back to Franklin) that is essentially like any upset that happens at any level i.e. Appalachian State vs. Michigan, etc.  On a lesser example, I remember one time also in our MIAA several years ago when Alma was top team and got pulverized by Hope.  No way that should have happened, but, it was just one of those days when everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong!

Thomas More had one of those games this year against W&J and that's why they are sitting at home. 3 returns for TD's was the story of the game.  At least Franklin's bad day didn't stop them from playing in the tourney!

[formerd3db]

Franklin had better do something fairly quick; about 8 minutes left.  However, it is in reach, being only 3 points behind.

[formerd3db]

Franklin had better do something fairly quick; about 8 minutes left.  However, it is in reach, being only 3 points behind.

Well, they DID.  Congratulations to Franklin for not giving up and doing what they had to do.  Reminds me somewhat of the Albion team back in 1994 as they went through each playoff game before eventually winning the Stagg Bowl that year.  Could Franklin be the "sleeper" this year?

[GrizFan]

Good comeback win for the GRIZ.  First close victory since we beat Thomas More two years ago.  Defense played great.  Offense had a poor game.  The receivers had at least 10 drops today! 

[voice]

This coming Saturday's Franklin College at UW-Whitewater 2nd round playoff game is a really intriguing match-up.

UWW ranks No. 1 in the Nation in SCORING DEFENSE (7.9 pts/game) and No. 1 in TOTAL DEFENSE (217 yds/game)

Franklin College quarterback Jonny West leads the Nation in PASSING YARDS (3624 yds) and PASSING TDs (40)

[crimsonace]

Re: WashU-Franklin, I agree, I was very surprised how many points they projected for WashU.  I do think this will be a competitive game but it will be low-scoring.  WashU has an excellent defense and, even against the stellar Franklin offense, might be able to keep this competitive.  I would expect something more like 17-13 either way.  If one team gets over 20, it will be Franklin, and WashU will lose.

Nice prediction. Very nice.

[crimsonace]

Yesterday's game was about what I expected -- Washington U has an outstanding defense, does a lot of different things to disguise what they're doing. I really liked their LBs, especially Fade Oloukun. With the wind as strong as it was, it played into a defensive struggle. WashU played its game -- defend, play field position and try to get a turnover and be opportunistic. It nearly worked, but FC's offense began clicking late.

The West-to-Butler TD with :17 left was a thing of beauty, even if it wasn't caught by the intended receiver. Butler ran a post, went up & got it, splitting the safeties and getting to the goal line. I've been impressed with his play in the last few weeks of the year. With FC down a couple of receivers, it's opened up opportunities, and Kendal Butler especially has stepped up of late. I was expecting the Griz to try to get into FG range and have Wood put it through to end it.

Franklin defense was outstanding yesterday -- forced a lot of 3-and-outs, WashU really didn't get into much offensive rhythm, and Zach Corpe had one of the most impressive INTs I've seen, an athletic, lay-out, diving snare in one-on-one coverage that set up FC's first TD.

Going to be a tough one in Whitewater on Saturday, but I like this team a lot. It's a heck of an accomplishment to make the tourney four straight years, but a tremendous one to get to the Round of 16 three straight (and 4 times in 6 years).

[GRIZ_BACKER]

A nice video clip of Franklin's game winning play from last Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=591110557622469

[emma17]

A nice video clip of Franklin's game winning play from last Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=591110557622469

Thanks for sharing the clip.  What was the down and distance on that play?  It seems a bit odd the two safeties were at 8 yards deep.  Both of the seam routes beat the safeties. 

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

A nice video clip of Franklin's game winning play from last Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=591110557622469

Thanks for sharing the clip.  What was the down and distance on that play?  It seems a bit odd the two safeties were at 8 yards deep.  Both of the seam routes beat the safeties.

It was 2nd and 4 with 20 some seconds left and the score tied and I believe Grizzlies had a couple timeouts left. Franklin kicker Mike Wood had tied it about 4 minutes prior with a 36 yard FG.

[emma17]

A nice video clip of Franklin's game winning play from last Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=591110557622469

Thanks for sharing the clip.  What was the down and distance on that play?  It seems a bit odd the two safeties were at 8 yards deep.  Both of the seam routes beat the safeties.

It was 2nd and 4 with 20 some seconds left and the score tied and I believe Grizzlies had a couple timeouts left. Franklin kicker Mike Wood had tied it about 4 minutes prior with a 36 yard FG.

So Wash U is probably thinking Franklin wants better field goal range and will throw short. 
Ouch.