FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

Hats off to Franklin.  Man that offense is scary.  Don't be down on that Franklin defense.  They won't see a better ground attack this year.   3 TMC players with over 80 yards on the way to 391 on the ground.  The 4 new TMC OL looked great but it IS easier to run block as a unit than pass block.  But honestly, I'm not sure anyone on their schedule can stop their ground game.  And thank goodness for that.. because ...

Boy that Chase Burton is good.  He's a National 1st teamer in December, I believe.  He was money.  Very scary if the game is within two TDs.  Luckily, T Williams out-jumped his WR for a ball at the end.  If not, it's another crazy ending.  And his WR Alexander (#1) - don't think I'll see anyone better than him now that TJ Josey is a QB.  Very impressed with those two. 

For the win;  it's about time, Franklin has had TMC's number of late.  Keep behind these kids, Franklin has good size and will push around HCAC teams in 2017.  The Saints just really have some athletes in the right places, especially at RB and QB. 

Maybe we can rematch in the tournament, should TMC face down the gauntlet. 

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin's biggest issue over the years when facing tough opponents is falling behind early. You're not going to win many games against top 25 teams when you fall behind by 3 scores.

I really wish Franklin would quit scheduling Butler though. I love the Thomas More matchup and Illinois Wesleyan before that but Butler is pointless. I'd love to see them add someone like Centre to the schedule... they already play HCAC teams regularly.

Speaking of scheduling... what can Earlham do... the current senior class has yet to win a game. They've tried teams coming off winless seasons that are east (Southern Virginia, Gallaudet, Wilmington) perhaps they should look the other direction to a UMAC team like Greenville. They just got beat 76-3 by Millikin (which amazingly wasn't the worst loss by the UMAC) so it'd be a better matchup for them as well (and they're about to gain a 2nd non-conference game when Eureka leaves so they'll be looking for opponents).

[GrizFan]

WOW, after seeing them in person, Franklin's defense is HORRIBLE!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

WOW, after seeing them in person, Franklin's defense is HORRIBLE!

Right up there with the Colts

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

[SaintsFAN]

WOW, after seeing them in person, Franklin's defense is HORRIBLE!

Right up there with the Colts

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

I thought MSJ was hosting Bluffton, not Earlham?

[wally_wabash]

WOW, after seeing them in person, Franklin's defense is HORRIBLE!

Right up there with the Colts

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

I thought MSJ was hosting Bluffton, not Earlham?

[SaintsFAN]

WOW, after seeing them in person, Franklin's defense is HORRIBLE!

Right up there with the Colts

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

I thought MSJ was hosting Bluffton, not Earlham?

I need new material

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

Well, I got 1 of 2 right...
Franklin held the ball for a massive 20:45 today which brings their season average up to almost 17 and a half minutes a game
Earlham was looking good in the first half up 16-0 late 2nd but the 2nd half was all Anderson as the Quakers losing streak hits 36.

I'll be interested to hear our resident "MSJ enthusiast" on the call at the end of that game. Up 31-29 at the Bluffton 41 with 1:52 left the Lions go for it on 4th and 2 but are stopped. If they convert the game is almost over as Bluffton only had 1 timeout left but if they punt they probably pin the Beavers deep and force them to go 60-70 yards for a FG attempt. Instead Bluffton goes 39 yards in 8 plays and kick a 37 yard FG.

[SaintsFAN]

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

I'll be interested to hear our resident "MSJ enthusiast" on the call at the end of that game. Up 31-29 at the Bluffton 41 with 1:52 left the Lions go for it on 4th and 2 but are stopped. If they convert the game is almost over as Bluffton only had 1 timeout left but if they punt they probably pin the Beavers deep and force them to go 60-70 yards for a FG attempt. Instead Bluffton goes 39 yards in 8 plays and kick a 37 yard FG.

I'm like, really sorry to hear this.  At least this Bridge Bowl was competitive ( see this weeks quick hits)

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I'm going to make 2 bold predictions for this week...
1) Franklin will have at least 20 minutes time of possession
2) Earlham's seniors get their first win

I'll be interested to hear our resident "MSJ enthusiast" on the call at the end of that game. Up 31-29 at the Bluffton 41 with 1:52 left the Lions go for it on 4th and 2 but are stopped. If they convert the game is almost over as Bluffton only had 1 timeout left but if they punt they probably pin the Beavers deep and force them to go 60-70 yards for a FG attempt. Instead Bluffton goes 39 yards in 8 plays and kick a 37 yard FG.

I'm like, really sorry to hear this.  At least this Bridge Bowl was competitive ( see this weeks quick hits)

I knew you'd be absolutely gutted by that (I wonder how long it would take Indiana Jones to find and dig up that dust covered relic for them to use)

That Saints 3rd quarter is what I'm used to seeing happen to Franklin in the 1st quarter of tough games. Hard to watch sometimes. Maybe if the Saints would have held the ball for almost 44 minutes instead of a measly 36:44 then they would have won
Kind of sucks to have the big conference matchups this early on. Thomas More's schedule is ridiculously front loaded this year. The 2nd half is going to be a cakewalk but the damage may already be done.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

That was the best the Grizzlies have looked in some time. Offense with over 700 yards, running game looked good, defense was much better than they have been. If they can play anywhere close to this the rest of the season they'll be dangerous in the playoffs... but it will be a few weeks (Earlham and bye the next two weeks) before we see if they can repeat the effort.

Thomas More lost again... last year they lost to Franklin to open the season then won their last 9 games. This year they beat Franklin in the opener and haven't won since.

[Mr. Ypsi]

That was the best the Grizzlies have looked in some time. Offense with over 700 yards, running game looked good, defense was much better than they have been. If they can play anywhere close to this the rest of the season they'll be dangerous in the playoffs... but it will be a few weeks (Earlham and bye the next two weeks) before we see if they can repeat the effort.

Thomas More lost again... last year they lost to Franklin to open the season then won their last 9 games. This year they beat Franklin in the opener and haven't won since.

Let that be a lesson to TM - beating Franklin is VERY bad karma!!

[SaintsFAN]

That was the best the Grizzlies have looked in some time. Offense with over 700 yards, running game looked good, defense was much better than they have been. If they can play anywhere close to this the rest of the season they'll be dangerous in the playoffs... but it will be a few weeks (Earlham and bye the next two weeks) before we see if they can repeat the effort.

Thomas More lost again... last year they lost to Franklin to open the season then won their last 9 games. This year they beat Franklin in the opener and haven't won since.

Sigh

[dc_has_been]

Since the this board has been quite and I have been an active participant of not posting , I'll add some convo.
As I thought, the HCAC is coming down to 10/21 where the Bears and Engineers play for the title of the HCAC and berth to the playoffs. 
Defiance, though struggling, have begun to impress me with their young talent.  I really hope this coach keeps these kids and helps DC reload for next year.  They'll still probably finish with 2 or 3 wins, but I am optimistic about their future, especially with their freshman qb.
Finally, what has happened to the Saints?  I know that will at least get Saintsfan to post!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I don't expect Rose to hold Franklin to just 22 points this year. The question is can the Franklin defense make enough stops when they're on the field for over 40 minutes because RHIT is likely going to run both the ball and the clock as much as they can.

Saints had a really frontloaded schedule. They are going to crush everyone left like they have their past two games to finish 6-4.