FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

Coaches poll is out and for the first time in a while Franklin wasn't picked to finish 1st. Looks like it's pretty much just the order from last season. Last year's records included.

1) Hanover (7)               60 pts   7-4 (7-1)
2) Franklin                     52 pts   8-2 (7-1)
3) Mount St. Joseph (1) 51 pts   8-2 (7-1)
4) Rose-Hulman            39 pts   5-5 (5-3)
5) Manchester               28 pts   4-6 (4-4)
6) Bluffton                    26 pts   3-7 (3-5)
7) Anderson                  17 pts   2-8 (2-6)
8) Defiance                   15 pts   1-9 (1-7)

Earlham and Transylvania will combine to go 0-0 this season.

We will see how MSJ has responded to their big brother handing out schollys in 2019. 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Coach Theo must have mailed gift cards to get so much early love for the Panthers.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Some interesting tidbits I can glean from the poll...

-Whichever coach picked MSJ 1st had Hanover 5th behind I'm assuming MSJ, Franklin, Rose, and either Manchester or Bluffton. (7 first place votes (8 points each) is 56 meaning 4 points for a 5th)
-No one is sure who will take Earlham's place at the bottom since Defiance and Anderson are both around a 7th place average (16 points).

I tried to make up a possible balloting scenario, no real way to know for sure how everyone voted but my best effort produced:
Hanover: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5
Franklin: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3
MSJ: 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4
Rose: 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6
Manchester: 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7
Bluffton: 4, 4, 4, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7
Anderson: 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8
Defiance: 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Bringing this up as I do every year... technically the conference is guaranteed 3 wins since there's the three non-conference conference games in a couple weeks but those don't really count. Interestingly there will still be 18 true non-conference games with 6 teams still playing 2 (plus a conference opponent) while Hanover and Rose have 3.

Regular season non-conference record
2018: 2-16 (Franklin, MSJ 1-1)
2017: 3-15 (Manchester, MSJ, Rose 1-1)
2016: 5-13 (Bluffton 2-0; Defiance, Franklin, Rose 1-1)
2015: 4-14 (Rose 2-0; Bluffton, MSJ 1-1)
2014: 4-14 (Rose 2-0; Manchester, MSJ 1-1)
2013: 1-17 (Earlham 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2012: 2-16 (Bluffton, MSJ 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2011: 3-15 (Franklin, Manchester, MSJ 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2010: 6-12 (Bluffton, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, MSJ, Rose 1-1)
Earlham joins HCAC
2009: 7-17 (Franklin, MSJ, Rose 2-1; Defiance 1-2)
2008: 10-14 (Franklin, Manchester, MSJ, Rose 2-1; Anderson, Bluffton 1-2) Franklin quarterfinals
2007: 12-12 (MSJ, Rose 3-0; Franklin, Manchester 2-1; Anderson, Defiance 1-2)
2006: 13-11 (Franklin, Rose 3-0; Defiance, MSJ 2-1; Anderson, Bluffton, Manchester 1-2)

My predictions, Hanover should best Adrian, MSJ could bookend their season with wins over Geneva and SUNY Maritime, Franklin should win this weekend over Benedictine and next week will be a tight one with Albion, Manchester has a shot at Alma. Anything else would be a big upset. I think the likely outcome will be in the 4-5 win range this year.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

HCAC 1-3 so far, MSJ with the win but it was a 1 score game with only a few minutes left. Hanover was never a real threat to Centre in the 2nd half as they were never within 2 scores until there was 3 minutes left. Bluffton was scoreless at the half and only down 10-6 after the 3rd but Wooster with three 4th quarter TDs to put away the Beavers.

Evening games not a great start so far... Rose and Defiance both down 21-0 to Mount Union and Albion respectively. Benedictine takes the opening kickoff and holds on to the ball for more than half the quarter to lead Franklin 7-0.

I believe Anderson leads North Park 12-7 at halftime. Franklin runs it in on 4th and 2 from the 7 and tie the game 7-7 after the 1st quarter.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Benedictine keeping the Franklin offense off the field. If you include the last minute drive, Franklin only had the ball 4 times. Odd end to the half as Franklin goes for the hail mary but it's intercepted with a long return and a penalty which leads to Benedictine kicking a FG with no time on the clock. Grizzlies down 16-10 at halftime but receive the ball in the 2nd half.

Anderson now trails North Park 21-12 in the 4th quarter.

Albion cruising 42-6 over Defiance entering the 4th quarter.

Rose trails the #2 Purple Raiders 42-7 at halftime. Last year the Engineers lost 54-0 so they're on the board at least.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Ravens within 2 and were driving but fumbled it into the endzone for a touchback. They get the 3 and out and will get another chance starting from their own 36 with 3 minutes left. First play a 64 yard run later plus 2 points conversion and the Ravens are up 27-21. Anderson is 2:47 from their first non-conference win since an NCAC Earlham win in 2008.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Anderson stops North Park and then immediately scores again. 34-21 with 1:44 left.

Franklin takes the 2nd half kick and drive for a TD. 17-16 Grizzlies lead with 9 minutes left in the 3rd.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Congrats to the Ravens. 34-21 win over North Park. Anderson's first non-conference win since 2008, first season opening win since 2007. They'll have a chance to start 2-0 at home against NAIA Cincinnati Christian next week.

Benedictine get a FG and lead Franklin 19-17. Grizzlies drive inside the 10 then fumble it away near the end of the 3rd.

Defiance loses 56-6 to Albion. Albion will head to Franklin next Saturday.

Rose has put another TD on the board but are losing 63-14 still in the 3rd.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Huge stop on 4th and an inch and Franklin gets the ball back with 2 minutes left and a 25-19 lead. But another fumble and Benedictine gets the ball back in the red zone.

Rose game is over and it's a 66-14 loss to the #2 team in the country. The Engineers head down to Memphis next week to take on Rhodes.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Benedictine has retaken the lead 26-25 and Grizzlies will have 1:20 to win the game. Franklin has moved the ball well all game but turnovers and a lack of possessions have held them to just 25 points.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin tries the lateral game but can't get moving upfield and Benedictine holds on for the 26-25 win. Grizzlies played well, but fumbles and pass defense cost them. Run defense was good, offense was rolling except for the fumbles, but it wasn't as quick strike as we're accustomed to.

[formerd3db]

FCGrizzliesGrad:

So your take on your Franklin (at least so far this year)...Is Franklin just not as good as they have been in some recent years? Or did they just not have a good game against Benedictine, a team that wasn't very good at last year?  Or is Benedictine that improved?

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Honestly, if they didn't fumble it 4 times and could have done better with their pass defense then the game wouldn't have been close.

The offense is plenty potent still but seems to be a bit more methodical than in the past. Their drives tonight ended in TD, FG, downs (4th and 10 at BU 30), INT (end of half hail mary), TD, fumble (muffed punt), fumble, TD, fumble, fumble (end of game laterals). Not counting the quick end of half drives and a muffed punt, Franklin only had 7 possessions. If they can clean up the turnovers then they'll be fine.

Run defense was solid, limiting Benedictine to just 76 yards on the ground but the pass defense needs to do better. Benedictine was fairly similar to Franklin in the passing game so the defense should have been used to it but still gave up 280 yards on 29 of 37 passing.

I expect some focus on holding onto the ball this week in practice. Next week against Albion will show if this game was a bit of an aberration or if they're truly not the team to beat this year.

[formerd3db]

Honestly, if they didn't fumble it 4 times and could have done better with their pass defense then the game wouldn't have been close.

The offense is plenty potent still but seems to be a bit more methodical than in the past. Their drives tonight ended in TD, FG, downs (4th and 10 at BU 30), INT (end of half hail mary), TD, fumble (muffed punt), fumble, TD, fumble, fumble (end of game laterals). Not counting the quick end of half drives and a muffed punt, Franklin only had 7 possessions. If they can clean up the turnovers then they'll be fine.

Run defense was solid, limiting Benedictine to just 76 yards on the ground but the pass defense needs to do better. Benedictine was fairly similar to Franklin in the passing game so the defense should have been used to it but still gave up 280 yards on 29 of 37 passing.

I expect some focus on holding onto the ball this week in practice. Next week against Albion will show if this game was a bit of an aberration or if they're truly not the team to beat this year.

Thanks for your assessment.  Yes, I agree that next week against Albion should be some indication, actually, for both teams.  Albion, with some newcomers on its coaching staff, is supposed to be a favorite for the MIAA title, along with Hope, as I'm sure you have heard.  However, despite a big win for Albion today, it is certainly difficult to assess them because they pasted a not so good Defiance team, which we (Hope) play next Saturday.  Anyway, we'll see what happens!