FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[MUC57]

formerd3db

Hi Doc

I know you guys are discussing something else but I wanted to give a shout out to The Flying Dutchmen of Hope College. Nice way to start the season.
I'm sure you're pleased. Go Hope! 

[formerd3db]

Hello MUC,
Check your PMs.

[dc_has_been]

Agreed, which has made a lot of the alumni upset.  There definitely needs to be more transparency to what is going on. 

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

So after a 1-7 opening week we're back for week 2... will things go better?

Franklin with a solid chance to get to 2-0 against Rhodes.
Hanover should be favored to beat Adrian.
Rose should have a competitive game against Trine. Could go either way.
MSJ is the underdog against Alfred but not unthinkable they could upset.
Bluffton similar to MSJ but have the advantage of playing last week which St Vincent didn't.
Manchester would need a big upset to beat Alma
Anderson not much of a chance against Lakeland
Defiance just trying not to be embarassed against Albion.

Best case maybe a 4-4 week... worst case 0-8... likely probably only 1 or 2 wins.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

MSJ with a dominant win over Alfred 33-14. They led 33-0 early in the 4th before a couple late scores from Alfred.

Hanover tied with Adrian 7-7 at the half
Franklin down 22-21 at halftime to Rhodes.
Anderson only down 21-17 late in the 1st half to Lakeland.
Bluffton down 21-7 at halftime to St Vincent.
Defiance down 22-0 at halftime to Albion

Alma-Manchester at 6pm
Rose-Trine at 7pm

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Hanover with a TD in the final minute to win 21-14
Franklin with a late stop to win 36-29 (which in the NFL would be scorigami)
Defiance loses 51-0
Bluffton down 34-14 late in the 4th
Anderson down 48-25 early 4th

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Rose edges Trine 31-30 while Manchester was competitive if not for a 3 minute stretch in the 3rd quarter where they gave up 4 TD and lost 47-23.
In my preview I said 4 wins would be the best case and that's just what the conference did.

Franklin has started 2-0 for the first time since 2008 when they ultimately made the quarterfinals. Going to be tough to go 3-0 with Platteville visiting next week though.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I see the boards have been realigned into the new 6 regions... but the HCAC should be in the Region 4 boards not 5

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

3rd and final non-conference games today... can we improve on last week's 4-4 effort?

Defiance is guaranteed not to lose as they have their bye week. Next week they'll be the lone game as everyone else takes their bye.
MSJ coming off a strong win at Alfred heads to Trine. Good chance to see where they stand as Rose edged the Thunder by 1 last week.
Rose has their third tough opponent at Hope. Another underdog but still a winnable game.
Bluffton is the underdog but not a huge one at Kalamazoo. Chance for the Beavers to get in the win column.
Hanover with a tough game at Albion. I'd expect the Panthers to lose but they could upset with a great game.
2-0 vs 0-2 not a surprise but Franklin being the unbeaten and Platteville winless is. Grizzlies defense needs to step up if they want any chance to win. Going to be a tough ask to get to 3-0.
Manchester not likely to fare much better against their 3rd MIAA opponent at Olivet.
Anderson will struggle at home against Alma who has already beaten Manchester and Bluffton.

Worst case, 0-7. Best case 3-4. I'll predict 2-5.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

MSJ doing well up 21-10 late 2nd
Hanover hanging in there, down 10-7 in the 3rd.
Bluffton being shutout 17-0 late 2nd
Manchester getting blown out 35-0 late 2nd
Franklin down 7-0 late 1st. Currently in an extended medical timeout for injured Platteville WR Allender

Franklin D has mostly held when they need to but are giving up too much yardage and 3rd down conversions. Offense gets a play here and there but can't seem to put anything together.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Just have to complain a bit and things turn around... a tipped ball that still ends up complete and 2 plays later a 48 yard pass for the Grizzlies TD.

Rose-Hulman underway at Hope and down 7-0
Manchester has given up a couple more TD before halftime, 0-49 now
no change in the other three games with Bluffton and MSJ now at half.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Olivet scored 24 points in the final 5 minutes of the half and lead Manchester 52-0 at halftime.

Franklin took the lead 14-7 but a big return on the kickoff started Platteville in Grizzly territory. Stopped another 4th down inside the 20 and Grizzlies keep the 7 point lead.

Hanover down 24-14 with 3 1/2 minutes left.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Hanover loses 24-14.

Bluffton on the board, down 17-7 in the 3rd
MSJ has given up a score, lead 21-17 in the 3rd.
Platteville with a 50 yard FG which hit the upright and wasn't entirely clear if it went through or not but it counts so Franklin leads 14-10 at the half and get the ball to start the 2nd.
Rose down 14-0 at halftime.
Manchester still down 52-0 in the 3rd.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Bluffton scores again and are within a FG 14-17 early 4th
MSJ has given up another TD to Trine and are now behind 21-24 early 4th
Franklin quickly move the ball down to start the 3rd quarter but an interception in the end zone stops the drive. Still 14-10.
No change in the other two games.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Platteville scores to take the lead but Franklin blocks the extra point and returns it for 2 points and it's tied 16-16. Exciting stuff at Faught today.