FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Adam Sayer]

We'll see. I scoured the internet for any law prohibiting grilling on the hill. All I found was as long as the fire (charcoal) is contained and doesn't present a risk to others or the area, there's nothing against it. I may buy a $10 charcoal Weber at Wal Mart and get the party started on the hill once I return triumphently from Middletown and the JV game. Then again, I may just bring a cooler and drink my face off while I yell at FC behind their bench

Off to Alter for the McNick-Alter game. Just another Alter blow out but McNick's QB is the real deal. FYI for any D3 coaches who read.

[JacketsFan]

I've been comparing MSJ's and Franklin's stats - everything from total offense to time of possession. If you go purely by the stats, I think you have to give the nod to MSJ to win this one. The one variable that I found very interesting was that if you look at both teams combined scores for this season, there is a very interesting phenomena apparent in the MSJ stats. Franklin starts out big - scoring something like 80 of its total season to date points in the first quarter. That score drops off by 21 in the second quarter and continues to drop off in the third and fourth. In fact, the combined third quarter score for Franklin is just a couple of points more than all opponents. By the fourth, they actually lag all opponents by a couple. This could simply mean they're only playing scout team members, so I don't attach as much significance to that as I do the third quarter score.

MSJ, on the other hand, starts off slow and then rapidly escalates through the next three quarters, finally tapering off in the fourth. In addition, MSJ's total number of points scored this season trails Franklin only by 10, which isn't all that much when you consider what a high octane offense Franklin has. What struck me though is that, points wise, MSJ seems to be a much more formidable third and fourth quarter team than Franklin. My strictly uneducated guess is that Franklin's fast paced, run up a score quick tactics also takes a toll on the team in the third quarter. I think this is important. With the kind of grind it out in the trenches style of football that MSJ plays, I think it will give them an advantage over a team that, while it may have a superior offense, seems to be somewhat deficient in staying power. And, with the home field advantage and the statistically better special teams advantage that MSJ has over Franklin, I think this will be decisive.

Chad Rupp is an awesome pocket QB. He might even be the best thing D3 has at the moment, inasmuch as in the pocket is concerned. But I think if MSJ starts out by sending the hounds after him early, often and with a vengeance, he will lose some of his famed poise, which is well deserved, no question about it. A pocket QB who is knocked and rocked and punished early on gets hinky about planting his feet. If, and that's the key, MSJ can get to Rupp early on and start knocking him around, I think he'll crack. MSJ leads Franklin in sacks. The two leading MSJ tacklers are far and away better than Franklin's two leaders. This will also be big.

What MSJ has to worry about is punt returns, interception yardage and PATs. Franklin has a comfortable margin in all four of those. if MSJ gets careless with the ball, they lose. If the score gets too close and they have to rely on field goals, MSJ loses because it's only completing 50 percent to Franklin's 100 percent.

I think the final score will be something akin to 30-21 with MSJ winning.

But hey, Berg knocked off Baldwin Wallace last week so what do I know.

Oh yea, one other thing. I was a little disappointed not to see Franklin beat Wabash again this year. I would've thought that with the maturation of Franklin's team and Rupp's continued mastery at QB they would've. That they didn't makes me wonder if they've peaked. But what do I know?

[JacketsFan]

Adam, that's a visual I am laughing my ass off about. You staggering around smashed behind the Grizz stands cussing and yelling insults at them.

Hometown football team goes down 17-16 tonight to the West Nassau County Cow Humping Inbred Hillbilly Redneck Doink Heads and falls to 6-1 because the offense came out and played like fairies and the defense stayed in the locker room for a mass circle jerk. I had more fun with my buds tossing peanuts at our other buds three rows down. I scored three direct hits on my wife's doctor's bald head before he realized it wasn't seagulls shyting on him. I was wearing Richard's DC letter jacket because it was freakin' bone shakin' cold (68 degrees) and because Richard left it where I could find it and I never had one of my own so kiss my ass. The doc elbows the guy next to him and points to me and says, "See the juvenile delinquent in the letter jacket three rows up? He's actually a 53 year old man whose wife and kids are probably looking for him and saying, oh crap, I hope he's not out doing something embarrassing like throwing peanuts at people at the football game again."

So I doinked his bald head head again, and his buddy's, too, for good measure, then all of us lobbed peanuts at everyone. It was just like high school only there was no reefer smell in the air and no adults yelling at us to sit down and shut up. Cool!

[Adam Sayer]

I kind of feel like a mathematician who has stared at the same problem for days being frustrated that I can't find the solution. Purcell went out and got beat my an inferior opponent in Fenwick. Earlier this year, they played my Alma Mater, Deer Park and lost 14-9. Deer Park will finish this year 9-1/8-2 and will make the playoffs easily. Purcell played with them for 4 quarters and the DP kids were dropping like flies. Then they go out and play like last night. I can't fathom how this happens.

My whole post-grad education plan is built around being a coach. I'm getting my masters in special education so I can better work with kids of varying needs (physically and mentally). I plan on getting my PhD eventually in psychology so I can understand how people think. Understanding why and how to fix it for the benefit of the athlete intrigues me. But I do not get how a kid's effort can change game to game, day to day. I just don't get it.

[Adam Sayer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYDetbwegs

[nittanybacker]

"Purcell went out and got beat my an inferior opponent in Fenwick"  Hey Adam, that is a big win for the Falcons and their Sophomore QB.

The more and more I read about Franklin that more I am leaning towards a Franklin victory.  I hate to say it but they are a high power offense this year and the match up between the OC for Franklin and the DC for The Mount is in favor of Franklin.

I think the biggest question is whether either of these teams can play with the big boys in the playoffs?  The HCAC does not far well in the playoffs.  Franklin lost to Wabash by two and they the 14th team in the country, that is a good program in DIII.  I was not at the game of course but is Franklin a school that can win a playoff game and be in the upper tier of D3?

On the other hand, you don't really know if the Mount is to that level right now because you don't have a game to gauge how good the Mount is till now.  They might come out and blow Franklin away then we will all be saying that they have arrived.

I hope the Mount wins don't get me wrong.  I just want the winner of this to represent the HCAC well in the playoffs.  I don't think the HCAC is very well respected right now around D3 and should it be?

A man once told me (as you see I didn't use "wise") "it is all about what have you done for me lately"

[altor]

Gametime updates...

DC 21 - And 0  Half    (I think Dillon had over 100 yrds in the 1st)
RHIT 14 - Bluf 7  Half  (is it possible to be hung over a week later?)
Frank 7 - MSJ 7  Half  (so much for the high powered offenses)
Han 14 - Man 7  2nd  (perhaps all is right with the world)

[cave2bens]

Thanks, Altor.  Been trying to keep up with the HCAC scores, but listening to a heck of a good ball game in Crawfordsville, and hoping the Puppies can break out of their losing streak vs Wooster.

[altor]

Frank 21 - MSJ 13   End 3rd
Def 34  - And 0   1:49 3rd
RHIT 21 - Bluf 14  0:51 3rd
Han 17 - Man 7   Half

[dc_has_been]

Looks like the Franklin/MSJ game is a good one again.  I am suprised w/ the Manchester/Hanover game.  I did think Manchester was turning the corner as well, but there is plenty of game left too.  Last of all, I'm very pleased w/ the score to the DC game of course.  Hopefully Hans is spreading the ball around though.
Thanks for the updates altor!

[dc_has_been]

It is now 43-7 DC in the 4th

[dc_has_been]

My bad 34-7 , Don't know how I came up w/ 43.  Anyways, anybody have an update on the Franklin/MSJ game?  I can not find an audio feed for that game.

[altor]

Frank 28 - MSJ 19    FINAL

[altor]

RHIT 21 - Bluf 14  FINAL

[bashbrother]

Great Win for Franklin College.  Finally, got the the Mt. St. Joseph monkey off your back.  Rupp is a heck of a player!