The Top 10 Eastern Region teams of the D3football.com Era

[Jonny Utah]

Yeah, from reading that article, it sounded like SJF played a lot of teams pretty close that year.  So, in conclusion, I guess everyone who has a narrow victory is pretty lucky.  What???

The 2001-2002 Patriots were pretty lucky too.  BUT, they still won the Super Bowl.  Isn't the 'W' what really counts in sporting events?

And, since the SJF guys seem to have an issue with this, when WAS the last time you beat RPI?  I believe 1993 is the correct answer.  And your overall record is 1-11 from my sources.  Just a thought...

I would not say all SJF guys feel that way. I'm a Fisher fan, but don't really echo that sentiment that people who score late are lucky. I think Super was speaking on his own there.

hold on...you are playing a team that had NEVER had a winning season...and you pic them off with 40 seconds to go...to only give the ball back get a pass interference call and you STILL win the game... I call that lucky...not saying all close games are lucky just some..... Luck always plays into games...a bounce here or there and it's a different game

"RPI got a 22-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Dan Cole to junior Dan with just 1:22 left in the fourth quarter to defeat St. John Fisher 24-17 in a Division III football game before 2,684 fans at Growney Stadium. With the victory, the Engineers improve to 6-0. Fisher is now 5-3 with the losses by a total of 11 points.

After an RPI interception with 40 seconds left, Fisher regained the ball with less than two seconds to play. Fisher moved to the RPI 26 on a pass interference call at the goal line. On the ensuing play quarterback Greg Roland threw to Noah Fehrenbach, but the pass was broken up by the Engineers' Mike Defilippi."

That doesnt really sound lucky to me.  The only things that sound lucky to me are that SJF had 2 chances to score in the last 1:22.  But a pass interference on the goal line could have been a big one.  NFL rules and SJF might have been able to tie it up from what it sounds like.

[theoriginalupstate]

That doesnt really sound lucky to me.  The only things that sound lucky to me are that SJF had 2 chances to score in the last 1:22.  But a pass interference on the goal line could have been a big one.  NFL rules and SJF might have been able to tie it up from what it sounds like.

Here's the last 1:22 of play after the RPI TD....

R 1-G  R35   PENALTY FISHER personal foul 15 yards to the 50 yardline.
--------------- 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 00:15 ---------------

               Ed Garcia kickoff 50 yards to the FISHER0, touchback.
      F 1-10 F20   ST. JOHN FISHER drive start at 01:22 (4th).
      F 1-10 F20   Greg Roland pass complete to Dan Whelehan for 6 yards to the FISHER26
                   (Tim Frame).
      F 2-4  F26   TEAM rush to the FISHER24, fumble by TEAM recovered by FISHER Greg
                   Roland at FISHER24.
      F 3-6  F24   Greg Roland pass intercepted by Mike Defilippi at the FISHER40, Mike
                   Defilippi return 0 yards to the FISHER40.
--------------- 3 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:36 ---------------

  R 1-10 F40   RPI drive start at 00:46 (4th).
  R 1-10 F40   TEAM rush for no gain to the FISHER40.
  R 2-10 F40   Timeout St. John Fisher, clock 00:43.
  R 2-10 F40   TEAM rush for loss of 4 yards to the FISHER44.
  R 3-14 F44   Timeout St. John Fisher, clock 00:39.
  R 3-14 F44   TEAM rush for loss of 2 yards to the FISHER46.
  R 4-16 F46   Timeout RPI, clock 00:05.
  R 4-16 F46   Dan Cole pass incomplete, PENALTY RPI intentional grounding 13 yards to
               the RPI41.
--------------- 4 plays, minus 19 yards, TOP 00:00 ---------------

      F 1-10 R41   Greg Roland pass incomplete to Dan Whelehan, PENALTY RPI pass
                   interference 15 yards to the RPI26, 1ST DOWN FISHER, NO PLAY.
      F 1-10 R26   Greg Roland pass incomplete to Noah Fehrenbach (Mike Defilippi).
      F 2-10 R26   End of 2nd half, clock 00:00.
--------------- 1 plays, 15 yards, TOP 00:00 ---------------


RPI got lucky, Cole/coaches made a boneheaded play/decision to throw the ball to no one w/ no time left to give SJF the ball at their own 41.

[union89]

That doesnt really sound lucky to me.  The only things that sound lucky to me are that SJF had 2 chances to score in the last 1:22.  But a pass interference on the goal line could have been a big one.  NFL rules and SJF might have been able to tie it up from what it sounds like.

Here's the last 1:22 of play after the RPI TD....

R 1-G  R35   PENALTY FISHER personal foul 15 yards to the 50 yardline.
--------------- 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 00:15 ---------------

               Ed Garcia kickoff 50 yards to the FISHER0, touchback.
      F 1-10 F20   ST. JOHN FISHER drive start at 01:22 (4th).
      F 1-10 F20   Greg Roland pass complete to Dan Whelehan for 6 yards to the FISHER26
                   (Tim Frame).
      F 2-4  F26   TEAM rush to the FISHER24, fumble by TEAM recovered by FISHER Greg
                   Roland at FISHER24.
      F 3-6  F24   Greg Roland pass intercepted by Mike Defilippi at the FISHER40, Mike
                   Defilippi return 0 yards to the FISHER40.
--------------- 3 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:36 ---------------

  R 1-10 F40   RPI drive start at 00:46 (4th).
  R 1-10 F40   TEAM rush for no gain to the FISHER40.
  R 2-10 F40   Timeout St. John Fisher, clock 00:43.
  R 2-10 F40   TEAM rush for loss of 4 yards to the FISHER44.
  R 3-14 F44   Timeout St. John Fisher, clock 00:39.
  R 3-14 F44   TEAM rush for loss of 2 yards to the FISHER46.
  R 4-16 F46   Timeout RPI, clock 00:05.
  R 4-16 F46   Dan Cole pass incomplete, PENALTY RPI intentional grounding 13 yards to
               the RPI41.
--------------- 4 plays, minus 19 yards, TOP 00:00 ---------------

      F 1-10 R41   Greg Roland pass incomplete to Dan Whelehan, PENALTY RPI pass
                   interference 15 yards to the RPI26, 1ST DOWN FISHER, NO PLAY.
      F 1-10 R26   Greg Roland pass incomplete to Noah Fehrenbach (Mike Defilippi).
      F 2-10 R26   End of 2nd half, clock 00:00.
--------------- 1 plays, 15 yards, TOP 00:00 ---------------


RPI got lucky, Cole/coaches made a boneheaded play/decision to throw the ball to no one w/ no time left to give SJF the ball at their own 41.

I agree, according to that rundown, Cole could have run around a bit and taken a knee.  Brutal clock management in that SJF got two 'free' plays. 

[Jonny Utah]

I dont see anything in there that would seem that anything would be lucky. 

I mean SJF should be considered the lucky ones that RPI gave them back the ball with such great field position! Plus they recovered their own fumble before that?

And I still dont get one thing.  RPI runs the ball and with 5 seconds left calls a timeout?
---------

R 3-14 F44   TEAM rush for loss of 2 yards to the FISHER46.
R 4-16 F46   Timeout RPI, clock 00:05.
---------

Maybe it was a bonehead play by RPI but that doesnt make anything lucky.

[union89]

In all honesty, I jumped into that one late and was referring to brutal play....not actually luck.

[pg04]

So now we have (3) slots left. Logic should have it as Fisher and Rowan twice. I'm no fan of Springfield, but the 2000 team should be in. They went very deep into the playoffs. Any thoughts?

Once again, I have only 10 slots, and the 2000 springfield team was definitely in the consideration.   I don't disagree that they may have deserved better than I gave them.

[rams1102]

So now we have (3) slots left. Logic should have it as Fisher and Rowan twice. I'm no fan of Springfield, but the 2000 team should be in. They went very deep into the playoffs. Any thoughts?

Once again, I have only 10 slots, and the 2000 springfield team was definitely in the consideration.   I don't disagree that they may have deserved better than I gave them.
[/quot

How about 2003 Montclair Team. It was a pretty good team. Did they ever cross your radar during your deliberations.

[pg04]

# 3:  2006 St. John Fisher Cardinals

The Basics:

Overall Record:  12-2
End Result: Eliminated by Mount Union in National Semifinals
Key Regular Season Win:  vs. Ithaca 34-10, @ Alfred 41-13
Key Regular Season Losses: vs. Springfield 38-55
Points For: 37.8
Points Against: 13.7

Key Strength:

The team had a very good offensive attack outscoring their opponents 529-192, led by star running back Mark Robinson, and seconded by James Reile.  Rob Kramer was also no slouch in at quarterback.  All in all, this team was very hard to stop!

Key Players:

Offense:

Mark Robinson, RB: 222 rushes for 1570 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Rob Kramer, QB: 151-233 passing for 2019 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

Sean Nowicki: 44 receptions for 746 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Defense: 

Gene Lang: 147 tackles (67 solo) and 3 sacks.

Eventual cause of demise (because let's face it, the Eastern teams always have a demise) :

A 26-14 loss to eventual National Champion Mount Union.  Fisher had shown its dominance of the Eastern Region for 2006, starting out with a whitewash of Union 49-21 in the first Round.  They followed that up with a 27-21 win at Springfield to avenge the regular season loss.  Then, they had a 31-0 rout of Rowan to win the Eastern Region.  That left them with Superpower Mount Union and quite frankly not many gave the Cardinals a chance.  However, they showed strong, trailing only 9-7 at halftime, leaving East Regioners wondering if finally the East would break through again.  Mount Union would use a steady dose of running back Nate Kmic in the 2nd half to slowly pull far enough away to win the game.  Kmic would run for an astounding school-record 371 yards in the game.   This was too much for the Cardinals as their run came to an end.



Why did they make the list?:

They did a very good job of blowing away most of their opponents during the regular season, and also showed their true worth by crushing both Union and Rowan in the playoffs.  They also did a good job of restoring some credibility to the eastern region once again.  Overall the strong offensive attack and spectacular play was deserving of this top 3 spot.   Only one school in the Eastern Region can say they had better teams during this era, and in my opinion that could be debated too...


Thoughts???

Next up, the #2 and #1 teams.  Which Rowan team grabs the number 1 spot?

[Jonny Utah]

"Eventual cause of demise (because let's face it, the Eastern teams always have a demise) :"

Can we change this phrase to........

"Eventual cause of demise (because let's face it, the Eastern teams have always have a demise over the last 16 years....) :

['gro]

me thinks the '06 cards got the snub... for conversation purposes? Most everyone had the final 3 1. Rowan 99, 2. SJF '06, 3. Rowan '01

'06 SJF spanked union, revenged a springfield loss, stompped rowan, then hung with mount union.  All from a program that a few years ago couldn't find their ass with both hands.  Impressive in my book.

[RunningRobby25]

me thinks the '06 cards got the snub... for conversation purposes? Most everyone had the final 3 1. Rowan 99, 2. SJF '06, 3. Rowan '01

'06 SJF spanked union, revenged a springfield loss, stompped rowan, then hung with mount union.  All from a program that a few years ago couldn't find their ass with both hands.  Impressive in my book.

I'm gonna have to agree w/ 'gro on this one... of course I am a bit biased

[union89]

me thinks the '06 cards got the snub... for conversation purposes? Most everyone had the final 3 1. Rowan 99, 2. SJF '06, 3. Rowan '01

'06 SJF spanked union, revenged a springfield loss, stompped rowan, then hung with mount union.  All from a program that a few years ago couldn't find their ass with both hands.  Impressive in my book.

I'm gonna have to agree w/ 'gro on this one... of course I am a bit biased

Make that 3......SJF's run last year was truly special AND dominant.  To roll over a very strong Union team and then totally crush the defending Eastern power was amazing.

[pg04]

I will say this, the top 3 teams were pretty close, However, of the two Rowan teams, 1 made it to the National Final and the other SHOULD have went to the national final (Clockgame--- I've seen it on youtube, Rowan got legitimately screwed).  All and All I wouldn't think #3 is too shabby? 

[pg04]

And both Rowan teams were dominant as well.  I think Fisher being more recent has made more people think this way. 

[RunningRobby25]

All and All I wouldn't think #3 is too shabby? 

I don't know what's worse for us... Being #3 in this poll or dropping to #4 in the D3 football poll at the end of the season...


I guess I'll take em both and run anyways!!!