Empire 8 in-game updates

[Jonny Utah]

Ithaca runs the old "H-angle" for a nice 1st down.  I was wondering when they were going to bring that play out!

[Jonny Utah]

IC not making the plays they need to stay in this game.  Another punt.  Wesley ball around midfield about 3 minutes left.

16-7 Wesley still.

[Jonny Utah]

Wesley missed a FG with 16 seconds left.  Bombers down the ball, 16-7 Wesley at halftime now.

My halftime thoughts:

-Wesley QB Callahan is doing a great job getting the ball out with accurate throws with decent pressure on him, and his WRs are making plays as well.  Only 1 or 2 sloppy mistakes on the Wesley offensive side.

-Ithaca's oline and running backs are not getting the job done for the 3rd week in a row.  The pass protection has been sloppy, and the backs don't have much to work with.  Dempsey has been accurate, but has made 2-3 dumb mistakes, including a horrible INT that shouldn't have been thrown.  Ithaca's WRs have been pretty good, but have also dropped 1 or 2 balls that need to be caught in a game like this.

-Wesley kicked it short the 2nd two kickoffs, and this has helped them.

-Wesley's defense has done the job so far.  I guess they haven't done anything that Framingham State didn't do last week, but they have gotten some good pressure on Dempsey.

-Ithaca's defense has been pretty solid except for 2 big pass plays.  One of the kind of fluky, the other one simply beat them.

[Jonny Utah]

I hope Ithaca is ready for that jet sweep pass.....

Wesley moving the ball on a nice drive.  Inside the Ithaca 10 yard line.

[Jonny Utah]

TD Wesley.

23-7 with 7 minutes left in the 3rd.

[Jonny Utah]

Looks like the Ithaca WRs are getting open deep, but Dempsey's deep throws have not been accurate.

[fisheralum91]

Fisher int then td- up on Bart 28-0!
Wow
3rd qtr

[Jonny Utah]

Ithaca punts.  4 minutes left in the 3rd.  Still 23-7 Wesley.

Wesley ball at their 30 yd line.

[Frank Rossi]

Fisher int then td- up on Bart 28-0!
Wow
3rd qtr

24-0

[fisheralum91]

woops- typo
sorry

[Jonny Utah]

End of the 3rd.  Wesley up 23-7.

Ithaca 3rd and short close to midfield.

[Frank Rossi]

woops- typo
sorry

No worries, FA91.  Still luv ya.   

It's a case of a lot of bounces going well early for SJF, allowing them to take a two possession lead, a deficit Hobart hadn't faced all season.  It sort of forced a little desperation too early, and once SJF took a three possession lead, it pretty much killed Hobart's chances, especially with the wind.  SJF is a very good team, with what appears to be a defense that is still improving.  The Committee made a correct decision allowing SJF in, much like in 2011, and it keeps that SOS focus (objective and subjective) as a key factor in future years because it's becoming self-proving, thanks to especially SJF. 

Represent the East well at one of my three favorite non-East locations next week -- Belton, Texas.  I'm considering taking a jaunt to Alliance next week -- we'll see what happens.

[Jonny Utah]

Ithaca with a decent job on a drive, and the refs make a "targeting" call, but then waive it off. 

Why bother calling it at all?  Nice hit by the Wesley LB.

[Jonny Utah]

3rd and goal for Ithaca at the 5 yard line now.  This is basically their only chance with 7 minutes left.

[Frank Rossi]

Ithaca with a decent job on a drive, and the refs make a "targeting" call, but then waive it off. 

Why bother calling it at all?  Nice hit by the Wesley LB.

Backside official threw the flag.  It was a close call, no doubt to me.  As such, I have no problem with the call and discussion getting it right in the minds of the officials.  Too much at stake to not discuss it carefully.  I wish more crews handled it that way.