Eastern Collegiate Football Conference

[NED3Guy]

Great assessment of ECFC week 1

Husson is for real. I really really wanted to see an upset (just for the sake of a competitive conference) but Husson showed that a long trip and a tough home crowd weren't enough to slow them down.

Two big games this week; with the Vermont teams heading into Mass. Somebody will leave Mt. Ida on Saturday 2-0 in conference play; but both still have to play SUNY, Becker and Husson so as much as the winner will feel like they are "in the drivers seat" whoever it is, still has a long road ahead. 

Is it fair to say that this is Norwich's biggest "must win" game in recent memory?

[d3fan142511]

If Norwich does not turn it around it will be a tough way to go out of conference that they dominated from the start. Before last Season Norwich and Mount Ida were the only two teams that did not have losing season conference records. Ida had a rough one last year...If Norwich does not win this week they might be on there way to under .500 conference record.

[NED3Guy]

Slow week of board chatter. Figured I'd throw out my guesses for this week's games.

Really only two with debatable outcomes this week, as Husson v GU and SUNY v AMC should not be close. Those other two games are toss ups in my mind.

SUNY and Husson will do what they do and come away with easy W's. AMC has some good athletes who could break a big play to make things interesting early, but not the horses to hang around long enough to make it interesting.

Husson 48 - Gal U- 10

SUNY 35 - AMC 17

Norwich hasn't found its groove yet, but returned enough of their 2015 Championship team to be dangerous vs anybody in the ECFC. Mount Ida loss aside, I don't think anybody can sleep on the Cadets quite yet.

Norwich 28 - Becker 24

When looking at the wins that Castleton and Ida both got last week, specifically how both games ended; I think it's clear that Ida made the plays they needed to to in the end to win and Castleton just held on long enough to win. A win is a win, but momentum and confidence are on Ida's side.

Ida 24 - Castleton 20

[d3fan142511]

The Key in the Ida Castleton Game will be The Ida Front 7 vs Castleton OL...Last Year Moe Harris ran for 160 yards vs Ida. If Ida can slow him down they will win this game by two scores.

[Zlax45]

Here are some pics from the Castleton and Mount Ida game https://foleyphotography.smugmug.com/Football/College-Football/2016-Season/Castleton-at-Mount-Ida/

[dlippiel]

Here are some pics from the Castleton and Mount Ida game https://foleyphotography.smugmug.com/Football/College-Football/2016-Season/Castleton-at-Mount-Ida/

Those pics are awesome! Dlip loves Caselton's uniforms!

[d3fan142511]

Power Rankings
1. Husson 4-1 2-0- Made easy work with Gallaudet....At Castleton for sole possession of First Place this week.
2. Castleton 2-3 2-0- Defense came to play vs Mount Ida forced 5 turnovers and there RB gave Ida fits all day in passing game.
3. SUNY Maritime 3-2 1-1 - Beat Anna Maria..Closer game then i expected but never was in doubt...Ahead of Ida based on OCC
4. Mount Ida 1-4 1-1....Tough Loss at home...5 turnovers and 3 going in to score will hurt
5. Norwich 1-4 1-1....Upset win over Becker who clearly has taken a step back after historic season last year
6. Becker 2-3 1-1..Tough loss to Norwich tough game with SUNY this week
7. Gallaudet 1-4 0-2....Welcomes Mount Ida to town this week
8. Anna Maria 0-5 0-2....Looking like another Goose egg year

Weekly Predictions:
Mount Ida at Gall- Ida Bounces back after tough loss to Castleton...Closer game then expected due to travel factor - Ida 24 Gallaudet 10
Norwich at Anna Maria- Norwich 34 Anna Maria 7
Becker at SUNY- Big game for both teams to stay towards the top. Give me SUNY at home 24-20

Game of the Week

Husson at Castleton- Battle of 2-0 teams and sole possession of first place. Battle of the two best running backs in the league....Will Castleton be able to force the turnovers like they did vs Mount Ida? Ida moved the ball but the Spartans defense came up with big takeaways. Husson will be feeding there workhorse and i thik even with a big crowd and going away from home that will be the difference.

Husson 24 Castleton 13

[NED3Guy]

Agree 100% with your power rankings. Only reason I have Castleton ahead of SUNY right now is because SUNY played Husson before Castleton does. After this week; (and the predicted results of this week's games) those two will be dead locked as the #2 team in the conference. Lucky for us they play each other next week, so we'll get to see that one play itself out before too long...but I'll save those thoughts for next week.

As for this week, the CU v Husson game comes down to the play of the two LB's for Castleton (#25 and #54). They have been DPOTW back to back weeks, and seem to be all over the field for the Spartans. The Castleton D has been very opportunistic (or some might say very lucky?) in that they have been creating turnovers that continue to bail them out of trouble, and have made some big stops on 4th down. Call it what you want to, but they get the job done and those two LB's are a big reason why the Spartans have been able to end drives and get off the field.

That being said, they have allowed 168 yards per game on the ground in their two league games; compared to Husson allowing just 24.5 and have just one sack compared to Husson's 7 in ECFC play to date. Husson RB Smith is far better than any of the RB's the Spartans have faced so far. I'm hoping for an upset, because upsets are what make sports great, but am doubtful that we'll see one this weekend in VT.

[ccd494]

John Smith left the Gallaudet game early with an injury.  Who knows if he would have played through if it was a close game, or if it is actually serious.

[AUPepBand]

John Smith left the Gallaudet game early with an injury.  Who knows if he would have played through if it was a close game, or if it is actually serious.

Pep is hoping it's not a serious injury. He's a tough runner and Pep knows the Saxons have a great deal of respect for him. Best of luck for his quick recovery and best of luck to the Eagles the rest of the way.

[H.C.Mosely1895]

      Mount Ida    13    Gallaudet    12   
   Norwich    28    Anna Maria    7   
   Husson    43    Castleton    21   
      Becker    13       Maritime (N.Y.)    40   

Becker does seem to have regressed a bit, while SUNY has really made some progress. Otherwise, the surprise was to see Ida struggle with Gallaudet more than expected (only 166 yards of offense). Norwich came out a little sluggish with a lot of penalties, but ran for 407 yards while holding AMC to just 27 on the ground. Seems like the offense is finally righting the ship. It'll be interesting to see if they can challenge Husson down the stretch, because no one else seems able to at the moment.

SUNY - Castleton should be a good one next week.

[NED3Guy]

Too early to think about this coming weekend of games, but it certainly looks like the SUNY v Sparty bowl in Vermont will be the game of the week.

I'm a believer in SUNY this year. Their win against Merchant Marine looks better every week as MMA keeps winning games, having beaten RPI this weekend. Not sure if Becker QB got benched vs Norwich or hurt, but Becker did not play the guy from last year vs SUNY.... Not taking anything away from SUNY, as it sounds like a dominant win regardless.

From looking at the box score, Husson must have dominated Castleton in every area of the game. 480+ yards of O vs just 88 for Castleton. Somehow the numbers on the scoreboard were kinda close at halftime, but it looks like Husson just took over and imposed their will on Castleton in the second half. Castleton has one is the best backs in the league, but managed to rush for -19 yards total. (Harris had 20 yards on ten carries)

Norwich looks like they re found their identity, pounding the ball and playing stingy defense. They still technically control their own destiny, and I wouldn't be shocked if they find themselves heading into their week 9 trip to Bangor with very high stakes.... Time will tell.

Ida almost got Ida'd by GU, who scored late and went for the win instead of the tie. Would have been something kind of poetic had GU gotten the win in the same fashion Ida beat Norwich... But it didn't happen, and Ida joins the pile up of 1 loss teams.

Among the one loss teams there are two groups: those who have already lost to Husson, and those who will lose to Husson soon.

Rankings:
1) Husson
2) SUNY
3) Castleton
4) Norwich
5) Ida
6) Becker
7) Gall U
8) Amcat College

[H.C.Mosely1895]

I'm a believer in SUNY this year. Their win against Merchant Marine looks better every week as MMA keeps winning games, having beaten RPI this weekend. Not sure if Becker QB got benched vs Norwich or hurt, but Becker did not play the guy from last year vs SUNY.... Not taking anything away from SUNY, as it sounds like a dominant win regardless.

Becker's QB was hurt against Norwich, and it sounds pretty serious (ACL, I think). He is a greatly respected talent in the conference, so his loss explains a lot of of Becker's regression the past couple weeks.

[d3fan142511]

Power Rankings:
1. Husson 5-1 3-0....Took Care of Castleton...Will anyone be able to challenge them the rest of the way.
2. SUNY Maritime 2-4 2-1...Beat up on Becker...Big game vs Castleton this week.
3. Castleton 2-4 2-1...Looking to rebound after the loss to Husson. Winner will stay 1 game behind Husson
4. Mount Ida 2-4 2-1....Offense Struggled vs Gallaudet. Defense came to play and had big stop on 2pt conversion
5. Norwich 2-4 2-1....took care of Anna Maria and welcome Gallaudet this week
6. Becker 2-4 1-2....Losing QB and this team is looking at a potential 3-7/2-8 season.
7. Gallaudet 1-5 0-3...Defense held Mount Ida in check...Tough game going to Norwich this week.
8. Anna Maria 0-6 0-3....November will give them a chance to break an no win season.

Game Predictions:
Anna Maria at Husson....Husson 49 Anna Maria 0
Gallaudet at Norwich...Norwich 24 Gallaudet 6
Becker at Mount Ida...Mount Ida 20 Becker 13
Maritime at Castleon...Maritime 27 Castleton 17

[AUPepBand]

Power Rankings:
1. Husson 5-1 3-0....Took Care of Castleton...Will anyone be able to challenge them the rest of the way?
Game Predictions:
Anna Maria at Husson....Husson 49 Anna Maria 0
Gallaudet at Norwich...Norwich 24 Gallaudet 6
Becker at Mount Ida...Mount Ida 20 Becker 13
Maritime at Castleon...Maritime 27 Castleton 17

No.