FB: Southern Athletic Association

BerryCollegeFan · November 11, 2018, 09:30:05 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 10, 2018, 07:10:50 PM
Quite the surprise in San Antonio where Trinity took advantage of three interceptions and a two point conversion along the way to a 21-17 upset of the conference champions. Berry seemed on their way to an win after scoring back-to-back touchdowns with ease to take a 14-3 lead into halftime, but the Tiger defense started getting stops and finally scored a touchdown when Wyatt Messex found Chris Stewart over the middle with the speedster outrunning everyone on a 7674-yard streak to the end zone. The third interception set Trinity up near midfield with just over four minutes remaining, and after driving to the 20 Messex found Peyton Tuggle who somehow caught the ball falling backwards for the final score with under a minute remaining. Berry drove inside the Trinity 25 with 0:06 left but the final pass into the flat short of the end zone fell incomplete.

I was extremely unhappy with the clock operations during the last drive. Clock didn't stop during 1st down and the ball hit the ground with a second on the clock on the last play. But that doesn't erase the fact that Berry played a very poor game. Several bad decisions that were not like previous games. Those interceptions were all bad decisions that we haven't seen this season. I wish Trinity had been able to see the best Berry has to offer. Oh well back to preparation for the first round game.

Oh and the field was in pretty bad shape. Both sides were slipping all game long. It is obvious Trinity had more experience in the surface. But it affected both teams.

Ron Boerger · November 11, 2018, 05:49:50 PM

Congrats to Centre who not only got a bid but get to host a first-round game, great for the conference to get two bids for the first time in its brief history (right?). The bad news is that with wins both Berry and Centre would each face one of last year's Stagg Bowl participants on the road in the next round.

Good luck, gentlemen!

Cedricb313 · November 11, 2018, 10:23:27 PM

Quote from: Cedricb313 on October 21, 2018, 07:09:56 PM
Centre College Colonels (6-1, 4-1) received 26 votes, ^11 after defeating Rhodes College Lynx, 41-14. What are the chances that both, Berry and Centre make the playoffs?

Well that answers that

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2018/bracket
https://www.saa-sports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/releases/20181111s5b9xb

BerryCollegeFan · November 12, 2018, 08:00:39 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 11, 2018, 05:49:50 PM
Congrats to Centre who not only got a bid but get to host a first-round game, great for the conference to get two bids for the first time in its brief history (right?). The bad news is that with wins both Berry and Centre would each face one of last year's Stagg Bowl participants on the road in the next round.

Good luck, gentlemen!

Yes, this is great news for SAA. the quality of football is stepping up in the conference and it is getting noticed by the NCAA.

HookEmVikes · November 13, 2018, 09:51:11 AM

Quote from: BerryCollegeFan on November 11, 2018, 09:30:05 AM
Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 10, 2018, 07:10:50 PM
Quite the surprise in San Antonio where Trinity took advantage of three interceptions and a two point conversion along the way to a 21-17 upset of the conference champions. Berry seemed on their way to an win after scoring back-to-back touchdowns with ease to take a 14-3 lead into halftime, but the Tiger defense started getting stops and finally scored a touchdown when Wyatt Messex found Chris Stewart over the middle with the speedster outrunning everyone on a 7674-yard streak to the end zone. The third interception set Trinity up near midfield with just over four minutes remaining, and after driving to the 20 Messex found Peyton Tuggle who somehow caught the ball falling backwards for the final score with under a minute remaining. Berry drove inside the Trinity 25 with 0:06 left but the final pass into the flat short of the end zone fell incomplete.
I was extremely unhappy with the clock operations during the last drive. Clock didn't stop during 1st down and the ball hit the ground with a second on the clock on the last play. But that doesn't erase the fact that Berry played a very poor game. Several bad decisions that were not like previous games. Those interceptions were all bad decisions that we haven't seen this season. I wish Trinity had been able to see the best Berry has to offer. Oh well back to preparation for the first round game.

Oh and the field was in pretty bad shape. Both sides were slipping all game long. It is obvious Trinity had more experience in the surface. But it affected both teams.

Officiating wasn't the best, but it was bad on both sides. Literally 7-8 minutes for officials to sort out the offsetting penalties, ejection call. Penalties should not have been offsetting. One was during and 1 was after the play. The clock operator was terrible, but you can't throw an out with 6 seconds left. Ball has to be thrown in the endzone. Poor decisions made on offense and a lapse in coverage by the D caused Berry to lose that game. Trinity played well and deserved to win the game.

I expect Maryville to play well Saturday and Berry is in for a fight. It will not be a blow out like it was the first game.

MUC57 · November 13, 2018, 10:49:25 AM

Berry fans

Your old fan from Mount Union here. Just want to wish you guys the best on Saturday. Besides the Purple Raiders, you're one of several teams I root for. I guess because you're relatively new to the playoffs and you seem to have a good program going way down there in Georgia.
So, good luck Vikings. One game at a time.

BerryCollegeFan · November 13, 2018, 06:49:01 PM

Thanks MUC57.

I sort of wish Berry and Centre were switched in the brackets. The team has played Maryville already and been to Texas.

Scots13 · November 13, 2018, 07:50:16 PM

The committee took the easy way out in this side of the bracket for sure. Two rematches...one a Top 15! Shame that it comes down to the almighty dollar.

Pat Coleman · November 13, 2018, 09:31:55 PM

The committee doesn't care about rematching teams in non-conference games, to be clear.

Scots13 · November 14, 2018, 08:32:29 AM

Seems apparent...

I'm more disappointed in the committee's actions for UMHB and HSU's sake than the others, to be clear. It'll cost one team 1, 2 or even more games.

albatross · November 15, 2018, 12:27:26 PM

Quote from: albatross on October 28, 2018, 12:17:09 AM
Checking in here from Washington, DC. Apologize for being so absent on the boards this fall -- been an incredibly busy work season...

---

...I am ever the SAA optimist...

Wow - who knew my first ever -k would come from a sincere apology and rooting for conference success! Ha!

In all seriousness, I am very happy for the conference. Looming second-round matchups aside, it is awesome to see the SAA secure two bids and host two first-round games.

Additionally, Centre has probably been the most complete team in the conference for several years and have been on the outside looking in. Good for this class getting a reward for the work they put in to sustain the program!

BerryCollegeFan · November 15, 2018, 04:15:07 PM

Looks like Greg has Maryville as the biggest surprise of the bracket. potentially taking down Berry.

It will be a different game from the first meeting. looks like Saturday is going to be a great day for football in Valhalla.

WashJeff68 · November 16, 2018, 07:58:23 AM

Will be driving up from Tennessee to Danville for the game tomorrow.

Two teams appear similar based on stats. last time they played was a home and home in the 1954-55 seasons. Those were both no win seasons for W&J. Both have storied histories in football (C6H0 for Centre, 1922 Rose Bowl for W&J) and as institutions.

Looking forward to a nice drive and a well played game by both teams.

Go Presidents!

wally_wabash · November 16, 2018, 02:22:38 PM

Quote from: BerryCollegeFan on November 15, 2018, 04:15:07 PM
Looks like Greg has Maryville as the biggest surprise of the bracket. potentially taking down Berry.

It will be a different game from the first meeting. looks like Saturday is going to be a great day for football in Valhalla.

This was a hard quadrant to pick a real surprise in, but I think Maryville is probably the one team that is reasonably within the margin of error for their first round game. I did pick Berry to win in QH today, but I think it'll be a much different game than it was in September for sure.

Good luck at Valhalla tomorrow and enjoy the dance!

Ron Boerger · November 17, 2018, 01:53:33 PM

Centre is having their way with W&J so far, leading 33-13 after scoring on the opening drive of the 2nd half. Looks like W&J tried a fake punt and Centre gets the ball back near midfield and are driving for another score.

Edit: After what looked like a fake punt attempt by W&J the Colonels get the ball in W&H territory and score easily to make it 40-13 with 9:48 to go in the third.