FB: Southern Athletic Association

[awadelewis]

Berry plays the Colonels on the 23rd as this is their bye week.  While it will tend to confirm what we already know (that the Vikings are really good) IMO 0-2 Centre and 1-1 Trinity are not in the same zip code on the field this season. 

So far, Berry is doing most of their damage on the ground (over 360 yards/game, total offense over 500) while their defense is holding opponents under 200 ypg.  As Trinity takes pride in their rushing defense (under 75 ypg), if things proceed as expected the next two weeks it could be a case of the irresistible force facing the immovable object.  Trinity's offense has not been as explosive (just under 420 ypg) but they have faced two top-ten opponents.

Well goodness.... I have no idea of what schedule I was looking  at when I posted that comment.   Centre's definitely not in the same tier as Trinity this season but I think they won't get blasted off the field by Berry like Huntingdon and LaGrange did.  The way that Berry won over Huntingdon in week 1 was part of why I found B-SC's performance this week so surprising.   B-SC is far outside the same tier as SJU and UMHB so will be surprised if Trinity doesn't leave Birmingham with a win.    But the old cliche is true: got to play the game.

[BSCpanthers]

If BSC can't figure out how to move the football on offense, it won't matter.  I'm hoping we have something hidden waiting for this game. 

[Ron Boerger]

SAA Players of the week, Week 2:

Offense:  Blake Hembree, Sr. QB, Berry:  led Viking offense to a 70-3 victory over LaGrange, 70-3, completing 13-of-19 for 223 yards and three touchdowns in limited playing time, leaving the game after his efforts helped the team to a 44-3 halftime lead.

Defense:  Caleb Harmel, 5th year LB, Trinity:  led the Tiger defensive effort in a 35-16 win over nationally ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor.  His two interceptions and 18 return yards came at crucial times, and he added six total tackles and a pass breakup 

Special Teams:  Cam Tegge, Jr. K, Centre:  a perfect 3-for-3 in field goals and connected on both extra points to highlight the Colonels' kicking game.  He hit from distances of 34, 36, and 42 yards in the game, the last a career long.

Harmel was also the first SAA athlete named to the D3football.com Team of the Week this season.

[D3Navy]

FYI - the Trinity - BSC game on Saturday has moved to 11am CDT / 12pm EDT.

It is reflected on both teams websites.

[BSCpanthers]

FYI - the Trinity - BSC game on Saturday has moved to 11am CDT / 12pm EDT.

It is reflected on both teams websites.

The change in schedule is to accommodate Trinity's travel schedule.  They asked for the game to be moved, we obliged.  If we ever needed the same thing, I'm sure they would return the favor. 

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

[Ralph Turner]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

Trinity by 45...

[Pat Coleman]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

Trinity by 45...

And if they don't live up to that line? Trinity will be No. 6 on one Region 3 fan ballot.

[BSCpanthers]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

Trinity by 45...

And if they don't live up to that line? Trinity will be No. 6 on one Region 3 fan ballot.

Not really how that works, but if Trinity loses, they won't even be in the poll.  I'm hoping for another classic game from these two, but BSC is going to have to show something on offense it hasn't shown yet. 

[jknezek]

If I was setting the line I'd probably go with Trinity +24, but it's so hard to do early in the season in D3.

And this could very well prove to be a trap game for Trinity. 2 monster opponents to start, you know those were massively emotional games. A tough loss on a long road trip to a historical power and a changing of the guard type of win against a not-so-far removed National Champion. Add to that both Rhodes and Berry are 2-0 while B-SC is coming off an offensively toothless appearance against a team that Berry blasted for 67 points and over 400 yards. B-SC managed 77 yards of offensive against Huntingdon on 43 plays. Berry racked up more than 1pt per offensive play against Huntingdon, B-SC couldn't manage 2 yards per play.

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see Trinity come out flat and struggle or a while. But I suspect, even if Trinity is flat, B-SC is going to struggle to move the ball and it won't matter in the end.

[BSCpanthers]

 BSC is going to have to come out swinging and punch Trinity right in the mouth. Hopefully build a multi score lead early before Trinity wakes up. Then BSC is going to have to hold on during the second half to keep the lead. That is the way I see it playing out. The question is if BSC has enough to connect that first haymaker and how much is left to hold on if they do. 

[Pat Coleman]

Having spoken to Trinity people after their most recent game, there's no way they aren't awake for this one, despite B-SC's first two results.

[Pat Coleman]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

Trinity by 45...

And if they don't live up to that line? Trinity will be No. 6 on one Region 3 fan ballot.

Not really how that works, but if Trinity loses, they won't even be in the poll. 

Finding your logic hard to parse, I just wanted to clarify that there's no way I suggested Trinity would lose. I just figured that whatever arbitrarily crazy standard you had for them might prompt you to drop them if they don't win by 45.

[Ralph Turner]

Trinity preview of matchup against B-SC:  https://trinitytigers.com/news/2023/9/14/TUFB-BSC2023.aspx

Trinity by 45...

My metric for B-SC is McMurry which lost the B-SC by one this year but handily disposed of Millsaps.
Look at how badly UMHB beat McMurry last year.

Has McMurry improved that much this year? It appears that B-SC is not as strong as they were last year, losing more badly to a weaker Huntingdon squad.

Overall record: 1-9 - Conference: 1-7
All times Eastern   (* Conference; • D-III opponent)

9/3   vs. Birmingham-Southern •
@ Little Rock, Arkansas   L, 26-9   BX
9/10   vs. Millsaps •   L, 27-13   BX
9/17   vs. East Texas Baptist * •   L, 28-7   BX
9/24   at Southwestern * •   L, 38-33   BX
10/1   vs. Hardin-Simmons * •   L, 45-13   BX P
10/8   at Howard Payne * •   L, 30-18   BX
10/15   at Austin * •   W, 24-21   BX RC
10/22   vs. Texas Lutheran * •   L, 17-10   BX RC
10/29   at Sul Ross State * •   L, 33-27   BX
11/12   at Mary Hardin-Baylor * •   L, 62-3   BX

[BSCpanthers]

BSC lost quit a bit duiring our financial crisis of last year, especially off the offensive side of the ball.  We had some transfers come in, but they are by no means on the level of Jon Lewis and Byron Millsaps.