With just about everybody in action except the NESCAC, this is a week for filling shoes.
Enter Tim Benzel (pictured here), Mike Isgro, Dustin Huff.
They are the guys with the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Brett Elliott, Adam Knoblauch and Russ Harbaugh respectivley. Three graduated quarterbacks who led their teams to conference titles and undefeated regular seasons in 2005. Three of the five quarterbacks who were finalists for the 2005 Gagliardi Trophy, which Elliott won.
Elliott has a truck load of honors from his two years at Linfield, a national championship and a roster spot on the San Diego Chargers. Knoblauch has eye popping numbers from starting every game for four years at Delaware Valley. Harbaugh has a senior season in which he threw for 3,000+ yards, led Wabash to the top of the NCAC and helped the Little Giants capture the Monon Bell.
Their departure doesn’t mean the cupboards are bare at any of these schools. Linfield is ranked No. 7, Del Val No. 12 and Wabash No. 22 in this week’s poll.
But the team’s prospects for continued success will hinge on how these players fill the void left behind. At some point, they will be asked to make a play to help keep their team on top. And, other than the goalie in hockey, I’m not sure there’s another position that’s as important to a team’s success in sports as a quarterback.
So good luck to these guys — two seniors and the freshman Isgro — as they try to fill big shoes and maybe start to write their own success stories.
Not to be overlooked: Two other quarterbacks debuted last week for teams with 2005 Gagliardi Trophy finalists.
Sophomore Mark Petruziello went 12-17 for 124 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT for John Carroll in place of graduated Doug Phillips. The Blue Streaks fell to Wooster 30-22.
Sophomore Steve Zidow went 10-19 for 100 yards with 1 INT for Monmouth in place of graduated Mitch Tanney. The Scots were shut out by Wartburg 20-0.
Wish you were here: If I could be at any game in Division III this week, I’d be in Western New York where Alfred hosts Thiel. Neither team is in the Top 25 yet, but both intrigue me. The Tomcats had a nice opening week win and could vault into next week’s poll with a win on the road. Alfred had a good 2005 but I’m not sold yet on whether they will really contend with Ithaca and St. John Fisher for the Empire 8 title.
Don’t sleep on this one: The last time Washington & Jefferson lost two in a row in the same season was…uh…actually, I don’t know because we don’t track scores that far back. After getting upset by Salisbury last week, there’s no way the Presidents don’t come out and lambaste Allegheny (3-7 in 2005) at home, right? Can’t the new Mayor of Pittsburgh sign a law prohibiting losing streaks?
Not so fast. The Gators lost a series of heartbreaking games last year, but started 2006 on the right foot, booting Westminster (Pa.) 35-10. I think Allegheny will give W&J all they can handle here.
Just throwing it out there: Baldwin-Wallace, which features running back Brandon Hedges, takes on traditionally run-heavy No. 15 Augustana. With the new rules designed to speed up the game, won’t this one take about 90 minutes total to play? Can fans get a discount on parking since their car won’t be there as long?
Most likely Top 25 team to lose: I can’t pick Thiel two weeks in a row, particularly after I was wrong last week. It’s one of those unwritten rules like “don’t talk about animal husbandry on a first date.†Trinity (Texas) is tempting, but the Tigers don’t lose games like this one, early in the season against an ASC team. So let’s go with Widener in an upset over No. 23 Wilkes in Chester, Pa.
Super Ridiculous Pick of the Week: Okay, so I’m still 0-for-ever on these. But at least I had Central’s point total right last week! So here we go…
Principia was close last week. So close they could taste it in a 28-20 loss to Crown. I know they are ranked very low in Kickoff’s 234 (if you haven’t bought it yet, you should — but let’s just say they are ranked VERY low). But this is the week the Panthers break through.
Principia WR/DB Schuyler Onderdonk — I love that name — makes a fantastic touchdown catch late and the man known as “Donk†gets an INT on Macalester’s final drive to seal the win.
Principia 14 Macalester 10
And finally…
Couldn’t we do a double-header with Hamilton playing Emory & Henry?: Franklin & Marshall at Washington & Lee
Union goes up against a Springfield team ranked over 100 slots lower in the D3 Football.com rankings. Are they that much better than Springfield? Doubtful. Our money is on Union but the Dutchmen will have to guard against overconfidence. With a talent laden team and the stars in the right alignment Union could very well make it to the Stagg Bowl this year. On the way, though, are two formidable opponents in Hobart and RPI. The rest of their schedule includes teams that, on paper, they should vanquish, though Rochester may be a more serious matter after their victory over Hopkins. In losing a close game to Rowan in the 2005 playoffs Union clearly proved that they are a match for the nation’s best small college teams.
The new mayor of Pittsburgh could sign a law prohibiting losing streaks but he would have to quickly push through annexation of Washington, PA first in order to have authority at W&J. 🙂
Speaking of the new rules….When I go to a D3 game on a beautiful fall afternoon, I am in NO hurry to get out of there. Matter of fact, after rushing all week long, I think they should extend the lenth of the games. Must be a D1 thing.
I’ll be at the Springfield game Saturday and I really hope Union comes to play. Last year was fantastic but this year Union once again has a bullseye on its back in the east. I am a die hard dutchmen fan and really hope they can reach their potential. After watching last years battle against Rowen (which the dutchmen could have definatly won) I am convinced this team has the potential to be a winner. I also heard in a scrim last Sat against Brown Union only lost 7-0. I don’t know if this is true or how the game was played (starters?etc) but it seems as if the new o-line is tight Union may have a chance to return to the Stagg (also needing to handle Hobart and RPI away)! The duke is right on though, overconfidence could be the killer. Lets go dutchmen we are all behind you!
Gordon: Thanks for the shout-out for Alfred’s Saxons. I wish you could be here in Saxonville for tomorrow’s 2006 season kickoff with the Tomcats. Thiel is the first of FOUR teams AU will host in 2006 that were in the post-season in 2005….Oct. 28 Hobart, Nov. 4 Ithaca, Nov. 11 Fisher….so you might want to mark those on your calendar.
If you’re not “sold” on the Saxons, here’s a little sales pitch:
AU had a good year in 2004 when they were 8-3 (losses to E8 foes Springfield, Ithaca, Fisher) and a great season in 2005 (9-2) with losses at W&L and at Ithaca and a 13-7 win AT FISHER (with their NCAA playoff bid on the line) to finish second in the E8, after which the Saxons were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Nevertheless, AU’s fight song reads, “…On Saxon Warriors, o’er every adversity, fight, fight for Alfred, A-L-F, R-E-D!”
It should be a great game tomorrow.
Hopefuuly,this will be Union’s year to go all the way. The Brown scrimmage was,apparently,a close affair. Unfortunately,Union lost it’s best wideout (Steve Angieletta)with a broken clavicle at the scrimmage. Hopefully he should be back soon and will be at 100% for the final 2 against Hobart and RPI.
I never know what to read into scrimmages against D1-AA teams, particulary they are against non-scholarship programs. Along with Union-Brown, Widener plays Penn JV and (I think) Ithaca plays Cornell.
But if the Dutch lost Angiletta, that’s a big blow. He’s a huge part of that offense.
All that said, I still think Union is the second best team in the region behind Rowan. It’s just the gap between Union and the rest of the non-Rowan east is alot narrower now.
Off weekend for MU and UWW, should the website be shutdown for the weekend? Those two teams should have hooked us this weekend for a little Stagg Bowl preview!
Your doubleheader reference reminds me of a classic Archie Bunker line. While conversing with a guy in the local unemployment office, Archie asks him, “Where did you go to college?” “William and Mary,” says the guy. “Oh,” says Archie, “two schools.”
:roll eyes:
There is no doubt that Angiletta is a huge blow for the Dutchmen. I will say though I cannot remember ever seeing a #2 reciever at the d3 level as good as Ryan Twitchell. He is fantastic, and as long as he can handle the pressure of being #1 he clearly has the talent. We will see today how well Union adapts in the air. Marotti is a year wiser and many are saying Arcidicano(spell?) has actually improved. I hope all goes well today. Anybody know anything about Springfield?
So much for the stars being in the right alignment for Union.
Just “googled” broken clavicle. The news is not good for Angiletta as far as returning before season’s end. We will discover very quickly the depth of Union’s bench and how well they adjust.