K-Mack’s already done a nice job looking at this weekend’s action so I’ll just quickly throw my two-cents (plink, plink) in the jar.
Wish you were here: While the showdown between No. 7 Hardin-Simmons and No. 11 Linfield should be a lot of fun, I’m pretty satisfied with where I’ll be this week — Edwardsville, Pa. for No. 12 Delaware Valley vs. No. 19 Wilkes.
This game has played a big part in deciding who will win the conference title the last three years. In 2003 Wilkes upended upstart Delaware Valley, knocking the Aggies out of first place for good. In 2004 Del Val clinched the school’s first ever NCAA playoff appearance for a team sport by beating Wilkes 12-0. In 2005 a late field goal by Bill Miller was the margin of victory in the game and the season as the Aggies nosed out Wilkes for the title.
I don’t know how much offense there will be on Saturday, but the two defenses are very good. Maybe first one to 10 wins.
Down sleep on this one: Christopher Newport opened the season by getting drubbed 32-0 by No. 3 Rowan and then bounced back to upset then-No. 6 Mary Hardin-Baylor. Salisbury basically did the opposite, opening with a win over then-No. 15 Washington & Jefferson and then getting beaten handily by Brockport last week. This is a crucial game for both teams who come in 1-1.
Just throwing it out there: Big weekend for the CCIW and the UAA. Elmhurst and Chicago meet after winning their openers by a combined score of 86-0. Wheaton (Ill.) gets a good test in 2-0 Washington University. If you can’t get to a game on Saturday, you could hopefully still watch that second one via streaming video on WETN.
Most likely Top 25 team to lose: Obviously at least two will lose with the aforementioned games between ranked teams. But Bethel could make it three against No. 23 Concordia-Moorhead who is coming off a loss, a bye and a road trip. UW-Whitewater isn’t “likely†to lose, but NAIA Azusa Pacific is a big test and hasn’t lost to a Division III team in a long time.
Super Ridiculous Pick of the Week: It wasn’t that long ago that Hartwick lost some heartbreaking games to Ithaca. In 2002 and 2003 the Bombers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Hawks 19-18. Since the 2003 loss Hartwick has won 8 games total with some Arena Footballicious scores along the way (70-41, 59-41).
Ithaca has given no reason to pick against them in the first two weeks with convincing wins over Buff State and Huntingdon. Meanwhile Hartwick needed a shootout victory over Endicott in Week 1.
So naturally this is a perfect candidate for this week’s super ridiculous pick of the week – Hartwick 42 Ithaca 41 2 OT
And finally…
A pretty cool souvenir: When a certain MIAA team is done playing Austin College this week, they should return home with Austin’s nickname and become the Kalamazoo Kangaroos.
I’ll take a stab at some of the big games this weekend:
Salisbury 23 Christopher Newport 17
Widener 41 Lycoming 14
Union 34 Muhlenberg 24
Hardin Simmons 38 Linfield 31
Whitewater 37 Azusa-Pac 7
Bethel 17 Conc-Moorhead 14
Sorry Gordon but no…
Ithaca 56 Hartwick 14
Would not be surprised to see Wilkes convincingly win.
and the pick everyone is waiting for…
Norwich 24 Husson 21
Union must reestablish itself with a big statement this weekend against Muhlenberg. The Mules are a respectable program and will be no pushover. Can an Angilettaless Union team readjust enough to justify their still lofty yet vulnerable ranking? Second chances for playoff inspired teams are very elusive in DIII. A second loss this weekend could doom the Dutchmen psychologically if not literally.
There is no doubt that this is a must win for the Dutchmen after last weeks defeat at Springfield. I still believe in this team and feel they have an opportunity to repeat as LL champs. Yet after being at Springfield last week I just could not get over how Springfield ran the ball over and over again with success. I know Springfield is talented but it really leaves a big question mark when it comes to the Union defense. Even without Angiletta, Unions offense is still dangerous, I just don’t think that they can afford to get into the offensive shootouts this year and come out on top. Unions defense must step up for the rest of the season and take the pressure of Marotti, Arcidiacano and Twitchell. I belive they can, there are some very talented kids on that side of the ball. Yet, the proof lyes on the field. If the Dutchmen are to be successful mark my words it will come down to the D.
Ok maybe I am overly optimistic, but I am going to say, CNU wins big against Salisbury, Ferrum pulls out a high scoring close one at home against BC!!!, NCW wins against E&H, Methodist over now DII Chowan, Averett clipping Guilford, Shenandoah winning close against Waynesburg and Maryville beating conference foe Greensboro. That would bring the USAC to 7-1 on the week and 10-11 on the year. USAC may not have the best Conference record but have played pretty impressive competition. Yet maybe I am being just too optimistic, USAC could easily go 1-7 this week also. So let the games begin.
From a quick look over west coast d3 schools, I think the last loss by Azusa to a D3 team was in 2001, it lost to Cal Lu. in september and then to Chapman in Novemeber. might have been one more recently, but I only looked over the SCIAC, NWC members and Chapman.
I agree that Union’s D needs to step up…I believe they will. The kind of offense that Springfield runs is very difficult to prepare for. Apparently their QB is “filthy”…according to my son who plays D line for Union. I think they will play much better against a more traditional Mules offense.
Let’s go Union!
My beloved CCIW took a hit last week, but I look for them to bounce back this week. UWW will destroy Azusa. I think CortlandFootball has that score nailed down. I think he is right about Linfield getting it too.
Hmmm – Barnacle says he may be “overly optimistic,” but he thinks the USASAC will win all 6 interconference matchups this week. Sorry, I just don’t see it, but I do hope they win all but three. PS: Go ODAC!
where are all these union fans on the llpp?
hobart needs a statement win over wpu this weekend. our effort against dickinson was not top 25 worthy.
Hey Barnacle…nothing wrong with a little positive thinking, so I’ll cut you a deal. If I can find a Time Machine by kick off time, I’ll swing by and pick you up and we can go back to 1990 when Ferrum spanked Bridgewater 37-0. It’ll probably be a better outcome than Saturday..maybe.
While were back in ’90, might as well catch the Panthers 77-7 squeaker over the Monarchs of Methodist, as that is an iffy game in ’06.
Azuza Pacific beating Whitewater what a joke. They will lose by 5 touchdowns to UWW at least.
Well I do think the BC game will be close. Ferrum will not be shut out. If the Defense shows up, the game will be closer than most expect, if not then maybe I am a little overly optimistic. I think CNU carries last weeks momentum over to this week. If Averett can stop Guilfords QB then they are capable of picking up the W. Of the 6 interconference games, I think Ferrum will post a winning record. Hopefully- 6-0, realistically 4-2. As for the ODAC, the conference is about as strong as last years conference. Guilford just replaced HSC, who will most likely start the year out 0-4, though I can picture them only winning 2 games.
Being a Ferrum grad, I would love to see the Panthers knock off BC today. Don’t see it happening. I do see the BC shutout streak ending though. Playing at home, if the Panthers can get a few breaks early, this game could be closer than some expect.
Say you heard it here first: H-SC is going to have a tough year but they will knock off Guilford next week. They have the extra week to prepare, time to get everyone healthy, the Fr. QB’s have gotten a little game experience, and they will be playing at home in front of a Family Weekend crowd. With Bridgewater looming the following week, the Tigers know this is a must win if they are to have any hope of saving their season. I think they will be ready to play.
Azusa is very overrated in NAIA poll but really who can tell after only a couple weeks of play. They do have a good scholarship program and “might” be able to pull off the win over probably the best team UWW in D3 on the road…. Wasn’t it late last season that Azusa then ranked 9th in NAIA beat Trinity ranked 8th in D3 / 34-7 on the road.
BC 30 Ferrum 27 OT
Ferrum went for it on 4th and goal inside the one. WOW!!
Well Ferrum lost a close one….CNU won a close one, Averett won, maybe the USAC will have a great week. 5-1 against interconference match-ups would be a fantastic week.
Why did they throw it? They pounded BC all day…Why throw it if your going to go for it, why not just run it again. Pitts- 242 yards rushing against BC Player of the week.
“where are all these union fans on the llpp?”
Perhaps they want to talk football, not whatever the heck you guys are talking. It’s one thing to clutter the board in the offseason but now perhaps you are inhibiting the conversation.
Coaching is the problem at Ferrum. They’ve had enough opps to win the past few seasons. The players are there….the plays aren’t!!
Ouch — seems a little harsh on the Ferrum staff there.
It’s not harsh….it is, what it is. Ferrums post Coach Norton era successes revolve around
last minute catch ups (which didn’t work today against Bridgewater), and positive high scoring shoot-outs.
First quarter dominations of there opponents are rare.
To the players credit…..they are a good 0-2 team.
I would have to agree. I remember quite a few “questionable” calls at the end of some games. There is no question the players are there, Pitts broke Chris Warren single game rushing record today. If only Hank Norton would come out of retirement. Ferrum may be 0-2 right now, but still has a shot at the Conference title and a playoff spot. I still think it is going to come down to the CNU game for the conference. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Coach Norton is a legend. Coach Davis has had a tough act to follow from day one. I figured he would be criticized for running 3 and throwing on 4th down. Probably not the mix I would have used but with first and goal inside the 5, Ferrum should have won the ballgame….period!! My hats off to the BC defense.
Also, some will say he should have kicked the FG to tie. That is certainly a debatable point, but as I said previously, it never should have come to that.
I agree, Ferrum should have won. A look at the numbers alone suggests Ferrum outplayed BC. Playing against a top 10 team, you have to go for it when you have a chance to win. I just do not understand why they do not run it with only 1 yard to go? Go with your strength. The question we should be asking is where has the Defense gone? Ferrum gives up way to many points. The offense is going to put up 30 a game and manage the clock, the defense has to step up if they want to win the USAC.
Sounds like BC-Ferrum was one of the games of the week.
From the comparative score dept.:
Guilford 49, Ferrum 35
Averett 54, Guilford 34
So how is it that Ferrum only has to worry about CNU?
Keith, comparing scores will get you in trouble. I know because I do it all the time. 🙂 I do agree though that Ferrum better be worrying about Shenandoah, etc. before they worry about CNU.
So much for my earlier post about Maryville. They just can’t seem to win the close ones. The Methodist debacle from last year still puts a knot in my stomach.
BC has had their scare. Barring a major meltdown, they should cruise now. Guilford and possibly W&L may be games worth seeing.
Ok..ok, it pains me to say but hats off to your Jackets Keith for winning a couple. Still early though, R-MC still has time to choke. 🙂 They have been the biggest enigma of the ODAC in recent years so I dare not make any predictions. As someone posted earlier, R-MC vs H-SC could be fun this year.
I think I posted the RMC v. HSC game should be fun. I also think RMC will have more wins than HSC. HSC has fallen and do not think they can get up. Matching up scores would suggest Bridgewater should lose to Guilford. I just do not think Averett is ready to be a contender. I may be wrong but it should be a great game either way.
Keith- a high school buddy of mine went to RMC and says he can’t wait for the HSC game. I think RMC finally feels it can match up with its arch rival.
Well,
One thing about becoming a national guy is that you lose your homer appeal, especially when the students, staff and AD are all different than when you went there.
The thing about R-MC/H-SC is you have to go back to ’93 to find a time when they were both great in the same year. There were some good games despite that (45-42, 7-0, etc.), but rivalries crest when both teams are good and playing for that rivalry win, plus a conference title, playoff berth or what have you.
Until R-MC/H-SC gets back to that level, I’m not sure I want to see it over Cortaca Jug, Monon Bell, etc., sad to say. I’m always rooting for the Jackets wherever I’m at though, and it’d be great to see them not only have one winning season but sustain it for a few years. I really miss how good we were in the Riccio/Waters days.
And the game is always an event and usually trumps Homecoming. If you’ve never been to it or any big-time, small-school game, it’s ill. Nothing like it.