So here I am for the annual trip to Alliance where the weather is about 30-something degrees and there’s a good wind blowing across the field.
I feel a little silly wearing a Linfield sweatshirt, which I brought to have some fun with the SJU and Whitewater fans before the flight got cancelled. I need to buy some OAC wardrobe for these trips since we make enough of them.
Ric Brienza and “HS Coach” gave me a very pleasant surprise, printing me copies of their game charts which we have named “Brienzas” in honor of Ric. They combine all the players’ vital information in a shell that’s easy to complete for a new team and even easier to update for a team you’ve seen before. Bless their hearts for the help since this was a late change in travel plans.
A few Capital players were milling around at about 10 AM and seemed in good spirits. If nothing else, they won’t be intimidated playing in this Stadium. QB Rocky Pentello and the other four-year seniors are playing their sixth game against Mount Union.
As for the Purple Raiders, they are always good for some stunning stats.
– Nate Kmic averages 7.43 yards per carry and is within striking distance of Chuck Moore’s school record (7.46).
– The Purple Raiders are holding teams to 0.9 yards per carry. That’s about what you should get if your quarterback takes the snap and collapses forward.
The two guys I most look forward to seeing are Pentello to see how he stacks up against other OAC playoff quarterbacks in the past few years (Arth, Adamson) and Matt Kostelnik. A junior safety for the Purple Raiders, Kostelnik has amazing numbers — 44 tackles (fourth on the team), 11.5 TFL (2nd), 7.0 sacks (1st), 4 INTs (1st) including two for TDs. Hello, All-American team.
I’ll post some thoughts at the half and after the game, but the floor is certainly open for other thoughts from Wisconsin, Delaware, New York or wherever else you may be.
Gordon said:
“I feel a little silly wearing a Linfield sweatshirt, which I brought to have some fun with the SJU and Whitewater fans before the flight got cancelled.”
Wearing that sweatshirt is a clear indication that you’re a very bright person Gordon. I know you picked that up when you came out to the NW a few years ago…..is there still some dried up blood on that sweatshirt from the slaughter you witnessed on that weekend in 2004? 🙂
The “Brienzas” are a tremendous resource to anyone calling a football game. They’re a lot of work to put together but since being introduced to them in like 2001 I cannot picture calling a game without having one in front of me.
Probably takes two hours at this point to put a set together for two teams.
Sitting in a parking lot in Brownwood, Texas, by the way. 🙂
17-0 Fisher at half…. all I can say is wow so far
7-7 Cap and MUC at the half. Capital keeping it close and even missing on a few opportunities in the first half. The Crusaders COULD be leading right now, but at least they are still in it!
Isn’t this just like we predicted it? The Capital/Mount Union game is close at the half and the other two noon games are blowouts? 🙂
28-7 Wesley at the half. Wesley passing game tearing up UMHB defense. Cru scored on a fumble recovery.
Pat,
Don’t worry about it. Predictions are tough enough, and Cap didn’t show anything in the regular season that probably would have convinced you to pick otherwise.
Did someone forget to let UMHB know that there was a national quarterfinal playoff game today and that they were part of it?! How about the revenge factor to boot?!
I don’t want to jinx Wesley because there is another half to go……..but……….finish it off and make Eastern football followers proud (especially against a team from Texas)!!!!!!
So did Rowan send their JV team…. did not expect this… this is huge…
24-0 SJFC 7:30 to go in the 3rd……Fisher is dominating all aspects of this game right now. Rowan’s defense cannot stop Fisher. 3 Rowan turnovers and a Fisher punt return for a TD.
HUGE stop by Cap on the goal line to keep MUC from taking the lead.
Still 7-7.
4th Qtr, Cap D gives up a FG after a MUC punt return to the Cap 19.
10-7 MUC.
Just heard the Capital announcers say MUC has only thrown 8 passes today.
OHIO HERE WE COME!!!!!!
great season Rowan. Best of luck next year
Do you believe??? How good is this Fisher team?
UMHB coming back. Beginning of 4th quarter Wesley 28 UMHB 20.
MUC scores. 17-7 Mount. Cap needs to answer, but MUC’s defense is playing really well.
Touchdown CAP!!!!
5:10 left.
17-14 Mount.
Wesley just fumbled on UMHB 34. Still 28-20 Wesley.
1st down MUC. 2 mins left. Pretty much over.
Wesley defense takes fumble recovery 34yds for touchdown. Wesley34 UMHB 20. Wesley extra point blocked. 6:39 to go. What a game. Wesley has passed for over 400 yds while rushing for 6yds.
7 seconds left, Cap getting ready to throw a hail mary
Ballgame. Another 3 point loss in the playoffs.
Good luck next week, Mount fans.
First Post….Big time Johnnie fan in NY…being beat by UWW at the moment; but kudos to UWW for this webcast…it’s wonderful.
Mount Union played really well, their defense was lights out. So, not to take anything away from them, but Capital missed several opportunities. The kicker made a tackle on a kickoff, Jorris saved a TD on a Cap INT return, and Cap killed themselves at the end of the first half with penalties and negative plays after they got to the MUC 14 with a chance to kick a FG to go into the locker room ahead.
Great season for both. Two years in a row that I think Cap might be the second best team in the country.
Army-Navy is on now. Those of you who know me know where my loyalties lie in that one. And they just scored… Go ARMY!!!
Final- Wesley 34 UMHB 20
SJUny,
what is the address for the webcast of UWW / SJ
Go to the SJU official site; there’s a link there…it’s a fine job.
17-14 now Whitewater… this feels like Deja vu from the UWW-LAX game….
I have a BAD feeling about this.,..
I’m going to call the upset right now… 21-17 SJU…. SJU moving the ball down the field at will…. 3 minutes to go… I don’t think Whitewater can stop them…
actually uww stopped SJU on 4th and 10, warhawks 1:30 from a win! uww 17 SJU 14.
uww cant pick up the 3rd down conversion, 4th and 11 with :16 seconds left. SJU takes over at the SJU 24 with :08 seconds
SJU hail mary not answered uww 17 sju 14. Uww vs wesley next saturday. Rematch of last years semifinals. I think this year won’t be as much of a blow out! go uww! Pound the Rock!
WOW! What a finish! Glad I was wrong… Congrats UWW!
Good game SJU… #1 and #2 in the country got a REAL test this week…. my predicts for next week
UWW 24 WC 21
MUC 35 SJF 14
Stagg Bowl Rematch…. IMHO, neither team is as good as last year… i think the Stagg Bowl might end up with a 20-17 or so score if there is a rematch…
Congrats to UWW; you broke my heart, BUT, I was able to view the game; great job with the broadcast and even though the announcers were “homers” (duh; they should have been), they were wonderfully fair in their commentary…wonderful job all around with this webcast…it should be a staple on Fall afternoons at more schools…with SJU’s history, I’m sure we’ll see it soon.
Warhawk…not going to predict a fisher win…but I think today showed that this Fisher team is better than anyone thought
HOLY MOLY!
I have to give major respect to all teams today – winners and non-winners.
St. John Fisher and Wesley get major props for their BIG wins, and St. John’s and Capital get major props for giving #1 and #2 all they could handle.
I don’t really know much about Wesley – are they really that good? Evidently. The same with Fisher.
All teams today deserve respect from all of us for playing so hard all year long to even make it this far, let alone farther still.
How were the Italian Beef sandwiches?
Wesley game was great. If you’d have told me yesterday that the Wolverines would be up by 21 at halftime i’d have smacked you in the face. Nevertheless the game got much closer than it needed due to some dumb plays on Wesley’s behalf, and some perplexing calls (and mostly perplexing noncalls) by the officials, who otherwise actually did a decent job – although last week’s for the Carnegie Mellon game were just oustanding. Still, UHMB fought and didn’t give up and played like their hair was on fire in the 3rd quarter. What a turnaround.
For next week… a shame that they have to travel. Going 10-0 at home in ONE season is pretty sweet.
By the way, anybody here agree that the national semifinal games should be held at neutral locations? Doesn’t seem fair to make two teams travel long distances to teams that they had no involvement with, and where only opinionated rankings are the reason for the home games. It’s the final four, you think it should still be in the higher seed’s region in the NCAA basketball tournament too? No, that’s why they pick another city. It’s a silly rule for DIII, and of course i know the reason is money, but that doesn’t make it right.
I think the higher seeds have earned the home field and I have no problem with it.
There are no D-IA football playoffs to compare to. Are you going to call for a neutral site for the AFC and NFC championship games? That’s the next comparison.
Honestly I think it’s fine…I have an issue with basketball because the crowd makes more of a difference in a crowded gymnasium then a football field….and It’s only 5 hours from fisher about the same distance that Springfield is….so lets go play ball
The right team came out of the East bracket. Excellent work Fisher! Rowan has a great defense but their offense just wasn’t up to their usual standard this year, and honestly I don’t think they would have done well against the nation’s best.
I’ve been singing your praises all season SJFC. Now go to Alliance and represent the East, and upstate NY football!
Pat and Keith, and D3 Football – Wrong Again… St John Fisher 31 – Rowan zip… Fisher wins the Lambert Trophy, and will represent the East in the Final Four, and a trip to Ohio to play Mount Union next Saturday…
How good is Fisher… We’ll see next week when we play the number 1 team in the nation, in their back yard… By everything I saw today, my guess is that they’ll be ready… The Fisher defense is strong, and fast, and they seem to “Feed” off of one another… The offense will get the job done by land or air; the O-Line averages about 3-bills, yet deceptionally quick and exceptionally strong… Their special teams excel…
What an opportunity these kids will have to be able play at Mount Union… NY State, keep pullin’ for us; D3 had us gone a long time ago… And the loyal followers “The Fisher Faithful” thanks for another great tail-gate today, thanks for making this program a “Football Family” and we’ll see you in Ohio on Saturday…
No i’m not going to argue for NFL conference finals to be in neutral cities because… see… they’re in the SAME CONFERENCE. They played (basically) the same competition. Again, my comparison to NCAA basketball holds strong.
WarhawkBadger,
Mount Union is Mount Union and the fans and players at Fisher have the utmost respect for them, but a 35-14 prediction over a Fisher team that has beat every team they’ve played this year?
Some quick stats:
Fisher points avg. pts. per game-40
Opponents points per game- 13
Fisher yards per game avg.- 424
Opponents yards per game- 250
**take away the regular season loss to Springfield when Fisher played minus 3 defensive starters and these numbers are even more impressive
These numbers weren’t put up against nobody teams either; Rowan, Springfield, Union, and Ithaca were all top 25 teams this season.
I think the game will be a bit tighter than you anticipate….
Flurries never showed, neither did Rowan’s luck. SJF scored my original 31, guess I under-estimated our defense or let you guys talk me into over-estimating Rowan’s offense. Rowan looked tired from all the away games. Next week will tell whether SJF has arrived or not.
SJF 24 MUC 21
PS Harmon 2 REC for 35 and a TD, SJU 198 yds rushing (not counting the sacks)
Mount Union 24 My pickem
SJF 19 Go SJF!!
MUC is vulnerable but makes the big plays when they have to.
UW-W 21 My pickem
Wesley 20 Go Wesley!!
A Wesley win would not be as big an upset to me.
No Offense SJF fans… i just think MUC got a “wakeup call” today in a narrow win, and will look to “dominate” next week… though, its very possible that MUC is looking ahead to the UWW-MUC rematch in the Stagg Bowl and could be due for a letdown. I think its also fair to say the East Bracket was TERRIBLE. I think St. Johns, UWW, or UWLC all would have easily won the East Bracket.
I’ve had a bad feeling about UWW the past two weeks, and i think next week will be close as well. When you beat LAX, SJU, and Wesley by 40-50 points, the next meeting is certainly going to be closer.
Nothing Against
Congrats to Fisher, Now go to Ohio and finish the job! But some of your fans need to stop talking about missing players against Springfield and admit you got beat . There are no excuses in Football!
Pridefan agreed that we got beat the first time we played you…but look at the second game when we had the 3 guys back and in the game….there was no running game….calling the east region terrible is a little far off calling it a little down is ok but remember the teams in the e8 and LL have all gotten to be so good that they just beat up on each other…
Kudos to St. John Fisher for their win over Rowan today. Good luck in Alliance next week. It’s a tough place to play. As someone who went to the D3 semis there three years ago, I can attest to that as my beloved BC Eagles were defeated there 66-0. If St. John Fisher can survive the bitter cold there (27F & high winds) and not be intimidated, it should be a good game. Good luck to all the D3 semifinalists! Will there be a rematch of last year’s Stagg Bowl? We shall see.