Game day from regional semis

Posted on by

Leftover turkey…check.

Saturday afternoon sweats….check.

Eight great games to decide the regional finalists…check.

Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan went over the (Susquehanna) river and Frank Rossi and Mark Robinson went through the (Upstate NY) woods to bring you Muhlenberg-Wesley and St. John Fisher-Curry respectively on the NCAA Sports broadcasts.

The first game will be a match-up between the underrated, but very good Muhlenberg defense and a Wesley offense with great speed on the outside. The second game will be a test whether Curry has anything left after last week’s blowout of Hartwick and whether SJF can be caught watching the scoreboard a little in anticipation of a rematch with you-know-who. And Mark Robinson immediately becomes the all-time leading rusher in D3sports broadcasting history with his debut today.

Interesting games all over the place, though. Let’s hear about them.

223 thoughts on “Game day from regional semis”

  10. LoyalSon-Funny.

    That brings up a point though, remember all the grinding and gnashing of teeth when Lance Liepold was named head coach? The popular vote was for the offensive coordinator from last year. Not saying he couldn’t have done a good job as well, but no matter what happens from here on out-coach Lanny has done a great job with this team.

  11. Voice just called for a d3football.com defensive player of the week for Ryan Orgizovich on the radio broadcast. Check out his numbers so far today:

    6.5 TT
    5.0 TFL -16 yards
    4.0 Sacks -10 yards
    1 interception returned 40 yards for a TD

    I would have to agree with Voice on that one!!! What a game!

  20. sjf,

    Looks like you got the nightmare you wanted. I heard the game plan for SJF this year is to try and keep Kmic to under 350 yards rushing. Don’t forget Garcon is healthy this year, should make a difference in the passing game which should help SJF with their game plan.

  22. RunFerrum
    I don’t know. I think Wesley is much much better than NCW…no offense Bishop fans. I think UMHB will get its revenge for the past two exits from the playoffs…but it will be closer than that. 35-28 Crusaders.

  24. At least Wesley gets them at Home. But UMHB has been rolling recently. Try not to pay any attention to the polls or rankings. Outside Mt. Union and WW they were not that accurate. I had UMHB as the top seed in the South, Wesley as #2 and NCW as #3. (NCW lost by 3 to Wesley earlier this year on the road). I have UMHB going to salem and losing to WW but the way they are playing they may see Mt. Union in the Championship game.

  26. If the UMHB team that played today shows up next week, UMHB will beat Wesley and then most likely have the rematch with Whitewater. I can see this team going to Salem. not the team that played Whitewater earlier in the season.

  27. Really? They are that much better than they were a month ago? I know Whitewater lost Jacobs, Stanley, Schmidt, and Kleppe from last years team, but I honestly think that this is the best team they have had during their 3 year run. I would be very, very suprised if it’s not Mount Union vs. Whitewater again for the Stagg Bowl. But hey I am BiasD3FootballFan.

  28. UMHB would have to play flawless against UWW. Outside of the fumble on the opening drive today and the punt on the second drive….UMHB’s first offensive team was close to flawless…Defense was near perfect. UMHB must take care of Wesley and UWW must beat Wabash. If that happens, the UMHB-UWW rematch will be closer….if the CRU can play like they have the last couple of weeks.

  29. TDD Says:
    November 24th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
    sjf,

    Looks like you got the nightmare you wanted.
    —————–

    It is the match up all in Fisher land have been looking forward to for just about a year now. It is not a nightmare, it is a dream. You see, we don’t run and hide and just concede games. You get no where with that attitude (as the OAC has learned). In order to be the team – you have to beat the team. The program’s ascension has been because it has known who it has to overcome each step of the way to become the best – on the state level (Ithaca), on a regional level (Rowan), and now on the national level (MUC) – it is the only natural progression.

  31. My vote for best post today goes to mpEagle

    “Vote for Beaver and Wally, not for Eddie Haskell.” That’s the matchup next week….Wally vs. the Beaver.

  33. Here were my picks… (My upset special didn’t come through)…
    MUC 46, New Jersey 21… (Actual Mount Union wins 59 – 7)
    Saint John Fisher 34, Curry 13… (Actual SJFC wins 38 – 7)
    Bethel 27, UW-Eau Claire 14… (Actual Bethel wins 21 – 12)
    Mary Hardin-Baylor 38, N.C. Wesleyan 17 (Actual MHB 69 – 0 )
    Wesley 21, Muhlenberg 13… (Actual Wesley wins 38 – 21)
    UW-Whitewater 46, North Central 24… (Actual UW-W wins 59 – 28)
    Wabash 21, Case 14… (Actual Wabash wins 38 – 23)

    Saint John’s 28, Central 24… (Actual Central wins 37 – 7 )

  34. Now the Cardinals are getting ready to “Fly” into Alliance, to play the NUMBER 1 team in the nation; some say the greatest team ever in D3 Football… What an opportunity for Fisher, and, then to have Mount Union on their schedule starting in 2008 (that’s like Buzz Aldrin turning around to get a sip of Tang, and Neil Armstrong jumping out onto the moon ahead of him)… OMG, Playing that E8 schedule and MUC too… Well, what better way to improve as a team, than by playing the best… And MUC is the best… We’ll be ready though, we’ll show no fear, we’ll show the respect that is due, we won’t back down, and then we can only hope we get the ball to bounce our way a few extra times…

  35. This may have been covered by someone already –

    The top 6 in D3’s poll are of the 8 remaining – certainly adds a level of credibility to the rankings – nice job.

  36. SJFFan,

    It adds to the credibility of D3’s Poll that is for sure….but not to all of the NCAA seeds…..(UMHB #4)….sorry for the bitterness. I would have love to see UMHB have one more home game in the playoffs.

  37. There is no doubt that the Fisher guys are ready. They knew this was coming and they have been waiting. Mount is like a big steak to them. This game will be about who is mentally prepared, yes, but, I believe that Mount is so dominant because of their pure size and strength. Can the Fast Fisher D slow down the Strong and steady Mount O-line? Can they stop KMIC? With Stepnick possibly out, what does that mean for the passing game??? More importantly, will the Fisher O-line be able to put numbers on the d-line of mount? Yes, I am biased towards Fisher, Yes I believe they can win, so my question to all you cardinal crazies and mount topplers is how do you beat them? They have the attitude of a winning team, and I know because I see them every week, I know they aren’t afraid but like SJFCCard says they do know what they are capable of.

    All you posters out there, here are my questions:
    -Because Fisher and Mt. Union have played before, what team will that benefit more if any?
    -What are specific details that Fisher will need to do to win the game against Mt. Union if they have any chance?
    -Where is Mt. Union weak right now?

    Finally, I would like to say that game is going to be great, and I expect something very similair to last year. If you remember, if the field goal wasn’t blocked FIsher would’ve been tied in the fourth quarter with Mt. Union. So to the Mt. Union Fans, explain to me WHY this year will be a blow out unlike last year? Like I said Fisher is the one to prove something, and no one has challenged Mt. Union reign over D3 football recently, I can’t wait for next saturday!!!!!

  38. D3-

    Where’s the love for UMHB? This is all they get: “The Wolverines will host Mary Hardin-Baylor, which beat N.C. Wesleyan 64-0.” 🙂 The Crusaders held NCW to only 46 yards of total offense (same as MU) and scoreless. The Battling Bishops did not get past the 50 yard line. The UMHB 3rd string RB scored 4 TDs. I think that is a pretty good day….overall. I am sure you guys are traveling back from Dover. Great job on the call of the Wesley game. I was listening to you guys online while tuning into the UMHB game on my radio. Will you be calling the UMHB-Wesley game next Saturday? Safe travels!!

  39. Where are yellow_jacket98 and repete when we all need to hear from them? We’d all be interested in your comments regarding SJF Fan’s post at 5:47pm earlier today!

  40. November 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 am

    repete – I took my deep breath (I need it these days managing a hedge fund in this market!!). My issue was your comment about the “rambling” about Garcon and his chances to make the NFL. I’ve got friends / clients at the next level (NFL…….not D2:) involved in scouting and personnel and a couple have him on their “watch list” and a couple don’t have him anywhere. I was just interested in getting an opinion (which I did) from people who have seen him play in person (I haven’t) and were interested enough in answering the question. If you don’t fall into either camp…….no harm in taking a pass on the question……without commentary about the “rambling” on the subject. And as far as advanced degrees go, let’s stay away from that completely. That has come up in the past when certain people start “East bashing” (I think you know one of them quite well:). At this level of football, that should never happen as you know. Since the emphasis is on “student”……not “athlete” at this level, it is correct to be defensive, when attacked, by talking about the sheer number of incredible institutions on the eastern corridor alone between New England and down through Virginia. I’ll also confess that my SAT score DID NOT HELP the 1467 SAT average of my graduating class at Swarthmore!! There, I feel better!!

    yellow_jacket98……if that’s your graduating class (‘98) then I have my answer……you’re still a kid!! Don’t let the facts get in the way. I took a look at my posts this year and they were (1) directed at Gordon Mann about the MAC conference (2) asking those in the know if Mount Union…..in an App State kind of way…..could beat a solid D2 program on their best day (3) Eagles commentary (and by the way, unless you’re from New England, it really doesn’t amtter this year does it?!) directed at Keith McMillan because he grew up in the Philly area and remains a fan (4) Garcon’s/Kmic’s chances at the next level (5) keeping D3 football in perspective and remembering our veterans and those in the military in our thoughts and prayers on Veterans Day…….and I had numerous people seconding my thoughts (not you though…….are you afraid because if we go to a draft, you’re young enough to get drafted?:).

    There were no posts attributed to me about my intelligence or my money…..you’ve got the wrong guy. And as I stated above, when that’s come up in the past, it’s been strictly defensive (“East bashing”) and never offensive.
    Enough out of you……but I do wish you a happy holiday season nonetheless!!

    For all of us people of faith, please keep Siran Stacy in your thoughts and prayers. The former Alabama running back (and Eagles draft pick) lost his wife and four of his children in a car accident a couple of days ago. Reality check for all of us about the things that really matter in life!!

  41. vhwon — Sorry, we had no details on the game other than the score at the time we had to hit the road from Wesley and we are rewriting the front page now. You’ll see we’ve already done some of it as we speak.

  42. Pat-

    No worries. I am surprised the SID did not release the recap to you yet. The stats of this game are overwhelming. I appreciate all that you guys do for these schools and the game of football at the D3 level. Your work does not go unnoticed. KUDOS to all of you with D3Football.com.

  43. Just finished watching the replay of the Mount Union win over, what was their names, TCNJ 59-7 . Honestly, I’m going to stop reading the press stories. Those guys from New Jersey didn’t offer any more competition then some of the teams we see playing in the OAC. In fact I thought they really needed some fine tuning.
    Big and slow, good but not good enough.
    In truth the films of that game will we worthless to anyone.

  44. Pat,

    thanks for the mention of the running back trio of UMHB. Thrasher’s 95 yards came on 9 plays and he left after the 1st quarter. No offense meant to Bishop fans…but how did W&J lose? I wonder if NCW was just tired. Trust me UMHB did not run up the score. The only bright spot for the Bishops was that they forced UMHB to kick some FGs and the crusaders lost two fumbles. If they don’t do that, UMHB could have scored 80 points.

  45. rachacha,

    It’s impossible that SJF had a field goal blocked to tie the game last year when they were behind 19-14 when they lined up to kick the field goal. Mount Union then proceeded to ram the ball through the SJF defense to effectively end the game.

    So, they played a wonderful game last year but let’s get history correct, ok?

    Now, to address a question of yours. Historically, the benefit of playing before will benefit Mount Union the most. Mount Union has a history of burying teams after they’ve seen them once before.

  46. Good Lord guys,
    That’s a lot of posts to catch up on from today, had to skim some. Interesting to see there was some concern there for a while in the UWW game but they finished with a flourish. Just looking at the final alone, one wouldn’t think that game was any kind of struggle.

    Anyway, kind of fun to read this thread and see the day in a nutshell. And like clockwork, as soon as the final finals start arriving about 5 p.m., the smack talk starts rolling.

    A couple interesting things to note:

    Bethel and Central have two common opponents, in Buena Vista and St. John’s. The Royals 1-1 vs. them in two close games (21-16 and 17-14), while for Central those two were a couple of the Dutch’s few blowouts (31-14 and 37-7).

    Wesley and UMHB’s common opponent in NCWC certainly doesn’t favor the Wolverines (34-31 vs. 64-0) but they couldn’t have played further apart, Week 1 and Round 2 of the postseason. I asked during our broadcast was NCWC a fair approximation of the speed Wesley can throw out there? Maybe, but UHMB can match it and Wesley’s size and line play will make them look a lot different than the Bishops.

    Of course Wesley is 2-0 in the past two years vs. UMHB, including once in Texas, but very respectful toward them today and looking forward to doing it again. Does last year’s result trump comparative scores, or do (more likely) neither of them mean a darn thing?

    Outside of the UWW game, UMHB has been downright dominant. Since Wesley’s often been the same the past few years except when matched up against UWW, perhaps it all makes sense.

    Not sure which way I’m going with either of those picks next week, Central-Bethel or UMHB-Wesley. Should be some pretty good quarterfinal games, although there might be 3 clear favorites.

  47. SJF Fan at 9:07 and vhwon shortly after … thanks for noticing.

    Not sure what RunFerrum was looking at when he said: “Try not to pay any attention to the polls or rankings. Outside Mt. Union and WW they were not that accurate.”

    Hey, our poll has flaws, they all do, but just because you clash with Pat and I from time to time over the strength of the USAC and its teams doesn’t make the above even close to right. If you planned on slandering our poll, you picked a bad time 🙂

    As noted on a different blog thread, here are this week’s matchups, with end-of-season D3football.com rankings:
    No. 5 St. John Fisher at No. 1 Mount Union
    No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor at No. 6 Wesley
    No. 9 Bethel at No. 3 Central
    No. 12 Wabash at No. 2 UW-Whitewater

    As noted by Pat too: “And even though Wabash stands out as being the lowest ranked team to advance, in fact, Wabash was the highest ranked team of the four in its group — nobody higher could have advanced. In every foursome, the highest ranked team in the
    D3football.com poll advanced, even though the higher seeded teams did not always
    do so.”

    As noted by vhwon after that: “Well, if it is MU, Central, UWW and UMHB in the final four….then you guys have the poll done right.”

    Personally, I don’t have to see these kinds of things to know that our pollsters are doing the best they can with the information they have. No poll is flawless, things happen on the field each week that go against expectations.

    But the above point bears repeating if for no other reason than to demonstrate how the elite have separated themselves from the pretty good in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and how few true surprises (if any) lasted more than two rounds.

  48. Buckeye:

    Thanks for the clarification – what I was basically making the point of was that was a major momentum breaker for SJF. If Fisher makes that it’s a two point game, a possible stop could set us up for at least another field goal. That was a toughhh play and it broke the spirits of the team (as I was standing right next to them). That is what Fisher has to stay away from…plays that will ruin morale or stop momentum, because once they get it, its hard to stop them (that goes for either team). This quote from Kehres and Vosburgh after the game last year says it all:

    “Mount Union extended its lead to 16-7 on its first drive of the second half, but the Cardinals again answered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive. Fisher converted three fourth-down plays on the drive, including a 20-yard reception by James Reile (Herkimer/Herkimer) to the Mount Union 1. Four plays later, Robinson plunged into the endzone to make it 16-14.
    ”Fourteen plays, 75 yards into the wind — that was a very impressive drive,” said Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres. “St. John Fisher is a very good team. They respected us, but they did not fear us.”
    Mount Union tacked on a field goal on the final play of the third quarter to take a 19-14 lead going into the final period.
    Fisher responded with 61-yard drive, penetrating to the Purple Raiders’ 16-yard line on a 22-yard pass to Jackson, but couldn’t gain more yards on the next three plays. Chris Pierri (Fairport/Fairport) attempted a 33-yard field goal to pull Fisher to within two points, but his kick just nicked a Mount Union defender and sailed wide right.
    “That was probably the play of the game, because we had the momentum,” said Fisher head coach Paul Vosburgh. “We needed to answer Mount Union’s score with a field goal of our own and get it back to a two-point game, but they made the play when they needed one.”

    Sooo as I said, I am looking forward to the purple suits and the crazies going at it. It should be a good one. I think it will be all about momentum and who can capitalize from last years game….and some pure physical elements. :-/

    D3 Keith: I have always thought the poll was dead on, for example, I think Fisher losing to Hartwick was a good example of how the poll didn’t reflect the fluke of a loss – as you can see by the curry hartwick alfred scenerio…SJF cleared everyone out, but hartwick, and hartwick ends up bombing out to Curry who we trounce on. Boltus is good, but not enough playoff experience like SJF…nice poll/standings. It’s been a great season, I just hope my guys can pull the biggest upset of their lives off.

  49. So is UMHB that much better than Wesley? Did Wesley get stronger as the year went on? or did NCWC have a day against UMHB where everything went wrong?

  50. The complete destruction of NCWC was probably the traveling long distances back to back weeks. Actually that may have been a part of it, but mostly UMHB is just that good. Maybe if the game was at a neutral site and NCW was not disadvantaged by traveling a long distance it would have been a more competitive game lets say 42-0.

    I have had MHB in my top 4 all year. If anything I know the South Region. They will dominate Wesley, on Wesley’s home field. Wesley may be improved but they are just not as good as MHB.

    MHB should have been a top seed. I do not think they are as capable as WW or Mt. Union, they have to be at least the clear number 3. (unless someone wants to argue Central).

    Good luck and I am sure most of USA South will be rooting for you to make it to Salem.

Leave a Reply