Game Day: The situation room

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All 23 automatic bids have been decided. Be sure to check back later for our projections of who will come away with the at-large bids.

Bids clinched
Aurora (NATHC)
Cortland State (NJAC)
Christopher Newport (USAC)
Franklin (HCAC)
Hobart (Liberty League)
Ithaca (Empire 8 )
Lycoming (MAC)
Mary Hardin-Baylor (ASC)
Millsaps (SCAC)
Monmouth (MWC)
Mount Union (OAC)
Muhlenberg (CC)
North Central (Ill.) (CCIW)
Occidental (SCIAC)
Plymouth State (NEFC)
Randolph-Macon (ODAC)
St. John (MIAC)
Thomas More (PAC)
Trine (MIAA)
UW-Stevens Point (WIAC)
Wabash (NCAC)
Wartburg (IIAC)
Willamette (NWC)

198 thoughts on “Game Day: The situation room”

  1. It’s a cold and rainy afternoon in upstate New York as Cortland and Ithaca play for the Cortaca Jug.

    Ithaca starts back-up Brian Grastorf at quarterback in place of Dan Juvan. Grastorf looks comfortable on Ithaca’s opening drive and the Bombers have moved the ball into Cortland territory with a combination of runs by Bergerstock, Ruggerio and Grastorf and several passes.

    Bergerstock already though is on the sideline, and Ruggerio is in the backfield as the featured back.

  2. The Monon Bell is ringing over on the DePauw side of the field here at Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium. It rained most of the morning but has stopped for now, leaving us with an overcast, windy afternoon with a temperature in the low 40s. The wind really whips down the length of the field. More on that later.

    I’ll be on Wabash’s radio broadcast a little after 12:30 p.m. ET.
    http://www.wabash.edu/kane/realaudio/index.cfm

  3. Well that’s an opening statement by the Bombers.

    Ithaca drives down the field on its initial possession (a 78-yard drive) and scores on a touchdown pass from Brian Grastorf to Kyle Crandall. Crandall got behind the Cortland secondary and was wide open in the end zone. Grastrof 5-of-5 passing on the drive.

    The Bomber offense operated most of the drive with Brian Grastorf (Dan Juvan’s back-up for most of the season) and back-up running back Dan Ruggiero.

    7-0 IC, 9:36 1st Q

  4. The cloud covering has broken and the sun is peaking out here in Doylestown, PA. The natural grass field should be fine for Albright and Delaware Valley. I’ll post interim updates as time permits from this game and Lebanon Valley/Lycoming, which could be the other piece of the MAC postseason puzzle.

    For Delaware Valley, senior linebacker Kyle Reuter will wear number 50 instead number 5 in honor of his grandfather and father. It could be his last game as an Aggie.

    Lycoming has decided not to announce the score of the Albright/Del Val game during its contest with Lebanon Valley. Both teams need Del Val to win so better to focus on the task at hand.

  5. Good point — it’s grass here too but the field is in good shape at the moment. We’ll see how it goes as the day progresses. Talking to Wabash officials, there was certainly some concern that, should Wabash win and the field get torn up this week, they’d be in line to host a game next week in the playoffs.

  6. Field conditions not an issue at the Stadium complex in Cortland. The stadium features a field turf surface. It is raining though the players don’t seem to have any issues with traction.

    Cortland puts together a solid drive that stalls out around the Ithaca 20. Ithaca frosh Spencer White ends the drive on a 4th and long for Cortland with a textbook open-field tackle of a scrambling Ray Miles to stop him just short of a first down.

    7-0 Ithaca 4:30 1st Q

  7. McGrew

    Decided not to fight the weather and stay inside and watch the game on Time Warner. Nice stop by Ithaca on 4 & 5.

    Bombers take over at the 20… are you surprise that Cortland St is throwing so much in this weather?

    7-0 Ith 3 min left in 1st

  8. Fast moving first quarter in Cortland. At the end of 15 minutes in the rain..

    IC 7 Cortland 0

    Ithaca’s offense stuttered a bit on it’s second possession but was helped out by a personal foul penalty on Cortland (not anywhere near the ball). Ithaca moved into Cortland territory but the drive stalled out after a fumbled center-quarterback exchange.

    Numbers from the first…

    IC 99 total yards, 35 rush 64 pass
    Cortland 45 total yards, 20 rush 25 pass

  9. Something else interesting to keep an eye on — Maine Maritime 2-for-2 on two-point conversions this afternoon in the NEFC title game. As our colleague Mark Simon tells us, they don’t kick extra points and they don’t pass.

    They trail Plymouth State 20-16.

  10. Cortland goes to the ground game with Andrew Giuliano and moves into IC territory. The Dragons then look to the passing game and the drive comes to a halt after an errant swing pass on 3rd-and-2.

    Jeff Lang Converts for Cortland on a 39-yard field goal from the right hash.

    IC 7 Cortland 3, 10:51 2nd

    As for the passing, not really. Both teams are throwing the football despite the rainy weather. Grastorf has looked a little bit better than Miles so far. I don’t know what it is about this rivalry but it seems to bring out the best in back-up quarterbacks.

  12. Blocked punt by the Dragons, touchdown Cortland.

    Freshman Cody Allen blocks an Ithaca punt, then freshmen Bill Smith recovers the ball and runs 10 yards into the end zone for a score.

    10-7 cortland, 9:00 2nd

  13. Ithaca marched into Cortland territory on an amazing catch by Thomas Vossler (ala Terrell Owens-San Francisco 49ers playoff TD catch except he juggled it after the hit). But, a third-down drop by Brian Weverbaugh and a 4th-down stop by Cortland on an incomplete pass ended the drive.

    Cortland responded with a three-and-out and Ithaca takes over at its’ own 30.

    10-7 cortland, 5:02 2nd

  14. DePauw takes the wind for the first quarter and will put its defense on the field. It’s coming out of the left-hand end zone at anywhere from 10-20 mph. Remains overcast and dry, with fans still piling into the stadium.

    As a reminder, this game is on HDNet — if you have a satellite HD package you may well find it. Should be a good one.

  15. Evan Sobecki making DePauw regret putting its defense out there first. Hasn’t been stopped for under 5 yards since. Wabash in the red zone already.

  17. Touchdown Ithaca.

    Brian Grastorf hits Kyle Crandall on a slant route at the 35-yard line and then he races down the field for a touchdown. Officially an 80-yard touchdown connection between Grastorf and Crandall. Second score of the game for Crandall.

    Ithaca 14 Cortland 10, 1:26 1st

  18. Incomplete pass on third-and-9 sets up a 34-yard field goal attempt for Drew Oehler. Blocked. Picked up by the holder and carried for a loss back to the 28. Big stop for DePauw on the final series.

  21. DePauw big conversion on third down, might have gotten a generous spot to convert with two Spud Dick passes after a 1-yard run on first down.

    Jon Ellis nicely bumped a run outside on second-and-11 to get DePauw into Wabash territory.

    Hit Bryan Mulligan for a 14-yard gain. On third-and-6, Dick found tight end Mark Branigan at the Wabash 17.

    Fans still coming in here btw.

    Ellis bounces into an open hole again, down to the 6, first and goal DePauw.

  22. Short gain on first down, loss of yardage on second for Ellis. False start back to the 11 on third down. Screen pass well short of the first down, bringing up a 25-yard field goal attempt for Jordan Havercamp.

    Which he hits. 3-0 DePauw, 2:33 1st.

  23. Ithaca 14 Cortland 10 – HALF

    Extended half time at the Stadium because Cortland is holding a ceremony to honor its’ 1988 team that went undefeated in the regular season. The 1988 team won what was at the time billed as the “Upstate New York Game of the Century” between Cortland and Ithaca. Ithaca defeated Cortland in the playoff re-match en route to the national championship.

    Unofficial numbers courtesy of Live Stats.

    Ithaca
    Brian Grastorf 10×16, 178yds, 2TD
    Dan Ruggiero 12 rushes, 30 yards
    Kyle Crandall 4 catches, 112 yards, 2 TD

    Cortland
    Ray Miles 7×16, 41yards, 0TD
    Andrew Giuliano 8 rushes, 66 yards
    Eric Hajnos 3 catches, 30 yards

    Total Yards
    IC 221 Cortland 126

  24. Spud Dick was 6-for-6 on the drive for 41 yards. Jon Ellis seven carries for 30 yards, but most of them on two carries.

    Steve Valdiserri just stepped in front of a telegraphed pass by Matt Hudson and returned it to the Wabash 12.

  25. DIck just got saved when a telegraphed pass of his in the end zone was tipped by Chris Schweiggel and dropped by Derrin Slack. Catch by Brayden Dahlstrom on the next play gets first and goal from about five feet.

    Ellis gets nothing on first down.
    False start on the TE on second down pushes them back to the 7.
    End of the first quarter. 3-0 DePauw.

  26. Dump-off pass nearly intercepted by Darryl Kennon — he can’t believe he dropped it, in fact.

    Time out DePauw on third-and-goal. And then a delay of game out of the timeout. I think there was some confusion because of the length of the timeout for TV … but the penalty stands.

    No matter. Chris Gabarra open in the end zone for six. 10-0 DePauw, 14:52 2nd.

  28. As we look elsewhere on the big board — thanks John M. for that — Bridgewater with a lead on Catholic 7-6 in the first quarter. CNU leads Ferrum for the USAC bid 10-0 early in the second. Plymouth State up 33-16 on Maine Maritime at the half. Leb Val leads Lycoming. Delaware Valley leads Lycoming.

    And Matt Hudson throws another interception, underthrown ball with the wind behind him and Valdiserri picks off another. DePauw at its own 40.

  29. Big catch by Mark Branigan — DePauw writer tells me they haven’t used the tight end much all year but he has a couple nice catches. Gain of 27.

    Big stop for Wabash brings up third-and-9 at the 21.

  32. Millsaps is having a funny day so far. At the end of the first quarter, they’ve outgained Birmingham-Southern 250-10 but lead only 10-7. The Majors have put the ball on the ground four times, losing two, and the Panthers got their score on an 87-yard kick return from David Langston to stay close. Given B-SCs total inability to move the ball (they just picked up their second first down of the day early in the second quarter), it shouldn’t stay close much longer.

  35. Not sure how Ellis stayed on his feet, but three or more Wabash players had a change to wrap him up after a short gain — instead he breaks loose to the 4.

    Ellis pushes forward to the 1 for a first down and goal.

    And Ellis gets in the end zone on first down. Another false start for DePauw on the PAT, and Havercamp is wide left on the second attempt. 16-0 9:30 2nd.

  36. Thanks, Conrad, you’re the only source on LaGrange/Huntingdon scores here so I’m interested in as many as you can get.

  37. Wabash had committed a personal foul on the TD. Kicking off from the 50, DePauw tried a pop-up kickoff and nearly came up with it, but Wabash starts at its own 15.

  38. Huntingdon ties it up 7-7, 8:00 in 2nd on a blocked punt.

    LC scoring drive was 9 plays 99 yards, LC RB Mario Wallace 12 carries for 112 yards already.

    ;

  39. The skies have opened up again in cortland. The rain had stopped but it’s pouring now.

    cortland marches down the field on its’ first possession of the second half with a no-huddle offense and the running of Andrew Giuliano. Ithaca’s defense helped out with poor tackling. Ithaca with a key stop on 3rd and goal on a pass break-up on a slant pattern by corner Jason chier.

    Jeff Lang bangs home his second field goal of the day, a 22-yarder.

    Ithaca 14 cortland 13, 11:24 3rd

  40. Big stop on third-and-short forces Wabash to punt after one first down. Good punt, though, hops over the receiver’s head and back to the DePauw 15.

  41. Touchdown Ithaca. 21-13 Ithaca

    A 32-yard screen pass from Brian Grastorf to Dan Ruggiero. Ruggiero had great upfield blocking from his wide receivers and weaved through traffic to get into the end zone almost untouched. A 10-play, 71-yard drive for the Bombers.

    6:50 remaining in the third.

    In other good news for Ithaca fans, Alfred 23-14 over St. John Fisher, 3:21 left in the first half.

  43. Just getting situated really … Bridgewater is tied with Catholic, Ithaca is beating Cortland State, Rochester is beating Hobart, DePauw is beating Wabash.

    I love Week 11.

  45. Wabash nearly fumbled the punt. Starts at its own 20.

    And Hudson throws his third interception, which Paul Gbur returns to the house. 22-0 pending the PAT.

  46. Keith — the situation room is the best pace to get situated. 🙂

    PAT good for DePauw and it’s 23-0. Biggest deficit Wabash has faced this season, though that probably goes without saying.

  48. Millsaps turns it over yet again deep in BSC territory, this time at the 4 and after a penalty the Panthers take over at their 1. Still 10-7 with a couple of minutes left in the first half, but BSC has driven back to near midfield for their most success offensively of the day.

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