Hats off to the spoliers
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Sometimes these hats clash on post patterns, but I’d like to think I’m a big picture person when it comes down to D3football.com and game day. I think when all is said and done the right hat is worn at the appropriate times.
Things certainly were not looking up for the Profs on Saturday at William Paterson, and I wasn’t a happy camper. I was having a big déjà vu moment. Last time my team was on the losing end of a Mike Miello coached team was in high school. I was a player then and we had one of the best teams in New Jersey at the time. We were loaded talentwise. In the first round of the playoffs we were hosting Miello’s team, the lowest seed.
Down to the wire it went, Miello’s team took advantage of our miscues and his team had the lead in the final minutes. My team had a last second chance to win the game on a two-point conversion and win by one. Our quarterback faked a dive to the running back and ran around the end with a clean shot to the end zone. The quarterback started celebrating too early and when he went to hold the ball aloft, he dropped the ball before reaching the goal line.
Down 20-19 the Profs block a punt with 12 seconds left, giving them a chance at a 33-yard field goal and an opportunity to win the game. The Pioneers’ Shadee Davis blocked Rowan’s subsequent field goal attempt. Game over.
As someone who is both photographer and writer, I am on the sidelines, unlike some of my paid professional paid counterparts who sit in the press box or the stands. Many times they’ll gravitate towards the sidelines near the end of the game.
When I am in mixed company, I always let the pros rattle off their questions first. I am polite and I help them when they need it. Most of them are OK with me. There is one South Jersey beat writer who has given me disapproving looks after finding out that I was associated with D3football.com. I haven’t seen him this year but once I discovered he didn’t like me, I made it a point of standing right next to him in the interview circle. One time last year, I even got him to orbit the coach being interviewed.
I like a little harmless fun, and he won’t be reading this anyway.
I like being on the sidelines because the game is more real. I hear all the trash talk between players. I feel momentum shifts. I get story ideas. Plus I am in search of that great shot. Doesn’t matter which team it is, I want that Y.A. Tittle-on-his-knees-blood-on-his-face shot.
On Saturday with less than 30 seconds to go, a Pioneer punt probably seals the victory. So I’m thinking the Pioneer players are going to rush the field because this is one of the biggest upsets this year. I’m on the Rowan sideline so the WPU players will be coming at me, perfect for the facial expressions. I need to get to the 50-yard line so I can go either half of the field and try to get the best celebration shot.
The punt is blocked and now Rowan has a shot at the game winning 33-yard field goal. Now either Rowan or William Paterson will be having a big celebration. So I figure I should stand around the 10. Then I still have the Pioneers coming at me or I can run around to the back of the end zone and prepare to have a better chance of getting a good shot of the Prof celebration.
So I didn’t get the outcome the fan in me wanted, but I got the shot. I congratulated and interviewed the winners and got the story.
One final interesting thing was seeing potential William Paterson recruits getting schmoozed by the WPU staff. Defensive coordinator Ed Stinson was extorting one recruit by simply stating, “You see that’s what I’m talking about, you’re coming here (to William Paterson) tomorrow. Right?”
I guess if Stinson said anything else it would have been anti-climactic.
Push to the playoffs
Rowan’s loss will probably drop the East region from two to the fourth bracket behind West, South, and North. I don’t know if Delaware Valley at the top will hold the East in the number two slot. Its possible, but the bracket winner had better prepare for a flight to Oregon.
Here’s where we currently stand with the seeds:
1. Delaware Valley (clinched Pool A – MAC champion)
2. Ithaca (clinched Pool A – E8 champion)
3. Wesley (should be awarded Pool B – ACFC champion)
4. St. John Fisher (probable Pool C)
5. RPI/Union winner (Pool A – Liberty League champion)
6. Rowan/Cortland (Pool A – NJAC champion)
7. Union/Hobart (possible Pool C)
8. Curry/Fitchburg State winner (possible Pool C)
Some of the seeds in between one and eight might wind up in a different order barring any upsets. Delaware Valley is not a lock against Widener this week. Wesley played its last regular season game this past Saturday, only changes in an opponent’s record may affect the Wolverines QoW. Ithaca will drop with a loss to Cortland. Alfred can knock St. John Fisher out of the playoffs with a win. A Montclair win gives against Rowan gives Cortland the NJAC title.
Things are still in flux with four games left to decide the playoff picture (see Games to Watch below). Stay tuned.
Rowan falls to William Paterson
Junior outside linebacker Shadee Davis blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt with :03 remaining as William Paterson stunned No. 2-ranked Rowan, 20-19, for its first New Jersey Athletic Conference victory and its first triumph over the Profs since 1994.
Rowan (7-1, 4-1 NJAC) had one last try to win the game despite turning the ball over five times when sophomore defensive back Jorge Hernandez blocked a punt that senior tight end Brian Jenkins recovered at the Pioneer 16. Sophomore kicker Matias Spahn came on to try a 33-yard field goal with :12 remaining, but Davis surged through the line and swatted it away.
“It doesn’t get much better than that. Our one (conference) win is against the … No. 4 team in the country,” said William Paterson coach Mike Miello. “We told our players that we didn’t have to the best team for 60 minutes. We told them that each play was only about four seconds, just do your best for four seconds at a time. It worked today.”
“I knew after the big win last week (against Brockport State), we might have trouble (emotionally) this week. We didn’t make the plays when we needed to. You have to give credit to coach Miello, the staff, and their players, they got it done today,” said Rowan head coach Jay Accorsi.
William Paterson (4-5, 1-5) recovered the ball on its own 3 with :03 left and ran out the clock for not only one of the biggest wins in school history, but also its first triumph over the Profs since an 18-14 victory on Nov. 4, 1994 in Glassboro. The Pioneers were outgained, 404-196, but held the ball for 38:15 — including 21:28 in the second half – and benefited from the Profs committing 11 penalties for 109 yards.
”It is unbelievable, but we worked hard all week in practice. We took advantage of the opportunities, and played together. The defense and the special teams really got the job done today,” stated Pioneer quarterback Sean Ryan.
The Pioneers came from 19-7 down by scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the game-winner courtesy of a 2-yard toss from freshman quarterback Ryan to junior fullback Justin Leslie with 6:55 remaining, their second scoring hookup of the day, to make it 20-19 before a failed two-point conversion attempt. Sophomore defensive end Wolf Emilien scooped up a fumble and brought it back 49 yards to pay dirt with 12:43 to go, pulling William Paterson within 19-14.
“When the ball got stripped. I scooped it up and just ran hoping I wouldn’t get caught from behind. The QB [Joe Rankin] tried to get me from behind and I guess I stepped through (the tackle),” explained Emilien.
In addition to the turnovers, the Pioneers won the battle on special teams by covering kickoff and punts and tackling the Profs quickly, preventing big returns and good field position. Except for two turnovers in William Paterson territory, Rowan’s averaging starting field position was the Prof 20 yard line.
“Our special teams were very good at pinning them deep. We focused on getting down on punts and kickoffs,” added Miello.
Union upsets Hobart
Junior quarterback Anthony Marotti passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns to lead Union to a 28-18 victory over No. 24 Hobart at Frank Bailey Field Saturday afternoon.
The Dutchmen improved to 9-0 for the first time since they finished the 1993 regular season with a 9-0 record. Union improved to 6-0 in the Liberty League, while the Statesmen fell to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the league. Marotti was 19 for 34 with one interception for the game. Junior wide receiver Steve Angiletta had nine catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yard score. Junior running back Tom Arcidiacono led the Dutchmen on the ground with 85 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
"(Hobart) was bringing eight guys (on the blitz) and we only had seven to protect," Marotti said in the Times Union. "(Angiletta) kind of beat his man across the field. I knew exactly where he was going to be and saw him at the last minute."
Hobart junior quarterback Shawn Mizro was 31 for 46 for 428 yards for the Statesmen. Sophomore wide receiver James Wright had six catches for 133 yards and senior WR Colby Feane had 101 yards on eight catches. Junior running back Doug Blakowski had 51 yards on 15 rushes for Hobart. The Statesmen had 498 yards on 79 plays for the day, while Union had 420 yards on 61 plays. Defensively, senior linebacker Kevin Flike and sophomore linebacker Vito Pellerito led Union with 10 tackles each, while senior linebacker Jimmy Gradis had eight tackles for the Statesmen.
Union will host Rensselaer next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the annual Dutchman Shoes game. The contest will be the 103rd meeting in New York State’s oldest college football rivalry, and Union can clinch the Liberty League Championship and the league’s automatic NCAA Division III playoff berth with a victory. Rensselaer, 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the league, can tie for the league title with a win at Bailey Field and, with a variety of scenarios, could win the automatic bid. Hobart will play at Rochester Saturday.
"This game is going to be humongous," Union senior safety Chris Nappi said in the Times Union. "I'm glad that we're playing them next week under these circumstances. It's all on the line."
Bombers nab E8 title
The 15th-ranked Ithaca Bombers rallied to beat visiting Alfred 28-14 and clinch the Empire 8 championship and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. The Bombers, who scored the winning touchdown with 11:43 left in the fourth quarter, will be making the program’s 14th appearance in the NCAA playoffs, but the first via an automatic bid.
Senior quarterback Josh Felicetti threw for three touchdowns, with two going to senior wideout Justin Esposito. Esposito scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 47-yard pass from Felicetti. Alfred had taken its first lead early in the third quarter; with the Saxons trailing 13-7, sophomore cornerback Ron Smith intercepted a Felicetti pass on his own 35 and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Chris Reynolds kicked the extra point to put the Saxons up 14-13.
The Bombers punted on their next two possessions after Alfred’s go-ahead score; on the second punt, Bomber sophomore Ryan Terlecki tackled Alfred’s punt returner for a 3-yard loss, giving the Saxons the ball at their own 10 yard line. Ithaca’s defense forced a three-and-out and the Bombers took over on their own 39-yard line. Junior running back Alex Baez gained 8 yards on first down and caught an eight-yard pass on third down. On the Bombers’ next play Esposito got open behind two defenders and caught the game-winning touchdown.
Ithaca scored two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 13-0 lead. Sophomore running back Jamie Donovan rushed for a 1-yard run and Felicetti threw a 12-yard pass to Esposito. The two touchdowns followed a scoreless first quarter — the Bombers have not allowed a first-quarter point in 186:15, a span of 12 games.
“This is a terrific feeling. We feel very good about this,” said Ithaca head coach Mike Welch in the Ithaca Journal. “Defensively, we've had injuries. We've had people in, people out. We continue to build on our confidence level, and our coaches do a great job preparing our team.”
Felicetti threw for 314 yards against a defense that entered the game ranked 14th nationally (allowing 240.1 ypg), completing a career-high 27 passes in 34 attempts. He raised his single-season total to 2,238 yards (third on Ithaca’s list) and extended his career record to 7,618 yards. He also broke Mike O’Donovan’s 1998 school record for touchdown passes in a season, finishing with 28.
Alfred was led by senior linebacker Brenton Brady. As a linebacker, he collected 12 tackles (eight solo), including a nine-yard sack; as a fullback, he gained 23 yards on eight carries and scored the Saxons’ first touchdown – his 10th of the season – on a 4-yard run. Sophomore linebacker Blake Fuller and junior strong safety Aaron Meyers both added 12 tackles for Alfred.
Games of the Week
RPI at No. 24 Union, 1 p.m., Schenectady, N.Y.: The 103rd meeting for the Dutchman Shoes also has playoff implications. The winner grabs the Liberty League title and Pool A. An RPI loss gives the Engineers two losses on the season and knocks them out of Pool C. Union remains alive for the Pool C with only one loss if RPI wins. Union won last year 18-13.
Montclair State at No. 14 Rowan, 1 p.m., Glassboro, N.J.: Had Rowan not lost to William Paterson, Montclair had a shot at the NJAC title and Pool A bid by beating Rowan this week. Now the Red Hawks simply want to spoil the Profs’ NJAC title and playoff hopes. Montclair has improved as team throughout the season. Rowan might be fading without quarterback Mike Orihel. The Profs won at Montclair 42-14 in 2004, but were upset at home two years ago, 21-20. A Montclair win gives Cortland State their first NJAC title and the Red Dragons capture the Pool A bid.
Cortland State at No. 13 Ithaca, 12 p.m., Cortland, N.Y.: Cortland is a Pool C long shot. Many second place one loss teams around the country have to lose this week for the Red Dragons to slide in with two losses. Ithaca already won the Pool A by taking the E8 championship last week, but needs to win to keep one of the high playoff seeds in the East region. The Cortaca Jug is a big rivalry and could have playoff seeding implications for Cortland should Rowan lose to Montclair and the Red Dragon beat the Bombers. Ithaca pounded the Cortland last year 47-22.
No. 12 St. John Fisher at Alfred, 1 p.m., Alfred, N.Y.: Alfred can spoil St. John Fisher’s playoff chances by handing the Cardinals their second loss. The Saxons lost last year 30-20.
Kings Point at Coast Guard 1 p.m., New London, Conn.: The Secretaries Cup is on the line in this nautical military finale. Kings Point holds a 22-11 all-time advantage, including winning six of the past seven. The Merchant Marines won last year’s contest 16-7.
Notes
Linebacker Shadee Davis becomes the second different Pioneer to earn NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after playing a key role in the Pioneers' 20-19 NJAC victory over Rowan. In the win, he collected eight tackles, including six solo stops. In addition, he notched three tackles for a loss, including two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He also produced the biggest play of the game for the Pioneers when he blocked Rowan's potential 33-yard game-winning field goal attempt with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation. Davis currently ranks fifth in the NJAC in sacks with an average of 0.89 per game.
Ithaca’s Josh Felicetti completed a career-high 27 passes in 34 attempts for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Alfred that clinched the Empire 8 title for the Bombers. He broke the school's single-season touchdown pass record (27), raised his career total to 7,618 yards and his season total to 2,238 yards. Felicetti threw three touchdown passes for the third consecutive week against a defense that entered the game ranked 14th nationally.
In a 20-14 Liberty League win over Rochester, RPI’s Greg Goehle averaged 40.9 yards per punt, including a 65-yarder, on seven attempts. He knocked two kicks inside the 20-yard line to help the Engineers remain in the hunt for the league championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Playoffs.
Bryan Robinson earns a share of his second ACFC Defensive Player of the Week honor after a 10 tackle performance with four for a loss and two sacks in Wesley's 59-13 win over Chowan.