I hate when that happens
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I’m aggravated that my alma mater lost another Rhode game to a team that won’t make the playoffs. Neither independent team came through with a win.
So, the columnist’s eternal question — what do you write about when all the stories you were motivated to write have either been done or didn’t develop?
Well, Centre recovered from last week’s beating to somehow beat DePauw in Greencastle. Millsaps got its first win of the season against Sewanee. There’s still a significant game coming up this week in the ASC, and failing that there’s always the playoffs coming up. Having exhausted all my D3football.com sick leave and vacation time, I guess there’s enough there to come up with a column.
Two upsets equal a new leader atop the SCAC
You expect that a team that loses by 45 points one week is going to have a hard time winning the next, especially if it’s a road game. Similarly, you expect the winner to continue to have success against a team that’s already lost two conference games. But the exact opposite happened this weekend, as both Centre and Trinity took it into overtime. The Colonels won, the Tigers lost. As a result, Centre takes a half-game lead in the conference standings.
Centre (7-2, 4-1 SCAC) never trailed in its contest, but could not put DePauw (5-3, 3-2) away until the Tigers stalled on their OT possession and missed a field goal. On their OT possession, Centre kept the ball on the ground, converting a third-and-1 before Adam Blandford ran it in from 14 yards out to give the Colonels the victory. A week after struggling to reach 200 yards against Trinity, Centre was one yard shy of 500 against DePauw. Lorenzo Engleman personally accounted for half of that, with 186 rushing yards and 61 receiving.
And in Memphis, all the wheels came off for Trinity (7-2, 3-1) in the second half, allowing Rhodes (6-3, 3-2) to rally from a 17-7 third quarter deficit to defeat the Tigers for the first time since 1992. Trinity was unable to get their passing attack going all game, was a pitiful 3-for-17 on third down, and wasted a 31-carry, 222 yard effort from Ray Valencia in the process.
Rhodes defensive back Ben Hobbs kept the Lynx in the game late when, with Rhodes trailing 17-14, he intercepted a Dan DesPlaines pass in the end zone after Trinity had driven inside the Rhodes 10. The Lynx drove 61 yards, and Hunter Tigert nailed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime. In OT, Trinity was only able to add a Todd Canion field goal, setting the stage for Rhodes’ win. Defensive back Rory Faver, used in goal line situations, scored the winner on a 2-yard run. Faver was effective on the defensive side of the ball as well, with 10 tackles and two sacks. Rhodes was outgained by Trinity 391-293, but won the stat that counted, the scoreboard.
Centre can clinch a tie for the conference championship with a win at home against Rose-Hulman next week, but Trinity still holds the tiebreaker for the SCAC’s automatic playoff bid. They’ll need to defeat Sewanee (3-6, 0-5) on the road and Millsaps (1-7, 1-3) at home first.
One note: Rhodes lost its two conference battles on the road by a total of three points. Had it not been for one ill-timed personal foul called in its game versus DePauw, Rhodes could be tied with Centre for the conference lead instead of Trinity.
Two down, one to go for Crusaders
UMHB’s win against Hardin-Simmons means that East Texas Baptist (6-2, 6-1 ASC) is the only thing standing between the No. 4 Crusaders (8-0, 7-0) and the first home playoff game in school history. The folks in Belton are ecstatic about having the chance to finally return the favor to Trinity after two first-round losses the last two years.
But the win against HSU exposed a few weaknesses in the Crusader defense which the Tigers will no doubt try to take advantage of. The Cowboys were able to exploit those weaknesses to the tune of 458 yards despite four turnovers. It won’t be easy for ETBU; while the running game is in fine shape, thanks to RoShawn Johnson, the passing attack has not fared as well in big-time games this year. As HSU showed last week, you need to succeed with both the run and the pass to have a chance against the Crusaders.
Defensively, ETBU will have to find a solution to UMHB’s dominating offensive line, as well as the superb playmaking of Cody Fredenburg. Fredenburg runs the option to near perfection, and while not a frequent passer, makes the most of his chances. He uses the option to set up the pass, taking a step or two down the line before dropping back to set up to throw. In the first half of last week’s game, Fredenberg threw only four times. His first three passes — all complete — yielded 142 yards and two touchdowns to P.J. Williams. While always a confident, competent option quarterback, Fredenberg this season has developed the passing touch that has resulted his conference-leading efficiency rating of 178.8. The interception he threw Saturday — after his receiver fell — was only his fourth all season. Interestingly, ETBU’s rushing defense — fifth in the nation at 65.3 yards per game — now leads the conference, as does its overall defense (250.4 ypg).
If ETBU can win the game, it could set up a three-way tie at the top of the ASC as it, MHB, and HSU would all have but one conference loss. ETBU would have to win by seven or more to claim the conference’s automatic playoff bid, in which case UMHB would become a strong Pool C contender. With two losses, HSU is out.
Elsewhere around the region
East Texas Baptist 30, Louisiana College 3: A good tune-up for this week’s game against MHB; five sacks by the defense and 154 yards from RoShawn Johnson (in three quarters) were a big part of the reason for the win in Shreveport’s Independence Stadium. Louisiana College was held under 200 total yards, and just 15 on the ground. The Tigers will need at least that much defensive effort against a much better UMHB squad.
Millsaps 12, at Sewanee 7: In a defensive struggle, the Majors (1-7, 1-3 SCAC) got the first win of David Saunders’ coaching career. The two teams combined for less than 400 yards, and the winning score came off a bad snap on a Sewanee punt which set up the Majors on the UoS one-yard line. Fittingly, Millsaps’ last possession ended in a fumble, as the teams combined for 10 fumbles (six lost) plus one interception. All-America LB Matt O’Bryant had 14 tackles, a fumble recovery, and turned away Sewanee with an interception on the Millsaps 15-yard line early in the game.
at Southwest Assemblies of God 63, Huntingdon 40: After holding Averett to 32 points and Sewanee to 29, the Hawks (0-6) took a step back against one of the historically worst teams in all of college football. Even Wabash only scored 61 against the Hawks, but as young as Huntingdon is, setbacks are part of the growing process.
The playoff picture clears up a bit
Trinity’s unexpected loss puts the ASC/SCAC playoff picture into clearer focus. The most likely combination of events is that UMHB and Trinity will win out. UMHB’s strength of schedule, even though undefeated, probably will be considerably lower than that of the current top-ranked South Region squad, Christopher Newport. That would leave UMHB seeded No. 2 (an undefeated season should outweigh any marginal strength-of-schedule differences with remaining one-loss south region teams). Trinity would end up seeded No. 6 or No. 7. It’s my belief after reading the 2003 Division III Football Playoff handbook that no matter the seeds, Trinity will face UMHB on Nov. 22nd in Belton — even if CNU somehow stumbles and UMHB ends up seeded No. 1. It’s also possible UMHB’s strength of schedule would rise enough with wins at HSU and vs. East Texas Baptist to push them to No. 1 in the regional rankings regardless of CNU’s future.
If Trinity does NOT win out, then Centre will probably be the SCAC champion. Centre can reach much of the North bracket by bus, including Hanover, a few hours north of Danville, Ky. Centre could also drive to Bridgewater or western Pennsylvania by bus. This could open up the opportunity for UMHB to get the first-round bye, since Centre would have to fly to Belton.
If ETBU wins by seven or more? They get the ASC AQ, end up seeded somewhere No. 5 or No. 6, and get Trinity at home due to geography. If ETBU and Centre make the playoffs, both travel for first round games.
Tidbits
HSU defensive end Reggie Robinson threw a right cross to the face mask of a UMHB lineman in the first half, drawing a 15-yard penalty and ejection from the game. It didn’t seem to hurt the Cowboys at the time, but in the fourth quarter, with HSU desperately trying to hold UMHB to get the ball back one last time, Robinson’s absence was felt. MHB is setting all sorts of school passing/receiving records this year, showing the increasing versatility in the Crusader’s offensive attack. No more is it simply stop the run and stop MHB, though to be honest, nobody has stopped the Crusaders’ running attack either.With two conference games remaining, ETBU’s 37 sacks on the season have already broken the ASC record.This was the second consecutive time that Centre defeated DePauw in OT in Greencastle; it also happened in 2001ETBU’s Tory Barnes leads the nation is punt returns with a 21.5 yard average. Austin College’s Matt Reed is fourth (19.3). Around the ASC
Offensive POW: P.J. Williams, WR, So., Mary Hardin-Baylor: Caught four passes for 157 yards, setting a school record with three TDs, blocked a field goal, plus 28 return yards and 10 yards rushing. co-Defensive POW: Bobby Bruce, SS, Sr., East Texas Baptist; Karl Scott, LB, Fr., McMurry. Bruce returned a fumble 37 yards, scored, and had seven tackles (two for loss) against Louisiana College; Scott intercepted a school record-tying three passes and set up the game-winning score. He also had six tackles and broke up three passes.Special Teams POW: Walter Hays, WR/PR, Sr., Howard Payne: returned four punts for 54 yards, averaging 13.5 yards per return.Around the SCAC
Offensive POW: Lorenzo Engleman, RB, Sr., Centre: Rushed for 186 yards and 1 touchdown, plus 9 receptions for 61 yards. This is Engleman’s second SCAC Offensive POW award; he leads the conference in catches (67), all-purpose yardage (1,653), points scored (74), and touchdowns (12).Defensive POW: Rory Faver, CB, Jr., Rhodes: The Kingwood, Texas native had 11 tackles (nine solo), including two sacks, one of which forced Trinity to kick a field goal in overtime. He also made a 25-yard catch in regulation to position Rhodes for the tying score, and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime on a 2-yard run.GAMES OF THE WEEK (times local):
East Texas Baptist (6-2, 6-1 ASC) at No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-0, 7-0), Belton, Texas, 2 p.m.: Last chance to derail the Crusader Express — and Littleton Dean and the rest of the Tiger defense will do their best to do just that. Tiger quarterback Brandon Nelson (31st in the nation in passing efficiency, 140.2) will have to step up his game to support RoShawn Johnson (13th in rushing yardage, 142.4/game) and the rest of the offense.
Trinity (6-2, 4-1 SCAC) at Sewanee (3-6, 0-5), Sewanee, Tenn., 1 p.m.: It’s Senior Day at Sewanee, where the homestanding Tigers would like nothing better than to drive the final nail in the visitors’ coffin. Dan DesPlaines needs to rediscover the touch he mysteriously lost the last two games, and the Trinity defense — allowing less than 250 yards per game the last two weeks — needs to continue to show improvement. If Trinity is to have any hope whatsoever in the playoffs, it needs to not only win this game, but make a statement to build on here.
NEXT WEEK: We should know who’s going to win the ASC, and if I can find the time & motivation, a preview of the annual Wabash-DePauw festivities.
Comments? Complaints? Praise? Have an interesting story idea for an upcoming column? Think your team isn’t getting enough coverage? If so, contact me: ron.boerger@d3football.com