Working all weekend
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But there has been big doings since I wrote you guys last, huh?!
DePauw waited almost two years to get a crack at Trinity and then Mother Nature decided to make them wait another day. Mississippi College is sitting atop the ASC standings for the first time in a long time. Sul Ross State upset East Texas Baptist. Austin College is at .500. Howard Payne’s punter kicked a ball 122 miles. Louisiana College had another game postponed by weather. Let’s discuss …
Workin’ all weekend
You know the old college football phrase, “This guy will be playing on Sundays?” Apparently that applies to the entire rosters for DePauw and Trinity.
Last years SCAC co-champs were in the first quarter of their game when lightning postponed the game for three hours. Then they decided to delay it until Sunday afternoon. But don’t tell DePauw coach Matt Walker that the delay had anything to do with the outcome.
“That's not why we lost. We turned it over five times and were two of six in the red zone. They (Trinity) did a great job of responding,” he said.
Saturday just wasn’t DePauw’s night. I guess neither was Sunday. Despite five turnovers, two blocked field goals and two blocked extra points, the Tigers took a 15-13 lead when Jeremiah Marks tied Rich Bonnaccorsi’s school mark for rushing touchdowns.
But Trinity came back, like champions do, and reeled of 13 unanswered to stay atop the SCAC standings. Which, by the way, is a place they’ve been since football was invented.
Trinity reminds me of the New York Yankees. A lot of people root for them to lose for no other reason than they are tired of seeing them on top. I myself thought DePauw would dethrone the Tigers this year but I was obviously wrong. Trinity is just flat out good. They’re winners and they will continue to be winners until they just disband the program.
Mississippi Kings
As an objective fan of Division III and of the American Southwest Conference I am really excited for Mississippi College and their fans.
Before I get all weepy about Mississippi, I have to say that I picked them to finish tied for last in the conference. I had them winning three games and only two in conference.
So far, through three games, they have won three games and two in conference.
Thanks to Jake Allen’s six reception, 203 yard day on Saturday the Choctaws are 3-0 for the first time since 1999. They’ve surpassed their win total from 2004 and 2005 as well. Allen had a 95-yard touchdown catch just before halftime in their 36-26 win over McMurry.
Allen was the ASC Offensive Player of the Week this week making four Choctaw players who have been recognized since the season began (quarterback Adam Schaffer in Week 1, strong safety Clay Cooley and punt returner Dusty Coleman in Week 3).
And how about quarterback Brad Madden? First collegiate start: nine completions, 96 yards. Second collegiate start: 24 completions, 386 yards. If he continues on this pace he should be pretty fired up about Week 7 or Week 8.
Actually, in our Kickoff 2006 preview, I had Mississippi College and Sul Ross battling to stay out of the cellar. I was obviously more than a little bit wrong because Sul Ross is at 2-1 thanks to a big upset of East Texas Baptist.
The Lobos were outgained (326-227) but not outscored as they benefited from a missed extra point with 1:12 left to steal a win. You could say it was intangibles that got it done as Sul Ross’ Trint Golden blocked a punt and the Lobos turned it into three points and a win.
East Texas Baptist, who played without running back RoShawn Johnson, is now 0-4 for the first time in school history. This week they take on Texas Lutheran in Seguin on Homecoming. ETBU is allowing 32.3 points per game and TLU is averaging 22.3 of its own. I’m afraid 0-5 is a distinct possibility.
Austin: The Center of Texas
After opening the season with two shutout losses the Austin College Kangaroos have bounced back (Get it? Kangaroos? Bounce?) to even their record at 2-2. They are still struggling to find an identity offensively but their defense has shined, allowing just 14 points to Kalamazoo in Week 3 and shutting out SWAGU last weekend. Sophomore linebacker Alex Epps had four tackles for a loss and two sacks in the win. You gotta start somewhere and they Roos will definitely take 2-2.
Going yard. About 75 of 'em.
Howard Payne punter Brandon Stevens averaged 44.4 yards per punt in Saturday’s win over Paul Quinn College. That average was boosted by a 75-yarder! Obviously, Stevens is leading the ASC with 42.9 yards per punt.
Random notes
- UMHB running back Jarvis Thrasher stepped in after Freddie Rollins got hurt and rushed for 187 yards on just 18 carries. Rollins was injured in the second half but still tallied 78 yards on 14 carries.
- To keep with the MC worship, Augustine Nwoko had nine tackles, three for a loss, and one sack in their win.
- Quarterback Blake Barmore, who missed Trinity’s Week 3 game, was 18-of-22 with a touchdown and also ran for two scores.
- Sewanee’s Wes Satterfield continues to make a case for his second straight Offensive POTY award in the SCAC. He ran for 123 yards and threw for 74 in their 16-8 win over Maryville (Tenn.).
- Defensive back George Twitty also helped the Sewanee cause on Saturday with five solo tackles and a pair of picks.
- Here’s an actual line from an e-mail my boy Eric Jackson sent me about UMHB free safety Josh Kubiak.
“Oh, and Josh Kubiak, unreal how hard he was hitting dudes the other night. It was like Preston Meyer back in the day!!”
So Preston, if you’re reading this, you are remembered!
Game of the Week
Definitely Mississippi College at Hardin-Simmons. The Cowboys got an unexpected off week when their game with Louisiana College was cancelled due to severe weather so this might be an ideal time for MC to pull off another upset. If you’re like me you’re hoping -- and expecting -- an offensive showcase. Hopefully we’ll have a detailed report on this one as I am going to try to drive to Abilene to watch.
Don’t forget to send me your ideas, thoughts, or unsolicited opinions about anything related to the South Region. E-mail chris.allman@d3football.com. Look forward to it.