By Matt Florjancic
D3sports.com
Adrian quarterback Troy Niblock is a Renaissance man.
Not only does he run the offense, he is able to beat defenses on the ground and through the air. When Niblock, who splits time with transfer Mike McGee, is relieved of his duties passing the football, he is lined up on the end of the formation as a receiver.
While using a quarterback to run, pass and catch is not common, it has worked for Adrian. After a season-opening loss to Capital, the Bulldogs have won five consecutive games, including two against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association competition.
"He makes me a very good coach," said Adrian's Jim Lyall. "He has to be accounted for, no matter where he lines up. Here's a kid who doesn't spend a great deal of time blocking because he's going through quarterback drills. If you look at the teams that we've played, he's laid a lot of kids out. This is a not a big-ego kid at all. This is a kid who's out on the playground having fun. He makes fun of himself and he's all about the team. In my mind, he's just the best."
With team success comes individual honors. In a 28-6 victory over Albion this past weekend, Niblock ran the ball 20 times for 99 yards and completed three passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Niblock's efforts caught the attention of the MIAA, who honored him as the conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
On the year, Niblock has rushed for 702 yards and six touchdowns. When he has dropped back to pass the football, Niblock has completed 16 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns.
As a wide receiver, Niblock has been a favorite target of McGee. The two have connected 13 times on the year.
"He makes us very difficult to defend because of his ability to run and throw," Lyall said. "Defenses have to account for him. It always gives us an opportunity to play 11-on-11. With him in the backfield with another back, that extra back is enough of a blocker. It allows us to get a hat on a hat. That conventional type of quarterback that usually hands off and either has to affect the defense by booting or quick-faking, whereas Troy has to be accounted for whether he's carrying the football or throwing.
"He's an instinctive runner," Lyall added. "He is extremely courageous in terms of being able to throw the ball. He's taken a lot of hits this year because he was the co-MVP of our league last year. He's not sneaking up on anyone. He's rushing the ball for at least 100 yards or more and accounted for yardage passing-wise. He'll stand in there and take a hit in order to deliver a ball."
Niblock's success running the football has been a product of his confidence in the offense.
"For the most part, I like having the ball in my hands and I've got the coach's confidence," Niblock said. "I went to a small high school, so I did a lot of those things. Everything's kind of natural. It's kind of a spread and run it up everybody. We do a little bit of both. It varies on what kind of team we're playing and what the O-line is doing.
"Now that I've been able to pass more, when it's not there, I've got the green light to tuck it and run it," he added. "I've gotten a lot of rush yards on plays that aren't even designed for me."
Most quarterbacks do not like giving the ball to another signal-caller. However, Niblock and Lyall have an understanding with each other that using McGee in the offense benefits the team.
McGee is 40 of 65 with 633 yards and two touchdowns. Though he has thrown three interceptions, McGee does not let the turnovers bother him. If there is no passing lane available, McGee averages 3.1 yards per carry.
"I really do like that," Niblock said of the switch. "It takes a lot of weight off your shoulders. Sometimes, I'll have a bad play. Then, Mike can go in there and he'll get the job done. I go in there when he's having a hard time. We kind of feed off of each other."
"He's a prime example of team first," Lyall said of Niblock. "Mike does a great job for us. When Troy's a running back or receiver, Mike's our quarterback. There's no animosity, only encouragement between the two."
The togetherness of the team will be a key factor in Adrian's MIAA title chase. On Saturday, the Bulldogs celebrate Parents/Family Weekend against Hope College. Then, they finish out the year with road games at Alma and Olivet. The home finale could very well decide the conference.
Prior to the trip to Olivet, Adrian hosts undefeated upstart Trine on Nov. 8.
Last season, the Bulldogs lost three consecutive games against Olivet, Trine (then Tri-State University) and Hope. Those three losses were by 14 combined points.
"Every time we play in the MIAA, it's extremely competitive," Lyall said. "You can't look past any opponent. You better respect every one of them."
"This team is a lot more confident," Niblock concluded. "They can see that Adrian's going to be a school on the rise. We're headed in the right direction. You can just sense it."
News and notes
The consensus preseason game of the year in the North Coast Athletic Conference lived up to its billing in Springfield, Ohio, last Saturday. Wittenberg University played host to the Wabash Little Giants but a 41-yard field goal by Spencer Whitehead spoiled the day for Tiger fans.
Wittenberg did a great job forcing turnovers, intercepting three Matt Hudson passes. However, four sacks helped keep the Tiger offense off the scoreboard. None of the three Wittenberg interceptions led to points. One resulted in a punt, while the others went for a turnover on downs and a missed field goal.
The Washington and Jefferson defense played an impressive game against St. Vincent on Saturday. In a 72-20 victory, the Presidents held St. Vincent to minus-90 yards rushing. As a team, W&J had eight sacks for 64 lost yards. Jacob Bloomhuff led the way with 2.5 sacks for 19 lost yards.
Linebacker David Gitlitz sacked the quarterback twice for 30 yards.
Offensively, Bobby Swallow completed 22 passes for 335 yards and five touchdowns. Curt Jones ran for 134 yards and one touchdown, while Jacob McBride had a pair of scores.
Baldwin-Wallace junior quarterback Anthony Gardner is getting his time to shine in the offense. Following the graduation of Mickey Mental, Gardner has been the No. 1 option at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. In the team's 42-7 victory over Muskingum, Gardner threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, all to Devon Jennings.
Gardner also ran for two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Games of the Week
Otterbein (6-0, 5-0 Ohio Athletic Conference) at Capital (4-2, 3-2), Saturday, Oct. 25, 1:30 p.m.: In two of the past three seasons, Otterbein has knocked off archrival Capital, with the Crusaders still advancing to the playoffs. This year, the Cardinals are the ones with a chance to make the postseason if they can defeat Capital.
Otterbein has outscored its opponents by nearly 30 points per game and is coming off a 30-14 victory over Wilmington. Capital is reeling from a 13-3 loss at John Carroll, its second in a row. The game could be decided by turnovers. Capital has lost 11 of 15 fumbles, while Otterbein has forced 17 turnovers this year (ten interceptions, seven fumbles).
Wooster (5-1, 3-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) at Wabash (6-0, 4-0), Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.: The loss to Case Western Reserve appears to have really motivated Wooster. After dismantling the Washington University in St. Louis Bears, the Fighting Scots get the chance to play Wabash for first place in the NCAC. A win could vault the Fighting Scots into the playoff hunt, while a loss would further show Wabash's dominance in the league.
