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The addition of linebacker Nico Comsa's Tartans and Case Western Reserve has thrown a wrinkle in the PAC schedule. |
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference welcomed expansion last year. But, the PAC found out that adding more teams can add some different challenges, too.
That was evident in the PAC’s scheduling when Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve joined as affiliate members starting last season. That gave the conference a total of 11 teams and a scheduling quandary.
A 10-game conference schedule was not an option for the PAC since Carnegie Mellon and Case wanted to continue playing their UAA games against Chicago and Washington U. At the time the schedules were set, Thomas More had an annual Bridge Bowl series with Mount St. Joseph for its ninth game, which took it out of the equation.
So, that left eight remaining PAC programs in need of a ninth game to complement their other scheduled nonconference game per year. The answer for those teams was a unique one – play a conference opponent, but the result does not count in the conference standings.
Interestingly enough, those non-conference games could affect the PAC championship even though they don’t affect the win-loss columns. The head-to-head result would be the first tiebreaker in the rare case two teams who played each other in the non-conference clash finished PAC play with unblemished records.
“The benefits are twofold. One, the schools only have to schedule one nonconference game instead of two and it’s becoming extremely difficult to schedule nonconference games now,” PAC commissioner Joe Onderko said. “Second, while it’s a small possibility we could have two teams going 8-0 and tying for the championship, playing these games minimizes that possibility because we have the head-to-head victor.”
Because those games could have a bearing on the conference championship, and since they’re played on Week 2 before “regular” PAC conference action begins, the teams treat it like a regular conference matchup.
It certainly showed as three of the four games were decided by a touchdown or less: Saint Vincent defeated Waynesburg, 28-21; Geneva edged Grove City, 21-16, and Washington and Jefferson rallied to top Westminster, 35-31. Bethany beat Thiel, 51-16, in the other game.
In addition, the Week 2 matchups helped preserve some rivalry games. Bethany and Thiel have met 71 times and Grove City and Geneva have had some entertaining battles over the years.
In the second year of this schedule, the matchups were the same, but the sites were switched. Next year, there will be four different pairings and then the sites will be flipped in 2017. The regular season cycle of those PAC squads not playing one opponent in conference play will continue. That missed opponent changes every two seasons. Carnegie Mellon, Case and Thomas More will not face two PAC teams in the same two-year cycle.
“We based this on the Big Ten schedule model before Nebraska joined the conference,” Onderko said. “They had 11 teams and this was their format. We knew it had worked and worked pretty well. It’s gone pretty well for us, too.”
Game of the week
Staying in the PAC, No. 14 Washington and Jefferson rallied to beat Westminster, 35-31. Presidents running back Ryan Ruffing reached the end zone four times, including the game-winning score with 1:04 left in the game.
Washington and Jefferson trailed by 10 points, 24-14, after three quarters. The Presidents came back to post a 28-24 lead with 8:55 left. But, the Titans marched back and went ahead, 31-24 with 2:26 to go. The hosts answered that drive and grabbed the lead when Ruffing crashed in from a yard out on a fourth-and-goal play.
The Presidents intercepted a long pass deep in their own territory to seal the wild win.
Light up the scoreboard 1
The scoreboard operator and statisticians were busy when Albion visited Augustana. The teams combined for 109 points in the Britons’ 60-49 victory.
Offense took center stage as the squads racked up 1,322 total yards. Albion had 733 of them and averaged 8.9 yards per play. Likewise, the hosts produced 589 yards and 7.6 yards per play.
While the points and yards kept adding up, the game remained close. Albion held the game’s biggest lead at 27-14 with 6:28 remaining in the first half. The lead changed hands eight times after that.
Albion’s Dominic Bona completed 25 of 36 passes for 370 yards and four TDs in the win. He added 672 yards rushing and two scores. However, Augustana senior quarterback Sam Frasco had a career day as he passed for 251 yards and three TDs and rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns. That gave him a video game-like 469 yards and set the program record for single-game total offense. It broke former NFL star Ken Anderson’s mark of 459 (410 pass, 49 rushing) from Nov. 2, 1968.
Light up the scoreboard 2
Thomas More came within two touchdowns (and two 2-point conversions) of reaching the century mark in its 84-7 triumph over Hanover. The No. 15 Saints saw four program records fall in the win. They set new single-game marks for total points (84), points in a half (63 in the first half) and touchdowns (12).
In addition, senior wide receiver Goose Cohorn had three catches to become the program’s all-time leading receiver with 112 receptions.
The Saints outscored their first two opponents (St. John Fisher and Hanover), 122-7. They open conference play against Thiel this weekend.
What to watch
No. 10 John Carroll visits Heidelberg on Saturday to open OAC play. Both teams are coming off an open week. The Blue Streaks opened the year with a 26-3 win at St. Vincent. The Student Princes dropped a 26-24 decision to Cortland State in their opener. This is a key game for both teams in the OAC race.
In the polls
No. 2 Mount Union had an open week and begins OAC play vs Muskingum.
No. 9 Wabash had an open week. The Little Giants open NCAC action at Allegheny.
No. 10 John Carroll completes the hat-trick as the Blue Streaks had an open week as well. They visit Heidelberg to begin OAC play.
No. 14 Washington and Jefferson rallied to overcome Westminster in a wild battle (see above). The Presidents open official PAC play at Carnegie Mellon.
No. 15 Thomas More continues its offensive onslaught. The Saints hope it carries over in PAC play as they host Thiel.
No. 17 Wittenberg had an open week as well. It welcomes Ohio Wesleyan to open NCAC play.