By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
Mount Union can lose
(Even if it's only once every four years.)
Each summer, when two-a-days are in full flight and a new season sits on the horizon, players and fans still seem to think regardless of how well their teams play, the purple machine will conquer all. An impressive group of Johnnies may have given hope to teams around the country.
The Mid-Atlantic will need to improve to match Texas
This unofficial "two-Texas playoff teams limit" in the playoffs will not continue forever. East Texas Baptist is a program on the rise and just missed a win over Lycoming. Mary-Hardin Baylor belonged in the final 28, but was snubbed once again. These guys know their football and with the playoffs expanding to 32 teams in 2005, expect the South Region to be looking more southern, deeper into the playoffs. Barbecue anyone?
Strength of schedule matters
Salisbury was not close to a Pool B bid this season yet idled in the coaches' poll for weeks while criticism was lobbed at us for their absence in the Top 25. Play a tougher schedule and the pollsters would reward some tough wins. The Sea Gulls lost consecutive games to Shenandoah and Frostburg (granted, by two points total).
If this program is to improve, it needs to borrow from CNU's playbook. (Revisiting my 9/30/03 column: Scheduling Rowan, McDaniel, Muhlenberg, and Bridgewater, the Captains charted an ambitious course and emerge from non-conference play with a 2-1 record. "You can't ask for much better competition," (head coach Matt) Kelchner said Sunday afternoon, glowing after his program's lone victory over a ranked opponent).
On a similar note, Hampden-Sydney's only loss was a nail-biter to Bridgewater. The Tigers failed to garner serious playoff consideration after a weak non-conference schedule. Games against Maryville, Gettysburg, Dickinson, and Sewanee hurt the Tigers more than the lone notch in the "L" column.
Delaware Valley has arrived
You could scroll back through my previous columns to see the quotes from coach G.A. Mangus and my thoughts on the improvement of the Aggies. The fun-and-gun offense finished the regular season 8-2 and won their first postseason contest in over 20 years, a 54-37 win in the ECAC Southeast Regional Championship. The win completed the fifth-best, one-year improvement in Division III history. They are here to stay, enjoy the ride.
The tide can turn, tragically, in a matter of days
Ricky Lannetti made some huge plays against East Texas Baptist and celebrated with his teammates after Lycoming's first playoff win in years. You know the rest of the story.
Mid-Atlantic Region Team of the Year
Bridgewater claims the honor as Mid-Atlantic Region Team of the Year. Four teams from the region saw NCAA playoff action (Bridgewater, Christopher Newport, Lycoming, and Muhlenberg). After recovering from a 17-point deficit against Waynesburg, the Eagles hit the road to Newport News and slammed the Captains, 26-3. Bridgewater avenged its early-season loss to CNU, allowing on 10 CNU first downs and holding the Captains to only 124 yards of total offense.
Following that win, the Eagles hit the road again, this time traveling to Williamsport for the regional championship against Lycoming. After a one-day delay due to unplayable field conditions, the Eagles held on for a 13-9 win before the massacre in Alliance.
Not much can explain the 66-0 final at Mount Union. Despite their loss to St. John's the Purple Raiders were simply spectacular in the semifinals, and after three weeks on the road, the Eagles played with a tired spirit.
Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year
Several weeks ago, I summoned readers to vote for one of several candidates for Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year. Never did I expect to receive dozens of votes for just one player: Albright's John Port. Congrats to Port who takes the unofficial honor. Anchored by the junior quarterback, the Lions finished the 2003 season with a respectable 7-3 record, a five-game turnaround after a 2-8 finish in 2002.
Port completed 237 of 374 passes for 3,397 yards with 29 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. For those fans of quarterback efficiency rating, Port checked in with a lofty 159.91. The junior racked up the most passing yards in a Division III game (533 v. Juniata) and ranked ninth on the same chart across all NCAA divisions.
Spreading the wealth, two Lions' receivers tallied over 1,000 of Port's passing yards, Nick Cushman (1,026) and Jesse Dorais (1,034). Albright is the only D-III school in the country to have two 1,000-yard receivers this season.
Mid-Atlantic Region Fans of the Year
This year-end selection is more subjective on my part. Bridgewater takes the cake here. No matter where you start, it always seems like a long ride to Alliance, knowing what you or your team will face. That did not deter hundreds of Eagles fans from manning the buses (some at 3 a.m. on gameday) or carpooling to Mount Union. Most of the fans I spoke with at an Alliance watering hole the night before their national semifinals embarrassment believed the Purple Raiders would roll over the Eagles. They did (66-0 in case you fell off the website for a month). So props go out to you for traveling to Alliance en masse.
Final Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
1. Bridgewater
2. Christopher Newport
3. Lycoming
4. Delaware Valley
5. Muhlenberg
Bridgewater got the farthest. Christopher Newport finally won a playoff game, then could not beat Bridgewater for the second time this season. Lycoming eeked by East Texas Baptist in a game they could have easily lost. The Aggies go out winning and bring back near everyone for 2004. The Mules flew under the radar and played most respectably against CNU.
Early 2004 predictions
MAC: Delaware Valley, Lycoming, and Wilkes will slug it out in the MAC again. Lycoming adds a 10th game, a strong one too, in Ithaca.
Centennial: Johns Hopkins seems to be slamming on the door but just can't get that automatic bid. McDaniel had a rebuilding year and still almost went to the playoffs.
ODAC: Bridgewater and Hampden-Sydney again. Enough said.
USAC: CNU has yet to go through the conference without a blemish. Shenandoah continues to improve and Ferrum beat CNU this year. Should this persist, the USAC can go from one of the nation's worst to a competitive conference.
ACFC: Brockport State adds some much needed competition. Lots of travel for all involved -- and the Golden Eagles will shine.
Cheers
It has been a pleasure to act as your Mid-Atlantic Region correspondent this season. Thanks to all the players, parents, fans, sports information directors, coaches, athletic directors, and all others for their comments and support throughout the season.
