Sep 20, 2004
By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
It rained on Saturday throughout eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It rained some more. Then it rained a bit harder and the wind blew a bit faster. And yes, in fact, it kept raining. The remnants of Hurricane Ivan had their way on football fields across the area.
Work Stadium in Doylestown, Pa., was waterlogged at 10 a.m. Before a player stepped on the field, an inch of standing water rested throughout various parts of the field where Juniata and Delaware Valley were to play, three hours later. Similar scenes were found throughout the region, leading to some highly unusual scores from the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Delaware Valley 12, Juniata 7
FDU-Florham 15, King's 10
Lebanon Valley 3, Widener 0
Going into the fourth week of the season, the Devils of FDU-Florham are joined by the Moravian Greyhounds at the top of the MAC standings. If anyone wants to rationalize how King's knocked off Lycoming last week and FDU-Florham came from behind with a late flurry to upend King's -- go ahead. I could create excuses, most obviously the weather, but I will not. A game is a game is a game, under any circumstances, and the best team will find a way to win.
Widener fumbled eight times, losing five of them, while Lebanon Valley recovered each of their own five fumbles on a soupy field in Chester. The Flying Dutchmen recovered a Widener fumble at the Pioneers' 3-yard line which led to a 21-yard Eldin Brodlic field goal, accounting for the only points of the game.
The 0-2 start for Widener is their first since 1992 and the first time they were shut out since 1999.
Florham trailed King's by one with 5:19 to play and the ball at its own 20-yard line and mounted a drive to propel the Devils to an improbable 2-0 start. After quarterback Dan Huff's two completions of 19 and 24 yards, the Devils stalled on fourth-and-7. Witlessly, the Monarchs were called for defensive holding, breathing new life to the Devils who ran it in from 15 yards out on the next play.
Work Stadium in Doylestown, Pa., was waterlogged at 10 a.m. Before a player stepped on the field, an inch of standing water rested throughout various parts of the field where Juniata and Delaware Valley were to play, three hours later. Similar scenes were found throughout the region, leading to some highly unusual scores from the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Photo by Gordon Mann, D3sports.com The effects of the Week 3 weather will likely be felt in Delaware Valley's four other home games as well. |
FDU-Florham 15, King's 10
Lebanon Valley 3, Widener 0
Going into the fourth week of the season, the Devils of FDU-Florham are joined by the Moravian Greyhounds at the top of the MAC standings. If anyone wants to rationalize how King's knocked off Lycoming last week and FDU-Florham came from behind with a late flurry to upend King's -- go ahead. I could create excuses, most obviously the weather, but I will not. A game is a game is a game, under any circumstances, and the best team will find a way to win.
Widener fumbled eight times, losing five of them, while Lebanon Valley recovered each of their own five fumbles on a soupy field in Chester. The Flying Dutchmen recovered a Widener fumble at the Pioneers' 3-yard line which led to a 21-yard Eldin Brodlic field goal, accounting for the only points of the game.
The 0-2 start for Widener is their first since 1992 and the first time they were shut out since 1999.
Florham trailed King's by one with 5:19 to play and the ball at its own 20-yard line and mounted a drive to propel the Devils to an improbable 2-0 start. After quarterback Dan Huff's two completions of 19 and 24 yards, the Devils stalled on fourth-and-7. Witlessly, the Monarchs were called for defensive holding, breathing new life to the Devils who ran it in from 15 yards out on the next play.
Del Val's Adam Knoblauch threw a first-quarter interception at his own 8-yard line which Juniata punched in for a touchdown two plays later. Otherwise, the Eagles did nothing all day. In the same respect, Del Val moved the ball for more than 200 yards on a boggy surface but managed only 12 points. Coach G.A. Mangus was not happy afterwards.
"The upperclassmen have forgotten it too quickly; they've forgotten that two years ago, they stunk, and we were 2-8," Mangus told the Doylestown Intelligencer. "That is their problem, they are arrogant right now, and I'm going to bring them down a notch or two come Monday, so that's my responsibility and that's my fault."
Tragically, the Aggies were stung after the game when Jack Fedick, father of offensive line coach and former Ursinus player Greg Fedick, died in a charity bike ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, N.J. Jack frequented this column and the message boards on this site and has been a tremendous supporter of D-III football throughout the years. Jack sang the graces of Del Val's turnaround and was very close to their program. He was immensely proud of his son and will be sorely missed.
I think the Aggies will be back on point for their game Saturday at Susquehanna.
Home sweet home!
The Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan are undefeated at home, albeit in their first and only opportunity. Congrats to the novice program, which recorded its first win, a 14-6 victory against Greensboro, allowing just two field goals. The Pride suffered four turnovers and even outgained Wesleyan by 159 yards in the eight -point Bishops win.
"Five weeks ago, they didn't know each other," coach Jack Ginn said glowingly to the Rocky Mount Telegram. "Now their a team of 18-year-olds that can run out there and play other college football teams. It's quite an accomplishment."
Wesleyan hosts Methodist next week in the third of their eight-game schedule against varsity opponents followed by a non-conference matchup at Chowan. The Monarchs played tough at home in a 7-3 loss to No. 25 Salisbury while playing in less than desirable Ivan-inspired conditions.
Not quite defenseless, and still undefeated
I was so impressed with the 2003 defense of Johns Hopkins that it may appear as though my words are a bit harsh when commenting on the 2004 Blue crew. JHU's 24-14 win against Carnegie Mellon was average as the Blue Jays have now allowed more points in three games than they did in eight games last year.
"We certainly lost some great guys from the defense," Blue Jays field general Jim Margraff told me this week. "(Safety Matt) Campbell is tremendous, but we have some youngsters back there with him and they have had to adjust to playing full time."
Hopkins fell prey to a weak non-conference schedule in 2003 and failed to secure a coveted Pool C playoff bid despite a 9-1 overall mark. A late season game at home against Hampden-Sydney will boost JHU's strength of schedule but if the Tigers maintain their offensive production, it could be a long day for the Blue Jays' defense. 3-0 is 3-0, no matter how you get there. Kean's brutalizing defeat to Cortland State this week somewhat diminishes JHU's allowance of 17 points to the Cougars last week. Cortland squashed Kean, 49-17, posting 14 points more than the Blue Jays did in their contest.
Obviously, it doesn't matter all that much to the Jays. Win the Centennial and its an automatic bid. They've been knocking on the door for a long time. Walk through.
We'll see how it all pans out in the weeks to come.
Bringing order and class to insect kingdom
Hornets or Yellow Jackets? Both thorny creatures share the genus, Vespula, and they shared the field on Saturday. It was the Hornets of Shenandoah who staged the largest comeback in program history, returning from a 17-point halftime deficit to upend Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of six SU turnovers, including three in the first quarter. SU would proceed to score 21 unanswered points over the last 19 minutes of the game to sting (I had to do it) RMC at home. After last week's debacle where SU beat Bridgewater in nearly every statistical category except the final score, SU must have had a direct line to the psychiatrists. A major halftime gutcheck got the Hornets going in time to win.
For those buggers who are interested, RMC's Yellow Jackets weren't as good as the Waynesburg species two weeks back. The Pennsylvania flyers sedated the Virginia insects 31-7.
No emails from bio majors telling me that I am misusing the terms "genus," "species," etc. I know.
Call off the dogs
Bloodhounds were in search of the Bridgewater offense. But Brandon Wakefield found the touch, completing 12 of 16 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown whereas four backs found the end zone in a massacre of wheel-spinning Hanover. The Panthers are struggling mightily, off to their worst start in 33 seasons, and the Eagles did everything they could to take advantage; running an offense that has been so slow to get started. Bridgewater blew out the scoreboard, notching 72 points in the drubbing.
This weekend, the Eagles travel across the state to Hampton for the 2004 Oyster Bowl versus Christopher Newport. As we have belabored in the column, the Eagles will have to come off the tough game at CNU for their game of the season at home versus Hampden-Sydney.
Better late than never
Lycoming scored three touchdowns in the final 3:42 to get past a tenacious Wilkes squad. On fourth-and-goal, Phil Mann found paydirt on a keeper to get the Warriors on the board, tying the game at seven. Wilkes snap-caller Brock Snyder lobbed a 50-yard pass to Jim Jordan to propel the Colonels back on top. Kyle Devlin's extra point attempt went askew and cost Wilkes the game. Lyco charged down the field and got the full seven points, then intercepted a Wilkes pass with time running down, returning it for some insurance.
The Warriors defense stymied the Colonels who got on the board early, holding a 7-0 lead for most of the game. In the end, it was the defense who would reign supreme.
"I was confident that our defense would come back and play well," coach Frank Girardi quipped to the Williamsport Sun Gazette. "Fortunately, they did and they were able to keep us in the ballgame. They kept us in the ballgame right down until the end when we made some plays."
Just a reminder, this game counted as a conference game for Lycoming but not for Wilkes because of the quirks of the MAC schedule. Wilkes is 0-1 in the MAC although our software is incapable of recording a game as only half a conference game.
Diplomacy rules
Franklin and Marshall is 3-0 for the second time in three seasons and has now won five consecutive games (football folks, not basketball) dating to last year, the first time they have accomplished that feat since 1996. Amish country fans be warned, don't get too excited. Before Saturday's game, F&M's wins have been against opponents with a combined 1-4 record (Bethany 0-2, Oberlin 0-2, Hobart 1-0).
As promised: The tale of the tape.
The Diplomats were indeed, more diplomatic. F&M was charged with one penalty for 20 yards whereas the Statesmen were embarrassed with an undistinguished seven penalties for 65 yards.
Off to the Steel City next weekend as the Dips will punch their quills against the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon.
Obscure statistic of the week
Over the course of their program's first 41 games, Shenandoah had never passed for more yards than they gained on the ground. Until Saturday. The Hornets passed for 210 yards and rushed for 120 yards in their come-from-behind win at Randolph-Macon.
Mid-Atlantic region Top 5
1. Hampden Sydney
2. Delaware Valley
3. Christopher Newport
4. McDaniel
5. Bridgewater
No changes in the Top 5 as we swing into week four. HSC enjoyed a week off before what one would expect to be a blowout win versus Guilford this week. Following that is the big matchup in Bridgewater. Coming in with a light schedule, there will be no excuses for HSC in 2004.
Del Val played incredible defense, holding Juniata to 72 yards of total offense on a barely playable field in Doylestown. Still, the Aggies moved the ball but eventually would fall victim to the field conditions. The five-point margin of victory is deceptive. Eleven minutes into the game, Juniata intercepted a DVC pass deep in Aggies territory and punched it in from 7 yards out. The Eagles wouldn't sniff the red zone for the rest of the game.
The Captains regrouped in their bye week in anticipation of their much anticipated matchup with the Eagles.
McDaniel's "green flag" defense became the second team this season to shut out a rebuilding Catholic squad. The offense showed signs of life on Saturday, but did so against a much weaker foe. It's break time for the Green Terror before starting Centennial action in two weeks at Ursinus.
Bridgewater scored 72 points. Hanover is now 0-3 and showed little in their shellacking. The Eagles have lacked consistency and will need a bang-up effort to thwart a hostile atmosphere at the Oyster Bowl.
Games of the week
Bridgewater vs. Christopher Newport, Oyster Bowl, Hampton, Va., 1:00 p.m.: These two split last year with BC winning the one that mattered more, the second round playoff game in Newport News. At the very least, fans of both squads know how to have a good time. Hit the parking lots early and enjoy the D-III passion both of these teams bring to the game.
Lycoming at Albright, Shirk Field, Reading, Pa., 1:30 p.m.: John Port is on track again, tossing three touchdowns to his Lions receivers while throwing for 283 yards. Lyco was up against it in their win against Wilkes and have come out of the block flat after their 2003 playoff run. After losing in Week 1, every MAC game carries added importance for the Warriors.
Correction
While citing his recent achievement of 4,000 career yards, I mistakenly referred to King's senior running back Richard Jackson as Richard Johnson in last week's column Thanks to reader Mark Drochek for noting the error.
"The upperclassmen have forgotten it too quickly; they've forgotten that two years ago, they stunk, and we were 2-8," Mangus told the Doylestown Intelligencer. "That is their problem, they are arrogant right now, and I'm going to bring them down a notch or two come Monday, so that's my responsibility and that's my fault."
Tragically, the Aggies were stung after the game when Jack Fedick, father of offensive line coach and former Ursinus player Greg Fedick, died in a charity bike ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, N.J. Jack frequented this column and the message boards on this site and has been a tremendous supporter of D-III football throughout the years. Jack sang the graces of Del Val's turnaround and was very close to their program. He was immensely proud of his son and will be sorely missed.
I think the Aggies will be back on point for their game Saturday at Susquehanna.
Home sweet home!
The Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan are undefeated at home, albeit in their first and only opportunity. Congrats to the novice program, which recorded its first win, a 14-6 victory against Greensboro, allowing just two field goals. The Pride suffered four turnovers and even outgained Wesleyan by 159 yards in the eight -point Bishops win.
"Five weeks ago, they didn't know each other," coach Jack Ginn said glowingly to the Rocky Mount Telegram. "Now their a team of 18-year-olds that can run out there and play other college football teams. It's quite an accomplishment."
Wesleyan hosts Methodist next week in the third of their eight-game schedule against varsity opponents followed by a non-conference matchup at Chowan. The Monarchs played tough at home in a 7-3 loss to No. 25 Salisbury while playing in less than desirable Ivan-inspired conditions.
Not quite defenseless, and still undefeated
I was so impressed with the 2003 defense of Johns Hopkins that it may appear as though my words are a bit harsh when commenting on the 2004 Blue crew. JHU's 24-14 win against Carnegie Mellon was average as the Blue Jays have now allowed more points in three games than they did in eight games last year.
"We certainly lost some great guys from the defense," Blue Jays field general Jim Margraff told me this week. "(Safety Matt) Campbell is tremendous, but we have some youngsters back there with him and they have had to adjust to playing full time."
Hopkins fell prey to a weak non-conference schedule in 2003 and failed to secure a coveted Pool C playoff bid despite a 9-1 overall mark. A late season game at home against Hampden-Sydney will boost JHU's strength of schedule but if the Tigers maintain their offensive production, it could be a long day for the Blue Jays' defense. 3-0 is 3-0, no matter how you get there. Kean's brutalizing defeat to Cortland State this week somewhat diminishes JHU's allowance of 17 points to the Cougars last week. Cortland squashed Kean, 49-17, posting 14 points more than the Blue Jays did in their contest.
Obviously, it doesn't matter all that much to the Jays. Win the Centennial and its an automatic bid. They've been knocking on the door for a long time. Walk through.
We'll see how it all pans out in the weeks to come.
Bringing order and class to insect kingdom
Hornets or Yellow Jackets? Both thorny creatures share the genus, Vespula, and they shared the field on Saturday. It was the Hornets of Shenandoah who staged the largest comeback in program history, returning from a 17-point halftime deficit to upend Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of six SU turnovers, including three in the first quarter. SU would proceed to score 21 unanswered points over the last 19 minutes of the game to sting (I had to do it) RMC at home. After last week's debacle where SU beat Bridgewater in nearly every statistical category except the final score, SU must have had a direct line to the psychiatrists. A major halftime gutcheck got the Hornets going in time to win.
For those buggers who are interested, RMC's Yellow Jackets weren't as good as the Waynesburg species two weeks back. The Pennsylvania flyers sedated the Virginia insects 31-7.
No emails from bio majors telling me that I am misusing the terms "genus," "species," etc. I know.
Call off the dogs
Bloodhounds were in search of the Bridgewater offense. But Brandon Wakefield found the touch, completing 12 of 16 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown whereas four backs found the end zone in a massacre of wheel-spinning Hanover. The Panthers are struggling mightily, off to their worst start in 33 seasons, and the Eagles did everything they could to take advantage; running an offense that has been so slow to get started. Bridgewater blew out the scoreboard, notching 72 points in the drubbing.
This weekend, the Eagles travel across the state to Hampton for the 2004 Oyster Bowl versus Christopher Newport. As we have belabored in the column, the Eagles will have to come off the tough game at CNU for their game of the season at home versus Hampden-Sydney.
Better late than never
Lycoming scored three touchdowns in the final 3:42 to get past a tenacious Wilkes squad. On fourth-and-goal, Phil Mann found paydirt on a keeper to get the Warriors on the board, tying the game at seven. Wilkes snap-caller Brock Snyder lobbed a 50-yard pass to Jim Jordan to propel the Colonels back on top. Kyle Devlin's extra point attempt went askew and cost Wilkes the game. Lyco charged down the field and got the full seven points, then intercepted a Wilkes pass with time running down, returning it for some insurance.
The Warriors defense stymied the Colonels who got on the board early, holding a 7-0 lead for most of the game. In the end, it was the defense who would reign supreme.
"I was confident that our defense would come back and play well," coach Frank Girardi quipped to the Williamsport Sun Gazette. "Fortunately, they did and they were able to keep us in the ballgame. They kept us in the ballgame right down until the end when we made some plays."
Just a reminder, this game counted as a conference game for Lycoming but not for Wilkes because of the quirks of the MAC schedule. Wilkes is 0-1 in the MAC although our software is incapable of recording a game as only half a conference game.
Diplomacy rules
Franklin and Marshall is 3-0 for the second time in three seasons and has now won five consecutive games (football folks, not basketball) dating to last year, the first time they have accomplished that feat since 1996. Amish country fans be warned, don't get too excited. Before Saturday's game, F&M's wins have been against opponents with a combined 1-4 record (Bethany 0-2, Oberlin 0-2, Hobart 1-0).
As promised: The tale of the tape.
The Diplomats were indeed, more diplomatic. F&M was charged with one penalty for 20 yards whereas the Statesmen were embarrassed with an undistinguished seven penalties for 65 yards.
Off to the Steel City next weekend as the Dips will punch their quills against the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon.
Obscure statistic of the week
Over the course of their program's first 41 games, Shenandoah had never passed for more yards than they gained on the ground. Until Saturday. The Hornets passed for 210 yards and rushed for 120 yards in their come-from-behind win at Randolph-Macon.
Mid-Atlantic region Top 5
1. Hampden Sydney
2. Delaware Valley
3. Christopher Newport
4. McDaniel
5. Bridgewater
No changes in the Top 5 as we swing into week four. HSC enjoyed a week off before what one would expect to be a blowout win versus Guilford this week. Following that is the big matchup in Bridgewater. Coming in with a light schedule, there will be no excuses for HSC in 2004.
Del Val played incredible defense, holding Juniata to 72 yards of total offense on a barely playable field in Doylestown. Still, the Aggies moved the ball but eventually would fall victim to the field conditions. The five-point margin of victory is deceptive. Eleven minutes into the game, Juniata intercepted a DVC pass deep in Aggies territory and punched it in from 7 yards out. The Eagles wouldn't sniff the red zone for the rest of the game.
The Captains regrouped in their bye week in anticipation of their much anticipated matchup with the Eagles.
McDaniel's "green flag" defense became the second team this season to shut out a rebuilding Catholic squad. The offense showed signs of life on Saturday, but did so against a much weaker foe. It's break time for the Green Terror before starting Centennial action in two weeks at Ursinus.
Bridgewater scored 72 points. Hanover is now 0-3 and showed little in their shellacking. The Eagles have lacked consistency and will need a bang-up effort to thwart a hostile atmosphere at the Oyster Bowl.
Games of the week
Bridgewater vs. Christopher Newport, Oyster Bowl, Hampton, Va., 1:00 p.m.: These two split last year with BC winning the one that mattered more, the second round playoff game in Newport News. At the very least, fans of both squads know how to have a good time. Hit the parking lots early and enjoy the D-III passion both of these teams bring to the game.
Lycoming at Albright, Shirk Field, Reading, Pa., 1:30 p.m.: John Port is on track again, tossing three touchdowns to his Lions receivers while throwing for 283 yards. Lyco was up against it in their win against Wilkes and have come out of the block flat after their 2003 playoff run. After losing in Week 1, every MAC game carries added importance for the Warriors.
Correction
While citing his recent achievement of 4,000 career yards, I mistakenly referred to King's senior running back Richard Jackson as Richard Johnson in last week's column Thanks to reader Mark Drochek for noting the error.
