By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
The final week of the regular season in the Mid-Atlantic region may have the appearances of a lame duck. We assure you it isn't. That still may not help you, though.
Three of the four conferences within the region have crowned their champions as with uneventful ends to the eventual winners. Dickinson, Washington and Lee, and Wilkes all managed to lock down their playoff berths with home victories in their last regular-season home games of the year.
Dickinson continued its yeoman-like work dominating the time of possession against Gettysburg in a 30-14 win at Biddle Field in Carlisle. The Red Devils got the job done before 4,200 fans on Homecoming, Parents' Weekend, Senior Day, and Hall of Fame Weekend in the ultimate crowning achievement for a team that returned a combined 21 starters (eight offense, 11 defense, two special teams).
Matt Stark popped three field goals, Ryne Cantwell scampered for two touchdowns and Matt Torchia added one as well behind a well-balanced offense that rushed for 224 yards and passed for 214 yards. The Red Devils held possession for just shy of 38 minutes in the contest and converted on five of six red zone chances.
"There was a lot of pressure on us because of the magnitude of this game," Torchia told the Harrisburg Patriot News. "But we've had the kind of players to handle it this year. We've really come together and played well. Now everybody's looking forward to the playoffs."
The Red Devils did get a break in the win as the Patriot News reported Gettysburg had 12 players suspended for the big contest, including the CC's leading running back Tom Sturges and kicker Josh Huson. Bullets head coach Barry Streeter would not comment on the incident to the paper.
To Dickinson, the importance of next week's game against Ursinus has not been lost amidst winning their first outright conference title since 1994.
"It's important for us to win," receiver Clay Merris said. "We'd like to play that (first round playoff) game at home and I think we'd have a good opportunity" with a win at Ursinus.
The Red Devils proved that experience matters in the Centennial with and we thought they had a chance to get the job done from the beginning. In case you missed it, here were some of our thoughts on the Red Devils from our 2006 Kickoff:
Returning as many starters as they do, Dickinson's seniority should carry them further than in the past. Recognizing that, there is no reason the Red Devils should not move forward. The passing game under Matt Torchia has flourished more than his predecessors and a balanced offense only helps.
Torchia returns with many of his offensive mates and provides Dickinson with an advantage that few other CC contenders boast -- a returning, experienced quarterback. F&M, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Ursinus will battle for new QBs. If Johns Hopkins does not return to their form from 2005, we find that the Red Devils are most prepared to step into the top spot.
Shameless plug for the 2007 D3football.com Kickoff? I can't say we didn't warn you.
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Washington and Lee got the job done with an easy victory over Emory & Henry and punched a ticket to the Generals' first postseason game since the 1951 Gator Bowl.
Two second-half E&H turnovers led to ten points for Washington & Lee and solidified the victory for the Generals, 24-6.
Middle Atlantic Conference
In a 35-7 win over Susquehanna, Wilkes' acceptance to the postseason was no longer in doubt. The automatic bid came almost as easily as the win itself and it was a long time coming for coach Frank Sheptock.
"My vocabulary doesn't do it justice," Sheptock shined to the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. "I'm just so proud."
The Colonels will now return to the postseason after gaining a somewhat surprising Pool C bid to the big dance last year before bowing out in a 42-3 loss at Rowan. The Blue and Gold have taken all the steps necessary to ensure they don't need to sit on the edge of their seats next Sunday.
Wilkes has done little more than impress just about everyone in the region with a stingy defense and an experienced, well-balanced offense. The Colonels have outscored opponents this season by an average of 25-8, holding a plus-12 turnover advantage, sacking opposing quarterbacks 40 times. Not too shabby, eh?
Roland Hilliard ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the team's win against Averett. Photo by Ryan Tipps, D3football.com |
USAC remains undecided
Christopher Newport's 41-31 victory at home over Averett kept the USAC racing going for one more week. The loss was Averett's first in the conference and the Cougars will now rely on a Ferrum upset of CNU, coupled with a win against Maryville to take the automatic bid. CNU needs a win and it is in.
Pool C watch
It doesn't look good for the non-champions of the CC, MAC, ODAC, or USAC.
Here's where we stand with regional records and updated quality of wins index figures.
27th: Christopher Newport, 7-1 region, 10.250 QOWI
49th: Bridgewater, 7-2 region, 9.111 QOWI
51st: Averett, 6-3 region, 9.000 QOWI
51st: Delaware Valley, 7-2 region, 9.000 QOWI
73rd: Ursinus, 5-2 region, 8.286 QOWI
If CNU defeats Ferrum, Bridgewater current stands in the best position with these factors considered. Yet, with just seven Pool C bids to be dispersed, a host of other teams seem to be in line ahead of the region this year. The hopes of the Mid-Atlantic will probably lie in the hands of their conference champions.
Next week
We'll have our thoughts and predictions for the regional teams in the postseason and beyond in next week's column.
Around the Mid-Atlantic Top 5
1. Wilkes
2. Dickinson
3. Christopher Newport
4. Washington & Lee
5. Bridgewater
Games of the Week
Ferrum at Christopher Newport, Maryville at Averett; both at 1 p.m.: Expect the in-stadium updates to be fast and furious at both locations with the USAC on the line.
Hampden-Sydney at Randolph Macon, 1:00 p.m.: The Game. With both teams struggling this season, there is no need for euphoric pre-game speeches -- a season is salvaged with a win in this one.
Muhlenberg at Moravian, 1:00 p.m.: The last time these two meet in a non-conference setting. Added importance in future years, but no lack of importance this year. Both teams are 4-5 and a non-losing season sits in the balance. Similar to the great game of the South as listed above, this one has special meeting for alums, players, coaches, and the local communities. Hopefully you might make it to one or the other.
