The opponent is one-dimensional on offense because Del Val has
shut down the run. The Aggies’ rush defense finished the
regular season highly ranked and forced teams to take their chances
through the air. Preseason All American Mike Jaskowski is the
prototype for Del Val’s front seven – not real big, but
very quick.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Freshman quarterback Aaron Wilmer doesn’t have time to
throw the ball. The Aggie offensive line jelled during conference
play and gave their young quarterback room to run the offense down
the stretch. The line is also the key to the Aggies having a
balanced attack since tailback Kyle Schuberth is a quick, strong
runner who gets yards in chunks when he has space to get out of the
backfield.
This season's turning point:
When the Aggies drove 65 yards in less than 50 seconds to beat
Lycoming on the road late in the fourth quarter. Wilmer finished
the game winning drive with a rushing touchdown after big
receptions by Lewis Vincent and Rodney Blango set up the goal to go
opportunity.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
187.7/224.1
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
89.3/136.8
How far can they go?
If you believe their top seeding, they could go all the way to
the national semifinals. But Del Val has lost games at home in the
playoffs before and this particular Aggies team is very young on
offense. Give them two wins in the first two rounds and we’ll
see what they can do against a completely unfamiliar opponent in
the national quarterfinal.
The defense sets the offense up with short fields, the offense
holds onto the ball and special teams keeps the other time from
breaking open a big return.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They can't get the run game going and the passing game can't
compensate.
This season's turning point:
A short Carthage punt and a long return set Illinois Wesleyan
up at the Carthage 38 with 6:24 left, trailing 9-6. The Titans were
in the end zone seven plays later, forced a fumble on Carthage's
next play from scrimmage and ran out the clock.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
112.4/231.8
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
123.4/161.1
How far can they go?
If the defense comes up big, it can stay in the bracket for a
few weeks. Otherwise, they could go one-and-out.
Hewitt Tomlin passes for more than 300 yards. While the ground
game led by Jonathan Rigaud is impressive as well, Tomlin is widely
seen as the face of the franchise – and he proves that week
in and week out. His experience and leadership are his intangibles;
stats such as his 23:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio are his
tangibles.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense stutters. Johns Hopkins is statistically fourth
nationally in defense, keeping opponents in check on both sides of
the ball. An offense that can chip away at JHU will cause havoc on
the scoreboard.
This season's turning point:
The last two weeks of the regular season. Both times, the Blue
Jays had to come from behind to earn their narrow victories, and
those games have likely taught the players and coaches more about
themselves than did the 40-plus drubbings they handed out earlier
in the season.
The run defense is putting the clamps on. Look at how the
Cardinals did against two triple-option teams. Springfield ran for
just 146 yards and the Cardinals won 33-6. Salisbury ran for 361
yards and the Cardinals lost 41-21.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Ryan Kramer is relying on his legs to make plays instead of his
arm. This is a little counterintuitive since Kramer is the
team’s leading rusher with 12 touchdowns. But the games in
which the Cardinals have struggled are those in which the passing
game was ineffective. Kramer is a threat to run, but if he’s
forced to do that exclusively, it means something else is
amiss.
This season's turning point:
This weekend when St. John Fisher turned into the Comeback
Cardinals. First St. John Fisher turned a 17-point first half
deficit at Hartwick into a 55-28 victory. Then the selection
committee gave the Cards second life by picking them for an
at-large bid over one-loss Endicott and Case Western Reserve.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
213.3/156.1
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
146.0/173.1
How far can they go?
The Cardinals' two lopsided losses to playoff participants
Salisbury and Hobart don’t inspire a lot of confidence for a
deep playoff run. But there’s a benefit to playing in a
tough, deep conference. It gets teams ready for the NCAA playoffs,
if they’re fortunate enough to reach it. It’s possible
that the Cardinals could channel that experience into two playoff
wins in this bracket.
Alex Thiry has time to throw, because he can hit his targets
when he's not rushed. They elevate the pace of their game to match
what one sees in a mid-to-high level conference or a playoff
game.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Opponents start drives with excellent field position and have
more than one weapon on offense.
This season's turning point:
The offseason, in which the rallying point was winning the
conference's first-ever automatic bid in football.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
207.2/264.1
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
110.3/171.3
How far can they go?
One and out, but it's interesting to ponder what the ceiling
for the program might be. The Saints will have to break out of the
UMAC norm in order to be a playoff threat.
Delaware Valley Aggies
St. Thomas Tommies
Illinois Wesleyan Titans
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
St. John Fisher Cardinals
Monmouth Scots
St. Scholastica Saints
Norwich Cadets