The offense finds rhythm early in the game, balancing the run
and pass and getting the ball to playmakers running back
Brandon Wright and wide receiver Ellis Krout. The defense stops the
run and puts opposing offenses in third-and-long allowing defenders
like end Chris Mayes and linebacker Jeff Morgan to rush the
passer.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are turning the ball over and drawing a lot of
penalties.
This season's turning point:
Converting fourth-and-8 without about 3 minutes to go in the
Del Val game trailing 17-14. Justin Soltillaire scrambled to buy
time and hit tight end Sean McAndrew for a first down inside the
Aggie 10. When Soltillare found Leonard Stevenson on the next play
for the winning score, the Wolverines gained confidence in their
new quarterback after losing Shane McSweeny in the opening week.
The junior brought the team from behind again in the fourth quarter
to defeat Salisbury a month later.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
195.7/282.1
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
59.1/128.9
How far can they go?
They should go to the semifinals, but could even go to
Salem.
They can pass consistently. This isn't your older brother's Cru
-- they never threw fewer than 15 passes in a game. LiDarral Bailey
can do both creditably -- run the option and throw -- and has
settled into the passing role after combining for 4-for-29 passing
in early-season games against the Abilene contingent.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The other team can pass the ball at will. Mary Hardin-Baylor's
defensive numbers look a little better on paper after ending the
season with Howard Payne, Sul Ross and Texas Lutheran but the Cru
defense struggled in a pass-happy league.
This season's turning point:
Finally coming up with a stop on first-and-10 from the 12 as
East Texas Baptist was driving to win the game in Week 8. UMHB
forced a field goal, which tied the game, then went on to win in
overtime.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
295.7/164.1
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
71.7/276.7
How far can they go?
This isn't one of the "top three" Mary Hardin-Baylor teams that
have been threats to go to Salem. They'd have to get through
presumably Wesley and UW-Whitewater to do so, and that is a step
too far.
The running backs are chewing up yards on the ground and in the
air, giving the defense energy to shut down the opponent's running
game.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The offense can't sustain drives by throwing the ball and the
defense has given up big plays.
This season's turning point:
Nov. 16 at Waynesburg. Thomas More was down 10-7 until 49
seconds were left in the game, when Rob Kues connected with Mercier
Doucette from 4 yards out. The win gave Thomas More the PAC
Championship and got them back to the playoffs.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
217.5/166.4
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
68.1/179.3
How far can they go?
One win is the ceiling, same for Washington and Lee.
Travis Lane is frequently connecting with wide receivers Kyle
Vance, Sean Cavanaugh and Andrew Bruckner (each averages at least
five catches a game) and senior safety Bill Doody (18 career
interceptions) is making plays on defense.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Lane is under pressure (they allow 2.7 sacks per game) or they
need to rely on their defense to keep the score down (they've only
held two teams below 17 all season).
This season's turning point:
With an at-large playoff bid on the line against rival
Randolph-Macon and trailing 14-0 because of special teams miscues,
Lane engineered three second-quarter touchdown drives, two of 11
plays, to give the Tigers a halftime lead.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
112.3/307.0
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
150.6/183.6
How far can they go?
Program is a little overdue for its first playoff win. It could
come this year. The second would have to wait.
The offense stays balanced and keeps the turnovers to a minimum
(1 or none).
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
If the turnover margin is more than a minus-1 and the
opponent's point total is in the 20s early in the game.
This season's turning point:
The second half of Montclair's 30-14 win against TCNJ on Oct.
9. The Red Hawks were 4-0 and trailed 14-10 at the half but shut
down the Lions over the final 30 minutes allowing no points and
zero net yards in a 30-14 win. It was the first real adversity they
had faced.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
137.1/211.1
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
113.1/103.3
How far can they go?
The defense is either championship level or the offenses in the
NJAC are so bad that it's easy to look good. Having laid eyes on a
mid-level and lower-level NJAC team this year suggests the latter.
Either way, the opening round, and if they advance, the second
round will be the biggest tests the defense has seen, by a wide
margin.
They can run and run and run. Not only does the Generals’
option offense use three backs, it also has a quarterback who is
one of the most veteran players on the team and who has been in the
system since it was installed in 2008. It’s not enough to say
that signal-caller Charlie Westfal meshes with the system, rather
it was built and tailored to his strengths.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The secondary is letting opponents throw the ball at will.
Games have gotten away from the Generals when the competition was
able to pepper its attack with big pass plays. But overall,
defensive backs Jake Pelton, Mike Hartford and John Kavanagh have
had breakout years. The ODAC trends toward high scoring games, but
the defense will need to provide a buffer more than ever in case
the offense hits bumps.
This season's turning point:
The conference opener -- a 55-29 win against Guilford -- was
like a second life for the Generals, who began the year 1-2. Not
only did this team return very few starters, but most everyone
coming back was young, so it took awhile for the players to jell.
The months of October and November have seen a very different group
take the field.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
370.2/80.2
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
142.2/191.1
How far can they go?
They seem to have put it together down the stretch this season
but the ceiling is still one win at most.
They’re converting their red-zone trips into points. The
Captains convert 80 percent of their trips inside the 20 into
points -- the wide margin of that being touchdowns. Much of that
recently is thanks to Christian Woelfel-Monsivais, who has started
just three games this season but has thrown for more than 450 yards
and eight touchdowns in that time.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They can’t stop the run. With the likes of Bryan Oliver
and Dominik Taylor up front and linebackers Adrin Diggs and Mike
King close by, CNU should be able to pressure the opposing
quarterback and put a dent in the heart and soul of the offenses on
its side of the playoff bracket.
This season's turning point:
The defensive stand CNU took in its win against conference
rival North Carolina Wesleyan. This mid-October game was a huge
rallying point for the Captains because it flung them into
contention for the conference title and was celebrated as the 100th
game in the program’s history. In the first quarter alone,
CNU forced four turnovers as big defensive plays snowballed into
more big plays.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
174.5/153.3
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
140.3/169.4
How far can they go?
It will be a long plane ride home. But at least it will be a
charter plane.
Kenneth Cobb (10 sacks, six in past two games) is wreaking
havoc and the opposing offense has trouble in the run game (Mules
allowing 99 yards per game).
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Chase Nadell is around the ball a lot. The defensive back
averages nearly 30 yards per kick return, with an 80-yard touchdown
on the season, and has three interceptions. If he's seeing a lot of
passes come his way and is handling a lot of kick returns, it's
probably bad news.
This season's turning point:
Two weeks after a loss to Franklin & Marshall put their
title hopes in doubt, they led Ursinus at the half by a point in
Week 10. After a Dan Deighan rushing score, Mark Accomando
delivered a hit that led to a Chris Hartzell interception, the
Mules scored for the second time in a three-minute span in the
third and went on to clinch the automatic bid that afternoon.
Rushing/receiving yards per game:
159.1/154.9
Rushing/receiving yards allowed:
99.1/159.0
How far can they go?
A better Muhlenberg team was competitive for a while with a
lesser Wesley team in the playoffs a couple years ago. This won't
be a repeat.
Wesley Wolverines
Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders
Thomas More Saints
Hampden-Sydney Tigers
Montclair State Red Hawks
Washington and Lee Generals
Christopher Newport Captains
Muhlenberg Mules