The defense gets off the field quickly, provides the offense
with short fields, or both.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They're forced to lean on their young running backs.
This season's turning point:
New starting quarterback Matt O'Connell survived his trial by
fire in the season opener, helping lead the Tommies to two TDs in
the final four minutes of the game to beat UW-Eau Claire
27-24.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
250.1/226.9
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
72.2/197.0
How far can they go?
They have the defense to get them to Salem if the offense can
hold up its end of the bargain.
They are getting good play from the lines. The Statesmen are
fourth in the nation in sacks, with 38 in 10 games, and third in
the nation in sacks allowed, with just four.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are turning the ball over. Hobart has only 16 all season,
but they've come in bunches (three fumbles at Utica, three
interceptions by Merchant Marine), and the Statesmen don't generate
turnovers to cancel them out. They are one of four playoff teams
with a negative turnover margin. Also if they are giving up rushing
yards; they held seven of 10 opponents to 85 yards or less.
This season's turning point:
An 11-play drive to end the third quarter to hold off a
furiously rallying Union in the Statesmen's closest game of the
year paved the way for the 10-0 finish.
Brendan Leiran has more than 100 yards. After sitting out the
first two games with injuries, he has rushed for 100 or more in six
of eight games.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are losing the turnover battle. Coe entered last week's
game against Central No. 1 in the country in turnover margin. The
two games where Coe has lost the turnover battle (Dubuque &
Central) were Coe's closest two games.
This season's turning point:
Scoring a touchdown and hitting the two-point conversion with
48 seconds left at Dubuque, then going on to win in the second
overtime.
The defensive line finds its way into the backfield. The
defense prides itself on playing with a sort of "controlled rage,"
and if the line can break through and get pressure on the
quarterback, good things can also happen for the linebackers and
secondary. This year, the team is fifth in the nation in sacks and
13th in tackles for loss.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The quarterback can't connect with his receivers on short pass
plays. The Student Princes use a hurry-up offense, which relies on
out-routes and curls to give the running backs a break and to move
the chains.
This season's turning point:
The loss at Mount Union. While beating Otterbein and Baldwin
Wallace were the two key wins that propelled Heidelberg into the
postseason, it was the UMU game, which was 12-7 at the half, that
showed that the Student Princes are more contender than pretender
on the national stage.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
238.3/236.2
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
122.5/199.0
How far can they go?
With the schedule they've had this year, the regional finals
are definitely within reach.
The defense is getting turnovers, having led the CCIW in at
plus-17. The defense gives up a lot of yards but they get
stops/turnovers at key times to stop momentum. On offense, if they
are throwing the ball less than 20 times. That means they are
getting meaningful yards on the ground on first and second
down.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are playing from behind. They led at the half in eight of
their 10 games this season and their run oriented offense is deadly
late in a close game. Offensively, if they are in second- and
third-and-long.
This season's turning point:
Stopping Wheaton twice in the fourth quarter, including on a
fourth-and-1 from inside the 5-yard line, to win 35-30.
Wittenberg is piling up the yards on offense. Four hundred-yard
outings were fairly common for the Tigers this year, but their huge
games saw them racking up at least 500 yards with a balance of
running and passing efforts. Quarterback Reed Florence has at least
three targets he feels comfortable throwing to often.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They're trailing during the middle quarters. Against teams like
Wabash or Wooster, the Tigers fell behind and struggled to find
their stride, instead relying on big plays to keep them
competitive. While big plays should be a part of Witt's game plan,
the team will be in trouble if the scoreboard forces the team into
such play-calling.
This season's turning point:
The October loss to Wabash. The defeat did more than just show
Wittenberg that they needed to be flawless down the stretch to get
into the playoffs; that game also marked the first 100-yard rushing
effort by freshman Jimmy Dehnke, who would go on to repeat the feat
three more times this season. The Tigers would have been lost this
season without the reliability of Dehnke.
They hit their magic number of 400. Since 2010, W&L is
undefeated in games in which it has amassed at least 400 yards of
rushing offense. And the team has scored an average of almost 50
points in those outings. Led by senior Luke Heinsohn, who is
complemented by Brett Murray and Sasha Vandalov, the Generals'
offense is a clear threat to anyone it lines up against.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They can't control the opposing team’s passing game. The
General have been scored upon in a big way by teams that can rack
up 300 or 400 yards through the air.
This season's turning point:
The 45-42 quintuple overtime shootout against Hampden-Sydney
early this month. The game was widely seen as the most anticipated
in determining the likely conference title winner, and W&L had
to come out swinging in the second half to overcome an 11-point
deficit. It highlighted the Generals' determination and their
ability to claw their way back into the mix without the need for a
fast-moving, dynamic passing game.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
381.3/69.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
156.3/210.1
How far can they go?
Teams not used to W&L's option offense could be surprised
and handed upset losses. But the Generals' opponents have seen a
lot through the season. If the chips fall right, a Round 1 win is
possible, but Round 2 is where the ride ends.
St. Thomas Tommies
Hobart Statesmen
Coe Kohawks
Heidelberg Student Princes
Elmhurst Bluejays
Wittenberg Tigers
Washington and Lee Generals
St. Norbert Green Knights