October 25th, 2011 12:00am
Momentum. In some games, it switches from one side to the other frequently. In others-- like Pittsburg State's win over Northwest Missouri State earlier this season-- it completely switches at halftime. Momentum can switch on a big hit, a turnover, a penalty or something as simple as picking up a first down.
In my opinion, the natural momentum swings in college football are what make the game so interesting to watch. Just when it appears one team has the upper hand, something happens that swings the pendulum to the other side. And not knowing why, when or if a big momentum swing is coming is what makes the game so exciting.
Last week third-ranked Bloomsburg ran into a buzz saw. They were playing at rival West Chester on Homecoming. WCU came into the game with just a 4-3 record, but had a couple of tough losses on their resume. The Rams had everything to prove against Huskies.
Less than 20 minutes into the game, WCU led 35-0 against a BU team that hadn't given up more than 20 points in a game all season. The Rams had 316 yards of offense; the Huskies didn't have a first down. It was complete domination.
Then the momentum completely changed. Bloomsburg finally started to get its running game going and marched 59 yards for a touchdown. WCU followed with two 3-and-outs from its offense; the Huskies responded with two more quick touchdowns. By halftime, the lead was down to 35-21 and the Huskies were taking control of the game.
Bloomsburg went on to score 55 straight points in claiming a 55-42 victory. It was the biggest comeback in D-II history and equals the biggest comeback in college football history. X's and O's and match ups are important, but sometimes its just momentum and the will to win that are the biggest factors in who wins football games.
Midwestern State Delivers a Statement
Just how good is Midwestern State? I think that's a question many people have after seeing how the undefeated Mustangs completely dismantled Abilene Christian 70-28 last Saturday.
MSU is one of those programs that is similar to Washburn of the MIAA in this regard: They are a good team year after year that is well coached and can play with anyone. They occasionally make the postseason (MSU has been to the playoffs three times since 2004).
But, like Washburn, they are also overshadowed by other programs within their own conference, so national respect is not there as evidenced by the fact that MSU is ranked just 10th in our poll this week.
This season, however, MSU is the best team in the LSC. That was proven last Saturday. The Mustangs lead the nation in total offense at 576 yards per game and have scored 41 points or more in every game this season. They have four players with at least 425 rushing yards. Quarterback Brandon Kelsey can hurt teams with his arm or legs and offensive tackle Amini Silatolu is the best lineman in D2. Defensively, the Mustangs aren't as talented, but all they really need to do is get enough stops for the MSU offense to run teams off the field.
I do think MSU is one of the best teams in D2 football right now, but the real test for whether MSU is truly great won't come until the playoffs, when the Mustangs will undoubtedly run into an MIAA team such as Pittsburg State or Northwest Missouri State.
I know LSC fans are probably tired of hearing it, but I just can't name a team from that league a national championship favorite until I see some success against the MIAA in the playoffs. Maybe Midwestern State is finally "that" team.
Regional Rankings
The first set of regional rankings came out on Monday and I do think fans are becoming more acclimated to the D2 selection process. Either that or there isn't much to object to in the first set of rankings. Usually my inbox is full of complaints when the rankings first come out, but not this year.
With three weeks still to go in the regular season, it's too early to start breaking down the playoff possibilities. I will start to break things down next week and go into great detail in two weeks, leading up to Selection Sunday.
Random News, Notes, and Thoughts from around D2 Football
-When West Alabama lost starting quarterback Gary Johnston to a season-ending injury n the season's third game, head coach Will Hall named 18 year-old true freshman Kyle Caldwell his new starter. Caldwell-- who is listed at just 5'7" 149 pounds on the UWA website-- has led the Tigers to a 4-1 mark as the starter.
-Northwest Missouri State quarterbacks Blake Christopher and Trevor Adams have pass efficiency ratings of 200 and 194, respectively. They would rank first and second in the country if they had enough pass attempts. Christopher is the senior starter that has missed four games with injuries but the offense hasn't missed a beat with Adams under center.
-In studying the Championship Handbook that the NCAA puts out, the regional ranking criteria are essentially the same as they have been in the past with the lone exception being that performance over a team's last four games has been eliminated. I'm not sure how much that component was really used in the past anyway.
-Five of the countries top 19 teams in terms of total defense reside in the PSAC's West Division. All five are giving up under 300 yards per game led by Slippery Rock, who allows just 222 yards per game.
-If Stillman can beat Miles this weekend, the Tigers will earn a berth in the inaugural SIAC championship game on November 12th. The Tigers also have a game scheduled with NAIA Concordia-Selma that same day, which will have to be cancelled. It's not exactly a vote of confidence in your football program to schedule like you are assuming you won't make the league title game.
-Assumption defensive back Mike Bates has returned an interception for a touchdown in each of the last three games and has five total interceptions over that timeframe.
-Grand Valley State (5-3) has won four straight games, averaging 57.5 points per game in the process. If the Lakers could somehow sneak into the playoffs-- and as I said last week I believe the chances to be slim-- they would be a handful for anyone.
Top Games this Week
Augustana (5-3) at Minnesota State (6-2)
National TV: CBS College Sports at 8 pm Eastern Thursday
Both teams are unbeaten in the NSIC South, with Augie winning five straight after starting the season 0-3. MSU quarterback Jon Daniels has quietly had a very nice season, but he will be going against a ball-hawking Viking secondary that has intercepted 12 passes this season. Should be a good game. Minnesota State 27 Augustana 21.
North Alabama (7-1) at West Alabama (6-2)
With former UNA standout quarterback Will Hall now the head coach at UWA, even more intrigue has been added to this rivalry. The Tigers have played the Lions tough the last two years, including a win over them in 2009. But UNA is coming off a tough loss to Delta State, and with a week off to prepare for this game Terry Bowden should have his team focused. North Alabama 31 West Alabama 21.
Minnesota-Duluth (7-1) at St. Cloud State (7-1)
What a game this will be. These are the two best defensive teams in the NSIC and both offenses prefer to grind it out on the ground with physical running attacks. The Huskies are probably a bit more explosive offensively, but the Bulldogs have been so good in big games over the past three years. Minnesota-Duluth 19 St. Cloud State 17.
Saginaw Valley (5-2) at Wayne State (7-1)
The Cardinals looked great in knocking off Ashland on national TV last week. WSU has the best record in the GLIAC, but the Warriors appear to be fading a bit after a dominant start to the year, with four of their last five games decided by a touchdown or less. Saginaw Valley 24 Wayne State 20.
California (6-2) at IUP (5-2)
On paper this match up is as even as it gets. Both teams lost to Slippery Rock by 14. Both beat Mercyhurst in overtime. Both teams have beaten Clarion and Gannon; Cal by a combined 73-19 and IUP by a combined 73-14. Home field advantage is typically worth three points so: Indiana 24 California 21.
Stillman (6-2) at Miles (5-3)
To the winner goes the SIAC West Division title and a spot in the league title game against either Albany State or Morehouse on November 12. Miles has been a bit more impressive this year, but Stillman has won four games by four points or less, so the Tigers have had the breaks go their way so far. Stillman 17 Miles 16.
Michigan Tech (5-3) at Grand Valley (5-3)
This is an interesting match up between the top defense in the conference (MTU) and the top offense (GVSU). Both teams have slim playoff hopes so both obviously need to win this game. Plus, the Huskies spanked the Lakers last season, so revenge comes into play. GVSU has played so well offensively over the last month that I think they win this game. Grand Valley 34 Michigan Tech 21.
Mailbag
[Q] What is it going to take for the teams in the Northeast to be on equal footing with the rest of D2?
Ron
[A] The PSAC eliminating the scholarship restrictions is a step in the right direction, although I don't think we have seen much benefit yet. Part of the problem is that PSAC schools generally sponsor more sports than a conference like the MIAA. So although the schools are similar and the overall athletic budgets are similar to the PSAC, the MIAA is able to put more resources towards football. The MIAA also has some big advantages in how scholarships are funded. That's just an example of some of the obstacles the PSAC would have to overcome to become as competitive as a league like the MIAA.
That said, if we are going to see a true powerhouse emerge in the Northeast, it's most likely going to come from the PSAC. California in 2007 was the best D-II team from the Northeast since the great IUP teams of the mid-90's, but even though the Vulcans have continued to be good and have made the semifinals a couple of more times, they really haven't been national championship caliber outside of that one year. I do feel that IUP is a program with the history and resources to become a national contender again. I really think if one team could break through and win a national championship, it would give the entire region a psychological boost when it comes to football.
When you look at the rest of the Northeast, it's tough to project that any of the teams could become a national powerhouse. The Northeast-10 basically has a Division III funding model. In the WVIAC, there are eight-- soon to be nine when Alderson-Broaddus starts its program-- D2 football schools in a state with just 1.8 million people. The point I'm trying to make is that I don't know if it's possible for a program from one of these leagues to become a power nationally.
So in summary, I won't rule out the possibility that a national championship could be won by a team from the Northeast in the future. But, generally speaking, I don't think we will ever get to a point where D2 football in that area of the country is on par with the Midwest and South.
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