OOC

This is a running topic the first weekend of the year, how did the NE-10 do in out of conference games? This year, not so well in the win/loss record.

The NE-10 was 2-8 against foes outside of their league. Especially tough to swallow is a 1-6 record against the PSAC. A season ago, it was 3-0 against the PSAC East. And this year, 1-4 against that division with the only positive coming from Assumption.

The games were close and the result could have been much different. Several fourth quarter comebacks spoiled what looked like a great day for the league into something that is not so great.

As we have discussed many times, moral victories might be good once in a while but will not help when it comes to playoff seeding in November. For the NE-10 to get multiple teams in the playoffs, they need to win more of these games. It is all about strength of schedule in the Division II playoff rankings when they are calculated. Losses don't help, wins do.

I continue to be encouraged with the growth of the league. I have been riding that bandwagon for many years and will continue to do that. When it comes to trash talking, wins speak louder than anything else. That is the way to show the rest of the region that the NE-10 is for real.

Defense

The Stonehill defense missed the pre-game message that their game against Bloomsburg started at 6 PM last Friday night. They struggled mightily and gave up 316 yards of total offense and 24 points to Bloomsburg in the opening 30 minutes.

But finally, the defense arrived in the second half and boy, did it arrive? They allowed a grand total of seven yards in six second half drives to the Huskies as the offense tried to rallied. It was not quite enough as Bloomsburg held on for a 24-20 victory over Stonehill.

"You have to play four quarters," Stonehill head coach Eli Gardner said. "We didn't response at all in the first half. You saw the guys play with more confidence in the second half. Hopefully we learned a valuable lesson tonight that you need to play a complete game."

The Bloomsburg offensive line averages nearly 300 pounds and was crushing the smaller Stonehill defensive line. But in the second half, the Skyhawks found their mojo and absolutely dominated that much bigger front of the Huskies.

Stonehill is known for strong defenses and the effort put forth reminded me of a Stonehill defense that held NE-10 Player of the Year Joe Clancy in check in 2013. Clancy was putting up monstrous numbers but Stonehill went into Merrimack and made Clancy look mortal. That year, they made it to the NE-10 championship game.

If they play like that the rest of the season, they will definitely be playing for a championship again.

Defense, Part II

Several top defensive players picked up exactly where they left off in 2015. It was as if the off-season never occurred as these several players looked in top form in the opening weekend.

-Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Condit of New Haven was all over the field again as he was credit with 13 tackles, 3 of the solo variety.

-Daquain Holmes might not have picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown but he was the top tackler for American International. He was credited with 12 tackles, 8 of the solo variety.

-Jarrod Casey was the defensive backbone for the NE-10 champs last year and continued his strong play in Assumption's opening weekend victory. He had 11 tackles, 7 of the solo variety. He also had an interception in the end zone that ended a long drive for Kutztown.

-Sam McDonald continues to frustrate opposing quarterbacks as he picked off two passes against West Chester. He is now tied for second all-time in Bentley history for interceptions. He also recorded eight tackles, six of the solo variety.

Comebacks

At one point Saturday afternoon, several teams looked like they were going to pull upsets and make it a banner day for the NE-10. But then came the fourth quarters in those games and double digit deficits were erased.

It started in Waltham as Bentley led PSAC East favorite and nationally ranked West Chester 24-14 heading into the final quarter. But the Rams scored 17 consecutive points to erase the deficit and escape on the road with the victory. A late pick six was the difference in the game.

At the same time in Springfield, American International held a slim 9-6 lead over Shippensburg at the end of the third. But the same thing happened as the Red Raiders scored 10 unanswered points to come away with a 16-9 victory on the road. The winning drive was 84 yards in the last three minutes of the game for the Red Raiders.

A little later in the afternoon, New Haven held a 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. It looked like the 17 game home winning streak was in jeopardy for Slippery Rock. But then 17 unanswered points for the Rock were the difference in a 31-28 victory and getting their 18 straight win at home. It was a tough result for the Chargers who were looking to upset the # 17 team in the country.

It also made it two straight home wins over the NE-10 for the Rock. They ended Assumption's season last year in the second round of the playoffs but in that game, it was the Greyhounds' rally that fell just short.

Football is a game of four quarters. All of the coaches preach 60 minutes of intensity and discipline. It is necessary to win at any level against any opponent.

Block Party

Pace was not able to replicate their opening weekend victory from 2015 as they fell on the road at Millersville 28-7. But the Setters continue to excel in special teams and made it tough on each kick for the Marauders.

Pace blocked two field goal tries, one in the opening quarter and one in the third quarter. They also blocked a point after attempt on Millersville's opening touchdown drive. They seemed to find seams the entire night and be in the right positions to make things happen in special teams.

Safety Dance

In following the LIU Post/ Virginia Union game, I thought that the Twitter postings were wrong. First it was 2-0 Post. Then 3-2 Virginia Union. Then 5-3 Post. Then 6-5 Virginia Union and then finally, 7-6 Post.

They seemed to be following a baseball match-up between the schools, not a football game. But in looking at the box score, it was all legitimate. Safeties and field goals were the only ways to score until late in the first half.

LIU Post was credited with two safeties in the first half and that was the difference in a 14-12 victory on the road. They also stopped a two-point conversion late and recovered an onside kick to seal the victory. The Pioneers struggled in these situations last year and seemed to have cleaned them up which helped them secure their first victory of the year.

So if you see a 3-2 score or 6-5 later in the year, assume that the poster is correct.

Depth

Most of the teams in the NE-10 have a solid quarterback and rely on him to move the offense. But what happens when you have two solid quarterbacks, you have a dilemma. And that is exactly what Assumption head coach Bob Chesney faced coming into the season.

Brendan Tobey was the starter most of last year. He played well but was banged up a couple of times during the season. Enter Marc Monks and the offense didn't miss a beat. When Tobey was banged up in the NE-10 championship game against New Haven, Monks calmly took the reins and helped the Greyhounds win the title. He also led them to a home playoff victory and a near comeback victory at Slippery Rock.

But on the depth chart, one quarterback is listed as # 1 and the other as # 2. Going into the Kutztown game, Tobey was listed as # 1 and Monks as # 2. But it was Monks that started and didn't miss a beat from his relief appearances last fall.

"Marc has momentum going into the season," Chesney said. "We wanted to monitor it all throughout camp. One is 9-0 and the other is 3-1. It is a matter of us figuring out who gives us the best chance each week. They are both phenomenal."

It is a good dilemma for a head coach to have and exactly one of the reasons that Assumption is the preseason favorite in the league. They are deep at all positions and have spirited practices as they have several players competing for playing time.

NFL

Congratulations to Scott Simonson and Mackenzy Bernadeau for making NFL rosters last weekend. The NE-10 is well respected in the league once again.

Simonson is on the roster for the Carolina Panthers and makes his first 53-man roster to open the season. He was on the roster for the Panthers during their Super Bowl run last year but made the team late in the season. He was on the practice squad for both Oakland and Carolina before getting to see game action the past two seasons.

Bernadeau signed with the Jaguars in the offseason after successful stops in Carolina and Dallas. He is listed as the backup left guard right now on the depth chart.