Big Win

It has been the hallmark of the 2018 edition of the LIU Post football team. Teams think that they are in the game and then the Pioneers run away from them in the second half. It was very true in their 21-7 victory over Assumption on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half, Post was late getting to the field for the start of the second half. But once they did get there, it took one play to take the lead.

Nazir Streater took the kickoff and returned it 86 yards to the end zone and Post was in business.

"It was a huge play," Post head coach Bryan Collins said. "It is a long way from the locker room. They took us a different way because it was all muddy over there. Naz has been a highlight reel all year."

"It started with the kickoff return," Collins continued. "Deonte Harris has been one of the best in the country and it turned out to be Nazir Streater's day today. It is a great victory in their conditions today."

The defense was playing at a different level the entire afternoon. After a fumbled punt, the defense came up big on fourth and short. It was Streater that made the play as he came from his cornerback position to make the stick and then the Post offense took over.

"They are doing a great job this year," Collins said of his defense. "It really started with the guys up front. They stayed in their gaps and dominated the line of scrimmage."

The two headed running attack of Malik Pierre and Jonathan DeBique moved the ball down the field all day long. The only long completed pass of the game was from Chris Laviano to Michael Richardson. And then Pierre capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge and Post was in full control.

A blocked punt by Abel Joseph set up another touchdown for the Pioneers. He had just missed a couple of other times in the game but he got to Assumption punter Seamus Wallace this time. DeBique capped off the short field with a touchdown and Post was in full control.

Post has now won 13 straight games overall, going back to last year. They have made it look easy since they lost at home to Assumption last September.

Post will look to continue their momentum as they travel to Southern Connecticut this weekend.

Nor'Easter

The conditions on Saturday for the NE-10 games were horrible. The rain and the wind limited the offensive output and made it miserable for the kickers.

Quarterbacks were not able to throw the ball and if you look at the stats, you will see that it was nearly impossible to throw the ball with any confidence. Once the ball was in the air, it was anyone's guess to where the ball was going.

Kickers had even a tougher time. The wind was swirling, and it made it very tough to kick the ball between the uprights. Punters were hoping to have the wind at their back to get the ball downfield.

But it was the fans that had it the worst. They endured some of the roughest elements to watch football and root for their team. They are probably still getting warm and drying out from one of the tougher weather events in recent memory.

Overtime Success

For the second time this season, the Pace Setters went into overtime and emerged victorious. The latest victim was Southern Connecticut and Pace did it in front of their homecoming crowd. The Setters scored on their first possession of overtime and then stopped the Owls to win the game 14-7.

It was also the fifth victory of the season for the Setters and their highest number of wins in a season since 1999. It has been an amazing turnaround for a program that churned out 0-10 seasons for years and lost 34 straight at one point.

Pace has a chance to tie their all-time record for wins in a season if they can defeat Merrimack for the first time ever this weekend and then win on the road at St. Anselm in the final weekend of the season.

Even with no more wins this season, it has been a banner season and major turnaround for the program.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It was a tough afternoon and evening for all of the teams due to the rain and wind. Points were at a premium and games were defensive battles.

Merrimack won their third game in a row by shutting out American International 14-0. For the Yellow Jackets, it is their 12th straight loss dating back to September 29, 2016.

New Haven was able to grind out a 12-7 victory over Stonehill. An early pick six got the Chargers on the board and their running game did the rest.

Bentley used a late turnover to score the winning touchdown in their 20-16 victory over St. Anselm. The Falcons rode a back and forth game that saw them score last and then they held onto the victory.

All of the teams are hoping for better conditions this weekend.

Regional Rankings

With two weeks left to play, the SR1 rankings are starting to take shape. And for the NE-10 teams in the hunt, they did their job on Saturday and we are still on course for a huge Week 11.

LIU Post and New Haven both won to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Chargers defeated Stonehill and Post defeated Assumption. They are both undefeated in Division II games and are on course for a huge Week 11 matchup. It looks like both will be in the playoffs if they win next week and the winner of their November 10th game will earn a home game for the first round.

Notre Dame will stay at number one in the region and has two winnable games left on the schedule. Both of those games are on the road and if they are able to win out, they have a very good chance of being the top seed in the region or at worst, a home playoff game as the second seed.

The biggest game of last weekend was West Chester defeating Kutztown 38-21. The Golden Rams look to jump up the standings and are going to the PSAC Championship game for the second straight season. If they defeat Lock Haven this weekend and then win the PSAC title, they will have a home playoff game.

Kutztown still has a solid path to the playoffs. They have road games at Millersville and Edinboro left so if they win out, they have enough of a resume to make the playoffs.

The biggest game this weekend will be when Tiffin travels to Hillsdale. The winner of this game will have a solid footing to make the playoffs and the loser will be on the cusp. They are both undefeated in the GMAC and it will decide who wins the league. But both teams have a tough final game of the season. Tiffin will host Findlay and Hillsdale travels to Indianapolis. The winner of this week's game can afford a loss in Week 11 and still make the playoffs. If one of the teams goes 2-0 over those two games, they will have a home playoff game.

You are looking at the possibility of four undefeated teams in the region at the moment. They will all have a stake at the top seed in the region and all four would probably get a home playoff game. This happened a couple of years ago when three teams were undefeated and the third seeded Shepherd won the region by defeating the top two seeds on the road.

The other team to watch is Slippery Rock. They won the PSAC West title and will face West Chester in the championship game. They have Gannon this week at home and if they defeat West Chester, they deserve a playoff slot as they will be 10-1 and PSAC champion.

The other teams in the mix all need a lot of help to make the playoffs but still possible.

Right now, it looks like two NE-10 teams, one MEC team, 2-3 PSAC teams and 1-2 GMAC teams.

As always, win the games on the field and do not leave your fate to the committee.