John Matocha is The Best Player in D2 Football

[togthorn]

If you look at Zemen’s and Mayberry’s rushing numbers Mines offense wasn’t strictly relying on a passing game for the last few years.

[champgymusa]

2022: John Matocha - 299 yards/game, 52 TD, 8 INT. 443 yards, 5 TD rushing in 16 games
2021: John Matocha - 222 yards/game, 38 TD, 8 INT, 492 yards, 7 TD rushing in 14 games
2019: John Matocha - 235 yards/game, 29 TD, 5 INT, 598 yards, 11 TD rushing in 12 games
2018: Isaac Harker - 321 yards/game, 39 TD, 12 INT, 142 yards, 3 TD rushing in 12 games
2017: Split QB duties, and the one year in the last many which they ran the ball more than passed
2016: Justin Dvorak - 353 yards/game, 53 TD, 10 INT, 358 yards, 8 TD rushing in 13 games
2015: Justin Dvorak - 369 yards/game, 39 TD, 6 INT, 235 yards, 7 TD rushing in 10 games
2014: Justin Dvorak - 357 yards/game, 36 TD, 10 INT, 384 yards, 8 TD rushing in 12 games
2013: Split QB duties, but averaged 319 yards/game, 29 TD, 9 INT in 11 games
2012: Matt Brown - 352 yards/game, 31 TD, 15 INT, 154 yards, 5 TD rushing in 11 games
2011: Clay Garcia - 284 yards/game, 28 TD, 8 INT in 11 games
2010: Clay Garcia - 339 yards/game, 39 TD, 13 INT in 12 games
2009: David Pesek - 321 yards/game, 28 TD, 6 INT in 11 games

All Mines does is turn out prolific QB offenses. Three Mines QB's have now won the Harlon Hill in the last 18 seasons. Which leads me to suggest that it is the offensive philosophy of Mines. Not that they monopolize QB talent that nobody else has. Whoever is the QB next year, whether it is Matocha or someone else, is going to also throw the ball for nearly 300 yards/game and have a 4:1 TD/INT ratio. That's what they all do at Mines. In the same way that you could rely on Texas Tech QB's to lead the nation in passing under Mike Leach. Yet none of them ever won the Heisman.

For me the stats were not what I cared about...I just loved the way Matocha played the game...how he interacted with this team mates, his emotions and how he competed..reminded me a ton of #16...yea I am old school but those things carry a lot of weight with me. The kid is a baller.

[KleShreen]

Okay, now a serious response.

I have no issue with Matocha winning it and I would have voted for him if I had a vote.

I hate it when stats are the main factor in people picking awards. Stats are not created equal. This isn't the NFL.

I seem to recall that you were supporting Byers in another thread. Is that incorrect?

I said Byers and Wilson probably would have been the two best options for the award if we were considering it an MVP award. I think both of their teams are .500 at best without them.

[KleShreen]

Watching Matchoa play kind of reminded me of watching Cullen Finnerty at times. Thats about the best compliment that I can offer. If you knew Cullen and were around him you would get it...if not, well I am sorry cause he was special. All of the HH finalists have certain things going for them of course. I watched Murphy get handled pretty much by Barrow in the GVSU games. Is Murphy really good? Yea..hell yes he is...without Murphy is the Ferris D still pretty good? yea...without Matchoa is the Mines O the same? doubtful...anyway...both are good and I am happy with the results of the voting.

2022: John Matocha - 299 yards/game, 52 TD, 8 INT. 443 yards, 5 TD rushing in 16 games
2021: John Matocha - 222 yards/game, 38 TD, 8 INT, 492 yards, 7 TD rushing in 14 games
2019: John Matocha - 235 yards/game, 29 TD, 5 INT, 598 yards, 11 TD rushing in 12 games
2018: Isaac Harker - 321 yards/game, 39 TD, 12 INT, 142 yards, 3 TD rushing in 12 games
2017: Split QB duties, and the one year in the last many which they ran the ball more than passed
2016: Justin Dvorak - 353 yards/game, 53 TD, 10 INT, 358 yards, 8 TD rushing in 13 games
2015: Justin Dvorak - 369 yards/game, 39 TD, 6 INT, 235 yards, 7 TD rushing in 10 games
2014: Justin Dvorak - 357 yards/game, 36 TD, 10 INT, 384 yards, 8 TD rushing in 12 games
2013: Split QB duties, but averaged 319 yards/game, 29 TD, 9 INT in 11 games
2012: Matt Brown - 352 yards/game, 31 TD, 15 INT, 154 yards, 5 TD rushing in 11 games
2011: Clay Garcia - 284 yards/game, 28 TD, 8 INT in 11 games
2010: Clay Garcia - 339 yards/game, 39 TD, 13 INT in 12 games
2009: David Pesek - 321 yards/game, 28 TD, 6 INT in 11 games

All Mines does is turn out prolific QB offenses. Three Mines QB's have now won the Harlon Hill in the last 18 seasons. Which leads me to suggest that it is the offensive philosophy of Mines. Not that they monopolize QB talent that nobody else has. Whoever is the QB next year, whether it is Matocha or someone else, is going to also throw the ball for nearly 300 yards/game and have a 4:1 TD/INT ratio. That's what they all do at Mines. In the same way that you could rely on Texas Tech QB's to lead the nation in passing under Mike Leach. Yet none of them ever won the Heisman.

[Redwing]

Sometimes ya post things without giving any thought about the other games or teams that a squad has played. This is one of those times.

It's a large challenge for FSUBulldog27 to have a thought anyway. (Couldn't resist.)

[champgymusa]

Watching Matchoa play kind of reminded me of watching Cullen Finnerty at times. Thats about the best compliment that I can offer. If you knew Cullen and were around him you would get it...if not, well I am sorry cause he was special. All of the HH finalists have certain things going for them of course. I watched Murphy get handled pretty much by Barrow in the GVSU games. Is Murphy really good? Yea..hell yes he is...without Murphy is the Ferris D still pretty good? yea...without Matchoa is the Mines O the same? doubtful...anyway...both are good and I am happy with the results of the voting.

[Brandon]

The Harlon Hill should have some kind of definition to it. Because right now, it goes to the person who puts up the best statistics, regardless of competition. I would say only four times in the last 10 years has the award gone to the actual best player in Division II football, OR the most valuable player. JVL twice, I think fit both molds, and then Jayru and Luis Perez probably fit the MVP definition. But by and large, it goes to whoever puts up the most outrageous stats, no matter what. Matocha, Bagent, Rivers, Dvorak, Quiteh, Zulli. All just crazy numbers against awful competition.

Okay, now a serious response.

I have no issue with Matocha winning it and I would have voted for him if I had a vote.

I hate it when stats are the main factor in people picking awards. Stats are not created equal. This isn't the NFL.

I seem to recall that you were supporting Byers in another thread. Is that incorrect?

[Brandon]

against awful competition.

Agreed. No one that plays Grand Valley should be in consideration.

[KleShreen]

Everyone has their own definition.

MVP, OPY, and DPOY are all different things in my opinion.

The Harlon Hill should have some kind of definition to it. Because right now, it goes to the person who puts up the best statistics, regardless of competition. I would say only four times in the last 10 years has the award gone to the actual best player in Division II football, OR the most valuable player. JVL twice, I think fit both molds, and then Jayru and Luis Perez probably fit the MVP definition. But by and large, it goes to whoever puts up the most outrageous stats, no matter what. Matocha, Bagent, Rivers, Dvorak, Quiteh, Zulli. All just crazy numbers against awful competition.

[Brandon]

We need, as a whole, to figure out what the Harlon Hill is supposed to be. Is it supposed to be the best player? Is it supposed to be the best statistical player, regardless of competition? Is it the most valuable player? I believe that's where the difference is happening in this discussion, currently.

Everyone has their own definition.

MVP, OPY, and DPOY are all different things in my opinion.

[KleShreen]

Sometimes ya post things without giving any thought about the other games or teams that a squad has played. This is one of those times.

Do you think John Matocha was the best player in Division II football in 2022? Or do you think he put up the best numbers?

We need, as a whole, to figure out what the Harlon Hill is supposed to be. Is it supposed to be the best player? Is it supposed to be the best statistical player, regardless of competition? Is it the most valuable player? I believe that's where the difference is happening in this discussion, currently.

I think Matocha falls in to the middle option. I don't believe he falls in to the first (probably Murphy or Barrow or Laing) or third (probably Byers or Wilson).

[Matt Witwicki]

When your team plays 2 teams they score over 80 points. Nothing more than padding stats and weak conference. I agree they should have a best offensive player of the year. He didn’t play like it against good competition.

Sometimes ya post things without giving any thought about the other games or teams that a squad has played. This is one of those times.

[Matt Witwicki]

So he's not even the best on his own defense?

You read that quote the same way that I did....or he's not the fastest to the QB typically on his own team..I mean....LOL.

[Predatory Primates]

So he's not even the best on his own defense?

More like the middle of the mines OL was the soft spot.

[Ram040506]

It was kinda hard for Murphy to get any sacks when his teammates were sacking Matocha so fast. He never had a chance to get there

So he's not even the best on his own defense?