THE IUP Football Thread

[iupgroundhog]

I stated my concerns for the kicking game in the live thread during the first half. I said it all year it would come back and bite them in the ass if they didn't get it fixed. Well, here we are!

The key thing and I think the point that you're missing is that it didn't come back to bite them in the ass. IUP won. When time runs out, that's the only thing that matters.

One thing IUP has going for it is that they have demonstrated a total team effort. When one aspect falters, another part of the team steps up.

The kicking game has been suspect from the beginning. Everybody knows that.

The defense has been really tough in these important games. They didn't show that kind of resilience and cohesiveness earlier in the year. Mak had a few plays that went awry. Still won the game.

The RB situation is interesting. So far, rather than having the 2 backs at the same time, Stewart was the star earlier in the season and now when he is out Houser has gotten into a rhythm. Yes, it would be better to have both healthy. Houser, with I think 33 carries on the day, is working more than desired.

I do think something overlooked is that in the previous Shepherd game Stewart played a key role in the 1st quarter of that game and helped to set the tone for the game.

Who wins on Saturday? That's why they play the game.

[IUPNation]

On a serious topic, the extra points were a disaster yesterday. Another miss and a block. That's real alarming this time of the year and those two points lingered all day yesterday.

Kickoff return continued to be so-so (at best).

Their punting evened that out.

[IUPalum]

On a serious topic, the extra points were a disaster yesterday. Another miss and a block. That's real alarming this time of the year and those two points lingered all day yesterday.

Kickoff return continued to be so-so (at best).

I stated my concerns for the kicking game in the live thread during the first half. I said it all year it would come back and bite them in the ass if they didn't get it fixed. Well, here we are!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

On a serious topic, the extra points were a disaster yesterday. Another miss and a block. That's real alarming this time of the year and those two points lingered all day yesterday.

Kickoff return continued to be so-so (at best).

[IUP24]

Did you watch the last game? If Shep catches the ball they beat IUP by two scores. Running the ball only keeps the opponents offense off the field. All it takes is Shep to stop that run game once and then IUP plays from behind. If IUP gets behind and has to abandon the run then game over.

Yeah. Honestly thought they controlled the game. Shouldn’t have been as close as it was due to a couple of reasons. We can agree to disagree. It’s not all doom and gloom in my opinion. They’re one of 8 teams left. They’ll line up on Saturday afternoon and play the game. Maybe they win, maybe they lose.

[IUPalum]

Everyone listen all you guys wanted to get rid of #11, he was the best player on the field yesterday defensively. FACT!

You obviously didn't watch the game. Kick rocks bum!

[Ram Tough]

Everyone listen all you guys wanted to get rid of #11, he was the best player on the field yesterday defensively. FACT!

My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the leftover turkey.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

Everyone listen all you guys wanted to get rid of #11, he was the best player on the field yesterday defensively. FACT!

[IUPNation]

Did you watch the last game? If Shep catches the ball they beat IUP by two scores. Running the ball only keeps the opponents offense off the field. All it takes is Shep to stop that run game once and then IUP plays from behind. If IUP gets behind and has to abandon the run then game over.

Shepherd is basically the Region 1 version of the Jawja Bulldogs.

:-)

[IUPalum]

They ran the ball when Shepherd knew they were lining up and going to run it. That's the sign of a good offensive line and a good run game. Shepherd had no defensive answer for IUP. They were getting obliterated off the ball. There's nothing x's and o's or schematic about that; and the OL winning the push against the DL is not related to wind and rain.

I'm not saying IUP's going to win, but I think their strength lends itself to winning this time of year. I think Sexton's had a good year. He's a good quarterback. We'll see what happens next week. Maybe they lose; maybe they earn the right to get dismantled the following week. We'll see.

Did you watch the last game? If Shep catches the ball they beat IUP by two scores. Running the ball only keeps the opponents offense off the field. All it takes is Shep to stop that run game once and then IUP plays from behind. If IUP gets behind and has to abandon the run then game over.

[Ram Tough]

Rematches in the playoffs can often be flipped from the first meeting.

The IUP 1999 Playoff Payback Tour was proof of that...........when they paid back regular season losses to Millersville and more grandly to Slimey Pebble.

Then again...IUP beat the living crap out of West Chester two meetings in a row in 2017.

So you never know....

Shepherd got revenge on Kutztown last year. Although it did take a freaking Hail Mary to pull it off!

[IUPNation]

They ran the ball when Shepherd knew they were lining up and going to run it. That's the sign of a good offensive line and a good run game. Shepherd had no defensive answer for IUP. They were getting obliterated off the ball. There's nothing x's and o's or schematic about that; and the OL winning the push against the DL is not related to wind and rain.

I'm not saying IUP's going to win, but I think their strength lends itself to winning this time of year. I think Sexton's had a good year. He's a good quarterback. We'll see what happens next week. Maybe they lose; maybe they earn the right to get dismantled the following week. We'll see.

Rematches in the playoffs can often be flipped from the first meeting.

The IUP 1999 Playoff Payback Tour was proof of that...........when they paid back regular season losses to Millersville and more grandly to Slimey Pebble.

Then again...IUP beat the living crap out of West Chester two meetings in a row in 2017.

So you never know....

[IUP24]

They ran ok in the previous match up bc of the weather conditions. It won’t be 20 plus mph winds and rain this time around. Baget will take IUP out of their run game!

They ran the ball when Shepherd knew they were lining up and going to run it. That's the sign of a good offensive line and a good run game. Shepherd had no defensive answer for IUP. They were getting obliterated off the ball. There's nothing x's and o's or schematic about that; and the OL winning the push against the DL is not related to wind and rain.

I'm not saying IUP's going to win, but I think their strength lends itself to winning this time of year. I think Sexton's had a good year. He's a good quarterback. We'll see what happens next week. Maybe they lose; maybe they earn the right to get dismantled the following week. We'll see.

[IUPNation]

They ran ok in the previous match up bc of the weather conditions. It won’t be 20 plus mph winds and rain this time around. Baget will take IUP out of their run game!

They are the unstoppable juggernaut.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They could lose. 17 is a big number. I like IUP to run effectively though. If they can do that, they have a good shot to win.

They are both really good teams. Obviously. IUP was the hungrier team the first time they met. They had a chip on their shoulder. That may be reversed this coming weekend.

Make no mistake, IUP should have blown them out a couple weeks ago. As that game developed, it NEVER should have even been close, let alone 24-21. Granted, Adam Houser took the dive or at minimum it would have been 31-21. But, that game doesn't mean much now.

IUP won the time of possession in the first meeting by a full 11 minutes. Bagent can't work his magic standing on the sidelines. That has to again be the key and, as you said, IUP's top strength is its OL.

IUP's offense wasn't too hot yesterday. Granted,, they had some nice, long drives that resulted in no points. But, there were long stretches it looked, well, out of sorts. IUP failed to capitalize in the first half and easily should have been up 21-7 at the half. But, as they like to do, they tend to let teams hang around rather than putting them away.

Sexton had a bad day. It happens. Neither QB went over 185 yards. Ashland's passing game was largely dink/dunk. A huge chunk of Sexton's 142 yards came on the first two drives. Sounds like the TE is taking the heat for the first interception. The second one was just a bad read -- WR was there (but so was the unaccounted for Safety).

Defensively, IUP held a really strong rushing attack to just 106 yards. They were laying some lumber on those boys, too.

It would be tremendous to have Dayjure Stewart back this week but I'm not overly hopeful.

Only 8 teams left in D2. IUP is home. We'll see.