ESPN's Bill Connelly in his weekly SP+ rankings has moved Hilbert into the 772nd slot, meaning they are the worst college football team he ranks.  Below every NCAA team, below the NAIA teams, heck even below some teams with no overarching affiliation at present (mostly the Christian conference teams).  They were 771 last week, they go lept by previous longtime bottom team Maine Maritime.

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Well, Dickinson finally beats Johns Hopkins for the first time in 17 attempts which confirms any faint hope of a Ithaca at-large bid (and therefore a Liberty League at-large bid) is dead.

Everybody has their target now if they want to play on: take the conference crown.  All that's left is to see who will rise to meet that challenge.

Well that was just an outright pounding.  Ithaca 66 St. Lawrence 0 as the Bombers defense just ground the Saints offense into dust: 10 punts, 1 interception and 1 fumble for their drives.  Only 1 of those 12 drives ended in Ithaca territory and that was at the 48.

Not really sure what else to say about this one.  Just makes me wonder even more about where the Bombers would be if they didn't come out so flat to Hopkins.

Well Rochester had a chance at the end, got it to 14-13 down with 30 seconds left against Saint John Fisher, but they went for 2 and didn't get.  The Cardinals hold on for the win.

Cortland wins 28-17.  I can't fault the Ithaca defense at all, they tried and they got stops on an offense that you really don't expect to get them against (2 fumbles lost from a team who had only lost 4 all season and a successful block of 4th and 1 on the IC 5).  But after the first quarter, something just changed in Ithaca's offense and nothing worked.  Eventually the defense was just not going to be able to stop the inevitable.

Better game than I was expecting, but a result I knew was coming.

Wow Ithaca gets a big jump to start the game against Hopkins.  Up 14-0 after 1 quarter on 2 Colin Schumm rushing TDs, and the defense gets a 3 and out and a 4th down stop at the Ithaca 25.

Not sure it lasts, but they're starting the season really strong.

Ithaca rolls 51-14.  The Ithaca offense got touchdowns on 6 of 8 completed possessions in the game (not counting the ones that reached halftime and final whistle nor the kickoff return TD).  Solid all around effort with I think 5 different scorers.  The defense also looked good for the half it was really on, it was pretty much all second string the second half (and even then they only gave up 7).

A great start to the season.  Hopefully the first good game of many.

Ithaca rolling through in the first half, up 30-7 at halftime.  Bridgewater State got the lone touchdown right after Ithaca took that 14-0 lead, but Ithaca's offense responded back with another touchdown, then the defense got a safety and the ensuing possession saw them get touchdown number 4.

Bombers offense has just been rolling with 224 yards. over 130 of that on the ground.  When he has thrown, A.J. Wingfield has been on the mark with 11 for 14, just for not a lot of distance.  It has been as efficient as it gets.

Well, that's a way to start a season for Ithaca: Bridgewater State commits a delay of game penalty on the opening kickoff and then the Bombers return the kickoff attempt 96 yards for a touchdown.

Already 14-0 up midway through the first.

That was a rough ending.  Lose 2 games, both times not even getting back to a tie after 0-0.  Catholic just showed up today and Ithaca didn't.

Great season, showing good progress.  Hopefully there's more to come.

Ithaca with the 4-0 shutout to move within a game of going to Cedar Rapids. Kyle Lambert going 8 innings and Garrett Bell coming in to seal the deal in the 9th. Big day by Buzz Shirley at the plate, providing most of the offense: 2 for 3 with a double and homer, an intentional walk, 1 RBI and touched home twice.

Big day to be a Bomber tomorrow.

Start time for the first game between Ithaca and Catholic is now listed for 2:50 PM.

And indeed, Ithaca will be hosting the Super Regional. First game Friday, second and third (if necessary) Saturday.

Both were respective 3 seeds in their regional, so that doesn't help.  I hate to say I suspect Ithaca simply because you try to house a baseball team in DC on Memorial Day weekend, but that is entirely possible.

That was a tense ride of a game between Ithaca and Montclair, but the Bombers got there 8-5.  Great job on the complete game by Kyle Lambert (123 pitches though... ouch) and good job getting that chain together in the 9th to put it away.

Keystone tomorrow, winner advances to championship Monday while loser plays Immaculata for the same.  Hopefully Keystone having an extra day of rest won't be the difference.