FB: Liberty League

[Machiavelli]

I think that's a fair point IC.

I think the fact that they didn't wax Buffalo State just gives some people pause before going ahead and including them with the other traditionally strong teams.

Personally, I'd be absolutely shocked if they won the league, shocked.

Rochester is not winning the LL. Let's not get too cute. But right now, I can't tell if it's Ithaca, RPI or Union. None of them look like a clear favorite. Sure, maybe it is Ithaca, but I can't say that confidently.

The article states 'Ithaca stumbled in Week 1 against Johns Hopkins but has looked like the class of the league since.' I'm curious if it was the St. Lawrence and Hilbert games, or the close game with Hobart that set them apart as the 'class'. Or maybe it was just Barry Manilow(Tom Green)'s  tour of the campus that really did it for the author.

[ICGrad]

Personally, I'd be absolutely shocked if they won the league, shocked.

Shocked, yes. But in the last 3+ seasons they are 19-17, and as IC pointed out last year were a real threat against the best LL teams in numerous games. Yeah, they have yet to beat any LL team that's not Hilbert of Buffalo St or St Lawrence in years now, but they've narrowed the gap.

So shocked, absolutely. But it's a hell of a lot more probable now than it was 5 years ago.

ETA: I'm not taking today's contest for granted....

[Machiavelli]

Big stop by Hobart to seal the victory. Great game over there and a solid win for the pumpkin heads.

[Caz Bombers]

IC 36
UR 0

We can stop pretending Rochester is worth a damn now.

[Machiavelli]

IC 36
UR 0

We can stop pretending Rochester is worth a damn now.

Gracias. (Though the class of the LL did struggle a bit in the first half)

[ICGrad]

IC 36
UR 0

We can stop pretending Rochester is worth a damn now.

Ithaca was certainly the better team today.

BUT...The score was 7-0 at the half. Rochester lost their starting qb very early in the game, and had to go to his backup, a qb with almost no career game experience. A pretty tough ask of any team, especially in a critical road league game.

It took Rochester 2+ quarters to establish any sort of consistent passing game. Without that, Ithaca simply feasted on shutting down their run game.

Ithaca has played back-to-back LL games where their opponent's starting qb has been out. Sometimes it's better to be lucky...

Next up: @ Union. Huge game for both teams.

[Bartman]

Tight game at the Boz as Hobart offense struggles but defense smothers Union when it counted today. Hobart defense is maturing every game . The starting LBs are all Freshmen and 2 other starting DBs are Freshmen. We lose only 2 Senior starters  on Defense next year. I think we'll be in good shape next year but the offense needs improvement as we lose EJ Taylor.
   This year, the LL will come down to the Ithaca- RPI game and my money is on RPI despite their early season struggles. Well , Hobart now has the easy part of the schedule and can fine tune and develop the underclassmen to give them important experience for next year.

[UfanBill]

Tight game at the Boz as Hobart offense struggles but defense smothers Union when it counted today. Hobart defense is maturing every game . The starting LBs are all Freshmen and 2 other starting DBs are Freshmen. We lose only 2 Senior starters  on Defense next year. I think we'll be in good shape next year but the offense needs improvement as we lose EJ Taylor.
  This year, the LL will come down to the Ithaca- RPI game and my money is on RPI despite their early season struggles. Well , Hobart now has the easy part of the schedule and can fine tune and develop the underclassmen to give them important experience for next year.

Proud of my Garnet for hanging in there and fighting back to take the lead late in the game. Of course I'm disappointed they couldn't hold on that last drive. That 4th down pass to EJ Taylor from their own 41 was key for the Statesmen and in my opinion a coaching error by Union. How can you let the opponents best player get wide open there? Maybe have someone keying on him? Much credit to Hobart and Taylor for that conversion...Taylor was exactly what I expected and he was the difference. Union has no one that can pick up that tough 1st down like him.

As for the Hobart defense...They totally took away Union's paltry run game by crowding the line of scrimmage and forcing Union to beat them passing. Sheehan had constant pressure so he dumped it down and the Statesmen swarmed to the ball. The only two times Union could shake a guy loose deep they hit for their only scores.

Freshmen LB #22 EJ Wells was spectacular. Right from the opening series he easily read a Luke Sheehan pass, stepped in front of the receiver, and took it to the house for a quick 7-0 lead. The more I watched it was clear Well's assignment was to key on Sheehan (what a concept) and he was constantly in his face. . His stellar play will probably earn him Liberty League and National accolades for this week. 

Another factor was the weakness of Union's special teams. Union's punter was way below par and they also had 2 ExPts blocked while Hobart Punter Vincente Lyon showed repeatedly why he's an All American by flipping field position. While I thought this was a very winnable game for Union, Hobart was just better when it mattered the most.