FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

The HCAC has hit double digit wins for the first time since 2008. Currently the conference is 10-11 headed into the off week. We still have the games against the OAC during conference play though. If the conference can win that 4-3 then they'll finish at .500 for the first time since 2007.

MSJ is 3-0, Hanover and Rose are 2-1, Anderson, Franklin and Manchester are all 1-2, and only Bluffton is winless at 0-3.

Weel 5: Manchester @ Otterbein
6: Hanover @ Wilmington
7: Heidelberg @ Rose-Hulman
8: Anderson @ Capital
9: Muskingum @ Franklin
10: Ohio Northern @ Bluffton
11: Marietta @ Mount St Joseph

[The Third Division]

The HCAC has hit double digit wins for the first time since 2008. Currently the conference is 10-11 headed into the off week. We still have the games against the OAC during conference play though. If the conference can win that 4-3 then they'll finish at .500 for the first time since 2007.

MSJ is 3-0, Hanover and Rose are 2-1, Anderson, Franklin and Manchester are all 1-2, and only Bluffton is winless at 0-3.

Weel 5: Manchester @ Otterbein
6: Hanover @ Wilmington
7: Heidelberg @ Rose-Hulman
8: Anderson @ Capital
9: Muskingum @ Franklin
10: Ohio Northern @ Bluffton
11: Marietta @ Mount St Joseph

Homie doing the lords work keeping the HCAC board alive 🙏🙏🙏

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin took the lead 36-35 on 4th down with 1:34 left on a pass that was deflected up and caught between 4 defenders. Mount St Joseph then returned the kickoff 95 yards to retake the lead 42-36. Franklin had enough time to drive back down the field but with under 10 seconds left, Kmiecik got crunched at the goalline and fumbled recovered by MSJ. Maybe I'm slightly biased but I think the ball made it in before the fumble. Of course it's super hard to tell from the replay.

I didn't think the game would be particularly close but coming within a few inches is crushing. If only we could get some semblance of a running game going.

[GrizFan]

Franklin took the lead 36-35 on 4th down with 1:34 left on a pass that was deflected up and caught between 4 defenders. Mount St Joseph then returned the kickoff 95 yards to retake the lead 42-36. Franklin had enough time to drive back down the field but with under 10 seconds left, Kmiecik got crunched at the goalline and fumbled recovered by MSJ. Maybe I'm slightly biased but I think the ball made it in before the fumble. Of course it's super hard to tell from the replay.

I didn't think the game would be particularly close but coming within a few inches is crushing. If only we could get some semblance of a running game going.

It is a shame that D3 doesn't have video reviews.  Franklin got hosed on a couple of calls that might have been overturned. First was the fumble by the MSJ RB in the first half and the second was the final FC play at the goal line.  Franklin offense has looked good the last six quarters, but the GRIZ defense is still really bad!  Oh yeah, who thought kicking off deep to the best returner in the league with the lead and less than 2 minutes to go is a good idea!     

[Patrick Coleman]

It is a shame that D3 doesn't have video reviews.  Franklin got hosed on a couple of calls that might have been overturned. First was the fumble by the MSJ RB in the first half and the second was the final FC play at the goal line.  Franklin offense has looked good the last six quarters, but the GRIZ defense is still really bad!  Oh yeah, who thought kicking off deep to the best returner in the league with the lead and less than 2 minutes to go is a good idea!     

D-III has video review. It's the HCAC that has chosen not to implement it so far.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

So we have some intrigue in the conference now. With Rose upsetting Hanover, they are now the only unbeaten in the conference. In two weeks they head to Cincy to take on MSJ. An Engineer win should give them the crown but if the Lions win we could have a 3-way tie.

In the battle vs the OAC, the HCAC is now 1-3. We still have Franklin hosting Wilmington, Bluffton hosts Ohio Norther, finally MSJ hosts Marietta. I don't think we come back and win the series, but I think we can pick up 1 or if we're lucky 2 of those games.

[70_dc_alum]

So we have some intrigue in the conference now. With Rose upsetting Hanover, they are now the only unbeaten in the conference. In two weeks they head to Cincy to take on MSJ. An Engineer win should give them the crown but if the Lions win we could have a 3-way tie.

In the battle vs the OAC, the HCAC is now 1-3. We still have Franklin hosting Wilmington, Bluffton hosts Ohio Norther, finally MSJ hosts Marietta. I don't think we come back and win the series, but I think we can pick up 1 or if we're lucky 2 of those games.

Franklin I think hosts Muskingum, Wilmington played Hanover.  Your analysis is still spot on.  Hansen Ratings (awesome site) has MSJ a 6.5 favorite over Marietta, Franklin a 7.5 favorite vs the Muskies, and Bluffton a 33.5 dog to ONU.

The Rose/Hanover game was an exciting game. Well played, well coached by both teams.  Hanover D was bend but dont break in the first half getting a huge 4th and goal stop at the 1 on the first drive and held to 2 FG's on the next 2 possessions with stops deep which felt like they were going to be painful stops as the Hanover offense was moving the ball and getting TD's vs FG's.  Second half the Rose defense played their best half of football of the season shutting out a good Hanover offense until the FG final seconds of the game and the Rose offense was able to convert their drives into TD's vs FG's.  Was a battle to the very end.  Hanover with a long drive and an attempt at a game tying FG down 20-17 that Rose blocks with under 2min remaining.  Rose needs a first down with Hanover having all 3 TO remaining and they break a long TD run on the first play which gives a 10pt lead and the ball back to Hanover with 3 TO and a little time.  Rose playing prevent, Hanover gets a couple chunk plays under the prevent and decides to kick a FG with a little over 30 sec left on First down to attempt the onsides kick with one TO still remaining.  Rose hands team was able to recover the onsides kick to end taking a knee.

Assuming Rose and MSJ handle their business this week vs Manchester and Anderson it sets up a huge game in Cincy in 2 weeks.  Hansen has that as MSJ a 22pt favorite but also had Hanover a 20.5 favorite over Rose too.  I would assume the spread will change after yesterday's results are put in the database.   

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Yep. They face the Muskies. I don't know why I get those two confused so much. It's not like trying to remember the difference between Ohio Northern and Ohio Wesleyan.

[70_dc_alum]

looking at the games tomorrow.

Ohio Northern vs Bluffton - while ONU is down a little this year compared to years past but I would think they will cause some issues for the Beavers and will they by able to keep pace in scoring.

Anderson vs. Franklin - Franklin has been able to move the ball and score this year, the Franklin offense should be able to continue to role but expect Anderson to put a few points up as well.

Hanover vs. Manchester - looked like Manchester had a bunch of injuries and playing a lot of younger guys.  They are not overly big and will be a challenge to run on Hanover's DLine or stop Hanover's offense.

MSJ vs Rose - This is going to be a game full of fireworks.  MSJ is number 1 Scoring offense with 47pt a game and Rose is #2 at 35pt a game.  they are # 2 & 3 in scoring defense.  MSJ is the top passing offense in the league and Rose is the most Opportunistic defense in the league #1 in Interceptions, fumbles forced, & fumbles recovered.  2 good teams both with balanced offense and opportunistic defense.  Should be one of the most exciting games of the day in college football and there are some absolute bangers on TV all day!