Woosh. Can we just cruise to the W for once?

Really luck to come out of this one alive. Towson had 2 very good chances of scoring late and winning the game.

Looking at the stat line, it shouldn’t have even been close. Towson with 24 first downs to W&M’s 12, and 422 yards total offense compare to W&Ms 284. But in the end the score is all that matters, and that was 27 to Towson’s 22.

The momentum really swung late in the first half. After some terrible run D and no movement on O, it was looking like 2006 all over again and the Tribe was down 13-0. But then Towson kicks off out of bounds, followed by an offside penalty, and on a play where TU was kicking off from the 20, David Caldwell brought it back to the TU 15. This set up a W&M FG. Then, after TU marched down the field yet again, Schaefer made a bone-headed pass which landed in Sean Lissemore’s hands and gave the Tribe even more momentum. A 61 yard connection to Elliot Mack also helped, and all of the sudden the Tribe is back in the game.

As if the tide hadn’t turned enough, TU got stopped inside 2 minutes and punted a terrible ball for about 15 yards. On a 3rd down play, Phillips connected with a wide open(blown coverage?) Joe Nicholas for another score, and a 17-13 Tribe lead.

The D came up with yet another stop, and had the ball on their own 27 with less than a minute left. First a running play, which gains 5 and brings the clock down a good amount. Then an incomplete pass, and the clock is stopped at 20 ticks. Surely we are going to sit on a 4 point lead going into the half, right? Nope, the O tries to force things, Phillips gets picked off and TU kicks a field goal. What are they thinking here? Trying to move the ball 40-50 yards in 20 seconds just so a kicker who was 0-1 at that point has a shot? You’ve got to kneel that ball, and that was the biggest mistake of the day.

The second half got off to a great start. TU’s first drive stalled around the W&M 15, and a Derek Cox INT ended it. The Tribe got the ball at the 27 and cashed in a field goal to extend the lead to 4 points. The next TU drive looked to be different, but ended up all the same. The Tigers drove all the way down to the W&M 31, where Derek Cox picked up another INT and this time returned it 69 yards. The Tribe punched it in on a Tony Viola 2 yard run, and it looked like they’d coast to the win at 27-16.

With 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, however, Towson struck back. On a play that seemed to last forever, Schaefer found a wide open receiver in the endzone for a TU score. They went for 2 but a bad snap halted their chances. 27-22, 10 minutes left.

Tribe moves to the Towson 32, bringing the clock down to about 5 minutes, and punts. Another weird call, but the ball was fair caught at the 9, so I’m not complaining. Towson drive stalls yet again, and the Tribe gets the ball back with just inside 4 minutes left. Time to run out the clock, right?

3 and out. TU ball at their own 47 with 1:24 left. After an incomplete pass, 3 straight catches get them down to the W&M 16 with about 50 seconds left. For some reason, TU tries a run play. Gains 2 yards, clock loses about 20 seconds. Second and 8 pass is incomplete from the 14. Then, Schaefer tries a 9-yard pass on an out-route, and VERY luckily for Tribe fans the WR drops it. On 4th down, Schaefer leads the Harrison too far. Tribe wins, Tribe wins.

This was a huge W for our team, but they have to learn to finish off the opponent. This game should have been over with 10 minutes left, rather than a 1 possession game. This will come with experience, and I think this team is getting better every week. @VU next week will be a real test. Hopefully they are ready.

Go Tribe!

Rolling into town this weekend are the Towson Tigers, which is possibly the most important game of the year so far. The Tigers are 2-2 so far with wins over Central Connecticut State and Morgan State, and losses to Delaware and UMass. This is a swing game for the CAA’s standings, and both games will play it as a must-win.

The Tiger’s strongest asset is the passing game. Sean Schaefer was a Payton award candidate, but has been very unimpressive thus far. He has 6 touchdowns on the year but an unexpected 8 interceptions. He will need to play like last year for the Tigers to win. His top receiver this year has been Paul Perry, who has 264 yards with a TD. Marcus Lee is also having a strong year, with 219 yards and a touchdown. Tommy Breaux, who is also on the basketball team, has 166 yards as well.

The running game has been terrible this year, and the leading rusher is Rasheed McClaude with 248 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nick Williams has also seen time, and has 117 yards on the year. They are averaging 55 yards per game on the ground so far this year, and if they only go for 55 this week I don’t see this game being close.

The Towson defense against the run has been lackluster this year, giving up an average of 178 yards per game. They are giving up an average of 4.4 yards per carry, and 6 TD’s on the ground. The passing defense has been very similar, at 176 yards against per game. The D is averaging 11.8 yards per catch against, and have caused 3 INT’s. Linebacker Maurice Wilkins is leading the team in tackles with 47 and a forced fumble, and Drew Mack, Kenny Scott, and Raymond White all have interceptions.

I think Towson is one of the more overrated teams in the conference. If Schaefer struggles this game will not be close, and I think the Tribe wins either way. Expect the D to make some plays, and Phillips to have another great game.

Tribe:35
TU:24

Tough to find positives in a game like this, and VT played much better than I expected. The amount of speed they have is unreal.

The defense played much better. Most of the points were with a short field. Had a few sacks on Taylor, and the DB’s caused at least one of them. 4 total sacks. A lot of missed opportunities early like the punt which hit a blocker and the INT Josh Rutter should have pulled in.

Phillips was off for most of the game, probably due to the pressure coming on every play. He still made some nice throws though. Joe Nicholas did a great job getting open and also made a great catch. Same goes for Cam Dohse.

The RB’s weren’t that great. Schonder played well, averaging a little less than 5 yards a carry. Viola had a pretty bad game, but he thrives when faces D’s which are smaller than him. I expect him to play much better next week.

There’s the rapid fire recap. Go Tribe.

The biggest game of the Tribe’s season is this saturday, with the Tribe traveling to Blacksburg to face the nationally ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. VT has underachieved thus far, with closer than expected home wins against ECU and Ohio, and a blowout loss against LSU. Expected to be a National Championship contender, the Hokies are now ranked in the teens and are struggling to come up with offese. However, a quarterback change has made their team start to move the ball a little better, and has their fans excited about the future.

Sean Glennon started the season under center, but after struggling vs. ECU and LSU, was pulled for true freshman QB Tyrod Taylor. Taylor, a Hampton native, was one of the top QB’s in last year’s class and has been impressive thus far. In 2 games with 1 start he has a lackluster 51% completion rate, but controls the game with no INTs and is averaging almost 200 yards per game. He is also VERY fast, and is currently second on the team in rushing. He has all the talent in the world, but is bound to struggle and some point and Tribe fans can hope it is Saturday.

The rushing was supposed to be the VT strength coming into the year, but it has been pretty bad thus far. All-everything RB Brandon Ore is already battling injuries, and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry through 3 games. Kenny Lewis Jr. has been good in his PT, with 4.8 ypc. Before the season, I was scared to death of playing vs. Ore, but his play of late makes me glad he is on the field rather than Lewis. Lewis is the faster RB, and Ore has some speed himself and is tough to bring down.

Tech is filled with strong upperclassmen receivers, which has never been the problem. Josh Morgan is leading the team in receiving with 14 receptions and 179 yards. Eddie Royal is the big play threat, and punt returner, and he has 5 catches for 46 yards. Josh Hyman has 4 catches for 69 yards and has been making big plays since he was a freshman. Justin Harper has 8 catches for 96 yards and he tops off the group of seniors. These 4 guys have been playing together for the last 4 years, and are as talented a receiving group as you will find. Derek Cox and Terrell Wells better be ready to play Saturday, as any 4 of these guys can burn them.

Chris Ellis is the leader of the defense, a talented defensive lineman. Ellis has 2 TFL’s and a sack and a half on the year, with 12 tackles. Carlton Powell is also a force at the tackle spot, 293 pounds worth. He has 8 tackles on the year, including a half a sack. They are having some trouble stopping the run this year, giving up 159 yards per game.

Linebacker is easily VT’s strongest position. All-American Xavier Adibi leads the team in tackles with 35 and has 2 sacks on the year. As if that weren’t enough, he is paired up with All-American Vince Hall. Hall has 30 tackles and 5 TFL’s on the year, and these 2 make up a scary combination. These are probably the most talented players we will face all year, and could very easily decide if this game is close or not.

The defensive backs are also a very talented bunch. Brandon Flowers is the shut-down guy. He doesn’t have any INTs as he is rarely thrown to, but has 3.5 TFLs. Victor “Macho” Harris was a 5-star athlete coming out of high school and is the secondary’s playmaker. He has one of Tech’s 2 INTs on the year, and he took it back for a TD. Kam Chancellor and Brandon Flowers are also very good safties, and combine for 37 tackles this year.

I don’t think this game is a blow-out. The Tribe never gets blown out in BCS(I-A) games. If the Tribe can at least slow down the VT running game this game could be closer than the experts think[/lee corse], and I believe the Hokies end up winning by about 3 TD’s.

W&M-14
VT-35 

And it isn’t very impressive.

Game #1

Georgetown at MCI for the season opener. Easily the toughest game on the schedule next year, but it will give the Tribe a chance to see what the top of the line is, and how they match up against it. They return 5 players at or above 6-8 - including Roy Hibbert and Patrick Ewing Jr., and are a prime contender in the Big East. This is a prime example of a pay-off game.

Game #2

NC State in Raleigh. This is an upset watch game, even though they have a bunch of their top scorers returning. When you have an inexperienced coach as the wolfpack do, anything can happen, especially in his first game at the helm. They have a lot of question marks this year and will definitely be beatable.

Game #3

Wagner in NY. The Tribe coasted to a 20-some point victory at Kap last year and this game shouldn’t be any different. One of the sure victories on the schedule.

Game #4

Houston Baptist in Hall. Seriously, is this a high school or something? At least make it a local and bad team rather than one nobody has heard of. Play Liberty or something. Can’t say I’m excited about this one.

Game #5

Going to Richmond for my favorite OOC series. Easy to travel to the away games vs. comparable teams. UR hasn’t been that great lately, and we will see if they have improved at all this year. Last season’s team didn’t show much potential.

Game #6

At North Florida. Not sure if we should file this under exhibition or official game, because they are pretty bad. Another one chalked up in the “W” column.

Game #7

VMI at the Hall. This game should be fun, like all of VMI’s other games. We will need to slow it down and not play into their system. They showed signs of something good in the Big South tourney last year, which could make this game interesting.

Game #8

Montreat College at home. Another “Who are they?”  game. This is Jamie Smith’s old school which is almost definitely why this game exists.

Game #9

At Hampton. They are another sub-par team on the sched, and but are still one of the tougher OOC games past the first 2. This SHOULD be a win, but we always lose a game like this.

OOC Game #10

Fairfield at home. Revenge factor game right here at the Hall, and we REALLY need to beat them. Shouldn’t have lost last year, and there will be no excuse if they lose again. This team is on the rise, but they were so low that they pretty much had no place else to go. A game we need to win.

There it is. I really wished we had some better games at home, but at least the good ones are within a few hours. Go Tribe.

I just got back from the best game I have ever witnessed.

Say what you will about the officials(who did a fairly nice job in my opinion), but the Tribe seemingly having it locked up only for LU to get the ball back, punching it in and getting the 2 on a play that last ten minutes, and that was only regulation. After the busted run by Jennings, Tony Viola just getting past the first down marker and Jake Phillips jumping over the line for the TD, and then the Tribe getting the huge 4th down stop.

Talk about amazing.

Some standouts….

Tony Viola. We were down to the 3rd string at halfback, and even though he was a little banged up Tony pretty much took over the OT. He can definitely play.

Drew Atchison is probably the MVP of this team. A spectacular catch in the endzone in the first OT, and leading the team in receiving with 103 yards. NFL?

Jake. 20/28, 335, 3 TD’s, still no turnovers on the year. Pretty much moved the ball at will against the LU defense. He is also morphing into a star.

Cam Dohse made a couple spectacular catches, including one for a TD. No matter how many injuries, we seem to be fine every week at WR.

Elliot Mack also stepped up in the abscense of DJ, with 5 catches for 71 yards and a TD. He probably had the best game of all the WR’s.

RJ Archer’s stat line never looks great, but every game he pulls a rabbit out of his hat with a great catch or a big third down play to keep a drive alive. 3 catches for 56 yards.

Josh Rutter is finally back to his old form, with 15 tackles. He did a great job keeping Jennings under control, but seemed to sputter later in the game. Did not finish a tackle which resulted in a touchdown in the first OT for LU.

David Caldwell and Derek Cox also play very well. DC had the huge endzone pick along with some big hits resulting in break-ups, but also had a stupid penalty or 2. Caldwell also had a key interception, and one of the only TFLs of the game. The defensive seconday seems to be stepping up. Also heard Robert Livingston’s name called a bunch tonight, and Max Harris was all over the field. This bunch could be great by the end of the year, and scary next season.

That is all. VT’s struggles lately have me thinking we can keep it close. Hopefully the look right past us.

Go Tribe.

Phoenix
Wren

This Saturday the Tribe welcomes the Liberty Flames to Zable Stadium, and what an improved team it is. With the help of a new coach and many talented transfers this team has gone from an I-AA doormat to a team with a chance to win the Big South and an outside shot at the playoffs. This will not be the Liberty team we last saw at Zable.

The Flames have been inconsistent at QB so far this year, returning starter Brock Smith has thrown for 315 yards in 2 games vs. DII opponents. He threw for a completion percentage of 57% with 2 TD’s and an INT. He will need to keep the Tribe defense honest, and may not need to do much if the running game is on. Smith struggled in the season opener but was much improved last week.

Liberty’s running game will be one of the essential match-ups, as they have the big, Pitt transfer in Rashad Jennings and the quick change-up in Zach Terrell. As we all remember, Jennings was running all over the Tribe last season until he got injured the third quarter which probably decided the game. Jennings has yet to play this year due to a 2-game suspension(against the 2 DII schools on the schedule, huh) and looks to Omar Cuff the Tribe just like last year. Terrell wasn’t bad at all in his 2 starts, averaging 141 yards per game and picking up 2 TD’s. He averaged over 6 yards per carry.

Liberty also has a couple nice receivers, headed by big play threat Wynton Jackson. Jackson has an impressive 20 yards per catch so far this year, and leads the team with 119 yards through the air. Dominic Bolden has also started out well with 5 catches for a total of 75 yards. Returning starter Brandon Turner has led the team in receptions so far at 8, and has a toal of 66 yards. They have the experienced wideouts, all upperclassmen, the bigger problem has been getting them the ball.

Junior Kevin Richard will hold down one end position. Richard has one sack on the year and only 2 tackles. Steven Ackley should also play end, and has 3.5 TFL’s so far this year. Colin Dugan looks to play nose tackle for the flames, and he has 9 tackles on the year with one for a loss.

LU plays a 3-4 system, so linebackers are key. The LB’s are led by 2 transfers from the state’s biggest rivals. UVA transfer Vince Redd was kicked off the team last year, and followed Coach Rocco to LU. He is easily the best player on the defense, at 6-6 with the athleticism to play LB. If he gets into the backfield it could really kill Phillips rhythm, so keeping him from penetrating will be key. He has 2 sacks on the year and 4 TFL’s. VT transfer Stevie Ray Lloyd is also a strong LB, second on the team in tackles with one for a loss. This combination makes LB the strong point of the LU D, and possibly entire team. Senior Brandon Duke will also start at LB and is a nice player with 11 tackles, 1.5 of which are for a loss.  The LB’s are filled out with Junior MLB Nick Hursky. Hursky leads the team in tackles with 23, to go along with a sack and a forced fumble. This is definitely a talented bunch.

The Flames have been making a lot of plays with the defensive backs, so many that is makes you consider the opponents. They have 5 INT’s in 2 games, all by different players. Again, all upperclassmen, the biggest of the bunch is 6-2 Kent Hicks. Hicks has picked off a pass and gotten 10 tackles in 2 games this year. The other starting CB will be Patrick Calvary, another Junior. Calvary has an INT with a 51 yard return tacked onto it on the year, along with 9 tackles and a TFL. Junior Ryan Greiser will be starting at one of the safety positions, and is 3rd on the team in tackles. Senior Pat Dickerson will be playing at Free Safety Saturday night, and he also has an interception.

This is not the old Liberty team we are used to seeing. They have the weapons to beat us, and this should be a close game. They have yet to be tested, and due to suspension Jennings may be a little bit rusty, but they still have a very good shot at winning this game. They will need Jennings to go over 200 yards to win, and I don’t see the Tribe defense being killed by the run for the 3rd straight week. Jimmye is too good of a coach to do that. Phillips lights it up again, and Jennings has a great game but they don’t have enough late to pull it out.

Tribe: 38
Flames: 31

I am going to admit it. On the quarterback situation, I was completely wrong. As you probably know, ever since the spring game I was pulling for RJ Archer to win the starting job after he put on a show. And how all of last season I wanted Potts to play over Jake. But the entire time I was wrong. I guess I looked past the potential he showed as a freshman, with that miracle comeback against NU, and looked more at the off-the-mark passes against Maine that led to an L.

The problem was, I was looking less at the tools and potential and more at the results. Jake had it in him all along, and I was too busy looking at his passer rating to notice. Now, 2 games into the season, Phillips has completed 70% of his passes with 5 TD’s, almost 700 yards, and no interceptions. Archer is steady as ever at WR, and we know that barring an injury an experienced vet in Mike Potts can step in without missing a beat. His play has put him right up there as a top CAA QB, and has everybody feeling more optimistic about the remainder of this season, and a playoff run next year.

Now, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself at the same time. The Tribe’s 2 opponents haven’t been stellar against the pass, and in the upcoming games Jake still has a lot to prove. But we are currently sitting pretty when it comes to QB, with the performance at the position being far beyond anything we could have expected, and the way he has been raking up points like a kid at a pinball machine it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop.

So here’s to you, Jake Phillips, for making Saturday’s much more bearable for Tribe fans, and just possibly saving Tribe football.

Expect a new logo by homecoming. Probably a mascot too. Good news. Will be on the floor at the Hall.

Nicholas should be back for this weekend’s game. McAulay out for season, but you probably already know that.

Preview hopefully coming tomorrow for LU.