Game #5 Marist Red Foxes

[VULB#62]

Marist is winless so far but hung in with preseason favorite, USD losing only 20-16.  However this is USD's second cross-country trip in two weeks west-to-east and they got beat pretty handily by JU.  Maybe they weren't as good as people thought.  16 points is a lot for Marist to score this season so far.  We get them on our turf on Saturday. If we continue to improve in all areas and work hard to correct the mistakes that have haunted us, this could be a close win.  Marist ALWAYS plays tough defense.  We need to be ready.

[covufan]

I think Marist has improved more than Valpo, to this point of the season.  It should be close.

Marist    27
Valpo     20

[78crusader]

As much as I want VU to win, they beat us handily last year 37–0 and even though we are improved and they are not, I just don't see us closing an obvious talent gap that quickly.  Hope I'm wrong. Paul

[usc4valpo]

Saders 24, Marist 21.  Gotta go with my formula.

[valpotx]

I think that we win this one, with the key factor being at home.  If we were in NY, we would lose by a few TDs, but I see us winning by a FG at home:

Valpo 31
Marist 28

[VULB#62]

Here's the Marist schedule so far:

@ Sacred Heart (NEC - FCS) LOSS  7-28
Bucknell (FCS - Patriot) LOSS 7-27
Georgetown )FCS Patriot) LOSS 6-21
@ Drake (PFL)  LOSS  6-20
USD (PFL)  LOSS 16 - 20
@ VALPO  ? - ?
Dayton

The Marist D has kept them in games (PA = 23 ppg) but they have trouble scoring (PF = 8.4 ppg).  Yet, at home, they actually had USD on the ropes, but USD pulled out a win with only 5 second left on the clock -- very deflating.  Marist is a young team and is subject to the same emotional swings our rebuilding program is suffering through.  I see Marist looking past VU, based on the easy wins they've chalked up the past 4 years, plus they are on the road to Indiana and our little bandbox stadium.

Valpo wins if:
+  Our Defense shuts down the Marist attack. The D seems to be jelling a little bit more with every game.
+  On O, we eliminate the bad decisions in the passing attack and only take what is given. Keep the RB committee pounding away for at least 150 combined yards.  Protect Ben and the ball.
+  Our special teams get better disciplined and contain returns.

Marist wins if:
-  They snuff our RBs and force us into a pass heavy attack.
-  They mount a strong rushing attack that overwhelms our OLBs.
-  They take advantage of our lack of discipline in the return game.

Early Prediction:
Valpo 24
Marist 21

I'll be at that game along with teammates from the 1964 ICC Championship FB team

[vu72]

Here's the MArist schecule so far:

@ Sacred Heart (NEC - FCS) LOSS  7-28
Bucknell (FCS - Patriot) LOSS 7-27
Georgetown )FCS Patriot) LOSS 6-21
@ Drake (PFL)  LOSS  6-20
USD (PFL)  LOSS 16 - 20
@ VALPO 
Dayton

Marist D has kept them in games (PA = 23 ppt) but they have trouble scoring (PF = 8.4 ppg).  Yet, at home, they actually had USD on the ropes, but USD pulled out a win with only 5 second left on the clock -- very deflating.  Marist is a young team and is subject to the same emotional swings our rebuilding program is suffering through.  I see Marist looking past VU, based on the easy wins they've chalked up the past 4 years, plus they are on the road to Indiana and our little bandbox stadium.

Valpo wins if:
+  Our Defense shuts down the Marist attack. The D seems to be jelling a little bit more with every game.
+  On O, we eliminate the bad decisions in the passing attack and only take what is given. Keep the RB committee pounding away for at least 150 combined yards.  Protect Ben and the ball.
+  Our special teams get better disciplined and contain returns.

Marist wins if:
-  They snuff our RBs and force us into a pass heavy attack.
-  They mount a strong rushing attack that overwhelms our OLBs.
-  They take advantage of our lack of discipline in the return game.

Early Prediction:
Valpo 24
Marist 21

I'll be at that game along with teammates from the 1964 IIC Championship FB team

[/b]

Hope you have a great time.  I know several guys from that team--Rich Soeken, Don Werling, Bob MacNamara, and others.  Some terrific people.  Was Dave Adams and Mark Goldberg part of that team?

[VULB#62]

All familiar names 72.  Actually, Rich, Don and Mack will be there (along with Dave Lass, Bill Steinbrecher, Bill Koch, and Walt Reiner's wife and a few more) ....  and Mark and Dave were a part of that team as best as I can remember.  BTW - That should have been "ICC" not IIC -- fat fingers getting in the way.

This get-together, and half-time honoring ceremony, hopefully, is another motivator for the current Crusader team to beat Marist.

[VULB#62]

Here's the Monday retrospective and preview.  Coaches took blame for one of the calls that led to a red zone pick.  Refreshing.  Marist returns 9 of 11 starters on D.

Valpo Football Preview 9|29|14

[usc4valpo]

Well, if you go by Sagarin, Marist would be a 7 pt favorite.  I will go with the dog, and stick with the Saders for the 24-21 upset.

[VULB#62]

FYI -- Selected stats from the PFL site for all games (OOC + PFL) for Valpo and Marist:

TEAM
Scoring offense:  Valpo #8, Marist #11
Scoring Defense: Marist #2, Valpo #8
Total Offense:  Valpo #5, Marist #11
Total Defense: Marist #3, Valpo #9
Rushing Offense: Valpo #8, Marist #11
Rushing Defense:  Marist #3, Valpo #9
Pass Offense:  Valpo #5, Marist #9
Pass Defense: Marist #5, Valpo #7
Pass Efficiency:  Valpo #7, Marist #10
Pass Defense Efficiency: Marist #4, Valpo #8
Sacks by: Valpo #8, Marist #8
Sacks against:  Valpo #1, Marist #11
First Downs:  Valpo #5, Marist #10
Opponent First Downs:  Valpo #9, Marist #11
Interceptions:  Marist #2, Valpo #11
Penalties:  Valpo #3, Marist #6
Opponent Penalties: Valpo #1, Marist #6
3rd Down Conversion: Valpo #3, Marist #10
Opp 3rd Dn Conversions: Valpo #2, Marist #10
4th Dn Conv: Valpo #2, Marist #8
Opp 4th Dn Convert: Marist #8, Valpo #10
Time of Possession: Valpo #5, Marist #11
Turnover Margin:  Marist #4, Valpo #8
Red Zone Off:  Valpo #3, Marist #11
Red Zone Def: Marist #5, Valpo #11

INDIVIDUAL
Rushing:  #7 Lucas (M) 60.8 ypg,  #10 Bastin (V)
Passing:  #5 Lehman (V) 218 ypg, #9 Achziger (M) 135 ypg
Passing Efficiency:  #6 Lehman (V) 110.4, #10 Francis (M) 100.8
Receptions/Game:  #1 Kuramata (V) 8.0,  #5 Tralli (M) 5.4
Rec Yds/Game: #1 Kuramata (V) 111.2,  #7 Tralli (M) 57.2
Total Offense:  #5 Lehman (V) 236.2, (M) none
Scoring:  #5 Hall (V) 6.0 pts/g, (M) none
Scoring (TDs): #4 Hall (V) 6.0 av/g, (M) none
Scoring (Kick): #8 Newman (V) 4.2 p/g,  #10 Maccarone (M) 2.4 p/g
Punting:  #7 Koslowski (V) 38.0 Av., #10 Maccarone(M) 35.9 Av.
Tackles: #5 Adler (M) 9.2/game, #6 Green (V) 8.5,/g, #11 Graham III (V)  7.8/g
Sacks/g: #9 Giovenco (V) 0.5, #16 Sakowski (M) 0.4,  #18 Guilford/Cotton (V) 0.38
Tackles for Loss:  #1 Guilford (V) 1.50/g, #10 Moore (M) 0.90/g, #13 Cotton/Giovenco 0.75

Here's the link:
http://www.pioneer-football.org/media/stats/PDF/2014_PFL_Overall_stats.pdf

[talksalot]

If you're coming to the game... bundle up...   High of 47 heading down to 37 overnight with 50% chance of rain and 19-mph winds out of the west.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy being in the Press Box?

[vu72]

If you're coming to the game... bundle up...   High of 47 heading down to 37 overnight with 50% chance of rain and 19-mph winds out of the west.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy being in the Press Box?

This is when the Florida, Texas, Arizona and California players start wondering what the heck they have gotten themselves into!   

[usc4valpo]

So what is the status of the press box?  Is it heated with wifi, restrooms, etc?  Just curious.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

THIS IS FOOTBAW WEATHER FERGODSAKES

[VULB#62]

If you're coming to the game... bundle up...   High of 47 heading down to 37 overnight with 50% chance of rain and 19-mph winds out of the west.

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy being in the Press Box?

I've already packed my foulie.  That is "sailing speak" for rain coat.  But I am gonna be there. 

I know our defense can contain Marist. Our front 7 is getting more involved each week.    On O, we were able to negate the WJC blitzing D (similar to Marist).  If we can do that against Marist, we have a better than 50/50 chance to beat them.

I am genuinely exciting about possibly seeing my first VU home win and a win against someone other than Campbell.  Keep the Faith!

[VULB#62]

So what is the status of the press box?  Is it heated with wifi, restrooms, etc?  Just curious.

.... not mention the free catered food and the dancing girls.

[usc4valpo]

I have not been at a Valpo home football game since the 80's.  Is it the same press box?  No heat?  That pressbox had that treehouse, Little Rascals club house sort of feel.

[valpo64]

Is the Marist game being shown on line?

[FWalum]

The game is not being video streamed this week, but it seems that the WVUR audio stream is not working!  Can someone please fix this ASAP!

[GOVALPO!]

No audio yet--we called the radio station!!!!  But they say we're up 7-0.  Who scored the touchdown?

[FWalum]

Great... it appears that the studio music is coming through loud and clear when they go to break, but total silence on both TuneIn radio app and the website's Windows Media Player stream the rest of the time.  Please fix this!!!

[vu72]

No audio yet--we called the radio station!!!!  But they say we're up 7-0.  Who scored the touchdown?

Watching the stats.  Kuramata scored on a 14 yard pass.  Now 7-7 with Marist driving after recovering a fumble at their 49.

[vu72]

Playing conditions must be awful. Rain, cold and 20 MPH winds.  Ugh...

[valpotx]

Down 14-7 after a 1 play 55 yard pass.  We have a muffed punt and a fumble that led to their points...