GAME #10 Valpo v. Jacksonville 11/10 Noon

VULB#62 · November 05, 2018, 11:21:00 AM

Valpo is tied for last in the PFL with a 1-5 record. Butler and Jacksonville share that same honor. We beat Butler. Now we have to do the same vs. Jacksonville on Saturday.

This past Saturday JU beat the Butler Bulldogs 48-44, scoring in the last 5 seconds. Judging by the scoring summary, the only reason JU won was because they were the last ones to have the ball as time ran out.

Jacksonville threw for an incredible 57 yards

while running for a mere 448 "pedestrian" yards

on the ground. JU's secondary played rock solid coverage too, only giving up 425 passing yards to Butler and their front seven locked down the LOS by holding the Butler rushing game to a piddling 131 yards. A real defensive nail-biter.

PFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Calvin Turner Jr., Jacksonville
Sophomore | Quarterback
Savannah, Georgia

Turner Jr. was responsible for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with five seconds left as Jacksonville downed Butler, 48-44, in Saturday PFL action. The league's top runner, he had 25 carries for 194 yards on the day. In the second quarter, Turner Jr. ran for a 58-yard touchdown and passed for a 57-yard touchdown, the throw his only completion on the day (two attempts). After Butler took a 44-41 lead with 3:22 left, he spearheaded an 11-play, 73-yard drive that saw him post seven carries for 37 yards, including a three-yard touchdown run with five seconds left.

Where Valpo and JU stand in the PFL Stats through 11/4:
Scoring Offense - Valpo 9th (27.2 pts/g); JU 6th (30.2 pts/g)
Scoring Defense - Valpo 6th (36.3 pts/g); JU 9th (41.0 pts/g)
Total Offense - Valpo 10th (324 yds/g); JU 6th (391 yds/g)
Total Defense - Valpo 6th (434 yds/g); JU 7th (434.7 yds/g)
Rushing Offense - Valpo 10th (109 yds/g); JU 1st (351.7 yds/g)
Rushing Defense - Valpo 6th (190 yds/g); JU 2nd (163.8 yds/g)
Passing Offense - Valpo 8th (215 yds/g); JU 10th (39.7 yds/g)
Passing Defense - Valpo 8th (243.7 yds/g); JU 10th (270.8 yds/g)
Red Zone Offense - Valpo 10th (70.8%); JU 1st (93.8%)
Red Zone Defense - Valpo 2nd (75%); JU 10th (100%)

Individual Stat Top 10 Leaders
Rushing: Valpo - No One; JU - Turner Jr. #1 (183 yds/game)
Passing: Valpo - Duncan #7 (151.5 yds/g); JU - Turner Jr. #9 (37 yds/game)
Reception: Valpo - Norberg #7 (4.7 rec/g); JU - No One
Receiving Tds: Valpo - Norberg #8th (77.2 yds/g); JU No One
Scoring: Valpo - No One; JU - TurnerJr. #1 (14.3 pts/g)

JD24 · November 05, 2018, 04:46:53 PM

Dropping some breaking news for the defensive coaching staff for the Crusaders. Keep an eye on #2 for the team from Florida.

usc4valpo · November 06, 2018, 11:48:26 AM

is it going to be the comeback of Jamelle Holieway at Brown Field on Saturday?

Oh for the love of the bottom feeders of Div. 1 football!!!

VULB#62 · November 06, 2018, 01:22:20 PM

Here's the Dave and Todd preview show for Jacksonville.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2S2gY2zQ2M

JD24 · November 07, 2018, 10:20:59 PM

Weather could play in Valpo's favor with forecast of low 30's. Not too many days like that in Jacksonville at this time of year.

usc4valpo · November 09, 2018, 05:10:54 PM

What is the attendance over under for tomorrow? 1000?

JD24 · November 09, 2018, 07:51:11 PM

Quote from: usc4valpo on November 09, 2018, 05:10:54 PMWhat is the attendance over under for tomorrow? 1000?

Senior day vs a team which probably won't have much in the way of bringing their fans, I'll say between 1200 and 1500. Same situation 2 seasons ago with the same teams was 1380.
I'm also not sure if your post was a continued attempt to belittle the program but Valpo ranks in the middle of the conference consistently and typically outdraws San Diego and sometimes Drake as well.

vu72 · November 09, 2018, 07:59:33 PM

I will be watching and hoping for the best for our seniors. Get the crowd bundled up and on to ringing the bell! GO VALPO!!

usc4valpo · November 10, 2018, 06:54:43 AM

jD24- nope, that's my intent, but the weather is going to be cold.

VULB#62 · November 10, 2018, 09:12:45 AM

Latest WeatherBug hourly forecast is for partly sunny and temps no higher than 32 degrees up to 3pm today. Temp at kickoff is projected to be about 30 degrees. Current temp at 9am is 20 degrees. Good morning Dolphins. Welcome to NORTHERN Indiana.

JD24 · November 10, 2018, 12:33:50 PM

Quick 14-0 lead for Valpo. A stop and another score for Valpo would probably send Jacksonville home quickly. JU's offense typically doesn't play well from behind.

...and there it is. 21-0. 29 degree weather. Halftime and the end of the game is looking pretty good to the Dolphins.

VULB#62 · November 10, 2018, 12:59:28 PM

Duncan is really on target.

JU's first drive of Q2 is more like what they are supposed to be doing. 21-7 Valpo.

JD24 · November 10, 2018, 01:27:28 PM

Quote from: VULB#62 on November 10, 2018, 12:59:28 PMDuncan is really on target. JU's first drive of Q2 is more like what they are supposed to be doing. 21-7 Valpo.

Unfortunately he's been sailing the ball after his first 5 or so completions.

Valpo gets a break on a fumble call which Todd is providing his "non-biased" view on.

JD24 · November 10, 2018, 01:32:53 PM

Duncan back on target on this final first half drive.

vu72 · November 10, 2018, 02:11:29 PM

Wow! 34-10! Dominating all over the field. Hopefully they can keep it going.

JD24 · November 10, 2018, 03:20:08 PM

Good win for Valpo.

Jacksonville's defense is certainly well rounded. They make up for not being able to stop the run by being even more inept vs. the pass. Glad to see Elias have a solid game. Good kid.

usc4valpo · November 10, 2018, 05:32:48 PM

1150 fans enjoyed the win. Let's see if they can finish off the Mad Hatters.

VULB#62 · November 11, 2018, 08:13:28 AM

Quote from: JD24 on November 10, 2018, 03:20:08 PM
Good win for Valpo.

Jacksonville's defense is certainly well rounded. They make up for not being able to stop the run by being even more inept vs. the pass. Glad to see Elias have a solid game. Good kid.

Two observations:

Was it just me, or has JU recruited smaller players under the new coaching regime? In the era before Cecchini and maybe in Dave's first year or two, one of the consistent posts on this board was how much bigger and stronger the JU OL and DL were compared to Valpo. Just watching the first quarter, it just seemed like we were taller, svelter (more solid but trimmer?), and more powerful up front on both sides of the ball.

My other observation was based on my belief that you can tell a lot about athleticism by just watching how players run - i.e., their running form. Overall, comparing not just the skill position players but also linemen and LBs, our players, overall, were more athletic yesterday.

Thoughts?

VULB#62 · November 11, 2018, 09:48:23 AM

As is my habit, I checked the defensive stats. No mention of Drew. Was he out? If so that says a lot about our LB depth — both Nick and Drew out and our tackle leaders are the next men up.

JD24 · November 11, 2018, 10:52:23 AM

Quote from: VULB#62 on November 11, 2018, 09:48:23 AMAs is my habit, I checked the defensive stats. No mention of Drew. Was he out? If so that says a lot about our LB depth — both Nick and Drew out and our tackle leaders are the next men up.

Snouffer was out as well.

Valpo needed what they needed to do which was to get up quickly on Jacksonville. That offense rarely plays well from behind and it didn't yesterday.

Defending the flexbone vs a team which nearly never passes the ball leads to big tackle numbers for the LBers and SS typically unless the offense is scoring ubiquitously. For example, San Diego had 5 players with 8 or more tackles yesterday including 3 with more than 10. They gave up nearly 800 yards on the ground. So tackles isn't necessarily a measure of good play.

JD24 · November 11, 2018, 10:54:58 AM

Quote from: VULB#62 on November 11, 2018, 08:13:28 AM
Quote from: JD24 on November 10, 2018, 03:20:08 PMGood win for Valpo. Jacksonville's defense is certainly well rounded. They make up for not being able to stop the run by being even more inept vs. the pass. Glad to see Elias have a solid game. Good kid.
Two observations: Was it just me, or has JU recruited smaller players under the new coaching regime? In the era before Cecchini and maybe in Dave's first year or two, one of the consistent posts on this board was how much bigger and stronger the JU OL and DL were compared to Valpo. Just watching the first quarter, it just seemed like we were taller, svelter (more solid but trimmer?), and more powerful up front on both sides of the ball. My other observation was based on my belief that you can tell a lot about athleticism by just watching how players run - i.e., their running form. Overall, comparing not just the skill position players but also linemen and LBs, our players, overall, were more athletic yesterday. Thoughts?

Kerwin Bell's offenses required bigger OLmen than the flexbone requires so they've changed their requirements for linemen. Defensively, Jacksonville has been awful for a couple of years in not being able to defend either the run or the pass. Whether that is a size issue or they no longer have the "advantage" they had under Bell in recruiting I'm not sure.

vu72 · November 11, 2018, 11:18:10 AM

Hey! Their quarterback averaged 37 yards per completion! And as for the OL/DL as compared to Dave's first year has a lot to do with our weight program. Our seniors have gained lots of size and strength during those years.

talksalot · November 11, 2018, 11:37:21 AM

That one completion turned into a fumble in the end zone and a touchback for Valpo. Their wideouts dropped a couple of gimmies.

JD24 · November 11, 2018, 03:08:06 PM

Quote from: talksalot on November 11, 2018, 11:37:21 AMThat one completion turned into a fumble in the end zone and a touchback for Valpo. Their wideouts dropped a couple of gimmies.

Gray dropped one 10 yards behind everyone headed into the endzone as well.

crusadermoe · November 11, 2018, 04:18:05 PM

Glad we beat Jacksonville. I'm also glad to see them playing at a level more like the Pioneer League.

Once they played us at home in the mid-2000s and they had ridiculously fast kids and beat us 80+ to 6 or something. Their asst coaches were up in the press box at the top of the VU grandstand dropping f-bombs in every direction in the first half. Sometimes it was in frustration (rarely). But most of the time is was 1 of every 3 words in their very limited vocabulary. All 3 of them talked that way.

Pres. Harre was sitting about 10 rows in front of them and there were a bunch of kids and families nearby him. Many of turned and glared at them often. They continued. Suddenly after the half I stopped hearing f-bombs. Perhaps Pres H got someone's attention. Good for him.

Maybe I shouldn't assume this, but those type of coaches might not have the ethics to recruit players who are legit students. Glad they are aligned now with their school and the league.