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THIS TEAM IS GOOD
A tough road loss to a good NCC team to start the season; a
heartbreaking double-overtime loss to a team we should have beat and
a gut-wrenching two-point loss to a national championship contender;
and the Mules are facing a 4-3 record headed into Homecoming.
I expect the Lions of Missouri Southern to be a decent test this
Saturday, but despite excessive injuries (especially to the
defense), I envision a bounce-back type win by the Mules. So, on to
the upcoming game.
THE GAME AGAINST SOUTHERN
The Mules are now 4-3 and Southern comes into the game at 5-2. That
said, Southern's schedule has been considerably easier to this
point. Against common opponents, the Lions are 1-2 while the Mules
are 2-1.
Both teams feature big bruising running backs. Glenn Milner for
Central comes in at 6'0", 220, while Alley Brousard of Southern is
6'1", 235. Broussard is good. Nevertheless, the Mules have the
advantage in the running game because they have a more dominant
offensive line.
The Mules need to look out for Southern's quarterback, Adam
Hinspeter. He comes in at 6'5" and 245 lbs and is leading the MIAA
in touchdown passes thrown with 13 TDs in 6 games.
Both teams feature good defenses. Southern is #1 in scoring defense
in the MIAA at 18.7 points per game while the Mules come in right
behind them at #2 allowing 18.8 points per game. Again, one must
take into account the offenses these two teams have faced.
Special teams and the homefield advantage should be the difference
in this one. I'll give the Mules 7 points on Special Forces and 3
points for being at home and say this one ends with a 31-21 Central
victory.
ANSWERING SOME CRITICISMS
I've heard some critiques of Offensive Coordinator Jeff Conway
earlier this season for his play-calling, but on Saturday, I thought
he called a great game! In my opinion, the offense did what it
needed to for the win; it's just that the defense was just too
banged up to stop the "most dangerous" offense in Division II
Football.
I've also heard some criticism of quarterback Eric Cziernewski this
season. Throughout that criticism, I believed he would eventually
step back up and become the heir-apparent to this Mules offense.
Cziernewski was great on Saturday and has the potential to develop
into a league leader as an upperclassman. In my opinion, he's the
first Mules QB in a while to have the arm, the legs and the brains
to lead this team to the post-season.
Heck, I even heard some criticism this past weekend about Milner;
not from any Mules fans mind you, but the criticism was that "he
can't get it done against a good defense."
To that I say, "BULL!"
Now while the game was going on, I must admit I wondered myself why
Milner's number wasn't getting called more. Like many of you, I'd
gotten used to him carrying the load for this offense. In hindsight,
it turns out the coaching staff knew what they were doing. The Mules
got themselves behind by two touchdowns, and had to play catch-up
the rest of the game. Had the Mules been leading by two TDs rather
than trailing by two scores, we'd have, in all likelihood, seen
Milner for 30+ carries, . As it was, we found a passing game and it
should help us the remainder of the season.
THIS TEAM HAS CHARACTER
I saw a turnaround in last year's 5-6 team where they showed a lot
of heart all season long, never quitting in games despite the score
nor the outlook for the season. That character has remained with
this squad. If we can ever get ourselves a healthy team to go along
with this great attitude, this team will live up to its' potential.
YOUTH
This team is young. There's no reason this team shouldn't get better
every game for the rest of the season and roll through the final
four MIAA opponents. The post-season is still a very real
possibility, but it is more likely to come in the form of the
Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs. That is, unless some things
happen that are beyond this team's control.
At any rate, with so many juniors, sophomores, and freshmen in the
two deep roster for Central, things should be even better in 2008.
Until then, there's plenty of great football to be played and you
never know what the future holds. Our strength of schedule will not
hurt us as in years past.
LOOKING AHEAD
Looking at who UCM has faced and how the Mules have performed in
doing so, there's still no reason this team cannot end the regular
season at 8-3 and have a good shot at some kind of post-season
opportunity. That said, I expect we'll end the season with 7 wins, a
possibly more.
Whatever happens the remainder of the year, this team is an
improvement over 2006.
In the meantime... Congrats to the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri
State. You remain the cream of the crop in the MIAA. |
