To the Top of the Mountain: Massachusetts State Mountaineers (NCAA 07)

[packersfan4eva]

Holy hell, your recruiting class is loaded.

[thesportsguru11]

Quote: Originally Posted by packersfan4eva

Holy hell, your recruiting class is loaded.

This is only targets, no commits yet. And as I stated, there is no difficulty in recruiting. Wont be very hard landing solid recruits.

[thesportsguru11]

Around the NCAA: October 29, 2006

Minnesota downs #3 Ohio State
The Gophers' rushing attack got the best of Ohio State, as Amir Pinnix gained 216 yards in the 35-28 victory.

Georgia Tech remains perfect; launches to #5
Georgia Tech continued their utter dominance, destroying Miami in Atlanta. Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson are now both Heisman frontrunners.

Florida rolls past Georgia
Florida roared back into BCS Championship contention with a convincing win over Georgia, 31-17.

Week 9 Results of Note

Results

#18 Virginia Tech def #15 Clemson

Washington def #16 Arizona State

Purdue def Penn State

#5 Oklahoma def Missouri

#8 Notre Dame def Navy

#4 Florida def #13 Georgia

#9 Tennessee def South Carolina

#21 Minnesota def #3 Ohio State

Michigan State def Indiana

#10 Georgia Tech def #6 Miami

NCAA Football Rankings - BCS Rankings - Updated: Oct 29, 2006
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	1	West Virginia	7	0	.920
2	2	LSU	7	1	.869
3	4	Florida	7	1	.867
4	5	Oklahoma	7	1	.830
5	10	Georgia Tech	8	0	.707
6	7	Nebraska	8	1	.676
7	9	Tennessee	7	1	.648
8	8	Notre Dame	6	2	.642
9	11	Texas	7	2	.598
10	3	Ohio State	7	2	.585
11	12	Michigan	8	1	.583
12	14	Auburn	7	2	.508
13	6	Miami (FL)	6	2	.504
14	21	Minnesota	8	1	.428
15	18	Virginia Tech	7	1	.425
16	13	Georgia	7	2	.396
17	17	Texas A&M	9	0	.390
18	20	Boise State	8	0	.286
19	22	Louisville	5	2	.273
20	15	Clemson	7	2	.273
21	23	Florida State	6	2	.268
22	24	Pitt	8	0	.231
23	25	Colorado	7	2	.195
24	16	Arizona State	6	2	.157
25	NR	Kansas State	8	1	.130

Heisman Watch - Updated: Oct 29, 2006
NAME	POS	SCHOOL		SEASON STATS
Calvin Johnson	WR	Georgia Tech
Steve Breaston	WR	Michigan
Zac Taylor	RB	Nebraska
Reggie Ball	QB	Georgia Tech
JaMarcus Russell	QB	LSU

Big East Standings Conference Standings - Updated: Oct 29, 2006
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STRK
Pitt	8-0		3-0
Massachusetts State	7-1		3-0
West Virginia	7-0		2-0
Louisville	5-2		2-0
Rutgers	3-5		1-2
Syracuse	3-6		1-3
Connecticut	3-5		0-3
Cincinnati	2-7		0-4

NCAA Players of the Week:
Offense: Kevin Grady (RB, Michigan) 35 car, 191 yards, 4 total TD
Defense: Keith Rivers (LB, USC) 13 tckl (5 TFL) 2 scks, INT, TD

Big East Players of the Week
Offense: Perry Patterson (QB, Syracuse) 21-30, 266 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Simeon Slater (LB, Massachusetts State) 13 tckl (3 TFL), 2 scks, 3 FF

Week 10 Matchups of Note:
#22 Pitt vs Massachusetts State
#1 West Virginia def #19 Louisville
Air Force vs Army
#2 LSU vs #7 Tennessee
#5 Georgia Tech vs North Carolina State
#25 Kansas State vs #23 Colorado
#10 Ohio State vs Illinois
#4 Oklahoma vs #17 Texas A&M (College Gameday)
#6 Nebraska vs Missouri
#15 Virginia Tech def #13 Miami (FL)
Navy vs Luke U

[thesportsguru11]

GAMEDAY!
#22 Pitt Panthers (8-0, 3-0) vs. Massachusetts State Mountaineers (7-1, 3-0)
November 4, 2006
Canton, Massachusetts
7:00 P.M.

VS.

The undefeated, 22nd ranked Pitt Panthers come to Canton this first week of November, and this is a huge game for both sides. The winner takes the lead of the Big East, each with a game vs. West Virginia in the coming weeks.

Pitt has lots of talent, especially in All-Americans Darrelle Revis and H.B. Blades. However, their offense is missing 2 key receivers, impact wideout Derek Kinder, out with a suspension, and speedy Marcel Pestano, out with an arm injury. Can their passing game straighten themselves out without 2 starters? Can LaRod Stephens-Howling step up?

This is the second of 3 games in which Mass State will be without starting QB Emile Britton. Judging by the way Adam Woods played last week, the Mountaineers shouldn't have a problem moving the ball.

Prediction: Mass State 21, Pitt 20

Pitt appears to have too many receiver injuries to get anything going. The Mountaineers run defense is among the top 10 in the country. This will be close, but Mass State prevails.

Pitt Panthers Depth Chart - 2006
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	81 - Derek Kinder (suspended)	87 - Marcel Pestano - SO (injured)	88 - Oderick Turner - rFR
TE	84 - Steve Buches - SR	14 - Darrell Strong - JR	83 - John Pelusi - SO
LT	76 - Jeff Otah - JR	62 - John Bachman - SO	61 - Kevin Hughes - rFR
LG	57 - C.J. Davis - SO	76 - Dominic Williams - SO	67 - Mike Deluca - JR
C	68 - Joe Villani - SR	64 - Chris Vangas - JR
RG	60 - John Simonitis - SR	71 - John Brown - rFR
RT	75 - Mike McGlynn - JR	72 - Chase Clowser - SO
WR	4 - Joe DelSardo - SR	1 - Cedric McGee - rFR
QB	3 - Tyler Palko - SR	28 - Matt Flaus - SR	11 - Bill Stull - SO
FB	31 - Conredge Collins - SO	32 - Mark Yezovich - JR
HB	34 - LaRod Stephens-Howling - SO	27 - Brandon Mason - SO	26 - Shane Brooks - rFR	10 - Mike Phillips - JR
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	41 - Chris McKillop - JR	98 - Vernon Botts - SO	93 - Gus Mustakus - SO
LDT	97 - Corey Davis - SO	47 - Nick Williams - SO
RDT	50 - Rashaad Duncan - SO	90 - Craig Bokor - rFR
RDE	54 - Charles Sallet - SR	58 - Joe Clermond - JR
WLB	17 - Clint Session - SR	30 - Tyler Tipton - SO
MLB	51 - H.B. Blades - SR	6 - Steve Dell - rFR	40 - Scott McKillop - SO
SLB	39 - Derron Thomas - JR	44 - Brian Bennett - SR	8 - Adam Gunn - SO
CB	25 - Darrelle Revis - JR	21 - Reggie Carter - SR
SS	46 - Sam Bryant - SR	29 - Tommie Campbell - SO
FS	10 - Mike Phillips - SO	24 - Jameel Brady - JR
CB	5 - Kennard Cox - JR	7 - Michael Toerper - rFR
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	16 - David Abdul - SR
P	18 - Adam Graessle - SR
H	28 - Matt Flaus - SR
PR	28 - Matt Flaus - SR
KR	4 - Joe DelSardo - SR
LS	64 - Chris Vangas - JR

[thesportsguru11]

Pitt escapes Canton still undefeated

Are the Pitt Panthers a legitimate football program again? Pitt is now 9-0, having snuck out of Canton with a win and the Big East lead on Saturday, but they know it could have easily gone either way.

With their second loss of the year, Mass State now needs to win out and have a little luck to win the Big East and potentially be a BCS crasher. Easier said than done though, with the Mountaineers having to play Louisville and #1 West Virginia after Syracuse.

Into the game, it was tied at 10 in the 3rd before Pitt’s All-American corner Darrelle Revis took an Adam Woods pass and ran it back 91 yards to take a 17-10 lead, a decisive moment in the contest. But the game was only just starting then. Only 2 minutes after Revis’ pick six, Mass State’s diminutive punt returner Pharrell Phillips ran one back 82 yards to tie the game at 17.

Neither team played defense after. Pitt’s Tyler Palko hit freshman Cedric McGee, who had a career day, for 62 yards to give Pitt a 24-17 lead. Ricky Price answered back for the Mountaineers with a 32 yard TD catch. Pitt retook the lead when Palko hit Oderick Turner from 23 yards out. 31-24 when Kennard Cox picked Woods, Woods’ 3rd pick of the day, and sealed the deal.

Woods was one of 2 reasons the Mountaineers lost. He threw for 327 yards and 2 scores, but also threw 3 picks and lost a fumble, 3 of the turnovers with 35 or fewer yards to go to the endzone. The other reason was the poor defense Mass State played in the 2nd half. They gave up 21 of Pitt’s 31 points in the 2nd half, and couldn’t force a turnover and only one punt in that span.

“Pitt played a more consistent type of game that we couldn’t, and they took advantage. I knew the pass game would give us fits. I can’t believe our guys didn’t tighten up coverage better. If we had thought to press more, we could’ve held them a few times and won. But hindsight is always 20-20. Can’t do anything about it. Just have to fix it for Syracuse next week.”

As coach mentioned, Mass State stays at home to face Big East bottomfeeder Syracuse next week before going to Louisville and West Virginia to close out the year. Pitt meanwhile, has a major showdown with rival West Virginia to prepare for after they play Cincinnati next week.



Tevin Blalock continued his incredible string of good fortune, recovering yet another fumble on Saturday.



Darrelle Revis' pick six was key in Pitt's win.



Pharrell Phillips only needed to make one cut on his punt return touchdown.


Kennard Cox sealed it with his late game interception.


Oderick Turner hauled in the winning reception.

Pittsburgh Panthers at Massachusetts State Mountaineers
Nov 4, 2006	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers (9-0)	0	10	7	14	31
Massachusetts State Mountaineers (7-2)	10	0	7	7	24

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		PITT	MSt
4:00	(MSt) Woods 36 yards to Peters (Chase kick)	0	7
1:34	(MSt) Chase 30 yard FG	0	10
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		PITT	MSt
3:24	(PITT) Palko 17 yards to Turner (Abdul kick)	7	10
:01	(PITT) Abdul 24 yard FG	10	10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		PITT	MSt
2:57	(PITT) Revis 91 yard INT return (Abdul kick)	17	10
:08	(MSt) Phillips 82 yard punt return	17	17
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		PITT	MSt
3:30	(PITT) Palko 62 yards to McGee (Abdul kick)	24	17
2:34	(PITT) Woods 32 yards to Price (Chase kick)	24	24
1:24	(PITT) Palko 23 yards to Turner (Abdul kick)	31	24

Pittsburgh Panthers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Tyler Palko 22-35 327 3 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD LaRod Stepehens-Howling 9 48 5.3 0 Conredge Collins 6 40 6.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Joe DelSardo 8 135 16.8 0 Cedric McGee 4 94 23.5 1 Oderick Turner 3 49 16.3 2 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Sam Bryant 9 0 0 0 Darrelle Revis 3 0 1 1 Mike Phillips 5 0 1 0 H.B. Blades 5 0 0 0

Massachusetts State Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Adam Woods 17-30 327 2 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Marcus Peters 15 38 2.5 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Ricky Price 8 158 19.7 1 Danny Denman 3 28 9.3 0 Marcus Peters 1 38 38 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Coleman Griffin 8 0 1 0 Stafford Royal 6 0 0 0 Antoine Haumiller 5 0 0 0

[thesportsguru11]

Around the NCAA: November 5, 2006

Tennessee fends off #2 LSU
Tennessee stays in BCS contention with a win in a 15-14 defensive shootout. With only 2 teams allowed into the new-fangled BCS, LSU could now be on the outside looking in.

Oklahoma survives Texas A&M; moves to #2
Sooners QB Rhett Bomar shook off all his doubters with a 3 TD performance and great play as they defeated Texas A&M; vaulting themselves in position to go to the BCS Title Game.

#1 West Virginia hangs on for dear life in narrow victory
Pat White again was a hero for WVA while tailback Steve Slaton is out with injury. White rushed for over 100 yards and 3 TD's in a 33-31 win over Louisville, hanging in there for a potential showdown in the Backyard Brawl with fellow undefeated, Pitt in just 2 weeks.

Week 10 Scoreboard

Results

#22 Pitt def Massachusetts State

#1 West Virginia def #19 Louisville

Army def Air Force

#7 Tennessee def #2 LSU

Oregon State def #24 Arizona State

#23 Colorado def #25 Kansas State

#10 Ohio State def Illinois

#4 Oklahoma def #17 Texas A&M

#6 Nebraska def Missouri

Wisconsin def Penn State

#13 Miami (FL) def #15 Virginia Tech

Navy def Luke U

NCAA Football Rankings - BCS Rankings - Updated: Nov 5, 2006
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	W	L	POINTS
1	1	West Virginia	8	0	.912
2	4	Oklahoma	8	1	.873
3	3	Florida	8	1	.860
4	5	Georgia Tech	9	0	.783
5	7	Tennessee	8	1	.756
6	6	Nebraska	9	1	.694
7	2	LSU	7	2	.686
8	8	Notre Dame	7	2	.686
9	10	Ohio State	8	2	.617
10	9	Texas	8	2	.607
11	11	Michigan	9	1	.604
12	13	Miami (FL)	7	2	.512
13	12	Auburn	8	2	.505
14	14	Minnesota	9	1	.454
15	16	Georgia	8	2	.415
16	18	Boise State	9	0	.345
17	17	Texas A&M	9	1	.340
18	20	Clemson	8	2	.322
19	21	Florida State	7	2	.310
20	22	Pitt	9	0	.283
21	23	Colorado	8	2	.256
22	15	Virginia Tech	7	2	.238
23	19	Louisville	5	3	.190
24	NR	USC	5	3	.119
25	NR	Oregon	7	2	.087

Heisman Watch - Updated: Jan 1,
NAME	POS	SCHOOL		SEASON STATS
Calvin Johnson	WR	Georgia Tech
Steve Breaston	WR	Michigan
Zac Taylor	QB	Nebraska
Reggie Ball	QB	Georgia Tech
Chad Henne	QB	Michigan

Big East Standings Conference Standings - Updated: Nov 5, 2006
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STRK
#20 Pitt	9-0		4-0
#1 West Virginia	8-0		3-0
Massachusetts State	7-2		3-1
#23 Louisville	5-3		2-1
Rutgers	3-5		1-2
Syracuse	3-6		1-3
Connecticut	3-5		0-2
Cincinnati	2-7		0-4

NCAA Players of the Week:
Offense: De'Angelo Bryant (RB, Wake Forest) 34 car, 170 yards, 5 total TD
Defense: John Fonoti (LB, Hawaii) 10 tckls, INT, FF, TD

Big East Players of the Week
Offense: Tyler Palko (QB, Pitt) 22-35, 327 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Darrelle Revis (CB, Pitt) 3 tckls, INT, TD

Week 11 Matchups of Note:
Cincinnati vs #1 West Virginia
Rice vs Tulsa
#14 Minnesota vs Michigan State
Alabama vs #7 LSU
#10 Texas vs Kansas State
Purdue vs Illinois
South Carolina vs #3 Florida
#6 Nebraska vs #17 Texas A&M
Wake Forest vs #19 Florida State
North Carolina State vs #18 Clemson
Luke U vs Boston College
#15 Georgia vs #13 Auburn
#25 Oregon vs #24 USC
Texas Tech vs #2 Oklahoma
#5 Tennessee vs Arkansas

[thesportsguru11]

Mass State lands first commit for 2007; highest rated prospect in school history



Massachusetts State has found a potential replacement for Coleman Griffin. William Davis, at this point the #1 corner prospect in the nation, who also happens to be the highest rated commit in school history. Davis is a 5 star prospect out of Portchester, New York, and Davis is nothing short of special. He has good hands, runs a blazing 4.22 40 yard dash (surprisingly not the fastest in the class though) and has high upside.

Quote:

"I really like William, the whole staff is elated that he picked us. He has great qualities already, and under our tutelage we believe he can be special. William is an excellent young man and he will be a great role model for the team." - Coach DeArruda

Quote:

"I am excited to come here. Coach DeArruda and his staff are all very knowledgeable and friendly. This was a no-brainer decision for me. I can't wait to get to work. - William Davis

[thesportsguru11]

GAMEDAY!
Syracuse Orange (3-6, 1-3) vs. Massachusetts State Mountaineers (7-2, 3-1)
November 11, 2006
Canton, Massachusetts
1:00 P.M.

VS.

Syracuse comes in to Canton just hoping to keep it close. They are extremely battered, missing a tailback, starting defensive end and their defensive captain, linebacker Kelvin Smith. Led by senior QB Perry Patterson, their offense is average at best, and without Smith, corner Tanard Jackson is their best player. No one else stands out on that defense.

Prediction: Mass State 38, Syracuse 17
Even without Emile Britton, Mass State should have no troubles with the Orange. This is just a preparation game for Louisville and West Virginia.

Syracuse Orange Depth Chart - 2006
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	81 - Timothy Lane - SR	80 - LaVar Lobdell - SO	2 - JJ Bedle - SO
TE	84 - Brandon Darlington - SR	89 - Tom Ferron - SO	98 - Arthur Kapalanga - SR
LT	78 - Eugene Newsome - JR	79 - Adam Rosner - rFR
LG	75 - Ryan Durand - SO	68 - David Bouchard - SO
C	60 - Justin Outten - SR	67 - Marvin McCall - JR
RG	59 - Carroll Madison - JR	76 - Mike Sklarosky - SR
RT	64 - Corey Chavers - SR	72 - Ian Hammond - JR
WR	12 - Rice Moss - JR	82 - Taj Smith - JR	16 - Jeremy Horne - rFR
QB	10 - Perry Patterson - SR	5 - Joseph Fields - JR	11 - Matt Hale - JR
FB	38 - Breyone Evans - JR	43 - Tony Fiametta - SO
HB	31 - Paul Chiara - SO	22 - Curtis Brinkley - SO (injured)	21 - Kareem Jones - JR	24 - Jeremy Sellers - JR
Base 3-3-5 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	99 - Cornelius Campbell - JR (injured)	95 - Nick Santiago - SO
NT	56 - Chris Thorner - SR	51 - Tony Jenkins - JR	83 - Shadeed Harris - SR
RDE	55 - Lee Williams - JR	52 - Jameel McClain - JR
LOLB	30 - Vincenzo Giruzzi - SO	33 - Ben Maljovec - SO
MLB	8 - Kelvin Smith - SR (injured)	57 - Jerry Mackey - SR
ROLB	19 - Luke Cain - SR	45 - Jake Flaherty - SO	36 - Oliver Hernandez - SO
CB	28 - Tanard Jackson - SR	4 - Terrell Lemon - SR
SS	26 - Dowayne Davis - JR	86 - Bruce Williams - SO
FS	18 - Reggie McCoy - JR	6 - Donta Herrod - SO
SS	32 - Lamar McPherson - rFR
CB	27 - Nick Chestnut - SO	23 - Derek Bailey - rFR
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	6 - John Barker - SO
P	47 - Brendan Carney - SR
H	5 - Joseph Fields - JR
PR	86 - Bruce Williams - SO
KR	21 - Kareem Jones - JR
LS	72 - Ian Hammond - JR