#SWARM - The Reboot

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

[SilverBullet19]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

What a game! Man, Marble may have sparked something here...there's actually a shot at a conference title! Robinson's endzone pick was so huge, that had to feel good.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Yeah I was shocked when I looked at the standings. If we win out, which is highly possible, we make the title game. I think we beat Kent, I don't think their team is very good, they have a slow secondary who won't be able to keep pace with us. We're actually a really fast team. Cox comes back this week which is huge as well. Robinson's pick was huge. I switched to him as soon as I saw the ball go up, I saw that coming from a mile away, and for once I usered a guy and he didn't drop it.

Marble winning these games puts us in a tough spot as far the starting job goes. I want the conference chip, but I also want to get Walker experience as he's our QB of the future. If we do beat Kent, and Marble is even decent, there's a tough decision to be made. Then say Marble leads us to a conference title, we win 10 games, maybe even 11 with a bowl, he has to start next year and Walker is in a tough spot.

Thanks for checking in, bout to go play Kent right now.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

October 26th, 2015

7 recruits commit following Swarm victory over Akron

Westlake, OH -- Huge news on the recruiting front, as a whopping 7 recruits committed to Westlake State following the Swarm's epic 45-41 win over Akron.

3* OLB Mason Richardson, 3* FS Jason Bowser, 3* DT Lorenzo Russell, 3* ATH Zach Bonner, 3* DE Brian Hall, 2* K Justin Ward, and 2* SS Jake White are all officially committed and will begin the enrollment process.

Richardson, Ward, and Bowser in particular are massive additions. Richardson will likely have a role at either OLB or DE next season, Ward is slated to replace Grant Marquardt, who is graduating (thank heavens...), and Bowser is a Swiss army knife who could play any number of roles for this defense.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Y3, G9 - @ Kent State

November 1st, 2015

Swarm whipped 70-2; MAC title hopes fade as quickly as they surfaced

Marble will go back to the bench after throwing 4 picks, 2 pick-sixes -- Thomas Green goes on postgame rant, suspended again as Barkley vows he'll never play again

Justin Rankin averaged nearly 10 yards a carry.

Westlake, OH -- Halloween doesn't really scare many people over the age of 10. Well, this Halloween, Westlake State fans saw a pretty scary sight: Their team getting beat by a score of 70 to 2. Let me repeat that, there is no typo. Kent State scored 70 points, Westlake State scored 2. How did this happen?

Well, when you give up 6 yards a carry, throw 4 picks in just over a half, two of them going back for 6, have your "best" wideout drop an easy score, let a mediocre MAC QB throw for 219 yards on 15/19 passing, all of a sudden you can start to see why.

Kent State actually didn't score on their first drive. They missed a field goal. Usually, a team would take that momentum and run with it. Not Westlake State, not today. The Swarm went 3 and out, and Kent State just ran right down their throats, with Justin Rankin and Will Matthews eating up yardage. Matthews ended up scoring from 19 yards out, and after a Swarm punt, another quick drive saw Rankin score.

Will Matthews scored 3 times: here's his first TD

Ricardo Marble found Tristan Cox for 11 yards on the Swarm's next drive, Cox's first touch since his nasty ankle injury earlier this season. Unfortunately, that was just about the end of what Marble did right this game. The Swarm punted, and after a facemask, Matthews ran in a near-identical 19 yard TD.

He would throw a pick to Mandela Lawrence-Burke a couple plays later, and after a facemask, Matthews ran in a near-identical 19 yard TD.

21-0. Bad, but hey, not that bad. Especially after a Sean Louis return started the Swarm at the opposing 51, and Marble ran for 32 yards to put Westlake in the red zone. That was the end of what Marble did right in this one. From the 6 yard line, he threw a pick-6 to Elvis Hines on 2nd and goal, the first of Hines' 3 picks on the day.

Pick-6

The ensuing punt was when everyone knew this was gonna get ugly. The drive was actually decent, with Tristan Cox getting 25 yards on a dump off to give the Swarm some good field position. Then on a 3rd and 7, Thomas Green got behind the defense, and Marble dropped in a good throw. Green had it secured, and just had to go to ground in the endzone. Instead, he dropped it, forced a punt, and that was really it.

Kent State got another pick-6, this time coming from freshman Matt Pruitt, and they would score 67 points before the Swarm managed a measly safety near the end.

Ricardo Marble tried to throw while under pressure, and wound up throwing his second pick-6. He would be replaced by Dwight Cummings after this throw.

It's always interesting to see how players react to losses like this. Some, like Ricardo Marble, are upset with themselves. Marble didn't take his pads off, or his head out of his hands for over half an hour in the locker room after the game. It took Tristan Cox going over and physically picking him up by the pads to get him to move.

Others, like Thomas Green, blame everyone but themselves. Green came out of the game with the rest of the starters midway through the 3rd quarter, and unbeknownst to anyone, he to the locker room, where Sean Louis was with a trainer after leaving the game due to back spasms, and Green went on a Twitter rant, throwing everyone under the bus, from Marble, to the coaching staff, to athletic director Joey Williams. Take a look at a couple of the Tweets.




There are more, he goes on to say that AD Joey Williams is "employing clowns", that Dion Barkley is "too nice" and that losing by 68 is what happens when "buffoons run wild".

Dion Barkley went on a profanity-laden rant, in which he vowed Green was done at Westlake State.

F--k him. F--k that dude. I put my neck out for him, convinced Joey [AD Williams] to let him stay, and he's gonna do this? He's been garbage the whole time he's been back. Makes a couple grabs, but he doesn't run hard all the time, he doesn't block, he doesn't lift up his team. I can tell you right now, he's done effective right now. He can go transfer somewhere, play another year, I don't give a s--t. He's done.

As far as the game, I have no comment for what these motherf---ers just did to us, what we allowed them to do to us. It ain't just Ricardo, it's the line, the backs, wideouts, our ******* defense looked like a peewee team today.

Westlake State will return home, and play 6-2 (3-1) Buffalo. De'Aaron Walker will likely play for the first time since he tore his meniscus back in week 6 at CMU. This game will have major bowl ramifications, as the Swarm will want to finish with 7 wins to ensure a bowl bid.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

CAC results Week 6-10

OC Paul Lees - Central Michigan (4-4, 2-2)

Week 6 vs Westlake State - L 23-26

We know all about this one already

Week 7 @ Akron - L 7-48

Tony Poljan: 7/19, 128 yards, 2 INT

Week 8 @ Toledo - W 28-13

Tony Poljan: 14/29, 142 yards, TD, 13 carries, 76 yards

Romello Ross: 18 carries, 100 yards

Week 9 vs NIU - W 28-16

Tony Poljan: 13/30, 151 yards, 3 TD, INT

Jonathan Ward: 13 carries, 102 yards, TD, 3 rec, 64 yards

Week 10 vs #20 Tennessee - W 41-27

Tony Poljan: 14/33, 306 yards, 3 TD, INT

Romello Ross: 15 carries, 85 yards, TD, 2 rec, 69 yards

Jonathan Ward: 13 carries, 59 yards, TD

Brandon Childress: 6 rec, 132 yards, TD

OC Bryson Post - Bowling Green (4-4, 3-1)

Week 6 vs Miami OH - W 31-17

Bryce Denley: 27 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD

Week 7 @ Ohio - W 30-27

Bryce Denley: 37 carries, 201 yards, TD

Week 8 @ #16 Clemson - W 28-26

Andrew Clair: 25 carries, 138 yards, TD

Week 9 vs WMU - L 21-28

Andrew Clair: 20 carries, 143 yards, 2 TD

Week 10 @ Toledo - W 41-3

Jarret Doege: 11/23, 128 yards, 2 TD, INT

Andrew Clair: 21 carries, 137 yards, TD, 93 KR yards, TD

[SilverBullet19]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

And just like that...Marble was gone as quickly as he arrived. A flash in the pan, as they say. Terrible loss but hey...you got a safety at least! Just a brutal beat down, really. Kent State really put you in your place. As a gamer, I love that this game does that sometimes.

Green man, I knew that dude didn't deserve another chance. He got Barkley so riled up, I'm sure he's gonna get fined for his profanity regarding it. Good riddance, peace out Green!

Hopefully you guys can put it behind you and rebound to finish the season strong.

[beast10]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

man that’s tough. wasn’t expecting something like that after that big win over akron. marble, lol... i’d think it’d be maybe a little relieving for him to have a bad game upon walker’s return. but that’s horrible lol.

tough case with green. always liked the way you give players personality. adding that talented troublemaker to the program always gives a good storyline

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

And just like that...Marble was gone as quickly as he arrived. A flash in the pan, as they say. Terrible loss but hey...you got a safety at least! Just a brutal beat down, really. Kent State really put you in your place. As a gamer, I love that this game does that sometimes.

Green man, I knew that dude didn't deserve another chance. He got Barkley so riled up, I'm sure he's gonna get fined for his profanity regarding it. Good riddance, peace out Green!

Hopefully you guys can put it behind you and rebound to finish the season strong.

The second I put some expectations on Marble, saying that he could keep the job if he was decent, he folds spectacularly. Shades of Nathan Peterman, although that game didn't end quite as badly. I do love that this game has a way of sending you crashing down to earth when you're an upstart, did it last year too when we nearly made a bowl. If we want a shot at a MAC title, we now have to beat Buffalo and their top 10 defense. They have a garbage QB though, only reason they're not running away with the conference. Even then, we would still have to beat Miami, who have taken us down each of the last 2 years. Hell at this point even a 2-8 Ohio squad can't be taken lightly. I think they were 4-6 last year and underdogs when we had to come back from 23 down to win 50-47. Gonna need to win out to have a shot at the title. Crazy thing is half the conference still has a shot, every game is huge. I think both you and Guru's coaches could technically still win your division.

You were right about Green, I shoulda cut his *** last season lol. What can I say, we needed his speed. But I can't justify keeping him on the squad now. Good call on the fine, I'll add that in tomorrow if I remember to do sl. Barkley's rant was pretty much just me taking out my frustrations of getting whooped that badly, worst loss I've had ever, I think. I was just in shock while I was playing like "what the hell, is this really happening?" Like not even in season 1 of the original report back last summer did I lose by 68.

man that’s tough. wasn’t expecting something like that after that big win over akron. marble, lol... i’d think it’d be maybe a little relieving for him to have a bad game upon walker’s return. but that’s horrible lol.

tough case with green. always liked the way you give players personality. adding that talented troublemaker to the program always gives a good storyline

I got completely blindsided man. Kent State, our games the last 2 years were close and we won both of them. Oh, they're up 14-0? Whatever. *20 minutes later* Oh, 36-0 at the half... yeah I'm not winning this.

Hey, at least we don't have to worry about a QB controversy now. Marble is gonna go play out wide next year, I'll never trust him under center again. [emoji23] Was gonna move him anyway as he has decent WR ratings, and our receivers all kinda suck right now, so I figure I'll see what he can do.

Glad you like my storylines. They just come to me, like I'll see a player and instantly I've made up some personality for him. We have another JUCO guy who's potentially coming in who's similar, talented but an idiot. Don't wanna recruit all these troublemaking cats but we gotta do what we gotta do for now.

Appreciate both of y'all checking in as always.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

November 2nd, 2015

Injury News

In addition to this, RT Joe Edwards will return fully against Ohio. Edwards played limited snaps against Buffalo, his first game action since a dislocated shoulder against CMU back in Week 6.

Barkley fined for profanity

Dion Barkley has been fined 10 thousand dollars, and has received an official reprimand from the NCAA following his profanity-laced rant about now-former Swarm WR Thomas Green following the Swarm's 70-2 loss to Kent State.

Barkley refused to comment on the fine.

Shoutout to Bullet for reminding me to fine Coach lol.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Y3, G10 - vs Buffalo

November 9th, 2014

Winter Wonderland: Swarm grab snowy upset win over Buffalo

Walker gets win in return despite 4 picks -- Swarm finally strap up on defense, hold Theo Anderson to under 60 rushing yards -- MAC crown and bowl game still within reach

What De'Aaron Walker couldn't do with his arm, he did with his legs; he ran for 98 yards and a score

Westlake, OH -- "Last week took a L, but tonight we bounce back!" Westlake State corners Sean Louis and Darnell Woods rapped along to Big Sean's Bounce Back, modifying the lyrics a bit to suit the situation. Westlake State did, indeed, Bounce Back, in a big way, beating the former division leaders Buffalo 31-27 on a snowy night. De'Aaron Walker made his much-anticipated return in this game, and he got the job done, but not without some major hiccups. It took a gritty defensive effort and several key misses from Buffalo QB Kyle Vantrease for Westlake State to pull off the upset and keep their bowl hopes alive.

This game started very poorly for Westlake State. They were down 10-0 after a quarter, following a Buffalo field goal, Walker throwing a pick-six to Bulls corner Tyrone Hill, the first of Hill's 2 picks on the day, and no one's favorite kicker Grant Marquardt coming up short on a 43 yard field goal.

What was Walker thinking when he threw this pass? Easiest pick-6 of Hill's life.

But Marquardt would nail a 31 yarder to open the second, putting the Swarm back in it at 10-3.

Westlake State then got a stop, as Buffalo couldn't a first down on 4th and 3 from the 40, but Walker served up an easy pick, this time to safety Roy Baker, who also picked him off twice. Then Buffalo got the ball back, and even though Theo Anderson couldn't get anything on the ground after a 16 yard pickup, the Bulls scored. Westlake State actually had them pinned back in a 3rd and long, but Kyle Vantrease found Ryan Gipson downfield, and the freshman fullback from Ann Arbor laid out for a 49 yard diving grab. The Bulls would score, converting on 4th down twice along the way, with the second of those being the touchdown, a 1 yard pass to Gipson.

Gipson's diving catch

Westlake State badly needed a score, but things weren't looking too good, as after a sack and an incompletion, they faced a 3rd and 17 from the Buffalo 29. But Sean Louis, in at receiver, got behind the defense and caught his first receiving TD since back in week 5 against Boise State to cut the Bulls lead to 7.

The second half started with a Buffalo punt, but De'Aaron Walker was clearly feeling generous, as he tossed up yet another pick. But Westlake State escaped by the skin of their teeth, as Jamarl Xavier would drop what should have been a huge first down on 3rd and 12 to force another punt. The punt was blocked by nickel corner Abdul Coles, and Westlake State had the ball at the Buffalo 20. They only needed a few plays before Trent Brantley ran it in from the 1 yard line. 17-17.

Buffalo punted again, but with a chance to take the lead, Walker threw another pick, and this time Buffalo were able to get a field goal out of it. But Walker would redeem hiself, leading a quick drive that ended as he fired in a bullet to Stanley Wayne for a 7 yard score. 24-20.

Buffalo got the ball and went on a long drive that took a lot of time off the clock before backup tailback Kameron Pickett scored from 3 yards out.

Down 3, Walker didn't want to lose his first game back, but his team was in a bad spot after a 45 yard completion to Calvin Foster saw the sophomore fumble. However, Dion Barkley threw his challenge flag instantly, and it would be overturned, so the big play stood. Walker ran in a TD from 13 yards out on the very next play to make it 31-27 Swarm, and the score would stay that way after Buffalo had to punt the ball away due to a bad decision from Kyle Vantrease on 3rd and 11. Westlake State got the first downs they needed, and kneeled out the clock for a big win.

"Huge, huge win", said Barkley after the game. "It would mean the world to me and the rest of the program to go to a bowl in our 3rd year."

Barkley and Walker share a hug after the game

Westlake State goes on the road to play 2-8 Ohio next week. A win there would set up what could be a division title game between the Swarm and Miami OH.

Photo Gallery

Before the pics let me just say I love Buffalo's jerseys. So many clean looks you can get.

Kam Pickett finds the endzone



Roy Baker picks off another pass



How close was this to being broken up? Nobody else on the roster makes this throw, Walker's arm is crazy



Kyle Vantrease missed a lot of passes. Vantrease (75 OVR) is the only thing stopping Buffalo from destroying the conference... they have a top 10 defense.

[SilverBullet19]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Nice win, it wasn't pretty, but back to getting the growing pains for Walker lol. You block the punt yourself or sim it? I've never blocked one before, gotten close on safe return though oddly enough.

Two more to go, you could still actually win the division!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Nice win, it wasn't pretty, but back to getting the growing pains for Walker lol. You block the punt yourself or sim it? I've never blocked one before, gotten close on safe return though oddly enough.

Two more to go, you could still actually win the division!

Thanks, division crown could still be ours if we win out. Gonna get the Ohio recap out later, games already played, I won't give anything away. Walker has a terrific statline in this one...

As for the punt, I simmed it. I've never blocked anything myself either. I sim special teams for blocks and big CPU returns.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Y3, G11 - @ Ohio

Nov 15th, 2015

Come on! Swarm go down to Ohio, must beat Redhawks to make bowl game

Walker fumbles 3 times, Marble once -- Walker hurt again

De'Aaron Walker was hit hard often and fumbled 3 times

Athens, OH -- More total offense? Check. Nearly double the rushing yards on just 4 more carries? Check. Better on 3rd down? Check. More possession? Check. So how did the now 5-6 Swarm fall to basement dweller Ohio, who came into this game with a 2-8 record? The Swarm even got to Quinton Maxwell for 6 sacks, so what the heck happened here?

TURNOVERS. Seriously, De'Aaron Walker just can't hold onto the football. It's shame too, cause he had one of his best games of the season until you look at the fumbles: 25/39 passing, 200 yards and a score. 21 carries, 177 yards rushing, and another score. But he fumbled 3 times, and even Ricardo Marble managed to get into it, fumbling on the second of the 2 snaps he played. (we'll get to why he was in the game)

It was a slow start for Walker and the Swarm, and they didn't score for almost the entire first quarter. Ohio were able to score, as a good drive ended in a score from Tyler Williams. Williams scored on both carries he had this game.

Walker broke a 42 yard scramble for a score with just under a minute to go in the first to tie it up, but the Swarm would be outscored 17-7 in the second quarter. It wasn't for lack of offense, they were in the redzone 3 times. But they scored just once, with Walker finding Calvin Foster on a curl for a 14 yard TD, matching Cameron Odom's receiving score that put the Bobcats up 14-7.

Walker outran everyone on this 42 yard scramble

Walker would fumble in the redzone on the next drive, and Ohio kicked a field goal. The next turnover was actually Ricardo Marble's. He came in for Walker after Walker fell to the ground clutching his right knee, the same knee that's still recovering. Marble threw an incompletion, then fumbled on the very next play. Javon Hagan nearly ran it back too, but Trent Brantley caught up to him. Still, Ohio would score a TD before the half, and on the ensuing drive, Walker went down again. He came back in later, but he was clearly limited.

Marble fumbles

The 3rd quarter saw just one score: a 2 yard run from Trent Brantley to cap off a long, methodical drive. 100 bucks to anyone who can guess what K Grant Marquardt did.

So it was 24-20 with time still left in the 3rd quarter. Not so bad, right? And Westlake State forced a punt, so a touchdown would turn the game on its head.

Sean Louis muffed it. I don't know if he lost track of it or what, but he never had it cleanly, and Ohio would recover, score a TD 5 seconds into the 4th, and another Walker fumble in the redzone pretty much killed the Swarm mentally.

There's more bad news. De'Aaron Walker looked bad leaving the stadium, barely putting any weight on his right knee. Trainers confirmed that he had a slight ACL sprain, so he wont be at full strength next week. (I edited his speed and stuff down a bit) End Jamal Mangum will also miss next week with a concussion.

Westlake State play 4-6 (4-2) Miami OH at home next week for Senior Night. The Swarm have lost to the Redhawks in each of the last 2 seasons, and Miami kept the Swarm from a bowl last year. They'll look to do the same, and lock up the division in the process. Westlake State will see CB Mike Powers and G Johnny Ham, 2 prospects they went after hard last season, but both committed to the Redhawks. Safety Khari Anderson and center Chris Beech will also see their old team.

Screwed up the record, we're 5-6, my mistake.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Y3, G12 - vs Miami OH (Senior Day)

November 22nd, 2015

WE'RE GOING BOWLING! (we think)

33-28 win puts Swarm in MAC East lead, somehow -- Khari Anderson comes up big against his former team -- Defense steps up in big moments

A hobbled De'Aaron Walker still managed to rush for 2 scores and bring his team to bowl eligibility

Westlake, OH -- Westlake State is bowl eligible! The Swarm toppled the Miami OH Redhawks 33-28 in front of their home fans on Senior Day to become bowl eligible once again, after not receiving an invite in 2014.

This game had the makings of a low scoring, cagey affair as no one scored in the first quarter. Westlake State had a great drive going that took up most of the quarter, but they were stopped short on 3rd and goal and elected to kick a 19 yard field goal with the ball perfectly centered. I'm not sure Grant Marquardt isn't just some random guy off the street that Barkley recruited to kick for the Swarm. Scratch that, even a random guy would improve significantly if they kicked at a D1 for 3 seasons. Marquardt has somehow gotten worse, and he hit the right upright as he put an absurd amount of hook on this, let me reiterate, 19 yard kick.

So it's Redhawk ball after Marquardt let them off the hook. Steven Williams and the offense made some good plays, but ultimately had to settle for a long 55 yard field goal that Sam Sloman missed wide right.

Westlake State went 3 and out, and the Redhawks looked menacing before safety Isaac Robinson jumped in front of a quick pass to stop the drive in its tracks. That ended the first quarter Westlake State had excellent field position, but only managed a field goal to go up 3-0 and open the scoring. Miami came back and Williams was on a mission, slicing open the Swarm secondary en route to a 25 yard score to Jaylen Bester on a beautiful touch pass.

Westlake State went on another great drive, and on 2nd and goal from the 11, Sean Louis came in at tailback and on his first career rush, used his 4.3 speed to get the edge and take it to the house. Not so fast. The score was called back due to a clipping call on tackle Dane Chavez, and De'Aaron Walker threw a pick on the very next play to erase it all.

Big spot here for the Swarm, down 7-3 in what was still a low-scoring affair, and if the Redhawks score here they take full control. But the defense stepped up big, like they'd do multiple times in this one, and it was actually former Redhawk safety Khari Anderson, who transferred before the 2014 season and is now starting for the Swarm, who made the big play, sacking Williams on 3rd and 4 to force a punt.

Anderson had himself a game against his old team: 7 tackles, 3 of them for a loss, and 2 sacks

De'Aaron Walker got the ensuing Swarm drive off to a great start, with a big 20 yard run, his longest of the day. He didn't run the same way he normally does, and was visibly trying to avoid contact as he recovers from a knee injury. He then fired in a strike to Calvin Foster near the goal line, and the Swarm were 4 yards from taking the lead. Daniel Thompson dropped a pass in the corner of the endzone to force a 3rd and goal after a Trent Brantley run went nowhere, but Walker found Stanley Wayne on a slant for 6. 10-7, Swarm.

Westlake State got a stop, but the ensuing drive went nowhere after Walker was called for intentional grounding, and we had hit the halfway point in this one. The Swarm looked to have taken control as they had the Redhawks in a 3rd and 11 situation, but Darnell Woods got burned and 2 plays later, Williams beat the zone with another perfect touch pass for a score, this time going 21 yards to Jake Sorenson. 14-10, Redhawks.

And then the Redhawks looked like they'd ride their momentum to a stop, as 2 sacks and a false start forced a 3rd and 22. Enter Sean Louis. The part time receiver was in the game to stretch the field, and he did exactly that, as he got behind everyone, and Walker dropped in a dime for 67 yards and a huge, momentum-shifting play. But Walker gives, and he takes away. On the very next play, Walker tried to thread a pass in between 4 defenders to find Calvin Foster, and it was picked off.

Walker dropped this one in perfectly for a massive gain



Walker tried to hit Foster, who was absolutely smothered

This time, Miami did score, with huge gains through the air culminating in a score off a 9 yard screen pass to tailback Davion Johnson. 21-10, Redhawks, and we're almost to the 4th.

But De'Aaron Walker is a baller. He ran for another big gain, this time 18 yards, then hit Calvin Foster for another 15. Tristan Cox and Trent Brantley got in on it, getting the Swarm to the opposing 24. Walker dropped back, and was flushed out left, had to roll the wrong way, throw off his bad right knee, and he still dropped in a pass that was placed just well enough for Tony Brown to be able to use every inch of his 6'5 frame to make a diving grab.

Brown stretched out as far as he could to make this play

This time, the Swarm kept it rolling. Williams would hit Sorenson for 24 yards, but a fumble on a 2nd down sack would put the Redhawks too far back to overcome, and they punted. Westlake State would punt it back, and the Redhawks got a good drive going, but their 49 yard field goal try was blocked by Abdul Coles. Walker hit Louis for another huge gain, this time 37 yards, and would run it in himself a few plays later. 24-21, Swarm.

Walker throws deep to Louis

Huge drive for the Redhawks. Score, and they put Westlake State in a very tough spot. But the defense, the bottom-ranked, Swiss cheese defense, had come up big all day, and came up big again. They forced a 3rd and 8, and covered downfield receivers so well on 3rd down that Williams tried to force a pass to his tight end. Big mistake. Corner Terrance Owens was sitting on it, and his eyes lit up as he jumped all over it for his first pick of the season. The Swarm would score in just 5 plays, with Walker running in another score to put his team up 30-21 after Marquardt missed the PAT.

The Redhawks had one more shot. But the defense held strong, as they forced a 4 and out, with Clayton Thorson making the sack on 4th down. The Swarm couldn't do much, and ended up kicking a 33 yarder to go up 33-21.

Thorson sacks Williams

Williams would lead a scoring drive, but it took too much time off the clock, and after Westlake State recovered the onside kick, all it took was a Trent Brantley first down to end it.

Surprisingly, this win puts the Swarm in the MAC East lead. Here's the kicker: they only stay there if Buffalo beats Kent State. The Bulls are at home, but they've dropped 3 straight, including the week 10 loss to the Swarm. If Kent State wins, they will play NIU in the title game at Ford Field; if not, Westlake State goes instead. NIU are 6-1 in MAC play this season, and are 7-4 overall.

The win also grants Westlake State bowl eligibility, and as of right now, the team is pegged to play 6-5 (3-4 B1G) Purdue in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, also played at Ford Field. But, watch out: Westlake State were 6-6 last year too, and missed out on a bowl then.