Have the football Gods written a Horatio Alger ending to the season?

[Dracula]

The conclusion of the 2018 football season could be epic. At the beginning of the season and certainly not at the midpoint of the season, who would have thought that the Southland Conference football championship might be settled by the Lamar vs McNeese game, on 11-17,and or the Sam vs UIW game, of 11-3.

After week 5, Lamar was 1-4, 0-3, in conference, and the situation, to say the least, was looking bleak. The usual suspects were at the top, of the conference standings, along with some upstart named Copeland and UIW. Then the story turns. Lamar beats Copeland on a last play blocked FG returned for a TD. This loss dropped Copeland and Co. to 3-1 in conference. The next week, Lamar puts an ass whoppin' on Sam, which drops Sam to 3-2, in conference. While this is going on, McNeese is cruising along, at 4-0 in conference. Then, McNeese got to meet Mr Copeland, got thumped, and dropped to 4-1.

 

Where does all this leave us? The top 5 teams are, to various degrees, still in the hunt, while the bottom 6 teams are out. However, Nicholls, Central, and Sam need a lot of things to fall just right for them to win the conference championship. Nicholls State is at 4-2 but they lost to McNeese. Central Arkansas is also, at 4-2, but they have been beaten by Sam and McNeese. Sam appears to have the best shot, at 4-2, but they have to play Copeland, on 11-3. If Sam wins, UIW is out, but, if UIW wins, Sam is out and UIW will have a must win game vs Central, on 11-10. If UIW beats Sam and Central, then UIW finishes with a 6-2 conference record but, also, with a tie breaking win over McNeese. McNeese beats SEL and Northwestern giving them a conference record of 7-1 going into the Lamar game. Lamar beats McNeese, which drops McNeese to 7-2, which causes all kinds of heartburn in Calcasieu Parish.

 

So how does the conference break the tie when one school plays 9 conference games and the other school only plays 8 conference games but owns the head to head matchup? I don't know but Lamar vs McNeese could be one of those classic moments in time, where the white hat underdog, in this case red, rips the heart out of the favored evil empire. It could happen and what a way to end the season.

[coachacola]

LU’s defense was giving up almost 5 TDs a game in the first 3 conference games and lost all 3. In the current win streak that has gone down to under 3 TDs a game.

 

UCA beat SFA 27-17 and lost to Sammy State in OT so they have a good chance to win Saturday. Could make for a very important game at McNeese.

 

Who knows, maybe 7-4 will be good enough to make the playoffs.

[geezer]

It's a little crazy to think based on how LU started the conference season that at this point almost anything is possible although highly unlikely. With just a cursory look, it's possible for Lamar to do anything from win the conference to collapse and be right back down near the cellar where we all believed them to be three weeks ago. I'm not sure the right set of match ups are there for everyone else to win/loose the exact games to make a conference win possible but maybe? I am sure Lamar could drop the last three and get back to near the cellar. I think I'll stay the pessimist for the remainder of the year. My question (For all of those/us who were ready to replace Shultz and company a couple of weeks ago, is his job secure for one more year at this point?)

[NorthoftheBorder]

At this point, LU will go 5-6 to 7-4. My guess is either 5-6 or 6-5, but I would love 7-4. Schulz is secure in my opinion.

[puddin tane]

Schultz ain't going nowhere

[coachacola]

Hoy is the SLC offensive player of the week. Is he now the starter for the rest of the season?

[geezer]

An old rule of thumb is that starters don't loose their spot due to an injury once they have recovered. My guess based on things Shultz has said earlier is that if healthy Colbert will be back, although not sure it wouldn't be better for next year if Hoy got the playing time.

[Skinny1]

An old rule of thumb is that starters don't loose their spot due to an injury once they have recovered. My guess based on things Shultz has said earlier is that if healthy Colbert will be back, although not sure it wouldn't be better for next year if Hoy got the playing time.

 

My take, is if Colbert can play (100%), he will be the starter, but the leash will be shorter now that Hoy seems fully capable as a back-up. But if Shultz is like Saban, Colbert is essentially the back-up. Nick is all business on these decisions..

[puddin tane]

Hoy is the SLC offensive player of the week. Is he now the starter for the rest of the season?

 

What is Colbert's injury? Dont think he'll lose the job, did good job running the Deweyville run game against sammie

[geezer]

I suspect Colbert has a high ankle sprain. Saw the play that he got hurt on. I think they taped him up and he was walking around during the second half of the Sam game but with the lead and Hoy doing ok wasn't needed.