Every team deals in the woulda-coulda-shoulda syndrome in some way, shape or form, every single week. But this is at least the third post on this thread in the last five or so days suggesting Malvern lost more than St. Paul won it, and it's takes away from what was a really good, Division VII football game to watch.
Malvern earned a lot of respect last week. Admittedly, I wasn't sure if they could slug it out with the SP run game, and they definitely did so. But a few things, most of what can be picked up on that same YouTube video of the game:
St. Paul turned it over on downs at the Malvern 19 and 21-yard lines. It probably felt like it left at least 7 points out there, but again, credit Malvern for the stops.
Malvern had exactly one possession where it was in position to take the lead (this is based on 7 points/PATs) when it was 7-7 and they had the ball for 2:35 and gained 14 yards on six plays. Malvern also needed two fourth-and-long conversions (again, to their credit) in the final five minutes to not lose by double-digits. They were not close to getting the ball back for a second possession with a chance at the lead (using 7 points not 8).
Lastly, St. Paul held a conference player of the year to under 75 yards of offense and kept him out of the end zone. The yardage was close, 313-250 in favor of SP according to the newspaper that uses SP official stats. Malvern had 30 rushes for 82 yards, but that includes 3-4 sacks and probably a loss of 25 or so yards. They passed for 168 yards (12 of 31). St. Paul ran 37 for 144 and passed 6 of 10 for 169 per the newspaper story at least. I think they too were sacked at least once.
St. Paul won that football game more than Malvern lost it. It was an even game and they made a few more plays.
No disputing though, they are likely in trouble and no, a running clock at some point by Dalton wouldn't floor me. They look like a state finalist team and it's felt destined that way since the summer, but we'll see soon enough!
Also for those wondering, I think they actually still have two casted players on the defense. Just been that kind of year. As that newspaper story on here said, they definitely took the long road and seemed destined for 3-7 or 4-6 at one point. One of the players who was injured lives a couple houses down (nice family) — so it was nice to see them still win conference and get to this point!
I understand what you're saying, but my thoughts were based on what I was thinking right after having watched the game, it was a 37,000 foot approach - but I'll elaborate further...
- Roughly 70 of those yards (passing) for NSP came on 1 play - a long TD pass to the TE on a wheel route. Take 1 play away, Malvern outgains NSP. Yes, NSP made that play, so you can't take it away from them, but it still gives a glimpse into how the other 99% of the game went.
- My point about Malvern running the ball and Malvern losing the game more than NSP won it is evidenced by the first offensive series of the game (and throughout the rest of the game). A drop, 10 yard pass, sack, false start for a net gain of 3 yards in 4 plays to start the game. Play 5 on 2nd and 18 - the first run of the game for about 2 1/2 yards setting up 3rd and roughly 15. Play 6 - another false start. So they've had 6 plays, 5 passes, 1 run, for a whopping 1 yard net gain setting up 3rd and 20. Play 7 - incomplete pass, punt it away.
Did NSP do anything defensively on this drive to stop Malvern, or did they kill that drive all on their own?
- 2nd drive starts: 1st down, yet again another pass, a broken play incomplete. So 8 plays, 1 run, 7 passes, 1 net yard. 2nd down, #88 outside run left, 9 yard gain. 3rd down, QB run for 4 yards. First down. 4th play of the drive, #88 run outside left for 4 yards. Play 5, pass - incomplete, not a great throw, probably could've been caught. 3rd and 6, run for no gain. 4th down Timeout Malvern (dumb), punt. The 2nd down pass killed the drive. 8 pass attempts to 5 runs to start the game. Is Kevin Stafanski coaching this Malvern team? Run the bleeping ball!
- 3rd drive: Pass on first down for 11 yards. Run on 1st down for 4 yards. Run on 2nd down for 4 yards. Run on 3rd down for 8 yards. 1st down pass attempt - sacked for an 8 yard loss. 2nd down pass for 15 yards. 3rd down, pass - sacked for a 4 yard loss. 4th down pass - probably should have been pass interference on NSP, no call, turnover on downs at the NSP 30 yard line. Once again, running the ball with success, looks to throw, disaster strikes. RUN THE BLEEPING BALL!!!!! 13 pass attempts, 8 run plays in the first 3 possessions of the game.
I'm not going to do this and breakdown the whole game - but I think I've said enought to prove my points. Play calling is an issue for Malvern - the coaches did not put the team in the best position to win the game. On first down for NSP following the turnover on downs I just mentioned, NSP throws a screen pass on first down for 45 yards. Add that to the 69 yard TD pass on the TE wheel route in the 3rd quarter, 114 yards of NSP's 313 came on 2 plays. So other than those 2 plays NSP had 199 yards on 45 plays (no bueno).
That was a super long winded way to say, yes, I stand by my and several other posters points - Malvern lost this game more than NSP won it.