Suddenly we’re down to four games.
After about 216 D1A games, we’re at the national quarterfinals. Including the Challenger Cup, D1A teams have 10 more games left.
Arizona at Cal
It seems like half the tries Cal scores are breaks up the right side of the field that end up with the ball being passed back inside to finish it off.
That’s a gross generalization, but at the same time it seems like half the tries Arizona scores is when a powerful back finds that perfect line up the middle.
We’re using this to point out that the teams play differently, and contrast can be good. Cal is as polished as we’ve seen them in a while. And while their offense was shut down against Navy in Annapolis, that was the only time. They can score wide, and in fact prefer to. They have the best halfback combination in the country. They have forwards who cover the ground.
Arizona’s defense has been good to outstanding, and they might have the best set piece they’ve had in years. Contrasts.
Central Washington at Saint Mary’s
As we said in the video above, CWU did lose 33-13 to Saint Mary’s, but this is a different Wildcats team. Their skill level is outstanding. They can beat you up in tight and they can score in the open field. Oscar Treacy has been a game-breaker for them on the wing, but it’s the hard graft among the forwards—Campbell Robb leading the way—that makes it happen.
Saint Mary’s continues to have games where they seem to let teams back into the game. Repeatedly the Gaels have had to unleash a clutch play some time in the second half, and the thing it, teams like that are very dangerous in the playoffs. Even if they play below their standard, they know they can recapture the magic.
