The Milwaukee Penguins

The Milwaukee Penguins is the Division 1A collegiate football team for Milwaukee College. We're a school "known for its academics." This is a record of our accomplishments, on the field and off.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Game 8: @ Middle Tennessee State

Milwaukee College Penguins (1-6, #96) @ Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (2-4, #102)

Wow. We're not the underdogs. What up? And their team doesn't even have one injury. Not one stubbed toe or one upset stomach. An even game, for once. Our best against their best. Sometimes you gotta play that way.

Both teams seemed hell bent on filling that injured-reserve list, though. People were hitting HARD out there. As a coach, it's really nice to see (and hear) because that's an indication that your charges are into it. Even when we were on the receiving end. There's something really uplifting seeing a player get flattened - receive a pancake, if you will - and have that person get up and shrug her shoulders as if nothing happened. Sure, she could be seeing double or think she's on Planet X, but to have the sense to display that kind of bravado is my kind of starter. I'm talking about our cornerback, Bennett (CB #10). Twice she was knocked down - ankle, and then a head injury - and twice she came back.

That said, it was a rough game. Our first three possessions resulted in punts - including a 14-yard shank. The Blue Raiders returned Taylor's (P #49) first punt back for a TD.

But the Blue Raiders kept us close. Or rather, D. Leplae (CB #16) kept us close. He actually had two straight interceptions, both of which prevented touch-downs. We tied it in the 2nd quarter on a Wetzel (HB #47) 7-yard run. Then, on their very next play, we intercepted them again. This time, it was Hayden (LOLB #56). That made it three interceptions on three straight plays. Felt like a 1977 Reggie Jackson out there.

Hayden's INT led to a Goodman (K #30) field goal.

On their next play, their QB actually completed a pass to his own player ... but following that, HAYDEN INTERCEPTED HIM AGAIN! I knew our players were smart but they were reading minds out there. MINDS, I tell you. That's 5 throws and 4 interceptions. At that point, their QB only had three completions!

Yet we were tied at the half, 17-17. And we lost Ross (QB #1). She injured her elbow on a particularly vicious sack. (For our part, we would injure their strong safety, and later, BOTH their QBs. What's that about taking knives to a gunfight?)

In came plucky sophomore QB Root (QB #5) to try to win the game for us. And win she did. After missing her first three passes, she went 14-19 for 159 yards, including 2 touchdowns, one to Barber (HB #11) and the other to Beaumont (WR #81). Lovely. Plus, our secondary continued to show their smarts. Bennett, Ziegeweid (FS #34) and Miller (RE #62) each got interceptions ... and Miller plays on the defensive line! With D. Leplae's and Hayden's INTs in the first half, Miller's gave us 7 for the game. A Penguins record.

STATS: MKE @ MTSU

score: 38 - 24
first downs: 20 - 9
total offense: 390 - 303
rushes - yards: 34 - 88 --- 16 - 89
comp-att-TD: 22 - 37 - 3 --- 13 - 32 -1
passing yards: 302 - 214
sacked: 3 - 1
turnovers: 1 - 7
fumbles - lost: 1 -1 --- 1 - 0
intercepted: 0 - 7
t.o.p: 20:39 - 11:21

KEY PLAYERS (Offense)

Ross (QB #1) 155.4 rating 8-15 for 143 yards, 1 TD
Root (QB #5) 154.4 rating 14-22 for 159 yards, 2 TD
Wetzel (HB #47) 20-98 rush, 1 TD; yards rec, 3-16 yards kick return
Beaumont (WR #81) 3-74 yards rec, 2 TD
Khalafian (TE #80) 5-77 yards rec

KEY PLAYERS (Defense)

D. Leplae (CB ) 4 tackles, 2 INT, 1 pass deflect
McClone (CB #46) 5 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack
S. Umali (MLB #43) 5 tackles (1 for loss)
Hayden 1 tackle, 2 INT
Anderson (SS #26) 5 tackles

Note: Turns out the injury to their starting QB was a serious one - broken ribs, out for at least three weeks. The injury to their back-up QB (QB #16), caused by a McClone (CB #46) blind-side sack, was actually even worse. He's listed as having a "strained back" and out for 12 weeks! Our starting QB, Ross, has a "bruised elbow" and is questionable for our game against arch-rival Notre Dame.

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