Photo Credit: Shannen Hardy -AIC Athletics

Every week, this staff has driven home the importance of playing the opponent for who they are. AIC has a fine margin for error any day win or loss. Last night the Owls played this team tough and exploited areas of their strength. Let’s go through some key points for this team moving forward that the box may not show.

As Cephas goes so does this team

That quote is a bit of a change from what Interm Head Coach Dan Chipka said about Sidiki Kone and his need to lead the way as a running back. However, that is what tonight showed. Cephas Williams leading the offense for whatever he could in the first half was the only reason the game wasn’t more out of hand than the two scores it was. He saved around three off target snaps from falling to the Owls and exacerbating problems. Also credit backup Lucas Kasko as well for leading a touchdown drive in the second half. With that said, Williams’ dual threat abilities combined with his ability to find the open man on big throws need to keep coming. The Owls keyed on the run all night and it showed. Williams has to keep using his skills to help his team and extend what the offensive line can do.

Trench Progress: More to come

The Owls are not the Raiders. That refers to the relative size difference the Owls had in this matchup. AIC has to find a way to use their skills they have against bigger offensive lines to move around and get through. The Owls owned the line of scrimmage last night and cleaned up in the run game and took possessions out of AIC’s hands with ball control. AIC needs to adjust up front to these bigger teams and fast as the NE10 as they know is full of veteran offensive lines that will make life tougher for them.

Penalties and Mental Mistakes

AIC nearly had ten penalties in the first half of this game and helped the Owls get out to a 21-7 lead. While the team fought hard and made the game closer because they rallied and kept their heads in the game all night, having nearly ten penalties in a half including one on the Owls’ first drive that extended it as they went en route to their first of five scores made life tougher for this team. For this group to keep winning, they have to play a perfect game in the trenches , force opponents to play on their terms and give Cephas more time to make plays.

AIC did a lot of things well in defeat last night , but they were overshadowed by these things mentioned. They can work get back to what they showed they can do next Saturday against St Anselm for homecoming and their NE10 opener. Kickoff is at noon.

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