What can be learned from what happened Saturday?
The Wittenberg Tigers are a good football team. They came prepared, focused, and with a plan. They executed very well for the most part. Their precision passing game had the UWW defense on their heels for 82 yard (65 passing) and 79 yard(74 passing) consecutive drives in the first half.
Does Saturday expose UWW as vulnerable against the pass?
After thinking long and hard about this, I would answer with a very conditional yes. UWW, as most teams, has some vulnerability against an extremely proficient passing game featuring a hot quarterback and excellent route running receivers. Quarterback Aaron Huffman was playing at an extremely high level on Saturday. Receivers Michael Cooper, P. Williams, and Josh McKee were executing precise routes and developed a rhythm with Huffman that was very difficult to defend. The Tigers were left with a handful of "what if's" when Huffman was injured and went out of the game in the 2nd quarter. However, with halftime adjustments, the pressure was increased on the Witt QB. It simply isn't known how Huffman would have performed against the UWW defense that had made adjustments to the Tigers plan of attack.
In the final analysis, I think much credit should be given to Wittenberg's passing offense. UWW will be vulnerable if a team can come in and execute a near flawless passing attack for 60 minutes. However, does that mean a weakness was exposed in the UWW pass defense? Not by a long shot.
Does the close game with Wittenberg put to rest the "inevitability" of a UWW/Mount Union Stagg Bowl?
Has the close game with the NCAC Champion eroded the 'mystique' of the 2009 UWW football team? Does it dent the popular notion that Division 3 Football has two levels: the top level being UWW and Mount Union, the next level being everyone else? Obviously opinions will vary. But in my opinion, it should probably change that notion to a degree. The Wittenberg Tigers were within 1 point of UWW with less than a minute left in the third quarter. The Warhawks dominated the final 19 minutes of the game (adding back in the time of the UWW 3rd quarter scoring drive). UWW outscored Wittenberg 17-0 to close out the game. UWW never trailed in the game.
I believe that what this game showed is that UWW must bring their best game to the table to win their next two games. Personally, I believed they played well on Saturday. But give Wittenberg credit. They are a good football team. Lost in surprise of the first 41 minutes of the game is that this game did end as an 18 point UWW victory against a worthy opponent.
Does the nature of the quarterfinal game help or hurt the UWW 2009 title chances.
The win over Wittenberg can only be good for the Warhawks. They were able to stare a challenge in the face and they responded by exerting their will over the Tigers. While Linfield may be encouraged by the fact that a team "hung around" UWW for almost three quarters, they will find out on Saturday they are playing a team with very few weaknesses.
My guess is that the Wittenberg game will sharpen the UWW focus. It will provide confidence should UWW face adversity during the next two ball games. I believe that this game happened at the perfect time for the Warhawks. Battle tested and closer than ever to the season goal of a National Championship, look for the Warhawks to come out firing on Saturday.
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