Union vs NFV
- Thread starter jen44
- Start date
A great 1-2 match-up. Both teams are big and physical. Union has so much speed on offense they are tough to consistently contain. NFV has had extra time to prepare due to Columbus forfeiting, which is an advantage. Union leads in most statistical areas, but similar scores against similar opponents. My prediction is Union in a close one.
I was able to make it to the Waukon/Union game last week and noticed that some of the NFV coaching staff and a few players made it to the game. I think with an extra week to prepare and being able to watch that game live NFV might have the upper hand. It looked like Union played there most physical opponet this year. Some of Unions players have to be sore after that one. NFV might have picked up a few ways to slow down Vaughn. Waukon was able to keep him to 126 rushing yard and 46 of those was one BIG play. The Union/NFV game should be a good one. Lets hope all players come out safe and injury free.
NFV was definitely the better team and the team to beat in 2A. They could likely win 3A as solid as they have proven to be. The extra week to prepare, while helpful, wasn't needed as they were just too much for Union.
I wouldn't go as far as 3A, but NFV did open a lot of eyes last night. Union is still, in my opinion, a top 6 team in 2A. Barring postseason matchups, this team is definitely capable of making a run to the dome. NFV should be the favorite and the team to beat from here on out. Also, I have a feeling we will see another Union vs NFV game in the next month.
I agree, I think if there was another match up it would be similar to the Waukon vs NFV match up last year where the first game was pretty lop sided but the second game was much closer.
I think District 4 when it's all said and done will be shown to be overrated. Do I think it's the best 2a district, for sure. But, when Waukon loses by over 17 this Friday they will be out of the playoffs. They will have 2 teams left. In my opinion Union loses to Mount Vernon, Williamsburg, or Dike in the first or second round. North Fayette will be in the finals or win a championship, but you can't judge a district off of 1 team.
I believe that to be the case as well. I see that Union threw 2 INTs and gave up two fumbles on Friday night. From the stats, it also looks like NFV was able to run the ball at will, breaking off a few huge runs. NFV also did not turn the ball over. It looks like NFV played a great game, whereas Union likely did not play their best game at all. (Goes without saying, Union "not playing their best game" is largely due to how good NFV is, and what NFV was able to do defensively). I'm not saying the W/L result would necessarily be different in a rematch, just saying that I doubt NFV would be up 35-0 barely into the second half. Or, maybe I am wrong, and they really are THAT good...
Well considering that most districts will have 2 teams in the playoffs, I don't think that you can knock district 4 for only getting two teams in. I think that Cascade or Waukon would make the playoffs in any other districts (same for NFV or Union if something crazy happens this week).
NFV dominated the game, so don't take this the wrong way, but I do think the extra week to prepare for Union and Union coming off a physical game against Waukon played a role in the degree of the outcome. Four turnovers and a blocked punt certainly were a difference maker. I believe it was last year that NFV lost a game due to turning the ball over so much; while the other team deserves credit, that can lead to a result (or degree of result) that is hard to match when teams have to play again. I would expect a second meeting to be closer, but it would take a lot for Union to make up the ground needed to come out on top.
With that said, I still believe D4 is clearly the best district and think both Union and NFV could go deep, barring an early match-up between the two. Union as a district runner-up would be a tough draw to overcome for any district champion in the first round. Union first has to win this Friday, then we get to see what the brackets look like and can make predictions from there.
With that said, I still believe D4 is clearly the best district and think both Union and NFV could go deep, barring an early match-up between the two. Union as a district runner-up would be a tough draw to overcome for any district champion in the first round. Union first has to win this Friday, then we get to see what the brackets look like and can make predictions from there.
I believe it was 3 turnovers and a blocked punt, but on quikstats it looks like 4 because the 1 yard fumble return was on the blocked punt. Also one of those INT's was at the end of the half on a deep ball if I remember correctly.
Very good points UnionFan. The game you are likely thinking about was two years ago, when NFV turned the ball over eight times and lost to CPU 14-12. CPU ended up the season 6-4, whereas NFV went 13-1 on their way to the title. Turnovers can absolutely doom a team, and I have no doubt that Union spent the ride home on Friday night wishing that they had those possessions back.
The week off for NFV likely was a bigger deal than I had thought it would be (more so in terms of watching Union/Waukon play ten miles down the road than NOT playing a game themselves). It certainly did Union no favors. We'll see how tough Waukon plays NFV this week. I suspect it will be a very close game, and I certainly don't consider a NFV victory a given. For that matter, a rematch with Union in the second round or so would also still be a tossup in my opinon.
The week off for NFV likely was a bigger deal than I had thought it would be (more so in terms of watching Union/Waukon play ten miles down the road than NOT playing a game themselves). It certainly did Union no favors. We'll see how tough Waukon plays NFV this week. I suspect it will be a very close game, and I certainly don't consider a NFV victory a given. For that matter, a rematch with Union in the second round or so would also still be a tossup in my opinon.
Thank you for the info. I know that going off of the scoreboard and Quikstats only can lead me to sometimes come to an assumption that isn't exactly accurate. Wish I lived closer to see these games in person.
I agree, a NFV vs Union rematch will likely come this postseason, in West Union or Cedar Falls. I do not think NFV is 35 points better than Union as the score portrayed. NFV is the better team, but Union is definitely capable of knocking them off. Hopefully the state puts these teams in different areas of the bracket. Both teams are top 5 and a capable of making a run to the dome.
Two things:
1. Union and NFV will most likely match up again. When they do it will be undoubtedly a closer game. But I attended the game Friday and the biggest difference was the physicality in which NFV played with compared to Union. So if Union does clean up the turnovers and mistakes, it will be closer but NFV still wins by a few scores unless Union can be a lot more physical.
2. There is a team that will have a lot to say in this post season hasn't been mentioned much in these scenarios is... Mt. Vernon. They seem to be overlooked by many in this thread. They will most likely be on the same side of the playoff bracket as NFV and Union and could serve as the semifinals road block to the finals.
looking at the geography of the state Mt. Vernon should be on the same side as NFV and Union but I would think the state would make it so that isn't the case. I agree with you that Mt. Vernon is getting over looked. They loss their first 2 games to quality opponents and those first 2 non district games really don't matter now because all the good teams in the state are so much improved from their "pre season" games. 6-2 just doesn't look as appealing as 7-1 or 8-0 so Mt. Vernon is getting over looked.
It is a possibility that these 3 teams are on the same side, but the state can go numerous routes with this. Another thing we are forgetting is that Mt. Vernon could be a #2 seed if they lose the district title vs Williamsburg. Union can go a number of ways due to their location. NFV will most likely play New Hampton first round. I would assume this area of the bracket would be a NFV vs New Hampton and a Waukon vs Cresco, barring Waukon's wild card spot. Mt. Vernon could go north, west, or south. It will be interesting to see where the state places them. We won't have any idea until the games are over on Friday. I hope the state separates NFV/Union/Mt Vernon, as all are more than capable of making a run to the dome if avoiding the others.
I'm with you on that. I think that if Mt. Vernon defeats Williamsburg it makes sense for the state to make sure that if NFV and Mt. Vernon meet.....it's for the title. But that's not exactly this history of the IHSAA. They have a long history of having the state title game be played in the semi-finals, so they can have their East-West matchup in the final. Never understood why a geographical matchup is so important to them....
Not that BCMoore is perfect, but it would be cool to see a bracket seeded by something with facts behind it vs. geography.
I don't know that the "obvious" New Hampton vs. NFV and Cresco vs. Waukon is as likely as one might think. There are basically 4 teams in the west, so there is a lot more jockeying than you might think. It seems east to stick those 4 together, but I wouldn't be shocked in the least to as a Waukon vs. NFV match up in the first round (it is allowed to have an at-large district rematch) and either DNH comes east (less likely of this ) or Union/Mt. Vernon/Williamsburg comes north (more likely of this scenario). I mapped it out today, based on likely outcomes, and it is very interesting.
The real question is this: Is Waukon an at-large team regardless of what happens this weekend? If yes, then it's semantics. If no, and they lose badly, who is the next at-large in? Does Forest City make a case with a win over Cresco? Does Centerville or West Liberty get a stab at it? If Cascade wins do they either earn an at-large bid? There are a lot of questions out there, and that's just on the teams in the east.
I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that if you aren't in a 3 way tie district that the 'wildcard' teams would be chosen according to district point differential, not according to 'making a case' with "big wins". So what I'm saying is that if Waukon loses to NFV by 17 or more then that would mean two 17 point district losses and that pretty much takes them out. I don't see Waukon getting in unless they play NFV real close or pull off the upset.
You are correct there. I was looking at overall district losses first, which would have been two. However, if West Liberty, Forest City and/or Centerville win they would have two losses in district and then you are definitely correct that it comes down to district point differential. I forgot about that aspect.
Similar threads
