Pack Hottest Team in NFC

The Vikings were curbed stomped in the desert Sunday afternoon, the Saints escape Washington thanks to the 'Skins kicker missing a shot a middle schooler would hit. Meanwhile its the Packers who've rattled off four straight wins looking like the crown jewel of the NFC.

The story of the Green Bay Packers season is Don Kappers and his 3-4 defense. The Packers a historic 4-3 team have made the change to the 3-4 under first year defensive coordinator Kappers. It is virtually unheard of for a team to switch defensive schemes and to still be one of the top ranked defenses in the NFL in the first year of the change. Add to the fact that the Packers have lost two all-pro defenders in Al Harris and Aaron Kampman. Kampman has been replaced by a rookie Linebacker Brad Jones a 7th round pick from Colorado and he seems to be unblockable.

Now Aaron Rodgers who has been sacked more then anyother quarterback. Yet suddenly the protection is there and Rodgers seems comfortable in the pocket and his big recievers Driver and Jennings are getting open downfield. The tightends Finley and Lee are getting open on the short routes, Havner is open on the goal line and maybe most importantly Ryan Grant has found some running room.

Troy Aikman said it best: "The Packers are a very dangerous football team at this point in the season."

Falcons hit break with pair of wins

The Falcon Women's Hockey team entered Thanksgiving Break with a pair of wins, Saturday they earned the series split against conference rival Superior with a 4-2 win. The Falcons were without Sophomore Forward Kaite Flanagan and as a result Amanda Ryder was forced to play both forward and defense, until she went down at the end of the second period with a back injury. She was taken off the ice on a stretcher.

When the new rankings came out on Monday the Falcons fell one spot from #5 to #6, however the bigger Falcon story came Tuesday night when the Falcons faced off against the St. Olaf. Just three days after being taken off the ice on a stretcher Amanda Ryder was back on the ice in the starting lineup and her physical play helped the Falcons earn a 3-2 decision over the Oles.


PS-I have a new computer! CHYA!!!

Falcons Lose

The #5 ranked Falcons were flat outplayed by the Yellowjackets of UW-Superior in 3-2 loss the first of the year for the Falcons. They will need to come back tomorrow and pick up a win or they will fall far behind in the race for the NCHA title and almost surely lose the WIAC title.

Falcon Sports

What a week in Falcon Sports. On Friday Men's and Women's hockey practice started, Saturday was a 3OT thriller against La Crosee, Wednesday is the final home conference volleyball match at 7pm against Stout, the Men's hockey team opens play at Hunt Arena on Friday against Concordia and Saturday the football team plays at #2 Whitewater. We all know what happened against La Crosse so lets look ahead to the upcoming week.

On Wednesday the Volleyball team plays host to Stout in a game the Falcons should win. They have already clinched a spot in the WIAC tournament and will be looking to improve their seeding. Also this is the only Volleyball game scheduled to be aired on WRFW this season, it is also the first game that will be broadcast one channel 19 by the new River Falls Sports Network.

On Friday the Men's hockey team will open the season against Concordia. The Falcons are trying to rebound from last year's disappointing 4-9-1 conference record. Much of the Falcons success will rest in the hands of Derek Hansberry, Pat Borgestad and Dustin Norman who were 2nd-4th in scoring last year for the Falcons. The Falcons will also have to make up for the loss of TJ Dahl who led the team in scoring last season and is 3rd all-time in the Falcon Record books with 41 goals 114 assists 155 points.

Saturday the football team makes the long trek to Whitewater to take on the Warhawks who are ranked 2nd in the nation. Even though the Falcons have played well all season and could just as easily be 5-1 as they are 2-4, and have played two nationally ranked teams tough losing by a combined six points, I don't see us hanging around long in this game. Whitewater is in a class of two that includes Mount Union as those two teams have played for the national championship in three straight seasons. After that comes the class of other ranked teams and the ones that can compete with them, which I put our team in based on the fact our four losses have come by a combined nine points. All that said I'm hoping the score will look something like 42-21 Whitewater.

Week 7 Picks

After our first week of picking games on Just A Bit Outside I have a three game lead over Andrew Magee. This weeks picks are almost identical, with Magee's picks that different from mine being preceeded by M-.

Rob 9-5 Magee 6-8

Indy over St. Louis

Pitts over Min

NE over TB

SD over KC

GB over Cleveland

SF over Houston

Car over Buf

NYJ over Oak

NO over Miami

Cin over Chi

M-Chi over Cin

M-NYG over Ari

Ari over NYG

PHI over Was

M-Dal over Atl

Atl over Dal

Falcons struggles continue, Cats end Skid

On Friday night the River Falls Wildcats were able to break their 5-game losing streak on senior night at Ramer Field. Saturday the Falcon football team fell in 3-OT to #LaCrosse 49-47.

With the season over from the standpoint the Cats can't make the playoffs anymore, River Falls took the field in the final game at home for its seniors. Coming in with a 5-game losing streak, facing up against one of the best defenses in the Big Rivers Conference and coming off the worst performance of the season in a 7-turnover 17-0 loss to Eau Claire North the Wildcats looked poised for another defeat. But on senior night it was the underclassmen, with a little help from a couple of seniors, who would come through to send the entire senior class off the field victors in their final home game. Sophomore Quarterback Ryan Kusilek threw 2-TD passes and Junior Wide Reciever Jack Herum would catch another TD, a halfback pass, from Senior Running Back Dylan Dock.

The biggest performer in the game however was Junior Running Back/Corner Back Nick Zimmerman. Zimmerman would run for over 100-yards and get a TD. He also would seal the game with under a minute to play when he picked off a long bomb from Supeiors Quarterback Kellen McCoshen. The Final score was 28-14 in favor of the Wildcats. With the win the Wildcats improve to 1-5 in the Big Rivers Conference and 3-5 overall. The Cats have one game left on Tuesday at Rice Lake.

Saturday's Falcon football game had more big moments in the one game then the Wildcats have had in all games combined. Yet at the end of the day disappointment was again in store for the Falcons and their fans. In the 3-OT game it was #24 LaCrosse escaping with a 49-47 win. For the Falcons it was their fourth loss of the year, however, those four losses come by a combined nine points.

Giving the way this season has finished it should not suprise anyone that the final play of the game was tipped by one Eagle Reciever just out of the reach of Matt Gajeski to fall into the ends of another Eagle Reciever for the score. This of course comes after the Falcons were able to force overtime on a 46-yard field goal by Drake Klatt.

Again with the loss more questions arose about this Falcon football team. This week Ryan Luessenheide showed a vast improvement making some great plays and most importantly making good decisions with the football. Two big questions were put on the table after this football game however, the first one being why the Falcon offense does not have a pitch or sweep rush in their playbook. Taylor Edwards finished with over 100-yards on the ground, yet he was unable to break loose in the second half as the Falcons kept running the ball up the middle.

The second question was why in the world did we ever switch punters from Drake Klatt to Dustin Samplawski. Since the change we have lost 8-yards on average per punt and to top the statistics off the punting game gave up 2-TDs in this game neither off returns. The first one was a blocked punt and the second on Samplawski dropped the snap and the defense took it to the house. We lost this game because our punter blew it, flat out.


As a side note, our school spirit sucks. Our cheerleaders quit cheering in the middle of a close game in the 4th quater. PATHETIC, GET IT TOGETHER LADIES.

Falcon Sports on Focus on U

Today I made my first sports segment on the show Focus on U. I screwed up and was flustered, evening asking them to stop taping. In hindsight however I think it went pretty well. It included highlights from the homecoming football game and the volleyball teams upset over then #9 Whitewater back in September. With the first one in the books things can only get better, or so I hope.


Make sure to watch my sports segment on Focus On U on channel 19 everyday at 9, 5, and 9. Don't forget to listen Mondays to Just A Bit Outside on 88.7 WRFW.

Football Team Struggles

The Falcon football team dropped their second straight conference game Saturday, falling to Oshkosh 31-28. Before the game Coach John O'Grady said quarterback Ryan Luessenheide was on a short leash following his eighteen pass five completion performance on October 1st against Stout. The leash seemed to be the longest short leash ever made before however as Luessenheide was allowed to toss three interceptions. Two fourth quarter drives with the game wrapped made Luessenheide's numbers look like he played well as he finished with 254 passing yards and 2 TDs.

In the eyes of the announcers and the fans it is time for a change at quarterback. Luessenheide's numbers are not good, and he seems to have a problem with feeling uncomfortable in the pocket. The pocket issue is the big thing because his offensive line has been doing very well and he often has all day to throw the football. That said he still won't set his feet

If Luessenheide struggles early again on Saturday, then the time has come for B. J. LeTourneau to get his shot.

WE WANT BJ! WE WANT BJ!

Week 6 Picks

Just A Bit Outside Pick'em for Week 6---Battle for Jimmy Johns
Rob--

Cincinnati over Houston
Green Bay over Detroit
Minnesota over Baltimore
New Orleans over NYG
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Carolina over Tampa Bay

Washington over Kansas City
St. Louis over Jacksonville
Philadelphia over Oakland
Arizona over Seattle
New England over Tennessee
NYJ over Buffalo
Atlanta over Chicago
Denver over SanDiego
Magee--

Cincinnati over Houston
Green Bay over Detroit
Baltimore over Minnesota
NYG over New Orleans
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Tampa Bay over Carolina
Kansas City over Washington
Jacksonville over St. Louis
Philadelphia over Oakland
Seattle over Arizona
New England over Tennessee
NYJ over Buffalo
Atlanta over Chicago
San Diego over Denver

Falcons Cruise; Wildcats Not Enough

The River Falls Falcons won their homecoming yesterday in dramatic fashion including tw0 80+ yard interception returns for touchdowns. Senior Safety Ben Arata intercepted a pass in the second quarter and took it 99-yards to the house for the longest touchdown in school history. Then in the fourth quarter defensive end Steve Marich scored on a 81-yard interception return. The Falcon offense was led by Taylor Edwards who carried the ball 30 times for 251-yards and 2 TDs. The Falcons won their 5th straight homecoming by a score of 40-27 over Alma College. Up next the Falcons will head to Menomonie in the 95th edition of the I-94 battle Saturday @ Stout in their homcoming.

The Wildcats dropped their homcoming Friday night, their 3rd straight loss, virtually dashing all hopes of making the post-season. The Cats gave it a late run, scoring a touchdown and threatening for another before Chippewa Falls' defense was able to make a late stand to win 27-21. The Wildcats now must win out if they hope to make the playoffs.

Tune into Just A Bit Outside Mondays from 3-5 on 88.7 WRFW.

Homecoming

Homecoming Week in River Falls. The Wildcats host Chi Hi at 7PM tonight in a game that will either give a little ray of hope to the Cats or end the season. A loss means the Cats must win all 4 remaining games, a win then they only must win 3 of 4. The Wildcats have looked terrible the last two weeks and Menomonie and Eau Claire Memorial. The result, an 0-2 conference record and 2-2 overall record. Tonight is the deal breaker for the Wildcats.

The Falcons will host Alma in this year's version of Homecoming. At this point everyone is still trying to figure out just how good or bad the Falcons are. In the first game of the season they played #13 St. John's very tough before falling 28-24. But in their second game they almost lost to a bad Northwestern team surviving with a late field goal to win 20-17.

Lots of Freshman; Lots of Talent

The 2009 Falcon volleyball team will have a new look this season with thirteen freshmen making the squad.

Danielle Gibbemeyer (OH), Haley Buchanan (S), Courtney Preiner (L), Mackenzie Suda (S), and Kaitlin Speedling (OH) are a few of the new faces joining the eight returning upperclassmen this season. Together they will look to build on last seasons sixth place finish in the WIAC.

Head Coach Patti Ford is very excited about this year’s freshman class and will be expecting several players to contribute right away.

“Several of our new players come in with a lot of experience in high level volleyball at both the high school and club level,” said Ford. “This really is a special class that adds a lot of depth to this year’s team and sets a solid foundation for the future.”

Two all-state players in Gibbemeyer and Speedling will add depth to the Falcon core of outside hitters. Speedling, who developed into an excellent all around player at Wabasha-Kellogg, will use her outstanding ball control and a versatile serve to torment opponents. Gibbemeyer meanwhile will employ a wide variety of shots and superb knowledge of the game to gain an edge. Both players will challenge upperclassmen Kelsey Scheele; Sr. and Sami Kaminski; Jr. for playing time.

“Danielle and Kaitlin are highly talented players,” said Ford. “Both girls were all-state and bring with them all the tools it takes to play at the high level of volleyball played in the WIAC.”

Mackenzie Suda and Haley Buchanan will be the setters for the team this season. Suda an All-Conference player and team MVP her senior year at Blaine High School will be put in charge of running the offense this season. Her superior athleticism will drive the Falcon offense. Buchanan will also run the Falcon offense at times this season, and Coach Ford will call upon her defensive mindset whenever the Falcons need a defensive stand.

“Mackenzie and Haley are very special players,” said Ford. “They both are quality setters, confident and good leaders, which is what we look for from someone who is going to run our offense.”

Preiner enjoyed a successful career at Hill-Murray High School where she was named All-Conference three times. She will play libero this season and will be called upon to be a defensive anchor in the Falcons new defensive scheme. Her athleticism, outstanding ball control and passing ability will be the competitive drive that will hopefully propel River Falls to the top of the conference.
“All of our new girls are excellent defensive players,” said Ford. “But Courtney just has a dynamic quality in her defensive play that is going to be a lot of fun to watch.”

While there are a lot of fresh faces fighting to see the court, they also realize that the team’s success is the most important part of the equation.

“Obviously we want to finish in the top tier of the conference, either one or two,” said Courtney Preiner. “To do that we have to build team confidence and minimize mistakes early beginning early in the season. Everybody on this team has great ability and intensity which will push everyone in games and practice to improve.”

Eight other freshman join the Falcons this season, Megan Schroeder (OH), Josie Holter (RH), Jamie Michkolichek (MH), Erin Green (MH) will also be apart of the main traveling team. Lauren Matask (OH/S) Micha Sater (OH), Abbey Schmidtman (L) and Morgan Wynveen (MH) have also joined the Falcons for their 2009 campaign.

“Everybody has a role on this team, and understanding that role and excelling at it will make us stronger,” said Gibbemeyer. “I hope we can make this a year that no one will ever forget.”