I really liked the innovative tactics on defense. They completely befuddled Birmingham . The offense had some bright moments as well but it certainly was not an afternoon of offensive delights.

Here’s the summary.

Hart took the opening kickoff and started on the 20. First play (from the shotgun): a run by Howell for no gain. Second play: the intent was a pitch or “option” play with Howell going to the right. The outside linebacker or defensive end (I'm not sure which) was in the backfield immediately before Lyon could do much of anything. He got drilled for a five yard loss. It looked like he took a helmet to the chin. He went down instantly and stayed there for awhile. When they got him to the bench they were doing the concussion-type tests (“follow my finger with your eyes”). He went to the locker room. He was back out in street clothes after the half so I hope it’s not too serious of a problem.

Back to the game: Alex Pettee came in and his first play was a pass to Griffin Cannon coming out of the tight end spot. He got Hart back to the 20 and a punt.

Birmingham started at the Birmingham 35 and scored on a 10-play drive. The running was not very effective (5 runs for 17 yards). The passing was (4-5 for 53) [there was also an illegal procedure if you’re trying to make the numbers add up]. The TD came on an 18-yard pass to Chandler . [Pardon if I get Birmingham names wrong. No programs were available]. Birmingham 7-0 at 5:28 in the first.

Hart started the next drive at the 20 and ran an almost flawless 80-yard drive to score: Pass to Wheeler for 10; run by Howell for 10 [superior run-blocking by the line]; screen pass to Howell for 21 to beat the blitz; run by Casselberry on a slot-counter for 11; run by Howell for 6, pass to Casselberry for 12; run by Howell for 6 and then run by Pettee on a sneak for the TD. 7-7 at 1:39 in the first.

The Hart defense started to really take over at this point. Birmingham ran a spread offense most of the time and had the QB back in the shotgun on almost every play.  On obvious passing plays (and it became clear on Birmingham ’s first series that running was going to be a problem), Hart pulled three of the D-linemen and put in Casselberry and Howell as D-ends and Yudin as the safety and played a 3-4.

Birmingham started at the 20. On the first play, Wilfred Oka, the noseguard in the “passing” lineup, knocked down the ball for an incomplete. Second down: incomplete. Third down: INT by Hickok downfield. He made a nice return but a holding call moved it back somewhat.

Hart started at the Birmingham 29 and immediately moved down to the 15 on a pass interference call.  A 4-run by Howell moved the ball to the 10 but a run by Pettee for a 3-yard loss put Hart at the 13 to end the quarter. It seems like much of the offense ended there too.  The first play of the 2nd quarter was an incomplete and Hart settled for a 30-yard field goal. Hart 10-7 at 11:52 in the second quarter.

Next series: Birmingham 3 and out (the defensive lineup for Hart clearly was very unsettling to the Birmingham QB).

Hart took over at the 40 and got down the Birmingham 30, primarily because of a penalty but then went nowhere on 3 plays.  A 47-yard FG attempt was wide left (but plenty of leg!).

Birmingham started at the 20 and got a 4-yard run by Knox but a hold moved it back to the 14. Howell, as a D-end, got a knockdown for an incomplete. The next play was a pass for no gain (tackle by Howell). Then came one of those defensive lapses: a 22-yard completion for a first. Two plays later a pass was tipped by Ardnt downfield and Anthony Luna intercepted it (second INT of the day for Hart).

Hart started at the 29. The first play came within a whisker of being intercepted as Pettee threw across the field to Viro. Whew. After an illegal procedure, Hart went three and out.

Birmingham : 3 and out. (Through much of this time, Milton Knox was not in the game though he did return later).

Hart: 3 and out.

Birmingham : run by Posey for 16 and then an INT by Wheeler with about a 35-yard return down to the Birmingham 32.  With 2 seconds left, Hart tried a 47-yard field goal.  The snap was off so there wasn’t much chance.

At the end of the first quarter, Pettee was 5 for 6 and 47 yards. Howell had 25 yards on 5 carries, Pettee had one run for 1, Lyon was -5 on 1 carry and Casselberry had 11 yards on 1 carry, a total of 74 yards in the first quarter. The second quarter was – uh – not so hot.  Pettee was 2 of 6 for 11 yards.  Hart had 3 yards rushing on 5 carries. Not exactly the offense of one’s dreams. 88 yards total for the first half.

Birmingham ’s QB was 6 of 16 for 67 yards and a TD and 3 INTs. The Patriots had 45 yards rushing on 12 carries for a total of 113 yards of offense.

Despite the lack offensive output, it felt like Hart was very much in control.

Second half started with a Birmingham 3 and out.

Wheeler returned the punt for a TD but it was called back on an illegal block in the back at the point he fielded it so Hart started at the 32. Wheeler had an 18-yard reception but it was three and out after that.

Birmingham started at the 23 and also inserted a new quarterback and went three and out.  Contrary to a couple of reports elsewhere, the starting QB did not leave the game permanently. He returned later but alternated with the second QB.

Hart started on the 45. The first play was a run by Casselberry for 15. He ran for three more on the next play. The third play was a run for no gain by Howell (all three plays were from under center).  The fourth play was a pass down the sideline to Taylor Embree and a very nice run after the catch for a 37-yard touchdown.  The PAT missed.  Hart 16-7 at 4:37 in the third quarter.

Birmingham started the next series at the 29 and ran off 12 plays before punting from the 49. During this series, both quarterbacks played and Knox was back in the game.

Hart, starting at the 21, went three and out on the Indians first series in the fourth quarter.

Birmingham started at the 35: run by Knox for -1, but a personal foul on Hart moved the ball out to the Hart 49.  Run by Knox for 2.  Pass to Posey for 47 yards down the right sideline and a touchdown. Birmingham was assessed an unsportsmanlike call which moved the PAT out the 18. The kick missed. Hart 16-13 at 6:53 in the fourth quarter.

Hart started at the 20: Pass to Casselberry and a nice block by Embree turned a loss into a 4-yard gain. On another slot-counter, Casselberry went for 56 yards down the Birmingham 20. I think he just wore out on the run (it was a really hot day, the turf was even hotter and he had been on the field for almost every play).  From under center: run by Howell for 6, run by Howell for 14 and a TD.  Hart 23-13 at 5:17.

Birmingham started at the 20 and got out to the 44 when Luna intercepted a pass (Luna’s second and the 4th INT of the day for Hart).

Hart ran three plays and it was over.

Comments: The defense had a very good day and generally kept the Birmingham offense befuddled and bewildered.  The Patriots running game which was supposed to be a strength was ineffectual. The passing game was not too hot either.  Both TDs seemed to be as much the result of mental lapses by Hart as anything. The QB got to know Casselberry and Howell up close and personal when they were in at D-end.

The offense clicked now and then but sputtered more often than not. From the hollering I was hearing, it sounded like poor execution was as much to blame as anything.  I think playing in the middle of a Saturday afternoon on the boiling hot turf coupled with the loss of Lyon had the Indians a little off the mark for much of the day.

While the offense wasn’t potent, the turnovers went down to ZERO.  That is a good sign. Also the sacks: ZERO.  Another great sign.  The running up the middle was generally pretty impressive. Plus, Hart got 4 INTs (8 in 2 games).

Stats for the second half: Pettee was 4 for 7, 57 yards and a TD.  Hart rushed 12 times for 110 yards.

Birmingham QBs were 1-7 and 47 yards. The Patriots had 59 yards on 19 carries.

Next week: Loyola at COC. Its on the tube.