There is a specific pattern I have seen many times. When one team is better conditioned than the other, the teams are pretty even in the first half until the middle of the second quarter, at which point the stronger team starts dominating. After the halftime break the are even until mid-way in the third quarter, and then it’s all over.
The game against North Texas fit that mold exactly. Charlotte led 17-10 midway through the second quarter, then limped into the half. Only an interception kept the score to only 17-17. Charlotte was fine for awhile in the 3rd, and then they were done.
So, why? That is absolutely not typical of Albin teams. Normally they are the stronger team. My best guess is that too many people joined the team late, and didn’t go through the off-season conditioning, combined with too many injuries, meaning not enough rotation, but I really don’t have the answer. Another part was probably that the offense totally folded, leaving the defense on the field the entire last quarter and a half. After the final Charlotte FG, the drives were:
3 plays, 5 yards
3 plays, -1 yard
4 plays, -1 yard
3 plays, -2 yards
3 plays, 0 yards
3 plays, 9 yards
2 plays, 16 yards
Personally, I thought it was obvious that Loftis was done, and that they should have sat him down for awhile. He played well early, but playing in that situation wasn’t doing him any good.