Clearly this team's results is tied directly to Lynch's incredible year. However, there have been several key contributors, and big plays which played a major role in the teams' success to date, that may go unnoticed.
The hi level play all year by the entire offensive line, even with the loss of one of its better players, the group has played beyond everyones expectations (Brown and Ness have come up big).
The depth of the DB's. The secondary lost two key players at different time this season; Stone has been excellent replacing Durante. Evans and Moore have also stepped up bigtime.
AJ replacing Perez. Especially as a punt returner, Sebastiano has had to field punts in very difficult weather conditions, a underappreciated task, which could change a game in a heartbeat.
Mays key 4th down stop versus Army to secure a 1 point victory
Santa's pick at BSU; we were down by 9 halfway through the 3rd quarter with Ball State driving, when he made that pick. We scored on the next possession and went on to win the game.
Bass's pick against WMU at a key point in the game (more than made up for his stupid penalty).
Luke Eakas making big plays at crucial times.
Finally, Tyler Wendel Neir, and Sims have had great kicking/punting years which have resulted in outstanding field position.

Semisch's TD against Army

This is an amazing "team", so many have stepped up

Martel's TD scamper to start the 2nd half against Toledo.

I think Santa's INT against Ball State is a play that gets overlooked. We very easily lose that game and lose the West without it.

TommyLee Lewis i think has quietly been an unsung hero on this team as well. I like what hes done as a depth receiver, and while his KR numbers are down from last year having a 25 yard guy as a kick returner is great with the extension of the Touchbacks

Where would we be right now if the Iowa rb doesn't get that TD with 2 minutes to go at the very beginning of the season? That play early in the season defined us one way or another and that to me is the key play for the year.

You could look at it as a positive that it jumpstarted this team to go on a roll, or from a negative if we could have just won the game we would be undefeated.

As far as unsung hero's I will bring up Ryan Neir. He has had an excellent year punting the football for us and helped with our field position.

(11-28-2012 12:51 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  Where would we be right now if the Iowa rb doesn't get that TD with 2 minutes to go at the very beginning of the season? That play early in the season defined us one way or another and that to me is the key play for the year.

You could look at it as a positive that it jumpstarted this team to go on a roll, or from a negative if we could have just won the game we would be undefeated.

The key play was the 20 yard punt by Neir that set up the TD. Put the D's back against the wall, that wall stayed their the rest of the year. Motivated them for sure.

(11-28-2012 01:02 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote:  

(11-28-2012 12:51 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  Where would we be right now if the Iowa rb doesn't get that TD with 2 minutes to go at the very beginning of the season? That play early in the season defined us one way or another and that to me is the key play for the year.

You could look at it as a positive that it jumpstarted this team to go on a roll, or from a negative if we could have just won the game we would be undefeated.

The key play was the 20 yard punt by Neir that set up the TD. Put the D's back against the wall, that wall stayed their the rest of the year. Motivated them for sure.

Or you could say the Iowa punt that downed us at our own 1...and we had such a terrible offense that day.

I went to the restroom during the Iowa TD run...I place the blame on my bladder.

Jefferson, Wells, & Bishop...clogging the middle of the D-Line have been outstanding.

(11-28-2012 02:49 PM)Huskie359 Wrote:  Jefferson, Wells, & Bishop...clogging the middle of the D-Line have been outstanding.

Eakes pops out when i watch replays he does such a great job blocking.

(11-28-2012 01:39 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  

(11-28-2012 01:02 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote:  

(11-28-2012 12:51 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  Where would we be right now if the Iowa rb doesn't get that TD with 2 minutes to go at the very beginning of the season? That play early in the season defined us one way or another and that to me is the key play for the year.

You could look at it as a positive that it jumpstarted this team to go on a roll, or from a negative if we could have just won the game we would be undefeated.

The key play was the 20 yard punt by Neir that set up the TD. Put the D's back against the wall, that wall stayed their the rest of the year. Motivated them for sure.

Or you could say the Iowa punt that downed us at our own 1...and we had such a terrible offense that day.

I went to the restroom during the Iowa TD run...I place the blame on my bladder.

Funny you say that, I was in the rest room and I heard the crowd roar. Turned out to be the Lynch TD run, sadly I missed it. But, as the crowd roared I was walking out and two Hawkeye fans say that can be good. I said, Sound F...ing great to me and ran out haha.

Iowa fans are such asshats. We should have won that game.

(11-28-2012 12:24 PM)7 Wrote:  I think Santa's INT against Ball State is a play that gets overlooked. We very easily lose that game and lose the West without it.

That had to be the biggest play of the season.

(11-28-2012 05:56 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(11-28-2012 12:24 PM)7 Wrote:  I think Santa's INT against Ball State is a play that gets overlooked. We very easily lose that game and lose the West without it.

That had to be the biggest play of the season.

+1

DD not taking the safety vs Iowa and the Ball St. Kicker missing two easy FGs

I needed to revisit this thread after I watched the replay of Jordan Lynch absolutely destroying the Akron DB on his 15 yard TD run. That play definitely helped establish Jordan identity as the team leader, and put him the national map. It also personifies the team's character; definitely one of the key, if not the key play of the season.

Bishop being a beast in the MAC Championship game

Demetrius Stone breaking up a would-be TD pass in the 4th quarter against Toledo, forcing them to kick a FG instead.