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Week 9 - #6 Sac State vs Idaho State

SDHornet

SDHornet

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Week 9 - #6 Sac State vs Idaho State

The 6th ranked Hornets (5-2, 2-2 BSC) look to get back into their winning ways as they host the Idaho State Bengals (3-4, 3-1 BSC) for Homecoming. The Bengals look to be well ahead of schedule of first year Head Coach Cody Hawkins rebuilding effort of a long dormant program and are surprisingly in the BSC Title discussion halfway through conference play.

ISU had a tough and winless non-conference schedule and it seemed that they would remain in their downtrodden ways. Then BSC play started and ISU turned the page and got down to business. Since BSC play began, ISU has gone 3-1 with a 35-21 home win over Northern Colorado, a close 20-28 road loss at Montana, an amazing come from behind 42-41 win at home over Eastern Washington, and finally a dominating 38-24 road win over a respectable Portland State team.

The Bengal offense is currently sitting atop the FCS as the best passing offense. ISU throws the ball all over the field out of the shotgun spread and utilizes a 2 quarterback system that throws the ball 67% of the time. Quarterbacks Jordan Cooke (148/241, 1766 yds, 9 TD, 8 INT, 28 car, 8 yds, 2 TD) and Hunter Hays (58/87, 576 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT, 40 car, 197 yds, 4 TD) run the offense. Cooke is the better thrower of the 2 while Hays is used in running situations as he is the leading rusher for the Bengals. ISU has a plethora of wide receivers that are targeted in this pass happy attack. Chedon James (60 rec, 629 yds, 6 TD) and Christian Fredrickson (41 rec, 611 yds, 3 TD) are the top targets with two others having at least 27 receptions and over 300 receiving yards. The Bengal rushing attack is on the opposite end of the spectrum as they rely on quarterback runs and draws to running back Soujah Gasu (32 car, 146 yds, 2 TD, 9 rec, 118 yds) who is second in rushing production behind Hays. The Bengal offensive line has had its struggles and has allowed 16 sacks on the year, so they supplement the running game with a lot of screens/quick passes to attack the edges.

Offensive Team Stats
  • Points scored per game: 29.7 (6th BSC / T-33rd FCS)
  • Total Offense: 415.9 ypg (73.3 rushing ypg / 342.6 passing ypg) - 3rd (12th / 1st) BSC
  • Sacks Allowed: 16 (10th BSC)
  • Turnovers: 11/2 (INT/Fum)
  • Redzone: 24/26 - 18/6 (TD/FG) - 2nd BSC

The Bengals 3-3-5 defense has seen its struggles this season but have seen improvement during BSC play. ISU is not very big up front but they are coming into this game holding EWU scoreless in the 4th quarter that allowed their 27 point comeback to happen, and last week held a potent PSU offense to 24 points. This Bengal defense is entering this game with a bit of confidence. Safety Calvin Pitcher (58 tkl, 2.5 TFL) leads the team in tackles with linebacker Kris Sanchez (44 tkl, 1.5 TFL, 1 sac) and safety Mason Young (44 tkl, 1 TFL, 1 sac, 1 INT)
rounding out the top 3. Defensive lineman Courtland Horton (27 tkl, 5 TFL, 3 sac) and David Rowe (25 tkl, 7.5 TFL, 3 sac) lead the Bengals in sacks with safety Mathew Sanchez (9 tkl, 2 sac) leading the defense in interceptions.

Defensive Team Stats
  • Points allowed per game: 38.4 (12th BSC / 119th FCS)
  • Total Defense: 469.1 ypg (212.7 rushing ypg / 256.4 passing ypg) - 11th (12th / 10th) BSC
  • Sacks : 11 (9th BSC)
  • Turnovers Forced: 4/3 (INT/Fum)
  • Redzone: 27/31 - 23/4 (TD/FG) - 8th BSC

The Bengal kicking game has struggled this season. Kicker Thomas Kopcho (4/8 FG, 25/25 PAT) has struggled with accuracy but has a long of 49 yards on the year. Punter Ross Bolger (26 pnt, 41.7 ypp) has boomed a long of 55 yards with 6 punts dropping inside the 20. Chedon James also returns kickoffs and is averaging over 25 yards a return.

Hornet Team Stats
  • Points scored per game: 30.1 (5th BSC / T-31st FCS)
  • Points allowed per game: 24.9 (6th BSC / T-48th FCS)
  • Total Offense: 411.9 ypg (180.1 rushing ypg / 231.7 passing ypg) - T-4th (4th / 6th) BSC
  • Total Defense: 362.6 ypg (171.0 rushing ypg / 191.6 passing ypg) - 5th (8th / 4th) BSC
  • Sacks Allowed: 9 (T-3rd BSC)
  • Sacks: 17 (T-3rd BSC)
  • Turnovers: 4/2 (INT/Fum)
  • Turnovers Forced: 6/3 (INT/Fum)
  • Redzone Offense: 29/32 - 22/7 (TD/FG) - 3rd BSC
  • Redzone Defense: 18/23 - 13/5 (TD/FG) - 4th BSC

Position Advantage
  • Quarterback: Bengals. Jordan Cooke is a better thrower than Kaiden Bennett, but KB’s running threat makes him difficult to defend. When you lead the FCS’ top passing attack, you get the nod.
  • Running Backs: Hornets. Hornets win this one by default. Even with the injuries to the Hornet running backs, the Hornet talent is far greater than the Bengals at this position.
  • Wide Receivers: Bengals. Chedon James and Christian Fredrickson are the top receivers in the BSC, Jared Gipson is far down the list by a large margin.
  • Tight Ends: Hornets. Hornets win by default as the Bengals only have one tight end on the roster.
  • Offensive Line: Hornets. The Bengals just don’t run the ball effectively, whether it be by design or because they just don’t have the bodies up front.
  • Defensive Line: Hornets. The Hornets are much better by a wide margin up front compared to the Bengals.
  • Linebackers: Hornets. Armon Bailey and Brock Mather find the ball better than Kris Sanchez and Teilor Tuioti.
  • Defensive Backs: Hornets. The Hornet secondary plays the rush and pass better than the Bengals and have made more plays on the ball as well.
  • Punters: Hornets. Cal McGough does a better job of pinning opponents on the other side of the field than Ross Bolger.
  • Kickers: Hornets. Zach Schriener has been a more consistent kicker on the season compared to Thomas Kopcho.
  • Kick Returners: Push. Both teams have 12 kickoff returns each, neither of which have shown any consistency to expect an impact on the game.

The Hornet defense will have to adjust from gearing up to stop a heavy rush offense to now having to turn everything on its head and defend a heavy pass offense. It all starts up front and fortunately for the Hornets, the defensive line has proven to be disruptive to opposing quarterbacks. Open field tackling will be crucial as the Bengals like to hit a lot of underneath routes to keep the ball moving.

On the other side of the ball, the Hornets should be able to overmatch the Bengal front and control the line of scrimmage. The best way to keep the Bengal pass happy attack in check is to keep them on the sidelines with long drives that eat up the clock and result in points.

Hornet special teams need to have a complete game this week as they can ill afford to give the Bengals a leg up anywhere. It’ll be interesting to see if the Hornets stick with the squib kicks as that was pretty effective a week ago.

This is a must win game for the Hornets as they need to get back on track and take care of business if they want to make the playoffs for a 4th straight season. If the Hornets let the Bengals hang around, anything can happen and the Bengals have proven that they can pull an upset if given the opportunity as they have been playing with nothing to lose. The Hornets need not put themselves in that kind of a situation this week. I think the Hornets get it done, control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and win by a couple possessions.

Stingers Up!

Idaho State at Montana Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6ARubPuFbg

Eastern Washington at Idaho State Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpJ0RHufQvs

Idaho State at Portland State Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB02Z1DnuuU
 
This ain’t the run of the mill ISU team. These guys are good. Watched a couple quarters of their games. They have a winning swagger.
Hornets can’t play slop ball and expect to win.
 
Agreed. Their passing game is legit, although they still are lacking where it matters most: in the trenches, especially on defense. The Hornets need to bully them up front on both sides of the line, and I'm hoping this game doesn't turn into a track meet. They've also sprinkled in more RPO this past week at PSU which will keep a defense honest. Hornet defense will have their hands full.


More Idaho State at Portland State Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqjE3Bw-OkU
 
https://sactownsports.com/category/podcast_player?a=73e3c730-28ea-42e4-9755-4eeb8f37c55f&n=Stingers+Up+-+The+Sacramento+State+Football+Podcast+with+Jason+Ross&i=1593
 
This is really a BIG game. ISU is much improved and has the potential to knock us off. Losing to ISU would be a rather big hit to the ego and put us on the bubble for playoffs with games against Montana, Cal Poly and UCD remaining.

I think 7 wins will get us in because one of them is FBS, but lose Saturday and that means we have to take 2 of the three final games.

ISU is going to pass the ball all over the field, hope to see good tackling and some turnovers from the secondary this week.

We need to get out some frustrations and get past 40 points this week to get some swagger back. And we'll have to do it with a much smaller crowd than last week, even though it's homecoming. With colder weather, Halloween events and an opponent that doesn't travel well, I'll say hitting 12,000 would be great.

I'm looking forward to see if we take advantage of the new redshirt rules and play some of the transfers and young guys in key spaces.

It won't be easy, but I'll take the Hornets in this one, 45-41.
 
Kadeezy said:
This is really a BIG game. ISU is much improved and has the potential to knock us off. Losing to ISU would be a rather big hit to the ego and put us on the bubble for playoffs with games against Montana, Cal Poly and UCD remaining.

I think 7 wins will get us in because one of them is FBS, but lose Saturday and that means we have to take 2 of the three final games.

ISU is going to pass the ball all over the field, hope to see good tackling and some turnovers from the secondary this week.

We need to get out some frustrations and get past 40 points this week to get some swagger back. And we'll have to do it with a much smaller crowd than last week, even though it's homecoming. With colder weather, Halloween events and an opponent that doesn't travel well, I'll say hitting 12,000 would be great.

I'm looking forward to see if we take advantage of the new redshirt rules and play some of the transfers and young guys in key spaces.

It won't be easy, but I'll take the Hornets in this one, 45-41.
Click to expand...

Completely agree, if they dont win, they dont deserve to be in the playoffs.
ISU is going to torch the secondary.
 
Must win game. High chance of strong wind gusts tomorrow, could impact the passing game it that happens. Should be a ground and pound game plan for the Hornet offense nonetheless. Good comment about the redshirt rules, we'll see if the coaches work in any redshirt players from here on out. With the weather cooling, I think we'll struggle to crack 10k at the gate.
 
If Bennett is going to make a “that’s as a good as a punt” throw on third down, he needs to really get the ball down field….
 
This team is a joke. It has fallen so far down from when Taylor left. Sloppy ball, horrible defense, offense is walking dead, onsides kick lost staring into space. Absolute rubbish. I am starting to think Thompson and Co. are in over their head.
 
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