Week 9: SAC (4-4, 2-2 BSC) @ EWU (4-4, 3-1 BSC) 11/01 1pm PDT

[SactoHornetAlum]

Ok, time to turn the page and get ready to go to the Inferno on Saturday. Cheney is the place where the Hornets have won the most Big Sky road games in school history (excluding UNC), starting with a Jimmy Sanchez FG with no time remaining in 2000 to give the Hornets their first win there. SAC has won five of 12 games at Woodward/Roos Field, including the last time they played up there in 2022, coming away with a 52-28 win.

Hornets hung with the now #3 Grizzlies for most of the game Saturday night. Eastern picked up a tough, 3-point win at Weber State on Saturday. Eagles have won 3 straight, although, they were all one score games against three of the league bottom feeders in WSU, PSU and Idaho. Ironically, the latter two are the Hornets next two opponents after this week.

Early forecast shows rain and 53 degrees at kickoff, which would favor the Hornet run game, similar to the Weber State game. The Eagles have allowed nearly 200 yds a game on the ground (190) to the opposition...so its imperative the Hornets are able to unleash their ground game.

With the backs against the wall, every game from here on out is a playoff game for SAC. One more loss and I think the playoffs will be out of reach. But run the table, including a win over Causeway, would put the team at 8-4 (6-2 BSC)...and in a power league like the Big Sky, that gets them in.

Because the Hornets have the superior running offense, it will be enough to get the win.

SAC 38
EWU 24

#StingersUp

 

[Kadeezy]

Plan has to be... go 3-0, and turn Davis game into win and you're in (to playoff).

 

[Bodega Joe]

Plan has to be... go 3-0, and turn Davis game into win and you're in (to playoff).

Do you feel it's a sure thing if they win out?

 

[Kadeezy]

Do you feel it's a sure thing if they win out?

100%. As SHA said, they would have 8 D1 wins, 6-2 in the second best conference in the country. They could potentially host a home game if the committee sees them as a Top 16 team. SOOOOO much work to do though.

If they win three in a row convincingly, they're 7-4 and probably ranked in the 21-25 range going into the Causeway Classic. We need Davis to keep winning. Knocking off MSU would help. Then we need a couple teams ahead of us to lose. It's not impossible.

I'll say our chance to win three in a row: 33%

Our chance to win four in a row: 10%

 

[Green Laser]

Do you feel it's a sure thing if they win out?

We need decisive wins over EWU, Portland and Idaho to get back in the rankings and to win the Causeway.

 

[SDHornet]

Agree with SHA and good rundown for this game. Hornets need to play to their strengths on offense, which is the run game.

On the other side of the ball, EWU is pretty balanced. The Eagles have 2 quarterbacks that have gotten significant play (injury?) but bual threat Nate Bell (88/161, 964 yds, 6 TD, 6 INT, 113 car, 639 yds, 7 TD) having more playing time on the season while also leading EWU in rush yards. Out of the backfield, Marceese Yetts (53 car, 182 yds, 4 TD, 27 rec, 215 yds) helps fuel the rushing attack when Bell doesn't keep the ball. Noah Cronquist (27 rec, 315 yds) and Miles Williams (18 rec, 223 yds, 2 TD) are the leading receivers in the passing game.

EWU's defense is led by linebackers Read Sunn (59 tak, 6 TFL, 2 sac) and Myles Mayovsky (55 tak, 5 TFL, 1 sac). Safety Jaylon Jenkins (35 tak, 4 INT) leads the team in interceptions. The Eagle defense has played better in the last 3 weeks against lesser competition, but struggled keeping opponents off the scoreboard in the early part of the season.

On special teams, kicker Soren McKee (4/5, 18/19 PAT) hasn't had many attempts and has a long of 39 yards on the season. Punter Landon Ogles has dropped 19 of his 55 punts inside the 20 and also has a booming leg with 13 punts of 50 or more yards. Noah Cronquist has proven to be an impact player in the return game as he averages over 11 yards per punt return and over 22 yards per kick return.

The Hornets are in playoff mode as any more losses mathematically ends their season. The good news is that Hornets have a stretch of very winnable games if they play up to their potential and take care of business.

Stingers Up!