Week 4 - #4 Sac State at #7 Idaho
The 4th ranked Hornets (3-0, 0-0 BSC) hit the road to face the 7th ranked Idaho Vandals (2-1, 0-0 BSC) in the BSC opener and their home opener in Moscow, Idaho. BSC title implications are immediately on the line for both programs in this game of the week matchup. Head Coach Jason Eck has the Idaho program humming and is coming into this week looking to claim the inside track to the BSC title.
The Vandals have looked strong so far this season and are off to a fast start. Idaho opened up the season with a dominating 42-17 win at Lamar in a game in which the Vandals racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense. Idaho followed that up with the total destruction of Nevada in a 33-6 win at Reno. Last week, Idaho jumped on Cal early and raced to a 17-0 point lead. Unfortunately, Idaho’s fortunes turned midway through the 2nd quarter on an ill-fated 4th down attempt at midfield that gifted the Bears a short field in which they scored a touchdown on. From that point on it was all Cal as the Vandals lost 17-31.
The Vandal offense will be the most dynamic and versatile offense the Hornets will play in the regular season. The Vandal offense is poised to put up prolific numbers as they return every key player at the skilled positions in their spread read option attack. Dual threat quarterback Gevani McCoy (57/86, 756 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT, 20 car, 104 yds, 1 TD) has put up impressive numbers through the air so far this season. The Vandals have a litany of receivers that terrorize opponents secondary with Hayden Hatten (20 rec, 256 yds, 2 TD) being the primary target. The receiving threats are rounded out by Terez Traynor (10 rec, 133 yds) and Jermaine Jackson (11 rec, 130 yds). On the ground, running back Anthony Woods (42 car, 265 yds, 3 TD) has been a play making force that has kept opposing defenses honest.
While the high octane Vandal offense was highly anticipated, it has been the suffocating defensive play that has been the most surprising. With the newly installed 4-3 defense, the Vandals only allowed 23 points through the first 9 quarters of the season until Cal overpowered them last week. Idaho’s defense is led by linebacker Tre Thomas (19 tak, 3 TFL, 1 sac), defensive tackle Mathias Bertram (18 tak, 3.5 TFL), and safety Tommy McCormick (16 tak, 0.5 TFL).
On special teams, kicker Ricardo Chavez (5/5 FG, 5/5 PAT) has been nails as he has a long of 43 yards. The punting duties have been split, but Chavez (3 pnt, 62.3 ypp) has a booming leg with 3 punts over 50 yards. In the return game, Jermaine Jackson (5 kr, 13.8 ypr) has playmaking speed and is always a looming threat.
Position Advantage
The lone knock on this Vandal offense is that they have not taken care of the ball. They have turned it over 6 times; 2 interceptions and 4 lost fumbles (9 fumbles on the year) in just 3 games. On the other side of the ball, Cal exposed the Vandal defense last week as they gashed them for big plays on their way to 31 unanswered points. I would expect the Hornets to exploit those shortfalls in the Vandal defense this week as well.
This game will set the tone for both programs in their quest for a BSC title and I’ve been factually stating that the Hornets own the BSC until proven otherwise. If the Hornets play anywhere near like they did at the Farm this past weekend, we will beat Idaho and undoubtedly run the table for a 3rd straight season en route to a 4th straight BSC title. I’m sticking to my guns on that prediction and while Idaho is a damn good team, I believe we are just a bit better. Hornets win a close one in the quonset hut. Heavy is the crown.
Stingers Up!
Idaho at Lamar Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AJw5DxrADo
Idaho at Nevada Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmkYDN4SZmU
Idaho at Cal Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qtqw7lxnMM
The 4th ranked Hornets (3-0, 0-0 BSC) hit the road to face the 7th ranked Idaho Vandals (2-1, 0-0 BSC) in the BSC opener and their home opener in Moscow, Idaho. BSC title implications are immediately on the line for both programs in this game of the week matchup. Head Coach Jason Eck has the Idaho program humming and is coming into this week looking to claim the inside track to the BSC title.
The Vandals have looked strong so far this season and are off to a fast start. Idaho opened up the season with a dominating 42-17 win at Lamar in a game in which the Vandals racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense. Idaho followed that up with the total destruction of Nevada in a 33-6 win at Reno. Last week, Idaho jumped on Cal early and raced to a 17-0 point lead. Unfortunately, Idaho’s fortunes turned midway through the 2nd quarter on an ill-fated 4th down attempt at midfield that gifted the Bears a short field in which they scored a touchdown on. From that point on it was all Cal as the Vandals lost 17-31.
The Vandal offense will be the most dynamic and versatile offense the Hornets will play in the regular season. The Vandal offense is poised to put up prolific numbers as they return every key player at the skilled positions in their spread read option attack. Dual threat quarterback Gevani McCoy (57/86, 756 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT, 20 car, 104 yds, 1 TD) has put up impressive numbers through the air so far this season. The Vandals have a litany of receivers that terrorize opponents secondary with Hayden Hatten (20 rec, 256 yds, 2 TD) being the primary target. The receiving threats are rounded out by Terez Traynor (10 rec, 133 yds) and Jermaine Jackson (11 rec, 130 yds). On the ground, running back Anthony Woods (42 car, 265 yds, 3 TD) has been a play making force that has kept opposing defenses honest.
While the high octane Vandal offense was highly anticipated, it has been the suffocating defensive play that has been the most surprising. With the newly installed 4-3 defense, the Vandals only allowed 23 points through the first 9 quarters of the season until Cal overpowered them last week. Idaho’s defense is led by linebacker Tre Thomas (19 tak, 3 TFL, 1 sac), defensive tackle Mathias Bertram (18 tak, 3.5 TFL), and safety Tommy McCormick (16 tak, 0.5 TFL).
On special teams, kicker Ricardo Chavez (5/5 FG, 5/5 PAT) has been nails as he has a long of 43 yards. The punting duties have been split, but Chavez (3 pnt, 62.3 ypp) has a booming leg with 3 punts over 50 yards. In the return game, Jermaine Jackson (5 kr, 13.8 ypr) has playmaking speed and is always a looming threat.
Position Advantage
- Quarterback: Push. Both quarterbacks are similar in style and play making ability. Gevani McCoy has a bigger arm than Kaiden Bennett, not sure that really comes into play in this one.
- Running Backs: Hornets. Marcus Fulcher and Anthony Woods are both very good backs, the Hornets are just deeper at this position than the Vandals.
- Wide Receivers: Vandals. Idaho has multiple players that can take it to the house anytime they touch the ball. The Hornets are more of a possession receiver type of bunch.
- Tight Ends: Vandals. Graduate transfer Turon Ivy Jr has been a godsend for the Vandals while Marshel Martin may still be on the mend.
- Offensive Line: Hornets. Hornets have yet to allow a sack while the Vandals have given up 5.
- Defensive Line: Hornets. Hornets have more sacks and TFLs by their front 4 compared to that of the Vandals.
- Linebackers: Vandals. Tre Thomas and Mathias Bertram have made more plays in the backfield compared to Aarmon Bailey and Brock Mather.
- Defensive Backs: Hornets. The Hornet secondary has made more plays on the ball compared to the Vandal secondary, but this will be the most talented group of receivers the Hornets will face this season.
- Punters: Hornets. Cal McGough has pinned opponents deep in their own end almost every time out while the Vandal punters have only done it once.
- Kickers: Push. Zach Schriener is now a proven commodity, Ricardo Chavez was a proven commodity entering the season.
- Kick Returners: Vandals. Both teams have capable returners, the difference here is that the Vandal kickoffs go for touchbacks more often than the Hornet kickoffs do which means more opportunities for the Vandals.
The lone knock on this Vandal offense is that they have not taken care of the ball. They have turned it over 6 times; 2 interceptions and 4 lost fumbles (9 fumbles on the year) in just 3 games. On the other side of the ball, Cal exposed the Vandal defense last week as they gashed them for big plays on their way to 31 unanswered points. I would expect the Hornets to exploit those shortfalls in the Vandal defense this week as well.
This game will set the tone for both programs in their quest for a BSC title and I’ve been factually stating that the Hornets own the BSC until proven otherwise. If the Hornets play anywhere near like they did at the Farm this past weekend, we will beat Idaho and undoubtedly run the table for a 3rd straight season en route to a 4th straight BSC title. I’m sticking to my guns on that prediction and while Idaho is a damn good team, I believe we are just a bit better. Hornets win a close one in the quonset hut. Heavy is the crown.
Stingers Up!
Idaho at Lamar Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AJw5DxrADo
Idaho at Nevada Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmkYDN4SZmU
Idaho at Cal Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qtqw7lxnMM