Week 5 - #10 Sac State at Northern Arizona
The 10th ranked Hornets (2-2) head to Flagstaff to open conference play against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-2). Head Coach Brian Wright was brought in during the offseason from the D2 ranks to get NAU back into winning form.
The Jacks are a well rounded team and have had some solid performances on the year. Week 2 featured a tough battle against in-state rival Arizona. NAU held a narrow halftime lead until the Wildcats were able to get some 4th quarter scores that resulted in a 10-22 loss. In week 3, the Jacks took care of business on the road against an inferior Utah Tech team with a 45-17 blowout win. Last week NAU traveled to San Antonio and gave 15th ranked Incarnate Word all they could handle for a half, unfortunately turnovers and lack of execution in the passing game led to a 2nd half rout and an eventual 14-38 loss.
The NAU offense runs standard run-pass option out of the shotgun/pistol, primarily in 11 and 12 personnel. The Jacks are a run-first team that favors the run about 60% of the time and will push tempo if they get into rhythm. NAU is also aggressive in short yardage situations, expect a lot of 4th down attempts in a close game. The Jacks like to pull linemen on both the run and play action. Quarterback Ty Pennington (49/82, 568 yds, 4 TD, 34 car, 138 yds, 3 TD) is a dual threat that can extend plays with his legs. Pennington has an accurate arm and makes good decisions who also has no issue throwing on the run. Wide receivers Ta’ir Brooks (9 rec, 183 yds, 3 TD) and BJ Flemming (9 rec, 163 yds, 1 TD) are the leading targets. Tight end Bryzai White (7 rec, 113 yds, 1 TD) also plays a significant role. In the backfield, running backs Darvon Hubbard (34 car, 231 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 26 yds) and Seth Cromwell (34 car, 150 yds, 2 TD) split the carries alongside Pennington. The Jacks offensive line has good size and athleticism and mirrors that of the Hornets.
Offensive Team Stats
Defensive Team Stats
Hornet Team Stats
There are a lot of positive signs from this NAU team so far and they appear to be on track to be a contender in the BSC in the coming years. I thought NAU would be working out more kinks given the coaching changes but this team looks ready for the tough schedule ahead. This will be a tough game for the Hornets.
This game concerns me a lot more now than it did before the season began. I can’t help but think that the Hornets are going to need the versatility of KB to win this game as the NAU defensive front will key in on the RPO-less Hornet offense. I’m not confident that vintage early 2000’s play calling will be effective in Flagstaff, but I’m sticking with a Hornet win as I expect Coach Thompson to have this impressive Hornet defense amped to play in his former stomping grounds.
Stingers Up!
NAU at Arizona Highlights:
NAU at Utah Tech
The 10th ranked Hornets (2-2) head to Flagstaff to open conference play against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-2). Head Coach Brian Wright was brought in during the offseason from the D2 ranks to get NAU back into winning form.
The Jacks are a well rounded team and have had some solid performances on the year. Week 2 featured a tough battle against in-state rival Arizona. NAU held a narrow halftime lead until the Wildcats were able to get some 4th quarter scores that resulted in a 10-22 loss. In week 3, the Jacks took care of business on the road against an inferior Utah Tech team with a 45-17 blowout win. Last week NAU traveled to San Antonio and gave 15th ranked Incarnate Word all they could handle for a half, unfortunately turnovers and lack of execution in the passing game led to a 2nd half rout and an eventual 14-38 loss.
The NAU offense runs standard run-pass option out of the shotgun/pistol, primarily in 11 and 12 personnel. The Jacks are a run-first team that favors the run about 60% of the time and will push tempo if they get into rhythm. NAU is also aggressive in short yardage situations, expect a lot of 4th down attempts in a close game. The Jacks like to pull linemen on both the run and play action. Quarterback Ty Pennington (49/82, 568 yds, 4 TD, 34 car, 138 yds, 3 TD) is a dual threat that can extend plays with his legs. Pennington has an accurate arm and makes good decisions who also has no issue throwing on the run. Wide receivers Ta’ir Brooks (9 rec, 183 yds, 3 TD) and BJ Flemming (9 rec, 163 yds, 1 TD) are the leading targets. Tight end Bryzai White (7 rec, 113 yds, 1 TD) also plays a significant role. In the backfield, running backs Darvon Hubbard (34 car, 231 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 26 yds) and Seth Cromwell (34 car, 150 yds, 2 TD) split the carries alongside Pennington. The Jacks offensive line has good size and athleticism and mirrors that of the Hornets.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 33.3 (3rd BSC / 18th FCS)
- Total Offense: 412.3 ypg (207.3 rushing ypg / 205.0 passing ypg) - 4th (3rd / 7th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 8 (T-8th BSC)
- Turnovers: 1/5 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 12/17 - 10/2 (TD/FG) - 11th BSC
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 20.8 (4th BSC / 25th FCS)
- Total Defense: 308.0 ypg (155.8 rushing ypg / 152.3 passing ypg) - 3rd (7th / 1st) BSC
- Sacks : 11 (4th BSC)
- Turnovers: 3/2 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 7/8 - 6/1 (TD/FG) - 6th BSC
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 30.5 (5th BSC / 29th FCS)
- Points allowed per game: 23.8 (7th BSC / T-40th FCS)
- Total Offense: 411.8 ypg (173.3 rushing ypg / 238.5 passing ypg) - 5th (7th / 4th) BSC
- Total Defense: 317.0 ypg (63.5 rushing ypg / 253.5 passing ypg) - 5th (1st / 9th) BSC
- Turnovers: 5/6 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 6/4 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone Offense: 15/21 - 10/5 (TD/FG) - 9th BSC
- Red Zone Defense: 8/12 - 7/1 (TD/FG) - T-1st BSC
- Quarterback: Jacks. Ty Pennington can both run and pass effectively whereas the Hornets only have a quarterback that can do one or the other. I’d have this as a push if the Hornet coaches platooned the quarterbacks accordingly.
- Running Backs: Hornets. Elijah Tau-Tolliver will be the best running back on the field, however the Jacks have better depth.
- Wide Receivers: Hornets. Hornet receivers have better numbers but the Jack receivers have comparable talent. If NAU cleans up the drops, these two units would be pretty even.
- Tight Ends: Jacks. Bryzai White is more effective in the passing game than Coleman Kuntz.
- Offensive Line: Hornets. Both lines have good athleticism to go with their size. They are mirror images of each other but the Hornets protect the quarterback better.
- Defensive Line: Hornets. The Jacks have a stout front 3 but the Hornets have impressed all season long.
- Linebackers: Push. Ammon Allen and Tommy Ellis have a slight edge in the stats over Will Leota and Nakian Jackson, but not by much.
- Defensive Backs: Jacks. The Jack secondary plays the run better, but the Hornets have forced more turnovers. Alex McLaughlin will be the best defensive back on the field.
- Punters: Jacks. Ben D’Aquila has a slight edge in punt average and has dropped a few less inside the 20 on fewer attempts than Cal McGough.
- Kickers: Hornets. Zach Schreiner has a better body of work than Marcus Lye.
- Kick Returners: Push. This game is at elevation so every kickoff should be a touchback.
There are a lot of positive signs from this NAU team so far and they appear to be on track to be a contender in the BSC in the coming years. I thought NAU would be working out more kinks given the coaching changes but this team looks ready for the tough schedule ahead. This will be a tough game for the Hornets.
This game concerns me a lot more now than it did before the season began. I can’t help but think that the Hornets are going to need the versatility of KB to win this game as the NAU defensive front will key in on the RPO-less Hornet offense. I’m not confident that vintage early 2000’s play calling will be effective in Flagstaff, but I’m sticking with a Hornet win as I expect Coach Thompson to have this impressive Hornet defense amped to play in his former stomping grounds.
Stingers Up!
NAU at Arizona Highlights:
NAU at Utah Tech
