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#1 E. Washington vs. SAC STATE

Kadeezy

Kadeezy

Active member
We're rolling into Cheney to play the #1 team in the country... Let's hope #1 goes down for consecutive weeks!
 
SD says it's certainly within the realm of possibility. I'm inclined to agree with him. It'll be hard work, though. Given the Jeckyll and Hyde nature of this season, it wouldn't surprise me at all.
 
Week 8: Sac State @ (#1) Eastern Washington

The Hornets (5-2, 3-1 BSC) head to Cheney, Washington to face the top ranked Eastern Washington Eagles (5-1, 4-0 BSC). EWU is coming off of a thrilling win at Montana State and are looking to retain their top FCS ranking against the Hornets. EWU has had an interesting season so far. They have not had many dominating wins but they have found a way to win every week. EWU is a good team, but EWU could be vulnerable and they have been taken to the brink on multiple occasions.

Traditionally the Hornets play well in Cheney. The Eagles needed some last minute heroics to knock of the Hornets 2 years ago and last year the lack of a kicker cost the Hornets their first win against EWU in Sac. It won’t be easy but a Hornet win is possible if they bring their “A” game and don’t turn the ball over.

Offense
EWU has not been as dominant on offense; however they do have a well balanced offense. EWU operates primarily out of the ace formation with multiple WR sets. QB (#2) Kyle Padron transferred in from SMU to presumably lead EWU to another NCAA title. However he has since been benched in favor of redshirt freshman (#16) Vernon Adams. Adams is still coming along but he is a lot more mobile than Padron which brings some versatility to the offense that is tough to defend. Adams has the luxury of having one of the best receiving corps to throw to. The Eagle WR’s are led by studs (#1) Brandon Kaufman and (#3) Greg Herd. EWU also got (#11) Nick Edwards back from injury so there are plenty of weapons for Adams to go to through the air.

EWU also has a solid offensive line with good size. Last season EWU had health issues on the line but that has been mitigated and that unit has been a large reason for the Eagles success this season. When the OL isn’t protecting Adams, they are opening holes for the platoon of RB’s the Eagles use. EWU’s leading rusher is (#22) Quincy Forte but (#20) Jordan Talley also has a significant amount of carries and a couple others have seen significant playing time as well.

Season Stats/Averages:
  • • Rushing Offense: 152.2 ypg (4.2 ypr), 7 TD’s (57th FCS, 7th BSC)
    • Passing Offense: 256.8 ypg (14.0 ypc), 13 TD’s (29th FCS, 5th BSC)
    • Total Offense: 409.0 ypg (5.7 ypp), 20 TD’s, 9 FG’s (35th FCS, 8th BSC)
    • Time of Possession: 25:54
    • Turnovers: 8 (1 Fum, 7 INT’s)
    • Penalties: 50 for 361 yds (60.2 ypg)
    • QB: (#16) Vernon Adams: 56 of 97 for 719 yds, 8 TD’s, 3 INT’s, 30 carries for 159 yds
    • WR: (#1) Brandon Kaufman: 30 recs for 609 yds, 7 TD’s
    • WR: (#3) Greg Herd: 22 recs for 266 yds, 2 TD’s
    • WR: (#15) Ashton Clark: 19 recs for 233 yds, 2 TD’s
    • RB: (#22) Quincy Forte: 71 carries for 280 yds, 1 TD, 9 recs for 82 yds, 1 TD
    • RB: (#20) Jordan Talley: 61 carries for 216 yds, 3 TD’s, 5 recs for 49 yds
The Hornet defense has been playing well the past few weeks and is near the top of the BSC in sacks. The key for the defense will be to not over pursue and allow Adams to rip of chunks of yards with his legs. The EWU receivers are too good for the Hornets to try and drop back into coverage so the only hope is to throw everything at the line of scrimmage and make something happen. If the Hornets can take away the run and make EWU’s offense one dimensional, the Hornet DL will have to get after Adams and keep him out of rhythm. He has not been the most efficient passer and I think the Hornets can rattle him if they can get pressure.

Defense
EWU runs out of the 4-3 and they are near the top of the BSC in a lot of statistical categories. They have had some health issues at LB and unless they got some players back, EWU might be thin there. The EWU DL has some good size in the middle with DT (#51) Jordan Pulu and NT (#56) Evan Cook and DE (#91) Jerry Ceja leads the BSC with 7 sacks. The EWU secondary is led by CB (#31) TJ Lee III who has been labeled by some as one of the best CB’s in the BSC.

The EWU defense has had some lapses this season so they aren’t completely dominant but this defense can hang with anyone. This defense has forced a lot of turnovers this season and can also get after the quarterback.

Season Stats/Averages:
  • • Rushing Defense: 159.3 ypg (4.0 ypr), 8 TD’s (67th FCS, 8th BSC)
    • Passing Defense: 216.8 ypg (10.7 ypc), 6 TD’s (72nd FCS, 5th BSC)
    • Total Defense: 376.2 ypg (5.2 ypp), 14 TD’s, 7 FG’s (66th FCS, 5th BSC)
    • Opponent Time of Possession: 24:06
    • Turnovers Forced: 15 (10 Fum, 5 INT’s)
    • Opponents Penalties: 40 for 356 yds (59.3 ypg)
    • LB: (#39) Ronnie Hamlin: 61 tackles, 3.5 TFL’s, 1 INT, 2 BU’s, 3 BD’s, 1 FF
    • S: (#4) Allen Brown: 44 tackles, 5 BU’s, 5 PD’s, 2 FF’s
    • LB: (#18) Grant Williams: 41 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 BU, 1 PD, 1 FF
    • LB: (#55) Tyler Washburn: 38 tackles, 2 TFL’s, 1 sack, 1 BU, 1 PD, 1 FF
    • CB: (#31) TJ Lee III: 33 tackles, 4 TFL’s, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 3 BU’s, 4 PD’s, 1 FF
    • S: (#34) Jordan Tonani: 30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD
Safron and the Hornet offense are going to have to get it together if they want to move the ball and score points against this EWU defense. The Hornet OL is going to have to bring it if they want to open some holes against EWU. The same predictable play calling that we have seen the past few weeks won’t get it done. Most importantly the Hornets will need to take care of the ball. The Hornets have been sloppy with the ball and EWU does an excellent job at forcing turnovers.

Special Teams
EWU leads the FCS in kickoff return yardage and they have excellent kickers. The Eagles don’t give up much on special teams and (#9) Shaquille Hill is a return threat as he has taken one to the house this season. The Hornet special teams are going to have to be at their best to keep EWU under wraps.

Season Stats/Averages:
  • • K: (#99) Jimmy Pavel: 8/8 FG’s (long of 40 yds), 17/20 PAT’s
    • P: (#48) Jake Miller: 29 punts for 1,256 yds (43.3 ypp), 6 TB’s, 10 FC’s, 10 I-20
    • KR: (#9) Shaquille Hill: 8 kr’s for 269 yds (33.6 ypr), 1 TD
    • PR: (#15) Ashton Clark: 9 pr’s for 49 yds (5.4 ypr)
    • Kick Coverage: Allowed 294 yds on 16 returns (18.4 ypr)
    • Punt Coverage: Allowed 42 yds on 7 returns (6.0 ypr)
The Hornets are coming into this game off of a stellar performance a week ago. If they keep up that high level of play on special teams the Hornets should be ok here.

Intangibles
Turnovers will be key in this game. EWU was able to pull off a lot of their wins in large part due to capitalizing on turnovers. The Hornets will have to take care of the football if they want to have a shot in this one. EWU had some injuries earlier this season but I think they are at or near full strength on offense. Defensively they may be missing a few players but based on the past few weeks their defense has been able to work through any losses.

The Hornets start off a brutal stretch of the schedule with the #1 FCS program and it’s going to take a monumental effort if the Hornets want to pull this off. If the Hornets play a complete game they can hang with EWU. If the Hornets want to prove they belong in the playoff conversation, it begins this weekend. As everyone knows anything can happen on any weekend but I don’t expect EWU to overlook this Hornet team.

Go Hornets!

Game Info
 
Great write up SD! Also, depeneding on which weather report you look at, we could be in for Rain on Saturday. You'd have to think that might play in our favor. Also game time temps likely in the high 40s with some big time wind.
 
Good comment K. I didn’t bother looking at the weather, totally slipped my mind. I would say high wind would favor us, but our running game has been lackluster at best the past few weeks. The Hornets need to run a lot of read option and attack the edges. I don’t see us getting much up the middle against their sizeable DL.
 
SDHornet said:
Week 8: Sac State @ (#1) Eastern Washington

EWU has had an interesting season so far. They have not had many dominating wins but they have found a way to win every week.
Click to expand...

Sounds a lot like another team... Oh yeah, it's the Hornets!

I find it very interesting and exiting that the Hornets, while not dominating any of the teams they've played against (exception being ISU), keep winning with such a young team. They are adapting during the games rather than just sticking with some plan created from watching game film on the opponents.
 
SDHornet said:
Good comment K. I didn’t bother looking at the weather, totally slipped my mind. I would say high wind would favor us, but our running game has been lackluster at best the past few weeks. The Hornets need to run a lot of read option and attack the edges. I don’t see us getting much up the middle against their sizeable DL.
Click to expand...

No offense to kadeezy but it feels a bit different when the weekly thread is not done by you SDHORNET. I'm not superstitious, although this comment may seem a bit so, but would it be possible if you created a thread with the usual title. This is a HUGE game for the team and it would be reassuring to go into this one with some familiarity. :D AGAIN I SAY NO OFFENSE TO KADEEZY :off:
 
BLEEDGREEN said:
SDHornet said:
Good comment K. I didn’t bother looking at the weather, totally slipped my mind. I would say high wind would favor us, but our running game has been lackluster at best the past few weeks. The Hornets need to run a lot of read option and attack the edges. I don’t see us getting much up the middle against their sizeable DL.
Click to expand...

No offense to kadeezy but it feels a bit different when the weekly thread is not done by you SDHORNET. I'm not superstitious, although this comment may seem a bit so, but would it be possible if you created a thread with the usual title. This is a HUGE game for the team and it would be reassuring to go into this one with some familiarity. :D AGAIN I SAY NO OFFENSE TO KADEEZY :off:
Click to expand...

I Love adding the superstitious vide to the board - Nice!!

But I went back and found that when SD Hornet begins the thread we are 3-2 (Wins versus Weber, S Utah and Idaho State but losses versus NMSU and North Dakota). We are actually 2-0 when someone else is the first to post (Colorado and Northern Colorado). I vote we keep it as is!!

I love the previews from SD, but let's take every angle for good karma.
 
Well technically it’s the same thing; I would merge the topics into one. However you guys have a great point, being that this is America and therefore the greatest place on Earth I created a poll here:

http://hornets.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1779

This pits my sports superstition against my OCD to keep the same format. I think we let democracy decide this one. Vote closes in 24 hours. :lol:
 
Hornetsports preview:

FBPrevHeader102012.jpg


http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/football/release.asp?release_id=10710
 
I wish I could say I felt good about our chances this weekend but unfortunately I don't. We are in week 8 and when I look at who we've played so far the picture looks pretty ugly - our opponents have a combined record of 10-35. Our offense seems to be regressing by the week, the last time we had a 300 yard passing game was against Colorado. Since then the most yardage we've gained through the air was 202 versus Idaho St. In addition, since Colorado, Safron only has 9 TD's compared to 7 Int's.

The only way this game stays close is if the defense continues to excell and they find a way to dominate the turnover battle. I REALLY hope I'm wrong but I say:

EWU 31
SAC 16
 
CHNHeader.jpg


Yup you guessed it, this week's game will be on TV. :clap: :nod: 8-)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Saturday's football game between Sacramento State and No. 1-ranked Eastern Washington will be televised locally on Comcast Hometown Network (Channel 104). The broadcast will begin at 4 p.m. PT.

The game will be produced by SWX television out of Spokane with Sam Adams and Bill Ames providing the commentary.
Click to expand...
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/football/release.asp?release_id=10715
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05epJ2YYHwA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Uh oh...time to ruin somebody’s homecoming. :nod:

shining460.gif
 
Screamin_Eagle174 said:
How good is TJ Knowles? He's a big dude.
Click to expand...
Underutilized by the coaches IMO but he gets a couple catches a game. I think all of us Hornet fans thought the coaches would be more imaginative in getting him the ball. I don’t see how anyone can cover him if he is in the slot with a couple other receivers in the formation. Too fast for a LB, too tall and big for a S/CB. :twocents:

He has had health issues though so he might not be 100%.
 
My question is: are we going to get legit commentators who know FCS/Big Sky football, or are we going to get slumming elitists who start fulminating at the mouth about the dubious "virtues" of the B(C)$ at every lull in the action?

:ohno:
 
I think only games televised on Root are not available on BSTV; so this one should be on BSTV. As far as the commentators go, the Hornetsports release said a local TV station is producing the game so I imagine/hope that the commentators will know FCS but will probably be EWU homers. Maybe SE174 can chime in and let us know how the 2 commentators (Sam Adams and Bill Ames) are?

Prediction:
I’m going with a homer pick in this one. I think we pull it off 31-28. Safron needs to take care of the ball and have a good game and the defense needs to slow down EWU’s offense just enough to keep us in it. If it is close heading into the 4th anything can happen.
 
The men are off bright and eraly today...flew out around 8, and will get in a days practice up in Wash before heading to hotel for meetings, dinner and rest.

I like that the coaches and team admins are taking this approach. Makes it for a more controlled environment....heck maybe they will even get up there early enought to help out with some of the floats for homecoming... :rofl:
 
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