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Causeway Week: #10 UC Davis (8-2) vs. #11 Sac State (8-2)
- Thread starter Kadeezy
- Start date
Week 12 - Causeway #11 at #10
The 11th ranked Hornets (8-2, 7-0 BSC) close the regular season on the road in the Causeway. They (8-2, 5-2 BSC) are coming into this game ranked 10th and off of a beat down loss at home in the fog to EWU, 38-20, and don’t really have a notable win aside from a week one FBS win, 19-17, over a below average Tulsa team. They have been playing well at certain parts of the season, but like the Hornets, their schedule isn’t very challenging.
Offensively they run shotgun RPO/motion looks with a lot of misdirection. They are 4th in the BSC in scoring offense (30.9 ppg), 4th in total offense (414.5 ypg), 2nd in rush offense (185.2 ypg) and 6th in pass offense (229.3 ypg). They run the ball a bit more than pass 55%-45% and the running game is the strength of this offense. They have bounced between QBs Hunter Rodriguez (98/165, 1191 yds, 7 TD, 5 INT, 38 car, 163 yds, 3 TD) and Miles Hastings (101/155, 920 yds, 6 TD, 4 INT) due to injury and performance issues. Hastings has gotten the nod the last 3 games but is the less mobile/athletic of the two. They’ll also mix in Trent Tompkins (69 car, 420 yds, 6 TD) for a QB run or a trick play. On the ground, stud RB Ulonzo Gilliam Jr (183 car, 811 yds, 5 TD, 27 rec, 165 yds, 1 TD) gets the bulk of the carries and is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield as well. RB Lan Larison (55 car, 247 yds, 3 TD, 14 rec, 211 yds, 1 TD) has big play potential. The leading receivers are WR Jared Harrell (43 rec, 539 yds, 5 TD) and TE McCallan Castles (23 rec, 340 yds, 4 TD).
Defensively they run a 3-3-5 defense and mostly dropped 8 into coverage against EWU. They are a decent defense that is 3rd in the BSC in scoring defense (19.0 ppg), 8th in total defense (416.8 ypg), 6th in rush defense (160.0 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (256.8 ypg). Their strength is in the red zone where they are 3rd in the BSC in getting stops about a third of the time and are forcing almost 2 TOs a game. Their defense is led by LBs Teddye Buchanan (62 tkl, 4.5 TFL, 2 sack, 2 INT) and Cam Trimble (41 tkl, 9.5 TFL, 5 sack, 2 INT).
Their K Isaiah Gomez (18/22 FG, 30/30 PAT) is solid and has hit from 45 yards out this year. P Daniel Whelan is one of the best in FCS and can pin opponents deep in their own end. The X factor is Lan Larison, who took a KR to the house last week against EWU and is averaging 31.7 ypr.
This is going to be a close game as there is a lot at stake. If the Hornets win, they’ll at worst share a BSC title with Montana State and likely get a seed in the FCS playoffs. If they win, they likely spoil our chances at a BSC crown (we’ll still split with MSU if they lose to UM) and have a shot at a seed as well. If the Hornets continue to play as they have in recent weeks, our chances of a win a good. As always everything goes out the window in the Causeway.
Stingers Up!
Fuck davis!
The 11th ranked Hornets (8-2, 7-0 BSC) close the regular season on the road in the Causeway. They (8-2, 5-2 BSC) are coming into this game ranked 10th and off of a beat down loss at home in the fog to EWU, 38-20, and don’t really have a notable win aside from a week one FBS win, 19-17, over a below average Tulsa team. They have been playing well at certain parts of the season, but like the Hornets, their schedule isn’t very challenging.
Offensively they run shotgun RPO/motion looks with a lot of misdirection. They are 4th in the BSC in scoring offense (30.9 ppg), 4th in total offense (414.5 ypg), 2nd in rush offense (185.2 ypg) and 6th in pass offense (229.3 ypg). They run the ball a bit more than pass 55%-45% and the running game is the strength of this offense. They have bounced between QBs Hunter Rodriguez (98/165, 1191 yds, 7 TD, 5 INT, 38 car, 163 yds, 3 TD) and Miles Hastings (101/155, 920 yds, 6 TD, 4 INT) due to injury and performance issues. Hastings has gotten the nod the last 3 games but is the less mobile/athletic of the two. They’ll also mix in Trent Tompkins (69 car, 420 yds, 6 TD) for a QB run or a trick play. On the ground, stud RB Ulonzo Gilliam Jr (183 car, 811 yds, 5 TD, 27 rec, 165 yds, 1 TD) gets the bulk of the carries and is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield as well. RB Lan Larison (55 car, 247 yds, 3 TD, 14 rec, 211 yds, 1 TD) has big play potential. The leading receivers are WR Jared Harrell (43 rec, 539 yds, 5 TD) and TE McCallan Castles (23 rec, 340 yds, 4 TD).
Defensively they run a 3-3-5 defense and mostly dropped 8 into coverage against EWU. They are a decent defense that is 3rd in the BSC in scoring defense (19.0 ppg), 8th in total defense (416.8 ypg), 6th in rush defense (160.0 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (256.8 ypg). Their strength is in the red zone where they are 3rd in the BSC in getting stops about a third of the time and are forcing almost 2 TOs a game. Their defense is led by LBs Teddye Buchanan (62 tkl, 4.5 TFL, 2 sack, 2 INT) and Cam Trimble (41 tkl, 9.5 TFL, 5 sack, 2 INT).
Their K Isaiah Gomez (18/22 FG, 30/30 PAT) is solid and has hit from 45 yards out this year. P Daniel Whelan is one of the best in FCS and can pin opponents deep in their own end. The X factor is Lan Larison, who took a KR to the house last week against EWU and is averaging 31.7 ypr.
This is going to be a close game as there is a lot at stake. If the Hornets win, they’ll at worst share a BSC title with Montana State and likely get a seed in the FCS playoffs. If they win, they likely spoil our chances at a BSC crown (we’ll still split with MSU if they lose to UM) and have a shot at a seed as well. If the Hornets continue to play as they have in recent weeks, our chances of a win a good. As always everything goes out the window in the Causeway.
Stingers Up!
Fuck davis!
Can it be Saturday already????!!!!!!!!! This has to be the biggest Causeway Classic ever right? Big Sky Championship on the line. First round bye on the line. 2nd round home game on the line. HUGE implications!!!
The school has to do a good job of getting the word to kids on campus to go out to Davis for the game! Maybe get a couple of party busses to take students or something. We need to represent!!!!!
The school has to do a good job of getting the word to kids on campus to go out to Davis for the game! Maybe get a couple of party busses to take students or something. We need to represent!!!!!
josephpoint
Active member
Exactly. Students would have fun going over on buses. Perhaps the Green Army coordinator can get it together and charter a few buses. It does not cost that much to charter buses when you split up the cost among the people on board. And bet most of the student athletes from other teams on campus will show up.
In terms of biggest Causeway yet. Would agree this one is biggest. Last big Causeway would have to be 1988 when I believe both teams entered at 8-2. 10,000 crammed the old, quaint Toomey Field at UCD and the Ho Ho Hornets won the game by 3. Then played again in the playoffs and beat Davis by 14 that year.
In terms of biggest Causeway yet. Would agree this one is biggest. Last big Causeway would have to be 1988 when I believe both teams entered at 8-2. 10,000 crammed the old, quaint Toomey Field at UCD and the Ho Ho Hornets won the game by 3. Then played again in the playoffs and beat Davis by 14 that year.
BuckeyeHornetFan
Active member
If the Hornets play up to their talent and capabilities, I fully expect them to win this game rather easily. But we know that teams don’t always play their best and it’s a rivalry game. So who knows.
superhornet
Active member
UCD will come out p!$$ed after their loss to EWU, but I don't think it's going to matter. I have a feeling this game will look sort of like the last couple: Sac gets 42-49 points, and gives up very little....
BuckeyeHornetFan
Active member
Super Hornet said:
Sign me up.
We. Must. Win.
Rivalry Game.
On their field.
If Sac plays sloppy or careless (personal fouls) it could be not what we want.
UCFE has a way of having our players respond and it is always the second person who retaliates that gets flagged.
Homer refs will call a few roughing the passer penalties, just because.
41-38, :dunce:
On their field.
If Sac plays sloppy or careless (personal fouls) it could be not what we want.
UCFE has a way of having our players respond and it is always the second person who retaliates that gets flagged.
Homer refs will call a few roughing the passer penalties, just because.
41-38, :dunce:
GreenArmySwarm
Active member
Kadeezy said:
Would be a nice tribute but probably not likely. I do appreciate us bringing back the “SAC” logo of the 90’s for this game.
superhornet
Active member
Has anyone on campus brought back that old phony insulting URL I used to see on signs along the pathway from the dorms to campus: www.davisux.com?
:lol:
:lol:
Kadeezy
Active member
I hope Williams was held back last week for a Causeway comeback. We are starting to feel the injury bug a bit, but he’s just such a game changer.
This team is peaking at the right time. I’m glad the game is on the road, I think it helps with the team’s mentality heading into what’s going to be a war. They know they need to leave it all out in the field not just to beat Davis, but to likely secure a bye and a seed.
On that note, if we do get a seed, I hope the staff will take lessons learned from 2019 and apply them to the time off around thanksgiving. If I recall correctly, TT gave the whole team the week of thanksgiving off and they returned for Austin Peay week with a regular schedule. The Hornets promptly played their worst ball of the year. Maybe this year with covid, keep the players and staff on house, together, focusing on rest, rehab, film, and light practice to keep the balance there…
There’s still much to happen. Duck Favis!
This team is peaking at the right time. I’m glad the game is on the road, I think it helps with the team’s mentality heading into what’s going to be a war. They know they need to leave it all out in the field not just to beat Davis, but to likely secure a bye and a seed.
On that note, if we do get a seed, I hope the staff will take lessons learned from 2019 and apply them to the time off around thanksgiving. If I recall correctly, TT gave the whole team the week of thanksgiving off and they returned for Austin Peay week with a regular schedule. The Hornets promptly played their worst ball of the year. Maybe this year with covid, keep the players and staff on house, together, focusing on rest, rehab, film, and light practice to keep the balance there…
There’s still much to happen. Duck Favis!
Kadeezy
Active member
I was just reading through the game notes, one thing I did not account for... The Hornets will likely know if they are the Big Sky autobid just after kickoff.
MSU kicks off at 11 and Sac/UCD kick off at 1. If UM beats MSU, Sac gets the autobid over MSU in the (at worst) Shared Conference Champ crown by virtue of the common opponent win vs. UM.
Either way, you'd like to win the BSC outright, but we'll know if we're the autobid by the end of the first quarter or so!
MSU kicks off at 11 and Sac/UCD kick off at 1. If UM beats MSU, Sac gets the autobid over MSU in the (at worst) Shared Conference Champ crown by virtue of the common opponent win vs. UM.
Either way, you'd like to win the BSC outright, but we'll know if we're the autobid by the end of the first quarter or so!
BuckeyeHornetFan
Active member
Kadeezy said:
I don’t think schedule had anything to do with subpar play. Health played much a larger role.
Pierre Williams didn’t play and Elijah Dotson was playing injured. Kevin Thomson hadn’t been right most the 2nd half of the season. Those were the 3 most important offensive players of that season.
Defensively, they just didn’t play well. IIRC there were some late season injuries there too. I just can’t recall any names.
I sure hope Pierre Williams doesn’t have a 2019 repeat. We need him.
Hornet Fan
New member
Kadeezy is right. blaming injuries for that performance is a lame ass excuse. Be ready mentally when the playoffs come. Play smart, next man up, minimize penalties, roll with the punches, and maintain composure. I seem to recall the D stopped Austin Pea deep opening drive 4th and out and then we stupidly roughed the punter, on a 4th and 20, first down AP, major momentum shift, , game over. We didnt start playing until we were down 28-0, Thats not due to injuries to Thomson or Dotson. Cmon man.
But on a positive note, it seems TT has these guys dialed in. I dont expect that to happen again this year.
But on a positive note, it seems TT has these guys dialed in. I dont expect that to happen again this year.
BuckeyeHornetFan
Active member
Hornet Fan said:
Pretty sure Kadeezy didn’t say things exactly how you interpreted it. But whatever.
Regarding my own comments, citing reasons why something happened isn’t the same as an “excuse”. The fact that you interpret it that way says a lot.
Furthermore choosing to ignore and disregard injuries and health and how it affects a game is even lamer, not to mention utterly naive.
You can go with this old school rah rah “you can win with your ‘B’ players” crap all you want. Fact is you need talent to win. When you don’t have it or when playing with players nowhere near 100% it makes a difference. Choosing to ignore that fact doesn’t change it.
Thomson was not the same player he was earlier in the season. Not even close. Dotson’s injuries kept him out of the game for the most part. And Williams didn’t even play at all. Any team minus their 3 best offensive players is going to struggle. Again, failing to acknowledge that and labeling it an “excuse” is just ridiculously short-sighted.
I’m not gonna bother going back and forth on this with you. I know what I know. So no need for another “lame ass response” from you.
2 total posts here — I sure hope you can do better than this.
As you were.
Hornet Fan
New member
You had to go number of posts on me? That’s all you got? Hahaha ok bro. You’re classic. Get on it.
Hornet Fan
New member
BuckeyeHornetFan said:
This dude literally just went number of posts on me.
