Week 10 - #2 Sac State at #5 Weber State
The 2nd ranked Hornets (8-0, 5-0 BSC) have a huge showdown at 5th ranked Weber State Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 BSC) that will have BSC title and playoff seeding implications on the line. Weber State has churned out another outstanding season, however their heartbreaking 38-43 loss at Montana State two weeks ago means they need to beat the Hornets this week and get some help to earn a share of the BSC title. The Wildcats are coming into this game after dispatching Montana in a 24-21 win in Ogden last week and are looking for a strong finish heading into the playoffs.
The Wildcats run a bit of everything on offense ranging from a run-pass option out of the Pistol to shotgun sets and power formations from under center. WSU wants to run the ball behind their big and physical offensive line, but they are more than capable of putting together a potent aerial attack with Bronson Barron (137/219, 1738 yds, 14 TD, 6 INT) who can stretch a defense with accurate strikes down the field. The Wildcat rushing attack is a three headed monster that features Damon Bankston (86 car, 501 yds, 6 TD), Dontae McMillan (69 car, 439 yds, 4 TD) and Josh Davis (72 car, 338 yds, 2 TD). All three running backs are pretty comparable but capable of breaking big plays. Wide receivers Ty MacPherson (33 rec, 654 yds, 8 TD) and Jacob Sharp (23 rec, 416 yds, 2 TD) are the main targets with tight end Justin Malone (24 rec, 213 yds) providing the WSU offense with a tough matchup for opposing defenses.
Offensive Team Stats
The Wildcat defense runs a base 4-3 and is the stingiest defense in the BSC when it comes to points allowed and is tied atop the BSC in interceptions (13). The WSU front is one of the most aggressive in the BSC as it has 20 sacks on the season. Middle linebacker Winston Reid (66 tkl, 6 TFL, 1 sac, 1 INT) anchors the defense with ball hawking cornerback Maxwell Anderson (25 tkl, 1.5 TFL, 5 INT) leading the team in interceptions. Defensive end Jack Kelly (12 tkl, 6 TFL, 5 sac) leads the Wildcat defense in sacks.
Defensive Team Stats
The Wildcat special teams has been a roller coaster ride the past couple of weeks. At MSU, the Wildcats scored touchdowns on both a kick and punt return and also blocked a field goal, but gave up an FCS record 4 safeties on blown long snaps during punts. Last week WSU gave up a 100 yard kick return for a touchdown at UM. Abraham Williams (7 ret, 321 yds, 2 TD) is a big threat in the return game and kicker Kyle Thompson (11/15 FG, 33/33 PAT) is automatic from inside 40 yards, but struggles from long range. He has made a 49 yard field goal this season. Punter Jack Burgess (30 punts, 14 I-20) has a big leg with 4 punts of 50+ yards.
Hornet Team Stats
The Wildcats and the Hornets are very similar on paper with both offenses having similar production and strategies. Defensively, WSU has the better unit and is more physical upfront which will come into play as rain and snow are in the forecast for the game. However the WSU defense has shown itself susceptible to a running quarterback so O’Hara is going to have to play a vital role if the Hornets want a win on the road. The Hornets have never lost a road BSC game under Head Coach Taylor and Weber State is the only program he has yet to beat. Something is going to give this week. I picked WSU in preseason, and I’m reluctantly sticking with that pick. This should be a good game.
Stingers Up!
The 2nd ranked Hornets (8-0, 5-0 BSC) have a huge showdown at 5th ranked Weber State Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 BSC) that will have BSC title and playoff seeding implications on the line. Weber State has churned out another outstanding season, however their heartbreaking 38-43 loss at Montana State two weeks ago means they need to beat the Hornets this week and get some help to earn a share of the BSC title. The Wildcats are coming into this game after dispatching Montana in a 24-21 win in Ogden last week and are looking for a strong finish heading into the playoffs.
The Wildcats run a bit of everything on offense ranging from a run-pass option out of the Pistol to shotgun sets and power formations from under center. WSU wants to run the ball behind their big and physical offensive line, but they are more than capable of putting together a potent aerial attack with Bronson Barron (137/219, 1738 yds, 14 TD, 6 INT) who can stretch a defense with accurate strikes down the field. The Wildcat rushing attack is a three headed monster that features Damon Bankston (86 car, 501 yds, 6 TD), Dontae McMillan (69 car, 439 yds, 4 TD) and Josh Davis (72 car, 338 yds, 2 TD). All three running backs are pretty comparable but capable of breaking big plays. Wide receivers Ty MacPherson (33 rec, 654 yds, 8 TD) and Jacob Sharp (23 rec, 416 yds, 2 TD) are the main targets with tight end Justin Malone (24 rec, 213 yds) providing the WSU offense with a tough matchup for opposing defenses.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 35.8 (4th BSC)
- Total Offense: 413.1 ypg (192.6 rushing ypg / 220.5 passing ypg) (3rd/9th BSC)
- Turnovers: 6/7 (INT/Fum)
- Redzone: 34/40 - 23/11 (TD/FG)
The Wildcat defense runs a base 4-3 and is the stingiest defense in the BSC when it comes to points allowed and is tied atop the BSC in interceptions (13). The WSU front is one of the most aggressive in the BSC as it has 20 sacks on the season. Middle linebacker Winston Reid (66 tkl, 6 TFL, 1 sac, 1 INT) anchors the defense with ball hawking cornerback Maxwell Anderson (25 tkl, 1.5 TFL, 5 INT) leading the team in interceptions. Defensive end Jack Kelly (12 tkl, 6 TFL, 5 sac) leads the Wildcat defense in sacks.
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 16.3 (1st BSC)
- Total Defense: 285.5 ypg (115.0 rushing ypg / 170.5 passing ypg) (3rd/1st BSC)
- Turnovers Forced: 13/3 (INT/Fum)
- Redzone: 12/20 - 8/4 (TD/FG)
The Wildcat special teams has been a roller coaster ride the past couple of weeks. At MSU, the Wildcats scored touchdowns on both a kick and punt return and also blocked a field goal, but gave up an FCS record 4 safeties on blown long snaps during punts. Last week WSU gave up a 100 yard kick return for a touchdown at UM. Abraham Williams (7 ret, 321 yds, 2 TD) is a big threat in the return game and kicker Kyle Thompson (11/15 FG, 33/33 PAT) is automatic from inside 40 yards, but struggles from long range. He has made a 49 yard field goal this season. Punter Jack Burgess (30 punts, 14 I-20) has a big leg with 4 punts of 50+ yards.
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 44.0 (1st BSC)
- Points allowed per game: 21.5 (3rd BSC)
- Total Offense: 498.0 ypg (265.8 rushing ypg / 232.3 passing ypg) (2nd/8th BSC)
- Total Defense: 374.3 ypg (111.6 rushing ypg / 262.6 passing ypg) (2nd/10th BSC)
- Turnovers: 10/4 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 7/5 (INT/Fum)
- Redzone Offense: 40/46 - 33/7 (TD/FG)
- Redzone Defense: 20/24 - 16/4 (TD/FG)
The Wildcats and the Hornets are very similar on paper with both offenses having similar production and strategies. Defensively, WSU has the better unit and is more physical upfront which will come into play as rain and snow are in the forecast for the game. However the WSU defense has shown itself susceptible to a running quarterback so O’Hara is going to have to play a vital role if the Hornets want a win on the road. The Hornets have never lost a road BSC game under Head Coach Taylor and Weber State is the only program he has yet to beat. Something is going to give this week. I picked WSU in preseason, and I’m reluctantly sticking with that pick. This should be a good game.
Stingers Up!
