Week 10 - Sac State vs Portland State
The Hornets (3-5, 1-3 BSC) come into this game looking for answers as they host the struggling Portland State Vikings (1-6, 1-3 BSC). The Vikings came into this season looking to build off of a respectable 2023 campaign under 10th year Head Coach Bruce Barnum but have struggled all season long. The Vikes were on the wrong end of a blown goal line call by the refs that resulted in a 26-27 week 6 loss against the Causeway foes. The Vikings lone win came in week 7 game at Idaho State, 42-38. Last week, PSU took a lopsided 14-44 loss at home to Montana State.
Offensively, the Vikings operate a run-pass option offense out of the Pistol formation and shotgun that runs the ball 60% of the time. PSU also likes to spread it out in a 5 wide receiver set to stretch a defense. Quarterback Dante Chachere (95/162, 1207 yds, 9 TD, 4 INT, 84 car, 447 yds, 8 TD) is the driver of this offense who poses a dual threat on the ground and through the air. Alongside Chachere, running backs Delon Thompson (76 car, 379 yds, 2 TD) and Quincy Craig (63 car, 293 yds, 1 TD, 28 rec, 191 yds, 4 TD) split duties and are both very capable runners. Wide receivers Eric Denham (18 rec, 384 yds, 3 TD) and Branden Alvarez (23 rec, 285 yds, 4 TD) are the top targets in the passing game. Up front the Viking offensive line has a lot of size.
Offensive Team Stats
Defensive Team Stats
Hornet Team Stats
Position Advantage
Offensively the Hornets should be able to do whatever they want. If ETT isn’t available, then Borders and company will need to step up. If Conklin makes his reads and takes what the PSU defense gives him then there should be plenty of success through the air.
Defensively the Hornets will have their hands full trying to stop a very talented dual threat quarterback. The trick will be trying to get pressure and maintain contain as Chachere is a very slippery player to track down. The longer Chachere can extend a play, the more likely it will be that he finds a hole in the Hornet secondary. We’ll see if this Hornet defense is up to the task.
This game will show us how if the Hornets can sustain their resolve for an entire game. If the Hornets come out sluggish and lacking execution, the Vikings will hang around and probably steal this game. The other variable in this game is how many true freshmen get thrown into the mix for the Hornets. With the postseason out of the question, these last games would be beneficial for player development more so than going all out for a win. The last variable is weather. There is a decent chance that this is a rain game, which would heavily favor the Vikings and their run heavy read option offense.
I’m not sure what to expect from the Hornets this week. The winning Hornet mojo is clearly gone and I think the Hornet coaches are on tilt as we’ve seen from questionable situational play calling and game awareness this past month. I’ll reluctantly pick the Hornets to win this game as this coaching staff looks to keep the wheels from falling off this program.
Stingers Up!
Causeway foes at PSU Highlights
The Hornets (3-5, 1-3 BSC) come into this game looking for answers as they host the struggling Portland State Vikings (1-6, 1-3 BSC). The Vikings came into this season looking to build off of a respectable 2023 campaign under 10th year Head Coach Bruce Barnum but have struggled all season long. The Vikes were on the wrong end of a blown goal line call by the refs that resulted in a 26-27 week 6 loss against the Causeway foes. The Vikings lone win came in week 7 game at Idaho State, 42-38. Last week, PSU took a lopsided 14-44 loss at home to Montana State.
Offensively, the Vikings operate a run-pass option offense out of the Pistol formation and shotgun that runs the ball 60% of the time. PSU also likes to spread it out in a 5 wide receiver set to stretch a defense. Quarterback Dante Chachere (95/162, 1207 yds, 9 TD, 4 INT, 84 car, 447 yds, 8 TD) is the driver of this offense who poses a dual threat on the ground and through the air. Alongside Chachere, running backs Delon Thompson (76 car, 379 yds, 2 TD) and Quincy Craig (63 car, 293 yds, 1 TD, 28 rec, 191 yds, 4 TD) split duties and are both very capable runners. Wide receivers Eric Denham (18 rec, 384 yds, 3 TD) and Branden Alvarez (23 rec, 285 yds, 4 TD) are the top targets in the passing game. Up front the Viking offensive line has a lot of size.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 24.6 (10th BSC / 66th FCS)
- Total Offense: 365.1 ypg (175.9 rushing ypg / 189.3 passing ypg) - 9th (5th / 11th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 12 (T-7th BSC)
- Turnovers: 5/2 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 18/21 - 16/2 (TD/FG) - 7th BSC
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 46.1 (12th BSC / 123rd FCS)
- Total Defense: 572.3 ypg (249.0 rushing ypg / 323.3 passing ypg) - 12th (12th / 12th) BSC
- Sacks : 4 (T-11th BSC)
- Turnovers Forced: 2/2 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 28/38 - 23/5 (TD/FG) - 11th BSC
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 30.5 (7th BSC / 30th FCS)
- Points allowed per game: 30.3 (7th BSC / 92nd FCS)
- Total Offense: 415.6 ypg (165.8 rushing ypg / 249.9 passing ypg) - 7th (7th / 3rd) BSC
- Total Defense: 378.0 ypg (134.1 rushing ypg / 243.9 passing ypg) - 6th (4th / 8th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 9 (T-4th BSC)
- Sacks: 22 (1st BSC)
- Turnovers: 10/9 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 9/8 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone Offense: 31/38 - 22/9 (TD/FG) - 8th BSC
- Red Zone Defense: 20/29 - 15/5 (TD/FG) - 1st BSC
Position Advantage
- Quarterback: Vikings. Dante Chachere being a dual threat with a good arm gets the nod over the one dimensional Carson Conklin.
- Running Backs: Push. If Elijah Tau-Tolliver is healthy, he will be the best running back on the field. If ETT can’t go, the Vikings have the better players with Delon Thompson and Quincy Craig compared to Curron Borders and whoever else the Hornets put on the field.
- Wide Receivers: Hornets. Jared Gipson and Anderson Grover get the nod over Eric Denham and Branden Alvarez.
- Tight Ends: Push. Coleman Kuntz has a better stat line than Tanner Beaman, neither player is a main cog in either offense.
- Offensive Line: Push. The Viking offensive line is better in rush blocking than the Hornets.
- Defensive Line: Hornets. The Hornets are a better all around group than the Vikings.
- Linebackers: Hornets. Will Leota and Nakian Jackson make more plays in the backfield and pressure the quarterback better than Michael Montgomery and Peyton Wing.
- Defensive Backs: Hornets. Both secondary's are porous, but the Hornets have snagged more picks than the Vikings.
- Punters: Push. Tony Johnson and Cal McGough are pretty comparable.
- Kickers: Hornets. Zach Schreiner has made a lot more kicks on the year and has the edge from distance compared to Mathias Uribe.
- Kick Returners: Push. Michael Johnson and Christian Grubb are comparable kick returners.
Offensively the Hornets should be able to do whatever they want. If ETT isn’t available, then Borders and company will need to step up. If Conklin makes his reads and takes what the PSU defense gives him then there should be plenty of success through the air.
Defensively the Hornets will have their hands full trying to stop a very talented dual threat quarterback. The trick will be trying to get pressure and maintain contain as Chachere is a very slippery player to track down. The longer Chachere can extend a play, the more likely it will be that he finds a hole in the Hornet secondary. We’ll see if this Hornet defense is up to the task.
This game will show us how if the Hornets can sustain their resolve for an entire game. If the Hornets come out sluggish and lacking execution, the Vikings will hang around and probably steal this game. The other variable in this game is how many true freshmen get thrown into the mix for the Hornets. With the postseason out of the question, these last games would be beneficial for player development more so than going all out for a win. The last variable is weather. There is a decent chance that this is a rain game, which would heavily favor the Vikings and their run heavy read option offense.
I’m not sure what to expect from the Hornets this week. The winning Hornet mojo is clearly gone and I think the Hornet coaches are on tilt as we’ve seen from questionable situational play calling and game awareness this past month. I’ll reluctantly pick the Hornets to win this game as this coaching staff looks to keep the wheels from falling off this program.
Stingers Up!
Causeway foes at PSU Highlights
