Week 11 - Sac State at #2 Montana State
The Hornets (3-6, 1-4 BSC) head to Bozeman to face the 2nd ranked Montana State Bobcats (9-0, 5-0 BSC). The Bobcats are having a stellar season and are looking to make amends from last season with a BSC Title and deep run in the playoffs under 4th year Head Coach Brent Vigen. This ‘24 season for MSU is very reminiscent of the Hornets ‘22 season by its week to week domination.
It’s FCS Championship or bust for the Bobcats who opened the season with a week 1 come from behind 35-31 win at FBS New Mexico that featured 21 4th quarter points. MSU hasn’t looked back since and have outscored opponents 375 to 158 on the year. The most notable win aside from their FBS win over UNM is a week 8 thrashing of 7th ranked Idaho, 38-7. Last week, Eastern Washington kept the game close late in the 3rd quarter until the Bobcats put it away with a couple of scores for a 42-28 victory.
The Bobcat offense has a lot of weapons at their disposal. MSU runs the ball about 66% of the time in their read option attack. Quarterback Tommy Mellott (118/170, 1623 yds, 19 TD, 1 INT, 55 car, 546 yds, 8 TD) can do it all and his efficiency is off the charts. Alongside Mellott in the backfield are running backs Scottre Humphrey (146 car, 1062 yds, 12 TD) and Adam Jones (84 car, 518 yds, 6 TD, 12 rec, 136 yds, 1 TD), both of whom are big playmakers. When the Bobcats do throw the ball, it is distributed pretty evenly amongst their receivers. Rohan Jones (21 rec, 339 yds, 6 TD) leads the receivers in production, but Taco Dowler (18 rec, 298 yds, 6 TD) and Ty McCullouch (22 rec, 290 yds, 3 TD) also have big play potential. For MSU’s offense, it all starts up front and this is one of the best offensive lines in the BSC, if not the FCS.
Offensive Team Stats
Defensive Team Stats
Hornet Team Stats
Offensively, we’ll see if Carson Conklin can be effective against a competent defense. Conklin and the Hornet offense struggled at NAU (statistically 2nd best defense in the BSC) in week 5, and we could see similar struggles in another hostile environment against a stout defense. This game will be a true measuring stick as to how far Conklin has come this season. I am hopeful that the Hornets will see some success, however with ETT and Kuntz questionable for this game the Hornets will need other players to step up. The key will be the play calling and if Coach Fresques can put these players in a position to be successful. Given what we have seen these past few weeks on the offensive side, I am optimistic that the Hornets will be able to move the ball this week.
Special teams seem like a bit of a push, however the Hornet kick coverage team has struggled the past few weeks.
Hornets will lose big this week as MSU is a clear cut above everyone in FCS this season.
Stingers Up!
MSU at EWU Highlights:
The Hornets (3-6, 1-4 BSC) head to Bozeman to face the 2nd ranked Montana State Bobcats (9-0, 5-0 BSC). The Bobcats are having a stellar season and are looking to make amends from last season with a BSC Title and deep run in the playoffs under 4th year Head Coach Brent Vigen. This ‘24 season for MSU is very reminiscent of the Hornets ‘22 season by its week to week domination.
It’s FCS Championship or bust for the Bobcats who opened the season with a week 1 come from behind 35-31 win at FBS New Mexico that featured 21 4th quarter points. MSU hasn’t looked back since and have outscored opponents 375 to 158 on the year. The most notable win aside from their FBS win over UNM is a week 8 thrashing of 7th ranked Idaho, 38-7. Last week, Eastern Washington kept the game close late in the 3rd quarter until the Bobcats put it away with a couple of scores for a 42-28 victory.
The Bobcat offense has a lot of weapons at their disposal. MSU runs the ball about 66% of the time in their read option attack. Quarterback Tommy Mellott (118/170, 1623 yds, 19 TD, 1 INT, 55 car, 546 yds, 8 TD) can do it all and his efficiency is off the charts. Alongside Mellott in the backfield are running backs Scottre Humphrey (146 car, 1062 yds, 12 TD) and Adam Jones (84 car, 518 yds, 6 TD, 12 rec, 136 yds, 1 TD), both of whom are big playmakers. When the Bobcats do throw the ball, it is distributed pretty evenly amongst their receivers. Rohan Jones (21 rec, 339 yds, 6 TD) leads the receivers in production, but Taco Dowler (18 rec, 298 yds, 6 TD) and Ty McCullouch (22 rec, 290 yds, 3 TD) also have big play potential. For MSU’s offense, it all starts up front and this is one of the best offensive lines in the BSC, if not the FCS.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 41.7 (1st BSC / 1st FCS)
- Total Offense: 510.2 ypg (310.8 rushing ypg / 199.4 passing ypg) - 1st (1st / 10th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 8 (2nd BSC)
- Turnovers: 1/6 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 38/40 - 31/7 (TD/FG) - 1st BSC
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 17.6 (1st BSC / 9th FCS)
- Total Defense: 293.2 ypg (115.0 rushing ypg / 115.7 passing ypg) - 1st (1st / 2nd) BSC
- Sacks: 16 (T-5th BSC)
- Turnovers Forced: 6/5 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 17/21 - 14/3 (TD/FG) - 3rd BSC
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 31.3 (5th BSC / 27th FCS)
- Points allowed per game: 33.3 (3rd BSC / 103rd FCS)
- Total Offense: 423.2 ypg (165.5 rushing ypg / 258.2 passing ypg) - 4th (7th / 3rd) BSC
- Total Defense: 396.4 ypg (152.4 rushing ypg / 244.0 passing ypg) - 7th (7th / 9th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 9 (T-3rd BSC)
- Sacks: 22 (1st BSC)
- Turnovers: 11/9 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 9/8 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone Offense: 34/41 - 25/9 (TD/FG) - 8th BSC
- Red Zone Defense: 27/36 - 21/6 (TD/FG) - 1st BSC
- Quarterback: Bobcats. Tommy Mellot is a complete quarterback on the ground and through the air whereas Carson Conklin is still early in his development.
- Running Backs: Bobcats. Even if Elijah Tau-Tolliver plays, Scottre Humphrey will be the best running back on the field.
- Wide Receivers: Hornets. The Hornet offense is more beneficial to the receivers, but Jared Gipson and Anderson Grover have the edge over Rohan Jones and Taco Dowler.
- Tight Ends: Hornets. Coleman Kuntz plays a bigger role in the Hornet offense compared to Ryan Lonergan. The edge goes to MSU if Kuntz is unable to play this week.
- Offensive Line: Bobcats. The Bobcat offensive line has been dominant this season, the Hornets offensive line has held up well considering the health issues encountered.
- Defensive Line: Bobcats. The MSU defensive line has been more consistent throughout the year compared to the Hornets and does a better job at getting after the quarterback.
- Linebackers: Hornets. Will Leota and Nakian Jackson make more plays and get to the ball more than McCade O’Reilly and Bryce Grebe.
- Defensive Backs: Bobcats. The Hornet secondary is an absolute disaster, not many secondaries are worse than the Hornets, and MSU certainly isn’t.
- Punters: Bobcats. Brendan Hall has been more effective in his limited amount of punts compared to Cal McGough.
- Kickers: Hornets. Zach Schreiner has been more accurate and has hit from farther out compared to Myles Sansted.
- Kick Returners: Push. Pedestrian return numbers by both teams.
Offensively, we’ll see if Carson Conklin can be effective against a competent defense. Conklin and the Hornet offense struggled at NAU (statistically 2nd best defense in the BSC) in week 5, and we could see similar struggles in another hostile environment against a stout defense. This game will be a true measuring stick as to how far Conklin has come this season. I am hopeful that the Hornets will see some success, however with ETT and Kuntz questionable for this game the Hornets will need other players to step up. The key will be the play calling and if Coach Fresques can put these players in a position to be successful. Given what we have seen these past few weeks on the offensive side, I am optimistic that the Hornets will be able to move the ball this week.
Special teams seem like a bit of a push, however the Hornet kick coverage team has struggled the past few weeks.
Hornets will lose big this week as MSU is a clear cut above everyone in FCS this season.
Stingers Up!
MSU at EWU Highlights:
