Week 13 - Sac State vs Causeway
The flailing Hornets (3-8, 1-6 BSC) finish the regular season at home in the Causeway against the 5th ranked (9-2, 6-1 BSC) opponent. The Hornets season ended many weeks ago while the Causeway foe is looking to secure a top seed into the postseason in Head Coach Tim Plough’s inaugural season at the helm with a senior laden team.
They have had an exceptional season but are coming into this game having their BSC Title hopes dashed in a loss at home to top ranked Montana State, 28-30. Last week was their first loss since a 13-31 opening week loss at Cal. They have had a few close games this season. In week 5, they had a good win at home over 5th ranked Idaho, 28-26.
Their offense is very dynamic that lines up and out of the pistol/shotgun formation and can also spread things out and throw the ball all over the field. The offense runs through prolific running back Lan Larison (232 car, 1173 yds, 11 TD, 54 rec, 686 yds, 6 TD) who leads the team in rushing and receiving and can line up anywhere on the field. Quarterback Miles Hastings (276/400, 3347 yds, 29 TD, 7 INT) has thrived in the new offensive system. At wide receiver the trio of Samuel Gbatu (33 rec, 538 yds, 6 TD), Chaz Davis (29 rec, 504 yds, 6 TD), and CJ Hutton (37 rec, 458 yds, 1 TD) all have big play potential. Up front they have had consistency with their starters and have stayed relatively healthy all season long. Their offensive line is versatile in both the run and passing game, but they have given up the 2nd most sacks in the BSC.
Offensive Team Stats
Defensive Team Stats
Hornet Team Stats
This game shouldn’t be close and it should be a very lopsided final score. They will be vying to make an exclamation point for the playoff committee while the Hornets started making offseason plans weeks ago.
Even if the Hornet defense was healthy, I don’t think they would have had much hope of slowing down their high powered offense. There are matchup issues all over the field for the Hornet defense and no one in FCS has proven they have an answer for Lan Larison…certainly this horrific Hornet defense won’t. I fully expect Coach Plough to run up the score in this one.
On the other side of the ball, the Hornets will be facing a stout defense with quality players at every level. As much as I "ring in praise" over Carson Conklin, he has yet to have a good game against a quality defense. I think they will bring the pressure given all the injuries the Hornets are facing on the offensive line. Then there are the inconsistencies with Coach Fresques’ play calling that will no doubt be horrific for this game. Bobby had a very questionable game plan for last season's Causeway and I think he will be on tilt for this game. Given the desperation on this side of the ball to make it a game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some gadget plays mixed in that will surely backfire on the Hornets.
All in all, I don’t expect anything from the Hornets this weekend as this nightmare of a season will come to a close in a resounding loss. Hornet fans will then set their sights and speculations on changes to the staff.
Stingers Up!
Montana State at Causeway foe Highlights
The flailing Hornets (3-8, 1-6 BSC) finish the regular season at home in the Causeway against the 5th ranked (9-2, 6-1 BSC) opponent. The Hornets season ended many weeks ago while the Causeway foe is looking to secure a top seed into the postseason in Head Coach Tim Plough’s inaugural season at the helm with a senior laden team.
They have had an exceptional season but are coming into this game having their BSC Title hopes dashed in a loss at home to top ranked Montana State, 28-30. Last week was their first loss since a 13-31 opening week loss at Cal. They have had a few close games this season. In week 5, they had a good win at home over 5th ranked Idaho, 28-26.
Their offense is very dynamic that lines up and out of the pistol/shotgun formation and can also spread things out and throw the ball all over the field. The offense runs through prolific running back Lan Larison (232 car, 1173 yds, 11 TD, 54 rec, 686 yds, 6 TD) who leads the team in rushing and receiving and can line up anywhere on the field. Quarterback Miles Hastings (276/400, 3347 yds, 29 TD, 7 INT) has thrived in the new offensive system. At wide receiver the trio of Samuel Gbatu (33 rec, 538 yds, 6 TD), Chaz Davis (29 rec, 504 yds, 6 TD), and CJ Hutton (37 rec, 458 yds, 1 TD) all have big play potential. Up front they have had consistency with their starters and have stayed relatively healthy all season long. Their offensive line is versatile in both the run and passing game, but they have given up the 2nd most sacks in the BSC.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 34.6 (4th BSC / 16th FCS)
- Total Offense: 457.2 ypg (139.3 rushing ypg / 319.9 passing ypg) - 3rd (10th / 1st) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 23 (11th BSC)
- Turnovers: 8/7 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 44/50 - 30/14 (TD/FG) - 4th BSC
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 21.7 (3rd BSC / 28th FCS)
- Total Defense: 346.5 ypg (122.0 rushing ypg / 224.5 passing ypg) - 3rd (2nd / 5th) BSC
- Sacks : 12 (10th BSC)
- Turnovers Forced: 13/6 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 26/34 - 21/5 (TD/FG) - 1st BSC
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 28.4 (7th BSC / 39th FCS)
- Points allowed per game: 34.1 (8th BSC / 105th FCS)
- Total Offense: 401.0 ypg (149.4 rushing ypg / 251.6 passing ypg) - 8th (8th / 3rd) BSC
- Total Defense: 413.1 ypg (177.0 rushing ypg / 236.1 passing ypg) - 7th (8th / 9th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 13 (T-4th BSC)
- Sacks: 26 (2nd BSC)
- Turnovers: 12/11 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 9/10 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone Offense: 37/46 - 27/10 (TD/FG) - 9th BSC
- Red Zone Defense: 36/45 - 27/9 (TD/FG) - 2nd BSC
- Quarterback: Them. Miles Hastings has more experience and is a slightly better thrower than Carson Conklin, but Conklin is more mobile in the pocket.
- Running Backs: Them. Lan Larison is the best in the land, even when Elijah Tau-Tolliver is atop his game.
- Wide Receivers: Them. Slight edge to them as Samuel Gbatu and Chaz Davis have more big play potential, but Jared Gipson and Anderson Grover are having statistically better season…because why wouldn’t you feed the ball to Larison as much as possible.
- Tight Ends: Them. With Coleman Kuntz out with an injury, Winston Williams will be the best end on the field.
- Offensive Line: Them. One offensive line has been relatively healthy all season, while the other is starting a hodgepodge of backups.
- Defensive Line: Them. Their line has better size and plays the run a lot better than the Hornets. The Hornets rush the passer better when healthy. Given the Hornet injuries up front, the scale easily tips in their favor.
- Linebackers: Them. Will Leota has had a notable season, unfortunately the Nakian Jackson injury leaves a glaring void at this position. David Meyer and Porter Conners will be the better unit by a considerable degree.
- Defensive Backs: Them. Between Rex Connor at safety and Kavir Bains at nickel, they have the clear edge in the secondary.
- Punters: Hornets. Somehow the Hornets have less punts on the year than they do.
- Kickers: Push. Both Zach Schreiner and Hunter Ridley are having excellent seasons.
- Kick Returners: Them. CJ Hutton has the bigger return and better average on the year compared to Michael Johnson. Both are solid returners.
This game shouldn’t be close and it should be a very lopsided final score. They will be vying to make an exclamation point for the playoff committee while the Hornets started making offseason plans weeks ago.
Even if the Hornet defense was healthy, I don’t think they would have had much hope of slowing down their high powered offense. There are matchup issues all over the field for the Hornet defense and no one in FCS has proven they have an answer for Lan Larison…certainly this horrific Hornet defense won’t. I fully expect Coach Plough to run up the score in this one.
On the other side of the ball, the Hornets will be facing a stout defense with quality players at every level. As much as I "ring in praise" over Carson Conklin, he has yet to have a good game against a quality defense. I think they will bring the pressure given all the injuries the Hornets are facing on the offensive line. Then there are the inconsistencies with Coach Fresques’ play calling that will no doubt be horrific for this game. Bobby had a very questionable game plan for last season's Causeway and I think he will be on tilt for this game. Given the desperation on this side of the ball to make it a game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some gadget plays mixed in that will surely backfire on the Hornets.
All in all, I don’t expect anything from the Hornets this weekend as this nightmare of a season will come to a close in a resounding loss. Hornet fans will then set their sights and speculations on changes to the staff.
Stingers Up!
Montana State at Causeway foe Highlights
