Week 3 - #11/11 Sac State vs #23 Nicholls State
The 11th ranked Hornets (0-2) finally come home and host 23rd ranked Nicholls State (0-2) in the home opener. Head Coach Tim Rebowe will be looking to earn back to back Southland Conference Championships in his 10th season at the helm. This week is a game of similarities as both teams are looking for their first win of the season after coming off of losses on the road at in-state FBS opponents in weeks 1 and 2. In week 1, the defending Southland Champions battled Louisiana Tech close but ultimately fell 17-25 in a rain impacted game. The Colonels held an early game lead and kept within one possession for much of the game but couldn’t find a way to pull off the upset. Last week at 18th ranked Louisiana State, the Colonels were as close as 2 points early in the 3rd quarter before the Bayou Bengals blew the game wide open with an offensive barrage. The game ended with a score of 21-44 in favor of LSU.
Offensively, NSU runs a typical read option offense that has favors the rush about 61% of the time and has scored 19 points a game. The engine of this Colonel offense is running back Collin Guggenheim (43 car, 224 yds, 2 TD, 1 rec, 8 yds). He is a tough and quick runner that occasionally gets the snap from the wildcat formation. Quarterback Pat McQuaide (22/42, 251 yds, 1 TD) is a lefty that struggled in the opening game but had an efficient game last week. McQuaide has spread the ball around to his receivers with Quincy Brown (9 rec, 118 yds, 1 TD) being the main target. The NSU wide receivers and tight ends have good size with all but 2 listed on the 2-deep being at least 6’-2”. Up front, the Colonels are an experienced group that is more on the leaner side with a couple of big bodies in the middle of the line but they have given up 6 sacks so far this season.
The Colonels 4-3 defense is very experienced and has performed well in 6 of the 8 quarters it has played so far this season, however they have struggled to get stops in the redzone where opponents have scored on 8 of 10 trips (7 TDs allowed). NSU forced 5 turnovers at Louisiana Tech including a pick six on a busted screen pass. Up front the Colonels have a solid defensive line that are led by big nose tackle Rasheed Lovelace (8 tak, 1 INT) and defensive ends Joe Mason (11 tak) and Alex Villavaso (8 tak, 1.5 TFL, 1 sac). The NSU linebackers are very good at finding the ball. Linebacker Eli Ennis (21 tak, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT) leads the team in tackles. The Colonel secondary is led by safety Ethan Lee (14 tak) who is second on the team in tackles.
The Colonels kicker Ray Vallee (0/2 FG, 2/2 PAT) struggled at Louisiana Tech from short range and was replaced by Gabe Showalter (1/1 FG, 3/3 PAT) who hit from 38 yards out later that night. Punter Kylan Dupre (13 pnt, 40.8 ypp) has seen a lot of action so far this season. He has dropped 5 inside the 20 and has 2 punts over 50 yards. The Colonels kick returner, Marquese Albert (1 kr, 12 yds) has only one return on the year. The NSU coverage teams are giving up almost 24 yards per kick return and over 10 yards per punt return.
Position Advantage
The Hornets have more athleticism across the board but this is a scrappy and experienced Nicholls team. I expect the Colonels to make this game as difficult as possible for the Hornets as they have battled tough in both of their FBS games.
The key for the Hornets in this game is how well they defend the run. The Colonels are a run first team and have struggled on down and distance situations, if the Hornets can keep them behind the chains then it will be a difficult night for NSU.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Hornets just need to execute and take care of the football and all should be well. KB’s athleticism will stretch the Nicholls defense at the line of scrimmage and Conklin’s arm will stretch the NSU secondary vertically.
This is a must win game for the Hornets against a formidable opponent. If the Hornets don’t execute on offense, the scrappy Colonels could very well steal this one. I think the Hornets ride the emotions of finally playing at home to a win.
Stingers Up!
NSU at LSU Highlights
The 11th ranked Hornets (0-2) finally come home and host 23rd ranked Nicholls State (0-2) in the home opener. Head Coach Tim Rebowe will be looking to earn back to back Southland Conference Championships in his 10th season at the helm. This week is a game of similarities as both teams are looking for their first win of the season after coming off of losses on the road at in-state FBS opponents in weeks 1 and 2. In week 1, the defending Southland Champions battled Louisiana Tech close but ultimately fell 17-25 in a rain impacted game. The Colonels held an early game lead and kept within one possession for much of the game but couldn’t find a way to pull off the upset. Last week at 18th ranked Louisiana State, the Colonels were as close as 2 points early in the 3rd quarter before the Bayou Bengals blew the game wide open with an offensive barrage. The game ended with a score of 21-44 in favor of LSU.
Offensively, NSU runs a typical read option offense that has favors the rush about 61% of the time and has scored 19 points a game. The engine of this Colonel offense is running back Collin Guggenheim (43 car, 224 yds, 2 TD, 1 rec, 8 yds). He is a tough and quick runner that occasionally gets the snap from the wildcat formation. Quarterback Pat McQuaide (22/42, 251 yds, 1 TD) is a lefty that struggled in the opening game but had an efficient game last week. McQuaide has spread the ball around to his receivers with Quincy Brown (9 rec, 118 yds, 1 TD) being the main target. The NSU wide receivers and tight ends have good size with all but 2 listed on the 2-deep being at least 6’-2”. Up front, the Colonels are an experienced group that is more on the leaner side with a couple of big bodies in the middle of the line but they have given up 6 sacks so far this season.
The Colonels 4-3 defense is very experienced and has performed well in 6 of the 8 quarters it has played so far this season, however they have struggled to get stops in the redzone where opponents have scored on 8 of 10 trips (7 TDs allowed). NSU forced 5 turnovers at Louisiana Tech including a pick six on a busted screen pass. Up front the Colonels have a solid defensive line that are led by big nose tackle Rasheed Lovelace (8 tak, 1 INT) and defensive ends Joe Mason (11 tak) and Alex Villavaso (8 tak, 1.5 TFL, 1 sac). The NSU linebackers are very good at finding the ball. Linebacker Eli Ennis (21 tak, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT) leads the team in tackles. The Colonel secondary is led by safety Ethan Lee (14 tak) who is second on the team in tackles.
The Colonels kicker Ray Vallee (0/2 FG, 2/2 PAT) struggled at Louisiana Tech from short range and was replaced by Gabe Showalter (1/1 FG, 3/3 PAT) who hit from 38 yards out later that night. Punter Kylan Dupre (13 pnt, 40.8 ypp) has seen a lot of action so far this season. He has dropped 5 inside the 20 and has 2 punts over 50 yards. The Colonels kick returner, Marquese Albert (1 kr, 12 yds) has only one return on the year. The NSU coverage teams are giving up almost 24 yards per kick return and over 10 yards per punt return.
Position Advantage
- Quarterback: Hornets. Kaiden Bennett won the starting job in week 1 last season against this defense and is a far better athlete than Pat McQuaide. Carson Conklin is a better passer and has a stronger arm than McQuaide.
- Running Backs: Colonels. Collin Guggenheim is a beast and put up outstanding numbers against an SEC defense last week. I put that performance over anything we have seen from Elijah Tau-Tolliver so far this season.
- Wide Receivers: Hornets. Hornets have more proven talent with three receivers in Jared Gipson, Anderson Grover, and Danny Scudero with 100 yards or more on the year whereas the Colonels only have had Quincy Brown show up so far this season.
- Tight Ends: Hornets. Coleman Kuntz has made his presence felt but has yet to catch a touchdown pass while Lee Nogrotto has had limited touches but has a touchdown reception.
- Offensive Line: Hornets. The Hornet offensive line is more athletic and protects the quarterback better.
- Defensive Line: Colonels. Slight edge to the Colonels as their front has better numbers than the Hornets.
- Linebackers: Push. Hard to get a good read on this comparison. Will Leota and Eli Ennis are both very good.
- Defensive Backs: Colonels. Maybe this is the week the Hornet secondary limits an opposing team's top receiver.
- Punters: Push. Cal McGough is averaging 5 more yards per punt than Kylan Dupre, but Kylan Dupre has dropped more inside the 20 and has the bigger leg.
- Kickers: Hornets. Zach Schreiner has more experience than Gabe Showalter.
- Kick Returners: Hornets. Calling it now: if Michael Johnson is back on the field, he’ll take the opening kick to the house.
The Hornets have more athleticism across the board but this is a scrappy and experienced Nicholls team. I expect the Colonels to make this game as difficult as possible for the Hornets as they have battled tough in both of their FBS games.
The key for the Hornets in this game is how well they defend the run. The Colonels are a run first team and have struggled on down and distance situations, if the Hornets can keep them behind the chains then it will be a difficult night for NSU.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Hornets just need to execute and take care of the football and all should be well. KB’s athleticism will stretch the Nicholls defense at the line of scrimmage and Conklin’s arm will stretch the NSU secondary vertically.
This is a must win game for the Hornets against a formidable opponent. If the Hornets don’t execute on offense, the scrappy Colonels could very well steal this one. I think the Hornets ride the emotions of finally playing at home to a win.
Stingers Up!
NSU at LSU Highlights
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