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Week 5: Sac State at Idaho State

SDHornet

SDHornet

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Week 5: Sac State at Idaho State

Idaho State (1-2, 0-0) is coming off of a bye week and a win over D2 Chadron State the week prior. Their 2 losses are to FBS opponents (Utah and Utah State). Hard to tell how the Bengals are given their opponents, but their offense should be pretty solid.

ISU stats: http://www.bigskyconf.com/custompages/football/2014/stats/isu.htm

Contrary to years past, ISU has had a well balanced offense so far this season and still primarily operates out of a single running back formation. (#18) Arias (76/133, 782 yds, 8 TDs, 3 INTs) is a solid quarterback that chucks the ball all over the place as 7 receivers have 5 catches or more, with the bulk of which going to (#7) Mangum (21 rec, 230 yds, 2 TDs) and (#2) Malcom (15 rec, 210 yds, 4 TDs). Running back (#31) Finney (79 car, 379 yds, 2 TDs) has the bulk of the carries with (#1) McSurdy (31 car, 146 yds) being a more than capable replacement. The ISU offensive line has good size and plenty of experience.

Defensively ISU has struggled to slow anyone down, including their D2 opponent 2 weeks ago. The Bengals operate out of the 3-4. Their front 3 has limited size and their leading tacklers are strong safety (#10) Manu (28 tak, 3.5 TFL) and linebacker (#47) Jenkins (26 tak, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT). Defensively the Bengals have only forced 2 turnovers.

On special teams it looks as their kicker (#36) Johnson (2/5) is having early struggles as 2 of his misses are from less than 40 yards out. It looks like McSurdy is a threat on kickoff returns.

This will be an early road test for the Hornets. ISU is more than capable of knocking off the Hornets, and this is their Homecoming so they will be amped. If the Hornets continue to take care of business and clean up their undisciplined mistakes (penalties) then their chances should be good. The Hornets can’t come out flat or they will find themselves in an early hole.

Hornetsports Preview: http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20140923pdkmga

ISU Athletics Preview: http://www.isubengals.com/news/2014/9/23/FB_0923145151.aspx

Go Hornets!!!
 
Idaho State is a lot better. They did let Chadron climb back into the game but they were dominating. Utah State game was close till 3rd Q. Utah game I think they have up 3 ST scores. This is not a game to take lightly. A must win for sure. They have had there struggles on special teams. We have had a force turnover every game. We must find ways to make things happen on special teams and get some turnovers on defense to win this game
 
The Hornets are often the homecoming opponent at Big Sky stadiums so this team has that experience.

And this team knows how to take care of business on the road in the Big Sky going 3-1 last year.

Play Hornet football.
Keep protecting Safrom
Eliminate penalties
Get the turnovers.
Play well on special teams
Set Brad up for a big day without any wind issues inside a dome and avoid blocked attempts. Get all the kickoffs well into the endzone or hit the walls at Holt.
Play TEAM Hornet football and continue to utilize all the talent on this squad which is working as the players support each other big time.

Trust that Coach Sears knows how to prepare this week with a known opponent for him. And trust practices are going well.

Go Hornets!!!
 
This is HC for them and they have a potent offense and are much improved.

If we take any early lead we will have to keep the throttle wide open and not let up. ISU can score quickly and can climb back into the game. Remember the game a few years ago with Sperbeck. A game we should have won and let slip away.

Usually we have success with the run against the guys, so I say establish that first and then open up the air attack.

No turnovers and stupid penalties. Go with all white uniform.
 
Another game we need to win to get into the playoffs. We're a better team than Idaho State, however they have two advantages we don't have: they've had two weeks to prepare for this game and they're playing on their own turf with a larger crowd.
 
just a sac state fan said:
Another game we need to win to get into the playoffs. We're a better team than Idaho State, however they have two advantages we don't have: they've had two weeks to prepare for this game and they're playing on their own turf with a larger crowd.
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Larger crowd?

I think that would depend on two factors: How well are they REALLY playing, and are they on the quarter system?

If they're playing well, they MIGHT have a bigger crowd. They might remember the recent mediocrity and stay away, though.

If they're on the quarter system, we're right around the time for the quarter break. That could kill attendance as kids go away for awhile. I'm not sure where the breaks would fall if they're on a trimester system. Of course, none of that applies if they're on a semester system (the sanest, IMO, from a student's perspective).
 
Who cares if they sell out their barn, we have the better 11 players on the field! If we take care of our own business and play to our potential, we will win. If not we don't deserve to dream of the playoffs or anything else.
This is a great opportunity to prove that we belong in the top part of the BSC.

Go Hornets!
 
Green Laser said:
Who cares if they sell out their barn, we have the better 11 players on the field! If we take care of our own business and play to our potential, we will win. If not we don't deserve to dream of the playoffs or anything else.
This is a great opportunity to prove that we belong in the top part of the BSC.

Go Hornets!
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I agree. However beating ISU doesn’t mean we are a top BSC team. This is a game we “should” win.
 
SD is correct. We won't be a "top team" in the BSC until we beat the Montanas and Eastern Washington in consecutive years, IMO. We can be a second-tier playoff team (though I stand by my prediction of a 9-3 snub due to our poor pre-season scheduling), but we won't be a "top team" until that happens.
 
If Hornets go 9-3 they are in playoffs, Incarnate Word was a great schedule by Hornets. Need 7 FCS wins to qualify for playoffs, Hornets have 2 already
 
Oldhornet23 said:
If Hornets go 9-3 they are in playoffs, Incarnate Word was a great schedule by Hornets. Need 7 FCS wins to qualify for playoffs, Hornets have 2 already
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I go by the "8 D1 wins" metric. Of course with a bigger playoff field now and some traditional FCS powers now serving as bottom feeders in FBS, I guess 7 D1 wins might be enough. If the Hornets get to 9-3 there is no way a snub happens.
 
I didn't say 7 gets you in, but you need 7FCS wins to be eligible. You can get in at 7. 8 gets you in for sure, 2 teams made it with 7 wins last year. Furman and New Hampshire
 
Technically, SIX D-I wins make one "eligible," but as SD rightly says, in most years, if you don't have 8, you're not competitive enough to get in....
 
This game is such bullshlt! It's still early, but the sankey ejection and Safron no call on the hit out of bounds is insane. Not to mention the incessant taunting by the ISU RB and twisting tackles by ISU...
 
Kadeezy said:
This game is such bullshlt! It's still early, but the sankey ejection and Safron no call on the hit out of bounds is insane. Not to mention the incessant taunting by the ISU RB and twisting tackles by ISU...
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I agree. Fairly clear which team the refs are pulling for.
 
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