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Week 8: @ North Dakota

SDHornet

SDHornet

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UND has been ravaged by injuries this season and is currently sitting at 2-5 (1-3 BSC). They got thumped in Missoula last week but had their starting QB Studsrud out with a leg injury. UND is 2-1 at home this season.

I’ve only watched one UND game this season (MSU) but offensively they run pretty basic stuff. Various single back/shotgun formations and occasionally go with 2 RBs in the I-form. Studsrud (91/56, 1133 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT) is a legit QB that has a good arm and is athletic (questionable for this week). The UND offense is not very good when he isn’t playing. UND has 2 solid RBs in Oliveira (6.4 ypc, 1 TD) and Santiago (5.4 ypc, 3 TD) that share the load. Both have big play potential. The UND WRs have size but were unimpressive in the game I watched. Lots of drops on catchable balls. Mercer (35 rec, 298 yds), Wanzek (24 rec, 306 yds, 2 TD), and Toivonen (18 rec, 231 yds, 1 TD) are the main targets.

Defensively they run a 3-4. Their DL is soft and not very big, the LBs are athletic and have a nose for the ball (leading tackler Disterhaupt (51 tkls, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT) is questionable for this weeks game), and the DBs aren’t very good (injuries hurt them in the backfield). Collectively this unit is giving up 483 yards and 37 points a game. Their defense did play well early on last week until they ran out of gas.

The UND kicking game is respectable, Taubenheim (11/14 FG, long of 44) and Santiago is a dangerous kick returner.

Given the health of UND, the biggest obstacles for the Hornets are the long travel and 10:30 AM Pacific kickoff. If the Hornets can shake off the jet lag then they should get their first road game win since 2014. Having said that, I think this game will be closer than most think. I’m going with a 10 point Hornet win…unless Studsrud doesn’t play then the Hornets win comfortably.

Hornetsports preview and game notes.
 
Thanks for the post SD

Trusting the team is ready for this big game against a very good North Dakota program


Stingers up

and


Go Hornets !!
 
Thomson hurt in practice? Out for the game.
Roman Ale starting?
Boom, UND wins.

Never mind, Ale is not that bad. Good chance here.

Sears has really turned this team around. Can’t say I’ve ever seen offense and defense both clicking this good.

Ale needs mobility. No run threat like Thomson. Obinna ejection changed tempo.
 
Good to know that we have a dependable back-up QB in Ale; actually, he appears to be a better passer than Thomson. Hornets "D" stepped up when they needed to to ensure the win. Not easy winning on the road in the Big Sky for us.
 
Thompson Hurt
Clapper has been the guy getting the garbage time, he was hurt from something.
Cassell out for the year! No surprise
Ale you are in. 4th String QB just put up 34 points
 
Continue to be really impressed with this team. I have been hesitant to buy in, trying to not get burned as a fan, but now have to admit that I am all in. This team has built up enough depth to weather injuries and seems to have found an identity and a distinct style of play. They are fun to watch. This program needs/craves some stability, hope this is it.

Sears, the coaching staff, and the players deserve the credit.
 
The crazy thing is this team will be all back next year with most of the starters. To me it would be dumb to start over next season
 
Congrats to the Hornets for a win on the road and our 4th win of the year.

Really appreciate our players and coaches for what they have done.

And look forward the each and every week with football Hornets

Stingers Up

and

Go Hornets
 
Phantom Hornet said:
Continue to be really impressed with this team. I have been hesitant to buy in, trying to not get burned as a fan, but now have to admit that I am all in. This team has built up enough depth to weather injuries and seems to have found an identity and a distinct style of play. They are fun to watch. This program needs/craves some stability, hope this is it.

Sears, the coaching staff, and the players deserve the credit.
Click to expand...

I think Wulff has been the stabilizing force here. I was surprised they won when they went to 4th string QB but heck they put up points and defense seems good. Unless they mess the bed I can see a 1 yr extension coming. Congrats on the road win.
 
Hornets pull down their first road win since 2014 with a 34-27 win at UND. Impressive win with the 3rd string (4th?) QB. Ale looked calm and collected, he didn’t make any bad decisions and had a very efficient day (13/19, 263 yds, 2 TD). Lindsey (4 rec, 154 yds, 2 TD) had an outstanding game. Running game looked strong early but UND focused in on it and kept it well contained. This game isn’t even remotely close if the Hornets wouldn’t have had to settle for 2 FGs from inside the 5 yard line.

Defense came up big when it mattered most, forced 3 TOs and scored a TD. They did give up some big plays and let Zimmerman move the ball through the air to let UND climb back in it, but the DL got constant pressure on the UND QBs (4 sacks) and the Hornet D was brutal on 3rd down (UND went 2/14). Most importantly the defense stopped UNDs last drive to force OT (anyone else :lol: when UND called a draw on 3rd and 10 that lost 2 yards?).

Special teams took care of business as well. Missed FG from 48 but Medeiros nailed all the chip shots. Punting and punt coverage kept UND from getting good field position. Terrible coaching decision on the pouch/on-side kick when the Hornets had all the mo early in the 2nd half, especially when the Hornet D was playing lights out at that point.

Excellent effort and team win. Hornets have the toughest/best BSC team next week at NAU.
 
I'm going to give a lot of credit to the new assistant coaches for this years improvement. There is some excitment coming back to Hornet football.
 
SDHornet said:
Hornets pull down their first road win since 2014 with a 34-27 win at UND. Impressive win with the 3rd string (4th?) QB. Ale looked calm and collected, he didn’t make any bad decisions and had a very efficient day (13/19, 263 yds, 2 TD). Lindsey (4 rec, 154 yds, 2 TD) had an outstanding game. Running game looked strong early but UND focused in on it and kept it well contained. This game isn’t even remotely close if the Hornets wouldn’t have had to settle for 2 FGs from inside the 5 yard line.

Defense came up big when it mattered most, forced 3 TOs and scored a TD. They did give up some big plays and let Zimmerman move the ball through the air to let UND climb back in it, but the DL got constant pressure on the UND QBs (4 sacks) and the Hornet D was brutal on 3rd down (UND went 2/14). Most importantly the defense stopped UNDs last drive to force OT (anyone else :lol: when UND called a draw on 3rd and 10 that lost 2 yards?).

Special teams took care of business as well. Missed FG from 48 but Medeiros nailed all the chip shots. Punting and punt coverage kept UND from getting good field position. Terrible coaching decision on the pouch/on-side kick when the Hornets had all the mo early in the 2nd half, especially when the Hornet D was playing lights out at that point.

Excellent effort and team win. Hornets have the toughest/best BSC team next week at NAU.
Click to expand...

I liked the decision to kick the onside surprise kick, very close to getting it, chance to put nail in the coffin, only bad decision because they didn't get it.
 
Losing the momentum on 3rd and goal after a long drive by using a timeout. Stuffed forcing a FG. And the Obinna spearing call were the two momentum changers, that I saw. Once Ale is running it like Thomson, he will be a real threat. And a southpaw!
 
Offense play calling is refreshing and the players seem to be buying into it. Defense is playing with a confident swagger. Gotta watch the long ball TD heave-ho, otherwise top three Big Sky sack leaders are from Sac.
 
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