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Week 9: Northern Arizona @ Sac State

SDHornet

SDHornet

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Staff member
Week 9: Northern Arizona @ Sac State

The Hornets will be trying to pick up the pieces after a devastating loss to face a team who traditionally has some solid talent but has been unable to make serious noise in the BSC. NAU is always a well balanced and tough opponent and this season is no different. NAU lost a lot to graduation after last season and they have struggled all season long. However this team still has the talent to knock off the Hornets if they take NAU lightly.

Offense
I haven’t seen a lot of NAU’s games this season but traditionally they run multiple looks from single back formations with multiple TE’s and WR’s, to a shotgun spread. NAU has a couple of capable RB’s and a capable passing attack so they can attack a defense with various weapons. NAU’s team stats and statistical leaders:
  • • Rushing Offense: 152.0 ypg (6th BSC, 54th FCS)
    • Passing Offense: 275.4 ypg (3rd BSC, 17th FCS)
    • Total Offense: 427.4 ypg (3rd BSC, 15th FCS)
    • Grossart, QB: 124 of 182 for 1,833 yards, 11 TD’s, 4 INT’s
    • Bauman, RB: 156 carries for 782 yards, 7 TD’s, 17 recs for 176 yards
    • Dixon, RB: 32 carries for 286 yards, 3 TD’s, 2 recs for 37 yards
    • Paden, WR: 34 recs for 657 yards, 6 TD’s
    • Umodu, WR: 32 recs for 475 yards, 2 TD’s
    • Walker, TE: 12 recs for 184 yards, 2 TD’s
    • Adler, WR: 9 recs for 112 yards
    • OL: Allowed 23 sacks
    • Avg TOP: 30:52
The Hornet defense will have its hands full yet again as they will face a well balanced offense. The Hornets have struggled to defend the pass all season long and I expect those struggles to continue of the DL cannot harass Grossart enough. I feel that the Hornet front 6 is capable of stopping the run and making NAU more one-dimensional this week. The problem with stopping the run is that that will give NAU more shots against a weak Hornet secondary.

Defense
NAU lost a lot from their BSC leading defense from a season ago. They do return an experienced DL and have some guys who can really get after the QB. DE Bond is their leading sacker so the Hornets will need to be sure to block him or he will make them pay. NAU has struggled against the pass so the Hornets may look to the air to have success moving the ball. NAU’s defensive stats:
  • • Rushing Defense: 150.0 ypg (4th BSC, 54th FCS)
    • Passing Defense: 240.7 ypg (7th BSC, 97th FCS)
    • Total Defense: 390.7 ypg (5th BSC, 80th, FCS)
    • Frum, LB: 32 tackles, 2.5 TFL’s
    • McKeever, LB: 29 tackles, 5 TFL’s
    • Bond, DE: 28 tackles, 7.5 TFL’s, 5 sacks
    • Phillips, LB: 27 tackles, 0.5 TFL’s
    • Bailey, CB: 26 tackles, 1 TFL
    • Melenfant, S: 25 tackles, 1 INT
    • Wilkinson, DL: 25 tackles, 7.5 TFL’s, 1 sack
    • Anderson, DL: 24 tackles, 6 TFL’s, 3.5 sacks
    • Bilbrey, LB: 23 tackles, 5.5 TFL’s, 5 sacks
    • Patton, S: 22 tackles, 1 INT
    • Hale Jr, CB: 20 tackles, 0.5 TFL’s, 1 INT
The Hornets should be able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air this week. NAU’s secondary has struggled so the Hornets can definitely make some plays there. The Hornets do seem to be getting banged up so the starting QB is up in the air as are some of the WR’s. The OL needs to come out and have another good game. They will need to make sure they put a hat on DE Bond as well as LB Bilbrey.

Special Teams
NAU has a number of guys who have solid return numbers. As always the opponent’s kickers will give them the advantage in the kicking game. NAU’s season stats:
  • • Myers, K: 9/15 FG’s, 22/23 PAT’s, FG long of 48 yards
    • Zamora, P: 28 punts for 1,138 yards (40.6 ypp), 8 Inside 20, 4 TB’s, 12 FC’s, 1 Blocked
    • Melenfant, PR: 9 pr’s for 114 yards (12.7 ypr)
    • Perkins, KR: 7 kr’s for 285 yards (40.7 ypr), 1 TD
    • Adler, KR: 7 kr’s for 227 yards (32.4 ypr)
    • Kick Coverage: Allowed 22 returns for 504 yards (22.9 ypr)
    • Punt Coverage: Allowed 7 returns for 65 yards (9.3 ypr)
The Hornets cover teams will need to make sure they don’t allow any big returns. NAU has multiple players who can break a big one so the coverage teams will need to keep them contained. NAU has also allowed a punt blocked so maybe the Hornets can get after one this week.

Intangibles
  • • NAU has committed 55 penalties for 543 yards so far (77.6 ypg).
    • NAU’s turnover margin is -4 (9th BSC) compared to the Hornets -2 (7th BSC) so it looks to be pretty evenly matched here.
    • I’m not sure of the NAU injury situation, but they did just take Montana to the wire so I would think health is not an issue for them.

Hornetsports preview:
Not yet released.

Sac State Sports:
Bradley beat me to the punch this week, but I’ll get him next week.
http://sacstatesports.com/2011/10/2...orthern-arizona-scouting-report/#comment-1098

The Hornets need to regroup and come out swinging this week. One more loss mathematically eliminated them from the playoffs so essentially the playoffs begin now. Every game is winnable from here on out and the Hornets can run the table if they take it one week at a time and take care of business. Having said that I’ll most likely miss this game as I’ll be on the road (ironically enough in AZ) to catch the Pac-12 XC Championship to see UofA take down the conference crown. Hopefully I can catch some of the game via the “Iheartradio” app.

Go Hornets!
 
What a coincidence, SD. I'm taking time off work on Thu to watch the San Joaquin Athletic Association Cross Country League Meet, which my Lodi Flames are hosting at Lodi Lake. A friend is competing for Lodi.

This is another example of your usual outstanding work, SD. I can't believe Bradley beat you.

:mrgreen:
 
Super Hornet said:
What a coincidence, SD. I'm taking time off work on Thu to watch the San Joaquin Athletic Association Cross Country League Meet, which my Lodi Flames are hosting at Lodi Lake. A friend is competing for Lodi.

This is another example of your usual outstanding work, SD. I can't believe Bradley beat you.

:mrgreen:
Click to expand...

And I will be at Granite Park tomorrow watching the Metro League Cross Country Finals!
 
Super Hornet said:
What a coincidence, SD. I'm taking time off work on Thu to watch the San Joaquin Athletic Association Cross Country League Meet, which my Lodi Flames are hosting at Lodi Lake. A friend is competing for Lodi.

This is another example of your usual outstanding work, SD. I can't believe Bradley beat you.

:mrgreen:
Click to expand...
Good to hear you found some employment. :thumb:

I was late on my recap and the weekly preview as I was travelling back from the game and didn’t get back into town until late Sunday night.
 
Thanks, SD. It's a temp job that's turning out to be not as "temp" as originally thought. It was supposed to terminate right around now (about two months), but that assessment was a bit ambitious. Now we're expected to be messing with these medical records (sending some out to destruction and filing new inbounds) at least until after Christmas.

My friend finished last at the cross country meet today, but she DID get a PR!
 
Here goes some goofy logic.

We beat the wood chucking beavers. Beavers are nature's lumberjacks. Therefore, we will beat Louie and company.

Go Hornets!
 
CompughterRatings.com Sac St vs NAU = 28-24, Sac St.

http://www.compughterratings.com/CFB/matchups" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
NAU will come out with revenge, we punked them at home last year pretty badly. Their QB is hot right now and we all know our secondary capabilities.
 
Greetings, Hornet fans.

A few thoughts re: Saturday night's match up. I don't see you working NAU over like last year. By the way, that was a thorough, top to bottom arse whooping last year. I've always known the Hornets had talent to do battle with the conference top dogs. The effort may not be consistent as you'd like but Sac State football is improving. While you're at it, please share your secrets to beating the Grizzlies with the NAU staff tomorrow. Much appreciated.

NAU has been consistently right there but not quite this year. Turnovers and untimely penalties were their downfall earlier in the season. Last Saturday....son of a b****....damned Grizzlies. The Lumberjacks just might finish the game statistically better than the Hornets and still find a way to lose. NAU's offense has been pretty balanced. Kick return team's a strength. Defense replaced a lot from last year and it has shown. Secondary is prone to giving up big plays and run defense is statistically okay but prone to giving up big plays also. Lots of youth on this team. I expected a .500 or just under season and it looks like I was a bit optimistic. I think Coach Souers and his staff do a whole lot of things the right way but it's just not turning into a W on the field.

Win or lose...I'll still be watching bigskytv tomorrow night.

Best of luck, Hornet fans. Thanks for that bit of schadenfreude a few weekends ago vs. UM. :clap:
 
Portland up 36-20 late in the 3rd over EWU. if that holds, that's gotta help the Hornet's chances IF you can beat PSU next week. and win this week.
 
Portland is up 43-26 midway through the fourth.

here is a hypothetical....PSU wins out to end the season 8-3, 6-2 in the Big Sky. with wins vs. Southern Oregon and Willamette, will they get a bid?
 
mt jack said:
Greetings, Hornet fans.

A few thoughts re: Saturday night's match up. I don't see you working NAU over like last year. By the way, that was a thorough, top to bottom arse whooping last year. I've always known the Hornets had talent to do battle with the conference top dogs. The effort may not be consistent as you'd like but Sac State football is improving. While you're at it, please share your secrets to beating the Grizzlies with the NAU staff tomorrow. Much appreciated.

NAU has been consistently right there but not quite this year. Turnovers and untimely penalties were their downfall earlier in the season. Last Saturday....son of a b****....damned Grizzlies. The Lumberjacks just might finish the game statistically better than the Hornets and still find a way to lose. NAU's offense has been pretty balanced. Kick return team's a strength. Defense replaced a lot from last year and it has shown. Secondary is prone to giving up big plays and run defense is statistically okay but prone to giving up big plays also. Lots of youth on this team. I expected a .500 or just under season and it looks like I was a bit optimistic. I think Coach Souers and his staff do a whole lot of things the right way but it's just not turning into a W on the field.

Win or lose...I'll still be watching bigskytv tomorrow night.

Best of luck, Hornet fans. Thanks for that bit of schadenfreude a few weekends ago vs. UM. :clap:
Click to expand...


Welcome back Mt Jack!,

I expect to see a Hornet win tonight in a hard fought game! I watched several of your games on BigSkyTV, it looks like you have a competitive team. It with be interesting to see who can rebound the best from last weeks heatbreakers. Let's hope for a well played and injury free game for both teams!
 
DrMike said:
Portland is up 43-26 midway through the fourth.

here is a hypothetical....PSU wins out to end the season 8-3, 6-2 in the Big Sky. with wins vs. Southern Oregon and Willamette, will they get a bid?
Click to expand...


43-26 Portland final!

EWU looked far better last week, they looked ragged this week, Mitchell wasn't on and his receivers dropped a lot of passes that they should have caught. Even if Portland wins out I don't see them getting in with only 6 D1 wins. Weber is done Montana beat them 45-3, Weber's QB Hoke didn't play.
 
DrMike said:
Portland is up 43-26 midway through the fourth.

here is a hypothetical....PSU wins out to end the season 8-3, 6-2 in the Big Sky. with wins vs. Southern Oregon and Willamette, will they get a bid?
Click to expand...

Even if they win out, they won't get in with 6 DI wins.
 
Kadeezy said:
DrMike said:
Portland is up 43-26 midway through the fourth.

here is a hypothetical....PSU wins out to end the season 8-3, 6-2 in the Big Sky. with wins vs. Southern Oregon and Willamette, will they get a bid?
Click to expand...

Even if they win out, they won't get in with 6 DI wins.
Click to expand...


that's pretty much what i figured, but that 6-2 BigSky record would look pretty good. can't figure why they scheduled 2 non-counters this year. kind of like the Dakota's scheduling THREE non-counters.
 
DrMike said:
Kadeezy said:
DrMike said:
Portland is up 43-26 midway through the fourth.

here is a hypothetical....PSU wins out to end the season 8-3, 6-2 in the Big Sky. with wins vs. Southern Oregon and Willamette, will they get a bid?
Click to expand...

Even if they win out, they won't get in with 6 DI wins.
Click to expand...


that's pretty much what i figured, but that 6-2 BigSky record would look pretty good. can't figure why they scheduled 2 non-counters this year. kind of like the Dakota's scheduling THREE non-counters.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was a dumb thing to do...!
 
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