Week 9 - Sac State at Idaho State
The Hornets (3-4, 1-2 BSC) look to continue their winning ways as they head to face the Idaho State Bengals (3-5, 1-3 BSC) in Pocatello. The Bengals are looking to turn the corner under second year Head Coach Cody Hawkins. The Bengals have a couple of FCS wins under their belt this season. In week four, ISU knocked off Southern Utah, 38-28 in a dominating win. After opening BSC play in week five with a 17-37 drubbing at home against Montana State, the Bengals have been in some close battles. Week six featured a 41-38 road win at Cal Poly with a field goal at the end of regulation, however two close losses followed with a week seven loss at home to Portland State, 38-42, in a back and forth affair and a 26-30 loss at Northern Arizona last week with a potential game winning drive that came up short in the closing minute.
ISU’s offense throws the ball all over the field and spreads out the defense in 10 personnel. Quarterback Kobe Tracy (148/260, 1814 yds, 13 TD, 4 INT) is well suited for this pass happy offense as he makes quick reads and has a good arm. The primary target is wide receiver Jeff Wimer (43 rec, 641 yds, 5 TD) with Christian Fredrickson (35 rec, 474 yds, 4 TD) and Ian Duarte (35 rec, 364 yds, 3 TD) having significant roles. Three other receivers have at least 11 receptions. The Bengal rushing game is a conglomeration of quarterback Hunter Hays (33/47, 331 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT, 45 car, 199 yds, 6 TD) and a trio of running backs led by Dason Brooks (57 car, 372 yds, 3 TD, 4 rec, 47 yds) that primarily use designed quarterback runs, draws and some speed option. The Bengal offensive line does an excellent job in pass protection.
Offensive Team Stats
Defensive Team Stats
Hornet Team Stats
Crazy things happen in the Pokey Dome and this game shouldn’t be any different. There is the potential for a lot of scoring in this one as two of the top 3 passing offenses in the BSC meet up. Baring a bevy of mistakes, whichever defense is able to step up and get a few stops will likely be the difference.
The Hornet offense can control the tempo of the game and the clock with the running game. The Bengal defense struggles against the run and the Hornets have shown that they can impose their will on the ground. I would anticipate a heavy dose of ETT and company out of the gate. If the Hornet running game gets going, the Hornets will have a good chance at a win.
On the defensive side, the Hornets are just going to have to find some stops somewhere. The Hornets get to the quarterback well, however ISU gets the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly with a lot of underneath routes. We’ll see if the Hornets gamble on some blitzes to try and disrupt the Bengal passing game. I expect the Hornet secondary to get torched, but if they can stop the Bengals from breaking any big plays and grab a pick then I would consider it a successful showing.
On special teams, this will be the first game in which the Hornets don’t have the better kicker…even though it is a former Hornet. This could be another game that comes down to a kick…advantage Bengals.
The Hornets will be buzzing into this one with some momentum, especially on offense as the passing game really came to form. If the Hornets can dominate up front on the offensive side and get the running game going, the Hornets will win…and that is how I think this one will play out.
Stingers Up!
Idaho State at Cal Poly Highlights
Idaho State at Northern Arizona Highlights
The Hornets (3-4, 1-2 BSC) look to continue their winning ways as they head to face the Idaho State Bengals (3-5, 1-3 BSC) in Pocatello. The Bengals are looking to turn the corner under second year Head Coach Cody Hawkins. The Bengals have a couple of FCS wins under their belt this season. In week four, ISU knocked off Southern Utah, 38-28 in a dominating win. After opening BSC play in week five with a 17-37 drubbing at home against Montana State, the Bengals have been in some close battles. Week six featured a 41-38 road win at Cal Poly with a field goal at the end of regulation, however two close losses followed with a week seven loss at home to Portland State, 38-42, in a back and forth affair and a 26-30 loss at Northern Arizona last week with a potential game winning drive that came up short in the closing minute.
ISU’s offense throws the ball all over the field and spreads out the defense in 10 personnel. Quarterback Kobe Tracy (148/260, 1814 yds, 13 TD, 4 INT) is well suited for this pass happy offense as he makes quick reads and has a good arm. The primary target is wide receiver Jeff Wimer (43 rec, 641 yds, 5 TD) with Christian Fredrickson (35 rec, 474 yds, 4 TD) and Ian Duarte (35 rec, 364 yds, 3 TD) having significant roles. Three other receivers have at least 11 receptions. The Bengal rushing game is a conglomeration of quarterback Hunter Hays (33/47, 331 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT, 45 car, 199 yds, 6 TD) and a trio of running backs led by Dason Brooks (57 car, 372 yds, 3 TD, 4 rec, 47 yds) that primarily use designed quarterback runs, draws and some speed option. The Bengal offensive line does an excellent job in pass protection.
Offensive Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 31.6 (5th BSC / 25th FCS)
- Total Offense: 420.6 ypg (132.5 rushing ypg / 288.1 passing ypg) - 6th (10th / 2nd) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 6 (T-1st BSC)
- Turnovers: 9/4 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 30/36 - 21/9 (TD/FG) - 8th BSC
Defensive Team Stats
- Points allowed per game: 34.4 (10th BSC / 107th FCS)
- Total Defense: 430.3 ypg (237.1 rushing ypg / 193.1 passing ypg) - 8th (11th / 3rd) BSC
- Sacks : 15 (T-5th BSC)
- Turnovers Forced: 2/5 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone: 31/34 - 25/6 (TD/FG) - 8th BSC
Hornet Team Stats
- Points scored per game: 31.0 (6th BSC / T-28th FCS)
- Points allowed per game: 30.3 (6th BSC / T-88th FCS)
- Total Offense: 398.1 ypg (151.1 rushing ypg / 247.0 passing ypg) - 7th (8th / 3rd) BSC
- Total Defense: 370.9 ypg (134.4 rushing ypg / 236.4 passing ypg) - 4th (5th / 7th) BSC
- Sacks Allowed: 6 (T-1st BSC)
- Sacks: 21 (1st BSC)
- Turnovers: 9/7 (INT/Fum)
- Turnovers Forced: 7/8 (INT/Fum)
- Red Zone Offense: 27/34 - 19/8 (TD/FG) - 9th BSC
- Red Zone Defense: 18/25 - 14/4 (TD/FG) - 1st BSC
- Quarterback: Push. Kobe Tracy and Carson Conklin have pretty similar traits. Hard to give the nod over one or the other.
- Running Backs: Hornets. Elijah Tau-Tolliver is a special player, and the Bengals don’t depend on their rushing attack much.
- Wide Receivers: Bengals. Jeff Weimer and Christian Fredrickson are a more potent duo than Jared Gipson and Anderson Grover.
- Tight Ends: Hornets. Not sure the Bengals know what a tight end is.
- Offensive Line: Hornets. The Bengal offensive line is focused on one aspect of the game whereas the Hornet line can do both.
- Defensive Line: Hornets. The Hornets do a much better job defending the run, both lines get after the quarterback well.
- Linebackers: Hornets. Will Leota and Nakian Jackson make more plays in the backfield and pressure the quarterback better than Nathan Reynolds and Kris Sanchez.
- Defensive Backs: Push. Both secondaries should get torched in this one. Statistically, ISU has the better secondary, but that is likely because opponents opt to run the ball more against this defense.
- Punters: Bengals. Ross Bolger has booted more for distance and dropped more inside the 20 compared to Cal McGough.
- Kickers: Bengals. Gabe Panikowski is perfect on the year and has made a couple from 50+ yards. Zach Schreiner is really good, but he’s not perfect and has topped out at 49 yards this season.
- Kick Returners: Hornets. It feels as though Michael Johnson is close to breaking one that goes the distance.
Crazy things happen in the Pokey Dome and this game shouldn’t be any different. There is the potential for a lot of scoring in this one as two of the top 3 passing offenses in the BSC meet up. Baring a bevy of mistakes, whichever defense is able to step up and get a few stops will likely be the difference.
The Hornet offense can control the tempo of the game and the clock with the running game. The Bengal defense struggles against the run and the Hornets have shown that they can impose their will on the ground. I would anticipate a heavy dose of ETT and company out of the gate. If the Hornet running game gets going, the Hornets will have a good chance at a win.
On the defensive side, the Hornets are just going to have to find some stops somewhere. The Hornets get to the quarterback well, however ISU gets the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly with a lot of underneath routes. We’ll see if the Hornets gamble on some blitzes to try and disrupt the Bengal passing game. I expect the Hornet secondary to get torched, but if they can stop the Bengals from breaking any big plays and grab a pick then I would consider it a successful showing.
On special teams, this will be the first game in which the Hornets don’t have the better kicker…even though it is a former Hornet. This could be another game that comes down to a kick…advantage Bengals.
The Hornets will be buzzing into this one with some momentum, especially on offense as the passing game really came to form. If the Hornets can dominate up front on the offensive side and get the running game going, the Hornets will win…and that is how I think this one will play out.
Stingers Up!
Idaho State at Cal Poly Highlights
Idaho State at Northern Arizona Highlights
