The Jackrabbits (4-0) take on a familiar MVFC opponent in the UNI Panthers (3-2) for Hobo Day. The Panthers have won three in row but looked mediocre against Indiana State after looking terrific on offense against Youngstown State. Mark Farley has a pretty talented team that has an experienced offense and a young but talented defense. The Hobo Day game has not always been pretty for SDSU and it has been even worse when the team faces UNI. In the last four contests between the Jacks and the Panthers, the road team has won. The last time the home team was victories was SDSU during the 2019 regular season. UNI would come back to Brookings in the playoffs that season and leave victorious starting this run of road team success.
Offense
The UNI offense may not be as balanced as usual but it has one of the best QBs in the FCS and a terrific room of wide receivers. They are averaging 27.6 ppg via 107.6 ypg rushing, and 284.6 ypg passing. They have struggled on 3rd down converting on just 37.1% of their attempts. In the redzone they have scored on 16 of 18 attempts and 12 have been touchdowns.
The offense will go as far as #12 Theo Day (6-5, 231) will take them. On the year he is completing 62% of his passes for 1,414 yards and 8 TDs. He has been somewhat careless with the ball and has 6 interceptions already this year. However, 5 of those interceptions came against Iowa State and Weber State in the first two weeks of the season. Day is pretty much a pure pocket passer but he can tuck and run if for some short gains if needed.
The running back room for UNI has two really talented players but it sounds like they will be without the services of UTSA transfer #2 Tye Edwards (6-4, 230) for this matchup. However, #25 Harrison Bey-Buie (5-10, 221) is pretty good in his own right. He has 197 rushing yards (4.6 ypc) and 4 TD. Before transferring to UNI, he was at Eastern Illinois where he had a nice redshirt freshman campaign where he rushed for 479 yards. He does not have any catches on the season. #26 Josh Jenkins (6-2, 172) is the new backup and he has just 13 attempts for 76 yards (5.8 ypc) and 1 TD on the year. If Edwards is able to play, he is a mauler who runs with terrific physicality. He only had 1 carry against Indiana State and it sounds like he’ll be out for awhile.
The UNI passing game has so many weapons for Day to utilize. It really is an impressive group! The leading receiver is #23 Sam Schnee (5-10, 195) who really reminds me of UNDs Bo Belquist. He leads the team with 28 receptions for 453 yards and 4 TDs. The second leading receiver is true freshman #16 Jaiden Ellis-Lahey (6-3, 205) who has 11 receptions for 193 yards and 1 TD. Obviously, he has a great frame and his best two games have come in MVFC play. I’m interested to see more of this guy. #17 Logan Wolf (6-3, 198) is finally healthy and is having a nice season with 16 receptions for 193 yards. Wolf is immensely talented but has battled injuries for much of his career. #82 Sergio Morancy (6-3, 185) was the culprit last season on the infamous leaping penalty that gave SDSU another crack at a game winning field goal. He has also battled some injuries this season. Kent State transfer #9 Naran Buntin (6-2, 196) is another weapon for this offense. He has 8 receptions for 133 yards and 1 TD. Iowa transfer #18 Desmond Hutson (6-3, 215) is a big bodied receiver that was a redzone threat last season. He did not play against Indiana State and did not record any stats for YSU. His status is unknown. In the non-conference portion of the schedule he had 5 receptions for 43 yards.
UNI has two high quality tight ends that add even further to their arsenal of weapons. #89 Alex Allen (6-6, 253) is back from injury and has 6 receptions for 78 yards. #45 Layne Pryor (6-3, 251) has 8 receptions for 87 yards and a TD.
The offensive line is the real question for this UNI offense. They lost a lot of talented experience from last season and as has already been shared, Day is not the most mobile quarterback. Both of these factors have contributed to UNI allowing 14 sacks this season. The UNI offensive line is big (as usual) and I’m sure they will get better as the season goes along. From left to right they go #78 Tristan Roper (6-5, 307), #65 Blake Anderson (6-4, 298), #61 Chase Arends (6-1, 274), #71 Josh Volk (6-4, 305), and #75 Jared Penning (6-6, 338). Penning is in his 3rd year starting, Roper has been a super sub for the past few seasons and has spot started at times, but the other three have played sparingly prior to this year. Maybe this group will gel as the season goes along and become what we are used to from a UNI offensive line.
Defense
The UNI defense lost a lot of talent and experience to graduation and the transfer portal last season. This group brought back their old defensive coordinator who was gone for a season and it appears that things are taking a bit to come together. UNI is back to a 4-3 defense this year but I would assume they’ll move into a 3-4 defense when needed or if they want to throw a wrinkle out to the offense. They are allowing 28.4 ppg, 110.8 yards rushing and 238.2 yards passing. They are decent on 3rd down and allowing just a 40% conversion rate. They do make it tough in the redzone. Opponents have scored on 17 of 20 trips but just 12 have been touchdowns.
The defensive line is a strength for this Panthers defense. When healthy, #99 Khristian Boyd (6-4, 317) is one of the best defensive linemen in the MVFC. He has 17 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position. Next to him is #94 Carter Hewitt (6-6, 261) who has 6 tackles this year. The ends are explosive and the Jackrabbit tackles will have their hands full. #1 Cordarrius Bailey has 21 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and 6 sacks. Bailey had just 2 sacks last season but put up 3 vs. Idaho State and Indiana State. Opposite Bailey is #8 Devin Rice (6-5, 248) who has 8 tackles and a QBH. As a reserve defensive end, #96 Cannon Butler (6-6, 241) has 7 tackles and a sack. The Panthers brought in a lot of transfers along the defensive line before this season but none of them have really contributed yet this year. This group is certainly not as deep as maybe we have seen in past seasons. The key to unlocking this defense is controlling Khristian Boyd. He is a difference maker.
The linebackers are #33 Ben Belken (6-4, 228) and #29 Tucker Langenberg (6-2, 224). Belken has played as a key reserve and spot starter the past few seasons. As a full-time starter he is off to a hot start with 28 tackles, 3 TFL, and 1 PBU. Langenberg is second on the team with 37 tackles and 3.5 TFL. He is an instinctive player that is new to the starting lineup and having a good start to his year. #49 Jake McLaughlin (6-2, 225) is a top reserve and he has 5 tackles and a .5 sack.
The nickelback this season is #11 Jahsiah Galvan (6-3, 202). Again, UNI will use this guy all over the place and its part of the reason why Galvan leads the team in tackles with 39 while also having 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, and 2 PBU. UNI has one of the best corners in the Valley in #32 Woo Governor (5-10, 176). He has 21 tackles and 2 PBUs on the year. Governor plays with great energy and just has a confidence to his play that his backed up on the field. Opposite him is #3 Corry Thomas Jr. (5-10, 181), an Eastern Michigan transfer, who has 20 tackles and a PBU. #44 Jonathan Cabral-Martin (5-9, 197) and #6 Fletcher Marshall Jr (6-2, 192) have four tackles each and 3 PBUs in a reserve role. Cabral Martin is a Central Connecticut State transfer and Marshall is a transfer from East Carolina.
#21 Edwin Dearman (5-11, 200) is really active from the Rover position. In this defense he will play close to the line on one play and then be the deep safety the next. Dearman played a lot in 2022 and is already off to a strong start this season with 30 tackles and 2 INT. #7 Dalesean Staley (6-1, 178) has 29 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, and 2 PBU this season. #36 Tate Sander (6-0, 200) is a reserve safety and he has 14 tackles.
Special Teams
The Panthers feature the best kicker in the MVFC in #97 Matthew Cook. He is 7 of 8 on field goals this year and has a long of 50. He is also excellent on kickoffs where he has 28 kicks, 15 touchbacks and an average of 63.4 yards. Opponents are averaging 22 yards per return and do have a long of 43 yards.
The punter for UNI is also pretty salty. #91 Noah Pettinger was good in his true freshman season and has been really strong so far this year with a 43.5 yard average. On 20 attempts he has just 2 touchbacks but has landed 9 inside the 20 and has 5 punts of 50+ yards. Opponents have returned 9 for 131 yards (14.56 avg) and have a long of 39. There could be an opportunity for Tucker Large to get loose here.
In the kick return game, #26 Josh Jenkins has been the primary returner along with #23 Sam Schnee. Jenkins has 6 returns with a 20.33 yard average and a long of 35. Schnee has 4 returns with a 19.75 yard average and a long of 25. #17 Logan Wolf and Schnee have both had chances as the punt returner and have a combined 3.8 yard average on 5 attempts but have a long return of 11 yards.
Prediction
Everything in this matchup points to the Jackrabbits wiping the field with the Panthers. On paper, this is the worst UNI has looked in years. However, I’m a believer in Theo Day. I saw him live in the UNI-Dome last year and was really impressed with the zip he is able to put on the ball and the overall arm strength he possesses. It just looks different. Also factoring into this is the fact that SDSU sometimes looks pretty “Bleh” on Hobo Day and that UNI is always a thorn in the side and plays the Jacks so well compared to its efforts vs. other teams. All offseason I picked UNI to win this game. But… this is 2023 and this Jackrabbit team is so dialed in and talented. Although it has yet to play a complete game. I think the Jackrabbits win but it will closer than it should be.
Jackrabbits 27- Panthers 21
Happy Hobo Day!
Go Jacks!
Matt
