The Jackrabbits play host to the University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday morning in Brookings. The Jacks hosted them in week two of the season and pulled away in the 4th quarter for a 45 to 24 victory. Last week, UIW played a very different game against Villanova and escaped with a 13-6 win. UIW has at times this season looked like a well oiled machine on offense and at other times has struggled to find a rhythm. They have played down to their competition at times but I imagine they will be fully focused coming into Brookings on Saturday.
UIW Offense
The Cardinal offense has scored 35.15 ppg this season which is up slightly from 2023. They have achieved more balance this season rushing for 173 per game and passing for 277 per game while still playing with an up-tempo style of offense. They convert on 3rd down at at a 40.64% rate but scored in the redzone 80.7% of the time (46/57) with 32 of those being touchdowns (69.6%). Their offensive line only allowed 18 sacks on the season as it is difficult to get to Calzada with how quickly he gets rid of the ball.
The offense is triggered by #10 Zach Calzada (6-4, 200) who has had a really good season and was a finalist for the Payton Award but did not make the top-3. He has completed 65% of his passes for 3,553 yards and 34 TD while also tossing 8 INT. He has also appeared more mobile this season and can definitely make plays with his feet. He has 493 gross rushing yards and 4 more TDs. He’s tough, can make every throw, and has enough mobility to make plays on his own, what more do you want in a QB? In the week 2 matchup, Calzada passed for 351 yards and 3 TDs while also rushing for 43 yards. The Jackrabbit defense will have to be locked in for this one.
Early in the season, the Cardinals showed a two headed monster at the running back position but #4 Isaiah Robinson only played in the first three games before injury knocked him out for the season. #3 Dekalon Taylor (5-9, 165) stepped up and became the guy and was also joined by #0 Lontrell Turner (5-11, 180). Taylor did not play against Villanova in round two but on the season he has 909 rushing yards (6 ypc avg) and 9 TD. He is also a huge threat in the passing game with 22 receptions for 163 yards. Turner has bounced between running back and wide receiver during his career but appears locked in as the number two back now. He has 556 yards (5.1 ypc avg) and 2 TDs. As a pass catcher he has 12 receptions for 70 yards and 1 TD. Against Villanova and with Taylor out, #20 Timothy Carter (6-0, 215) had 14 carries for 55 yards. In week 2, the Cardinals only rushed for 68 net yards.
The receiving corp was completely new this season but has been really impressive! #6 Jalen Walthall (6-2, 180) has been sensational and has caught 76 balls for 1,224 yards and 14 TD. In week 2 he abused the Jackrabbit secondary with 7 receptions for 137 yards and 2 TD. Walthall is also the receiver who went viral for his standing on his head TD celebration earlier this season. #9 Roy Alexander (5-10, 200) has also had a huge year after transferring over from UAlbany. He leads the team with 87 receptions for 1,016 yards and 12 TD. In week 2 he had 128 yards and 1 TD. He played against the Jacks last December in the semifinals and had 5 receptions for 21 yards. He is a tough receiver who does the dirty work. #11 Josh Lorick (6-0, 170) was the 3rd leading receiver and he has 44 receptions for 481 yards. They love to get him the ball on bubble screen type plays. #1 Mason Pierce (5-6, 185) made his mark this year with 27 receptions for 185 yards and 2 TD after transferring over from Marshall.
UIW does have two big tight ends that see the field in #89 Logan Compton (6-4, 245) and #18 Jackson Lowe (6-5, 240). Compton has secured 16 receptions for 208 yards and 4 TDs while Lowe has pitched in with 7 receptions for 68 yards and 3 TDs. Again, their are weapons everywhere!
On the offensive line, the Cardinals have jelled as the season has gone along. From left to right they go,
- #75 Rasheed Jackson (6-7, 320, SO)
- #70 Traveon Newsome (6-2, 350, GR)
- #60 Mason Williams (6-3, 295, GR)
- #73 Caleb Flores (6-4, 279)
- #72 Nolan Hay (6-4, 300)
Jackson saw action as a sub in year one. Newsome appeared in 16 games in his 4 years at Southern University. Williams had an All-Ivy League season in 2022 at Harvard, his first as a starter, before spending his first year of grad school at Western Kentucky where he did not play. Flores has returned from a 2023 injury to provide continuity at guard. Hay spent his previous two season at Houston Christian and appeared in 18 games with 7 starts. #77 Jaden Borjas (6-5, 295) battled Flores for the RG spot.
UIW Defense
UIW plays an aggressive 4-3 defense that really gets after the QB. On the season they are allowing 124.5 yards per game on the ground and 213.38 through the air. They have turned up the heat on 3rd down where opponents only convert 35% of the time. In the redzone opponents score just 68% of the time (25/37) with only 52% being touchdowns (13/25). That is pretty dang good! They have accumulated 38 sacks, have recovered 16 fumbles and has 14 interceptions. Again, aggressive is the word!
#15 Marcus Brown (6-4, 245) and #44 Devin Grant (6-3, 225) form a really nice duo at defensive end. Grant leads the way with 29 tackles, 11 TFL, a team leading 8.5 sacks, and 4 more TFL and a forced fumble. Brown has 21 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks, and long with 6 more QBHs. On the interior #8 Chase Carter (6-4, 255), has had a big season with 29 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, and 2 more QBH. He is joined by #41 Terrell Elliott (6-2, 300) on the interior who has 14 tackles, 1 sacks, and 2 QBH. #10 John Mathis (6-2, 265), #15 Marcus Brown (6-5, 245) #90 Myron Warren (6-2, 275), and #99 Josh Gonzalez (6-2, 310) provide high quality depth along the line. Mathis has 38 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, and 6 sacks along with 3 more TFL. Brown has 21 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 6 QBH. Warren has 23 tackles, and 2 sacks while Gonzalez has just 11 tackles.
The UIW linebacker room is really loaded with talent and again, VERY aggressive! SIU transfer #13 Dune Smith (5-10, 197) has had a really nice season and is second on the team with 76 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 INT, and 3 more QBH. He is such a downhill thumper even if he doesn’t have the prototypical size. #12 Mister Williams (6-0, 245) is a big time playmaker for the Cardinals and has 75 tackles, 13 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU, and 11 (yes 11) QBHs along with 5 forced fumbles. He’s really terrific. #1 Darius Sanders (6-2, 199) is next with 73 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sacks, 3 INT, 4 PBU, and a QBH. He shares time with Smith so the production he has is grat. Delaware transfer #0 Declan Williams (6-2, 245) has also had a big season with 60 tackles, 11 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and 5 PBUs. He plays on the edge and will get after the quarterback.#11 Tylan Foster (5-11, 225) was last seasons leading tackler but is now playing more as a backup. Against Villanova he was knocked out on the opening kickoff in a scary scene and obviously did not return to the game. I can’t imagine he’d play this week. On the season he has 52 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
Cornerback #7 Kendrick Stone (6-2, 190) has had a nice season after bouncing back from missing the 2023 season due to injury. He has 46 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, and 3 PBUs. In week 1, he had 9 total tackles and 1 INT. #21 AJ Tisdell (5-11, 195) is a Wisconsin transfer and has settled into the starting role opposite Stone where he has 48 tackles, 1 INT, and 8 PBU. In reserve is #18 D’Arius Carmouche (6-0, 165), #14 Emmonte Davis (6-3, 180), and #24 Barry Dillon (6-1, 175). Combined, they have 31 total tackles and 6 PBUs.
#3 Mason Chambers (6-0, 210) is a star at the safety position and he leads the team with 81 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 7 PBU, and a forced fumble. He did have an interception in the previous game against SDSU. Next to him is #6 Ronald Wilson (5-10, 220) who has 44 tackles, , 1 INT, 2 PBU, and 2 forced fumbles. #16 Matt Kordas (6-1, 190) provides some experienced depth and has 16 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. #2 Jame Tuayemie (5-11, 205) also has pitched in with 24 total tackles and 3 PBU.
Special Teams
The UIW special teams have been fine in 2024. They do have a different punter than when we saw them in week 2. #94 Connor Bryan is now that guy and he has 32 attempts for a 36.22 yard average with a long of 66. He has just 1 touchback, 11 have been fair caught, 10 have landed inside the 20 and 4 have traveled 50+ yards. Opponents have just a 5.25 yard average on 8 returns. #46 Brack Peacock is still the kicker and he is 15 of 18 on the season with a long of 41 yards he has also missed two extra points. True freshman #95 Nick Rigas, is handling the kick off duties and he has 53 attempts for a 57.4 yard average. He does have 16 touchbacks but has also landed 3 out of bounds. Opponents have just an 18 yard return average on 55 attempts including a 94 yard TD return.
In the return game, #3 Dekalon Taylor leads the team with a 15 yard average on 19 returns including a 62 yard return earlier this season. He may be proving he is too valuable to the offense because he has not returned a punt since November 16th. In his place has been #1 Mason Pierce who has 3 returns for a 6.33 yard average. Pierce is also the primary kick returners and he has a 25 yard return average on 15 attempts including a 59 yarder.
Prediction
I do think the Jacks will win this game but I’m just uncertain by how much. I like this UIW team more than most people for some reason. UIW went toe to toe with a physical Villanova team last week and came away with a gritty 13-6 win. I think the Jacks will try to run the ball against this front in order to keep the pass rush in check but they will ultimately have to pass to keep it balanced and I think there will be some success as Mark finds the voids left by the blitzing UIW linebackers. I liked that the Jacks defense showed more dime and nickel personnel groupings against Montana than they have historically shown. I think getting more comfortable with that bodes well for this game.
Jackrabbits 30- Cardinals 17.
Go Jacks!
Matt
