For the 14th straight time, SDSU has made it to the FCS playoffs! The Jackrabbits will host the New Hampshire Wildcats in the opening round. They last played in the quarterfinals in 2017 and the Jackrabbits came away with a 56-14 victory. New Hampshire is 8-4 on the season and they are coming in hot with 5 wins in a row. Their losses this season were to Ball State from the MAC, Dartmouth, and FCS playoff teams Villanova and Rhode Island. Easily their best win of the season came over Monmouth 3 weeks ago but that was without Monmouth’s star quarterback. Monmouth is solid on offense and appears to be improving on defense from where they were earlier this season. As I said on the podcast on Sunday night, they have to be looking at some of SDSU’s losses down the stretch and thinking “Why not us?” The Jackrabbits better be ready for this one!
Offense
The Wildcats are pretty balanced on offense and have a dual threat quarterback that allow them to score 27 points per game. On the ground they are averaging 134 yards per game (3.9 ypc) and through the air 224 per game. They convert on 39% of their 3rd down opportunities and struggle a bit in the redzone, scoring on 37 of 46 with only 22 TDs. They have also gone for it on 4th down 26 times this season and converted on 16. They do like to control the clock and do so with 33:28 in average time of possession. They’ve tossed 6 interceptions, lost just 2 fumbles and only allowed 22 sacks.
The quarterback for this solid offense is #9 Matt Vezza (6-0, 200) who is in his first year of starting. He’s steered the ship the whole season though and has put up some really nice numbers. He’s completed 62% of his passes for 2,625 yards and 19 TDs to just the 6 interceptions. As I mentioned earlier, he is absolutely a threat with his legs as he has 731 gross rushing yards (567 net) and 8 TDs on 142 attempts.
The starting running back for the Wildcats is #23 Myles Thomason (5-9, 181) who contributed for 3 seasons before breaking into the starting lineup this year. He’s carried the ball 192 times with 735 net yards (3.8 ypc) and 4 TD. His long run of the season is 39 yards. He is a big time threat out of the backfield as he has 30 receptions for 233 yards and 1 TD. The top reserve is #29 Denzell Gibson (5-10, 223) and he has 46 attempts for 250 yards (5.2 ypc) and 2 TD.
The pass catchers are really talented with with 5 guys besides Thomason who have 20 or more receptions! They are led by second year starter #8 Caleb Burke (6-1, 202) who has 51 receptions for 764 yards (15 avg) and 3 TDs. He’s their game breaker and he has a 72 yard receptions on the season. #6 Chase Wilson (6-1, 192) has 47 receptions for 699 yards (15 avg) and 5 TDs after transferring in after a stellar career at D2 Wesleyan. #43 Josh Fillinon (6-1, 197) is the other listed starter and he has 21 receptions for 218 yards and 2 TDs this season. #1 Casey McKinney (6-0, 195) has 25 receptions for 339 yards and 1 TD as a key reserve. #19 Ryan Blagg (6-4, 201) is a big bodied wide receiver and he only has 5 receptions on the season but 2 of them have been for touchdowns. The Wildcats utilize two tight ends and one appears to be built like an offensive lineman while the other is clearly more of a receiving threat. #88 Drew Danson (6-3, 268) has 6 receptions for 39 yards this season while #86 Peyton Strickland (6-3, 235) has 21 receptions for 211 yards and 4 TDs.
As in typical CAA fashion, the offensive line for the Wildcats appears pretty stout! It’s a good mix of youth and experience as well. On the season they have allowed just the 22 sacks and have paved the way for 3.9 ypc. From left to right they go:
LT: #55 Tolu Olajide (6-5, 300, SR): transferred in from Stonehill prior to 2024 season and has started every game since!
LG: #79 Luke Rogers (6-4, 337, SO): First year starter. Started all of 2025.
C: #74 Luke Swaine (6-5, 309, JR): Started at left guard in 2024. Started all of 2025.
RG: #61 Tyler Habersham (6-5, 380 or 251 depending on where you look, RFR): Started the last 5 games.
RT: #75 Beau Riley (6-7, 310, JR): Started season opener in 2024 but was injured. Started all of 2025.
Defense
New Hampshire plays a 4-2-5 defense and they are shockingly young as they have either 6 FR or RFR in their starting lineup.! If this gr0up sticks together, watch out. They are allowing 21.33 points per game and opponents have struggled to get much going through the air (173 yards per game) but have found success on the ground 161 yards per game (4.9 yards per rush). Opponents convert on 43% of their 3rd down opportunities and have scored on 27 of 31 attempts in the redzone with 22 being touchdowns. They have 9 interceptions, 5 fumble recoveries and 22 sacks on the season.
On the defensive line, #98 Justin Akinmoladun (6-0, 290) is a problem. He has 32 total tackles, 7 sacks, 1 QBH, 1 FF, and a safety on the season. He transferring in after four years at D2 Washburn University where he had 4 career sacks prior to this season. He was also a 2x All-American Shotput thrower at Washburn as well. Next to him is #9 Cameron Garner-Young (6-2, 277) and he has 17 total tackles and 3 blocked kicks on the season. #93 Tim Bonagura (6-1, 290) is the top interior reserve and he has 23 total tackles, 1 sack, and 2 PBUs this season.
#7 DJ Johnson (6-4, 233) starts at one defensive end and he has 40 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 QBHs, and a blocked kick. Opposite him is #17 Zach Garron (6-3, 232) and he has 19 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 PBUs and 3 QBHs. #5 Jordan Mcallister (6-3, 231) has 30 total tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 QBH, and 3 forced fumbles as the top reserve.
The linebacker duo is paced by a pair of redshirt freshmen. #42 Trevor Barry (6-1, 217) who has 75 tackles and 1 TFL. Next to him is #0 Isaiah Jones (6-1, 209) and he has 35 total stops, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU’s and 1 forced fumble. #40 Cole Bullock (6-0, 215) transferred in from Montana State and has 45 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 QBHs this season. The other reserve is also a redshirt freshman in #50 Matthew Sopp (6-2, 203) and he has 16 tackles and an INT.
The three safeties are #4 Darren Burton II (5-11, 185), #10 Cohen Cook (6-1, 199), and #14 Duncan Moreland (6-2, 203). Cook, another redshirt freshman, is second on the team with 60 total tackles, 4 TFL, 1 INT, and 2 PBUs. Moreland has 57 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBUs and a forced fumble. Burton II, a Hampton transfer, has 35 total tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU, and a forced fumble.
The corners for the Wildcats are true freshman #28 Kelby Hampton (6-1, 185) and redshirt freshman #14 Malik Diaby (6-1, 180). Hampton has 26 tackles, 2 INT, and 5 PBUs. Diaby has 19 total tackles, and 1 PBU. #21 Sean Webb is the only other CB that has seen much action and he has just 17 tackles, 1 INT, and 6 PBUs.
Special Teams
The Wildcat special teams solid appear to be excellent and the Jacks will have to be solid in this phase of the game. #47 Matt Guidebeck handles the punting duties and he has a 41 yard average on 32 attempts with a long of 59. He’s had just 2 touchbacks, forced 5 to be fair caught while landing 14 inside the twenty, and booted 6- 50+ yards. Opponents have had some success in the return game with a 9 yard average on 14 returns.
The field goal duties belong to #48 Nick Reed and he has made 24 of 31 attempts with a long of 59. He is 6 of 8 from 50+ yards yet has been less consistent from 20-29 yards where he is just 5 of 8. Reed also handles the kickoffs where he has a 68 attempts and just 30 touchbacks on a 62.5 yard average. Opponents have had little success returning kicks with just a 20 yard average on 29 attempts and a long of 36.
#23 Myles Thomason is a problem in the punt return game and he has 18 returns for a 13 yard average and a long of 64. #4 Darren Burton II has been solid in kick returns with 13 attempts for a 19 yard average and a long of 32.
Prediction
I certainly don’t think this will be a repeat of that 2017 matchup but I do think the Jackrabbits find a way to win. This opening weekend just tends to favor home teams so heavily. UNH will be coming in confident however and eager to knock off a blueblood program. Their passing attack does concern me as teams have found success against the Jackrabbit secondary in the last half of the season. The Jackrabbits will need to have the same type of success they had against UND running the ball. It appears that the Wildcats do not have the depth to contend for a full 4 quarters against SDSU and this may be a game where SDSU pulls away in the second half.
Jackrabbits 34- Wildcats 17
Go Jacks!
Matt
