The SDSU Jackrabbits host the in-state rival USD Coyotes on Saturday in front of a stadium that sold out in August. USD is good this year with only a loss to FBS Wisconsin on their resume along with 6 other wins of varying quality. USD’s schedule has not been too challenging to this point but you still have to beat the teams that on your schedule and not stub your toe. USD had high expectations this season after reaching the FCS quarterfinals and they have responded well to those expectations, something they haven’t always been able to do in the D1 era. USD is led by Bob Nielson still who may have finally helped USD turn the corner. This is an experienced and senior laden roster that needs to be credited with sticking it out in Vermillion.
Offense
The Yote offense has plenty of weapons at their disposal this year and are scoring 38.57 ppg. Because of those weapons, they are able to run and pass the ball to equal success. They average 232.6 yards per game on the ground and 204.29 ypg through the air. They have only allowed 8 sacks, have tossed just 2 interceptions and have only lost 2 fumbles. Those are winning numbers! On 3rd down they convert 46.38% of the time and in the redzone they have scored 92.5% of the time, 20 of those 27 trips ended in touchdowns.
#2 Aidan Bouman (6-5, 245) is back as the point man for the Yote offense. He has a big arm and can make all the throws that he is asked to make. He has passed for 1,393 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT, and completes 70% of his passes. USD will likely not be calling any designed runs for Bouman but he does have the ability to get out of trouble and has rushed for 42 gross yards this season. Because of his big frame, he isn’t the easiest guy to get to the ground. Personally, I have just been impressed with how Bouman has performed this season. He just looks like he is in total command of the offense.
The USD running back room has a two headed monster and some impressive quality after that. #3 Charles Pierre Jr. (5-10, 205) has really had a great start to his sophomore season after a breakout freshman year. He has 705 rushing yards on 106 attempts (6.7 ypc), and a MVFC leading 12 TDs. He is also good in the passing game with 9 receptions for 77 yards and 1 TD. The actual starter listed for USD is the bowling ball #5 Travis Theis (5-11, 215). He is such a physical player and runs really hard. He has 75 carries for 518 yards (6.9 ypc) and 8 TDs. He too can catch the ball out of the backfield and has 10 receptions for 137 yards and 2 TD. The two younger backs that I mentioned are #7 Keyondray Jones-Logan (5-7, 175) and #24 LJ Phillips Jr. (5-9, 220) Jones-Logan has 18 attempts for 147 yards (8.2 ypc) and 1 TD. He is also a real threat out of the backfield and on gadget type plays and he has 11 receptions for 54 yards. Phillips has 119 yards on 21 carries (5.7 ypc) and 2 TD.
At wide receiver USD is led by the reliable #14 Carter Bell (5-10, 180) who leads the team with 22 receptions for 315 yards. He is just a really quality route runner and leader for the yotes. #4 Quaron Adams (5-7, 175) is a real speedster on the perimeter. He has just 9 receptions but for 245 yards and 2 TDs. #8 Javion Phelps (6-4, 200) has had a surprising quite yet and he has 7 receptions for 71 yards. Former Jackrabbit, #10 AJ Coons (6-4, 220) has 4 receptions and 103 yards and 1 TD as a key reserve, and #1 Tristan Michaud (6-6, 215) brings a physical presence to the lineup but he has just 1 reception for 10 yards. #15 Jack Martens (5-11, 190)is another slot-type player and he has 4 receptions for 42 yards.
The tight end is maybe the best in the FCS this season and he could possibly be playing on Sundays next year. #82 JJ Galbreath (6-4, 240) has had a really nice career and this year has 17 receptions for 323 yards and 2 TD. For a big man, he can really move as evidenced by his 80 yard touchdown earlier this season. He is backed up by #89 Zach Witte (6-6, 260) who is more of a blocking tight end.
I say this every year but I do believe the USD offensive line is improved this season. On TV at least, they appear to be in better condition vs. how they appeared last season. They have only surrendered those 8 sacks and are paving the way for all of those rushing yards. From left to right they go:
- #71 Joe Cotton (6-7, 315, SO)
- #73 Jordan Larsen (6-3, 310, SO)
- #76 Joey Lombard (6-5, 305, SR)
- #59 Adrian Hawkins (6-6, 300, JR)
- #55 Bryce Henderson (6-8, 320, JR)
The reserves have all played meaningful snaps too with #65 Caden Ellingson, #68 Sam Kohls, and #64 Ben Kohls all seeing time in the starting lineup in the past. Hawkins is an interesting transfer from Monmouth and after only starting 3 career games for them, has been a fixture for the Yotes this season.
Defense
The USD defense plays a 3-4, 4-2-5 amoeba defense. They are good at all three levels of the defense and have experience all over the place with 9 seniors listed on their 2-deep. They are allowing just 11.43 points per game and have allowed just 47 total points across 4 MVFC games. They are allowing 106.7 ppg rushing and 183.43 yards per game passing. They have recorded 6 interceptions, recovered 4 fumbles and have recorded a solid 16 sacks! Opponents have struggled to move the ball against this defense and have only reached the redzone 15 times, scoring on 10, with just 6 touchdowns.
It starts up front for USD with a real aggressive and attacking defensive line. #54 Nick Gaes (6-4, 275) has been a great player for USD and he has 28 total tackles, 7 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 PBU, and 1 QBH. Across from his is #90 Mi’Quise Grace (6-4, 255) who is experiencing quite the breakout season and he has racked up 29 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, and a forced fumble. Watching him against YSU it felt like he was in on every single play. He looks the part as well and is a “first off the bus” type of guy. This may be the best defensive end duo in the MVFC. On the interior are the big bodied #52 Mosai Newsom (6-5, 320) and #61 Blake Holden (6-3, 300) who are both seniors. Newsome has a ridiculous 21 tackles and .5 sack while Holden has 19 stops of his own, 3 TFL, and 1.5 sacks along with 1 PBU, and 3 QBH. This may be the best defensive line in the MVFC. #95 Carter Hooper (6-5, 265) provides depth at defensive end and has 10 stops, .5 sack, and 1 QBH on the season. On the interior #50 Chris Dixon (6-3, 305) is another big guy that helps plug up the middle and he has 11 total tackles.
The linebacker group is led by #10 Gary Bryant III (6-1, 230) in the middle. He has racked up 51 total tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT, a forced fumble, and 3 PBU. He’s a young player, just a sophomore, but already looks like he will end up as a MVFC all-conference type player in the next few years. Next to him is the veteran #3 Teven McKelvey (6-1, 215) who plays the SAM. He has 34 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 2 PBUs. #0 Nate Ewell (6-2, 225) transferred in from NAIA Grandview where he was a 3rd team All American last season and has stepped in to the starting WILL role. He also has 34 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PBU, and 2 QBH. #49 Wade Abrams (6-0, 230) supplies some quality depth in the middle and has 16 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 QBH. #41 Jonathan Bunce (6-3, 250) is listed on the depth chart as a defensive end but he is one of the guys that comes in when they play the 3 man front and is a linebacker. Bunce is a transfer from St. Thomas where he was an All-Pioneer league selection at linebacker last season. He has 12 tackles and a sack this season.
The secondary also has a number key veterans in the lineup. Safeties #2 Dennis Shorter (5-10, 195) and #6 Josiah Ganues (5-11, 180) have been making plays for the back end of this defense for a few years. This year Shorter is second on the team with 35 total tackles and leads the team with 2 INTs and 7 PBUS. He has also caused a forced fumble. Ganues has 24 stops to his credit and 1 TFL. #0 Tim White (5-10, 195) provides quality depth and has 14 stops. The corners are also plenty experienced in #21 Mike Reid (6-2, 200) and #4 Shahid Barros (6-1, 195). Reid is also a transfer from Monm0uth where he was a 2x 3rd team All-CAA cornerback. He has 16 tackles, 1 INT, and 4 PBU. Barros has made a good recovery after getting injured in the loss to SDSU last season. At the beginning of the year there were some questions if he would play at all this season but he has played the last 5 games and has 21 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 PBU. He was playing at a really high level last season before his injury so it’s good to see him back on the field. #1 Roman Tillmon (6-0, 185) and #12 Caleb McKenzie (5-8, 170) provide some young depth at the position. Tillmon has 11 tackles and a PBU while McKenzie has 7 stops and a PBU.
Special Teams
They Coyote special teams has been terrific in the return game and pretty average in the kicking game. The punter is #32 Tyler Ebel and he has just a 39.74 yard average on 23 kicks. He has just 3 touchbacks, has landed 12 inside the 20, forced 8 to be fair caught and sent two 50+ yards. With these short punts there isn’t much room for a return and opponents have just a 2.5 yard average on 20 return attempts. The field goal duties belong to #15 Will Leyland who is recovering after a rough start to his season. He has made 5 of 7 attempts with both misses coming between 30 and 39 yards. #39 Zeke Mata handles anything from 50+ and his long is 52 yards on his lone attempt. Mata also handles the kick off duties and on 49 attempts he has a 61.6 yard average and only 7 touchbacks. Clearly USD wants to pin it’s opponents deep with just a 16.10 return average and a long of only 26.
As I mentioned, the return game is really really good for USD. #7 Keyondray Jones-Logan has 4 kick return attempts and he has taken 2 to the house. Yes, they were against Drake and Northern but they still count. #26 Mikey Munn also has 1 return attempt for 16 yards. #14 Carter Bell is the primary punt return, a job he has held since he got to campus, and he has a 10.78 return average on 9 attempts, including a 55 yard return for TD.
Prediction
USD slept walked through their matchup out in Youngstown last week. They cannot afford to do the same this week as the Jackrabbits are going to come out ready to crush whoever is across from them. I have worried about the physical and emotional hangover for years but I do not see that happening with this team. I saw YSU move the ball with ease early in the game against the Penguins and I think the Jackrabbit offense can do the same and sustain it as the game goes along.
Jackrabbits 32- Coyotes 24
Go Jacks!
Matt
