UNI has their backs against the wall, fighting for their playoff lives, and they are coming to Brookings for Hobo Day! Let me know if you’ve seen this one before. Woof! The Panthers are 3-3 with back to back losses to NDSU and USD and are down to #22 in the STATS poll after cracking the top 10 prior to their NDSU matchup. The Panthers are physical as always but are starting to accumulate some injuries after two really physical contests.
Offense
The Panthers offense has been more balanced this season than in previous years. They are not GREAT passing or running but they are good in both. They take care of the ball (until the past two weeks) and possess a huge offensive line. They average 27.17 ppg with 145.2 ypg on the ground and 216.3 ypg through the air. They’ve allowed 15 sacks and have only possessed the ball for 27:22 per game. They are converting on 34.67% of their 3rd down opportunities and have scored on 9 of 11 trips into the redzone.
The Panthers are starting a different QB for the first in 3 seasons. Gone is Will McElvain and in is Michigan State transfer, #12 Theo Day (6-5, 225). Day has been solid since taking the reins vs. Sacramento State but he did make a couple big errors against the Coyotes. He has completed 58% of his passes for 1,061 yards, 8 TDs, and 4 INT. He may not be as big of threat on the ground as McElvain but he is still a capable runner with 142 rushing yards on the season.
McElvain has a trio of talented wide receivers to throw to. #80 Isaiah Weston (6-4, 210) is one of the better wide receivers in the MVFC and has 18 receptions for 453 yards and 4 TD. He injured his shoulder in the first half against USD and did not return to the game. His status at the time of writing this is unknown. Even without Weston #4 Quan Hampton (5-8, 180) and #1 Deion McShane (5-9, 175) are two of the more explosive wide receivers around. Weston was hurt in the first half of the spring game against the Jacks but after he went Hampton had a nice game finding the holes in the Jackrabbit zone catching 7 passes for 65 yards. This season, Hampton, a Kansas transfer, has 33 receptions for 380 yards and 2 TD while McShane has 17 receptions for 177 yards. In Weston’s absence last week, #23 Sam Schnee (5-10, 200) and #82 Sergio Morancy (6’3, 180) stepped up. On the year Schnee has 8 receptions for 106 yards and a TD and Morancy has 3 for 39 and a TD. UNI does use a TE but it is not a staple of offense as previous versions of the Panthers have been. #84 Jayden Scott (6-5, 255) and #42 Kyle Fourtenbary (6-4, 245) are the two TEs listed on the depth chart. Scott has just 4 receptions. Fourtenbary was a big transfer before the spring season (Western Kentrucky) but has yet to record a reception in four games this fall.
UNI has a timeshare backfield with no one player taking ownership as “the guy.” Kansas transfer #7 Dom Williams (5-10, 200) has 58 attempts for 368 yards and 3 TD. His carry share has decreased every week since Sac State and he left the game against USD early in the 3rd quarter and finished with just 3 carries for 1 yard. Cal transfer #6 Bradrick Shaw (6-1, 225) has seen a little more action in recent weeks and has 39 attempts for 193 yards and 2 TD. #20 Vance McShane (5-6, 190) is elusive in the open field and had a 62 yard run against USD brining his season total to 198 yards on 23 attempts for 4 TD. #32 Tyler Hoosman (6-0, 215) is still on the roster but has just 21 carries for 52 yards and a TD.
The offensive line for UNI is big as always. #70 Trevor Penning (6-7, 321) is the left tackle and anchors the left side of the line. He is projected to be a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick this spring. Next to him is #75 Jared Penning (6-6, 338), #67 Erik Sorenson (6-6, 320), #72 Justin Peine (6-6, 329, and #68 Clayton Kempf (6-6, 300). Peine missed the USD game as did backup left guard #79 Hayden Amos (6-5, 290). Kansas transfer #76 Antione Frazier (6-5, 300) filled in for Peine at right guard. This group has allowed 15 sacks on the season.
Defense
UNI plays both a 3-4 and a 4-2-5 defense. Their defense has a star at all three levels and is VERY physical. It will be interesting to see what they throw at the Jacks on Saturday. On the season they have given up just 18.33 points per game but in the last two contests have given up 34 points both games. They allow 110.3 ypg on the ground and 193.33 ypg through the air. Opponents convert on 32.26% of their 3rd down attempts and have scored on 17 of 19 attempts into the red zone but have been limited to just 10 touchdowns. Maybe the most interesting stat is that UNI has only recorded 10 sacks on the season. Traditionally, UNI has a ferocious pass rush but has just 10 on the season; 3 of which came against the Yotes.
Upfront UNI is stout. #91 Brawntae Wells (6-3, 260), #44 Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290), #99 Kristian Boyd (6-4, 300), #94 Tim Butcher (6-2, 300), #8 Devin Rice (6-3, 250), and #93 Caden Houghtelling are a really good group. Wells, Brinkman, Boyd, and Butcher have been playing forever for the Panthers it feels like. Brinkman, in my opinion, is the best interior defensive lineman in the country. Last spring he gave the Jackrabbit offensive line fits. He didn’t make a ton of tackles or sacks but he was disruptive throughout the game. On the year he has 32 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 QBH and a forced fumble. Butcher has also been really productive with 27 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and 2 sacks. Houghtelling has 23 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, a FF, and a PBU. Wells has 8 tackles, Boyd has 6 tackles, and Rice has 8 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 PBU along with a FF.
The linebacking group is filled with traditional thumper type linebackers. They want to smack opposing running backs right in the mouth. #41 Spencer Cuvelier (6-3, 230) is a very good middle linebacker and he is flanked by #40 Alfonzo Lambert (6-1, 219) and #47 Riley Van Wyhe (6-3, 230). When UNI plays a 4-3 you will also see #22 Bryce Flater on the field (6-1, 230) and #0 Jevon Brekke (6-3, 200) is another player who has been around forever. Cuvelier is the leading tackler with 73 and has 4.5 TFL, 2 PBU, and a FF. Lambert is 3rd on the team with 36 and Van Whye has 32 tackles, an INT, and 2 PBU. Flater has 30 tackles, 3 TFL, and a FF and Brekke has 13 tackles of his own. Another really solid and experienced group for the Panthers.
The Panther secondary is really experienced. #24 Omar Brown (6-0, 195) was a freshman All-American but struggled a bit more in the spring season. He is still a very good player that has excellent playmaking ability when the ball is thrown his direction. On the year he has 26 tackles and an INT and 2 PBUs. Opposite him is #27 Austin Evans (6-1, 190) who has been targeted more often and he has responded with 33 tackles and 1 PBU. #19 Stefan Black II (6-0, 180) is a freshman who has seen his playing time increase in recent weeks and he has 3 tackles an an INT. #5 Korby Sander (6-1, 215) and #9 Benny Sapp III (6-1, 205) form a formidable safety tandem. Sander is second on the team with 43 tackles, 1 INT, and 1 PBU while Sapp has 34 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INT, and 2 PBU.
Special Teams
The UNI special teams is experienced but has been up and down this fall. #63 Nate Murphy has 30 punts for a 38 yard average with a long of 52. He has no touchbacks, has fair caught 20 and landed 9 inside the 20. Against USD, Murphy dropped the long snap on a punt from his end zone but will still able to get a punt away but it did not go far and it set USD up with a very short field which allowed them to take the early lead. #97 Matthew Cook is 8 for 10 on the year with a long of 46 and is 100% on his XPs. On kickoffs he has a 58.2 yard average with 15 touchbacks and has kicked 2 out of bounds.
Quan Hampton is the punt returner and he has a 5.93 yard average with a long of 33 on 14 attempts. Dom Williams returns kickoffs and has a 27 yard average with a long of 55 on 4 attempts. Hampton has 3 returns for a 14.33 yard average.
Prediction
I hate that the Jacks play UNI on Hobo Day so often. I hate it. I hate that UNI is playing for their playoff lives and I hate that the Jacks are so banged up right now. UNI was embarrassed two weeks in a row (on the road at NDSU and at home to USD). They will come out mad and looking to start fast. This game will ultimately boil down to a slugfest like every SDSU vs. UNI matchup. I think the Jackrabbit offense is just better than UNIs offense and that will ultimately be the deciding factor.
Jackrabbits 27- Panthers 17
Go Jacks!
Matt
