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Hornets took care of business at Pittsburg, 21-10 Saturday. Tech's 2-0 too. 31-29 at Bemidji State, then 48-27 over Midwestern State at home.
Let's look at it.
The number that scares me: we're giving up 248 rushing yards a game at 5.0 a carry. Not a typo. Minot State and Pitt State both ran it on us. Tech runs it 79 times to 46 passes and averages 4.9. That's the whole game right there. If we don't fix the front, they'll just line up and take it.
The number that should scare them: they're 2-0 and their opponents have outgained them 817 to 816. Dead even. Tech's undefeated on takeaways, not dominance. Plus 4 in turnover margin, four picks for 54 yards. Take the turnovers away and those are two coin flips.
Style clash. Tech is run first but lethal when they throw. 9.33 yards per attempt, genuinely elite. We're the opposite. 83 passes to 73 runs, 269.5 through the air a game. They want it on the ground and short. We want it in the air.
Possession. They hold it 32:07 a game. We hold it 26:48. Outpossessed by six and a half minutes a night and we've won both anyway. Call that resilience or call it luck.
Where we have an edge: we're converting 46.9% on third down and their defense allows 44.8%. Stay on schedule and we move it.
So: tackle better than we have in two games, and don't hand it to a team that's already cashed four interceptions. Do those two things and we're 3-0.
First home game of the year. Yes, the east stands are closed. I've heard every joke this week. I'd still rather sit in a half-empty Welch at 3-0 than a full house explaining what happened.
Thoughts?
Let's look at it.
The number that scares me: we're giving up 248 rushing yards a game at 5.0 a carry. Not a typo. Minot State and Pitt State both ran it on us. Tech runs it 79 times to 46 passes and averages 4.9. That's the whole game right there. If we don't fix the front, they'll just line up and take it.
The number that should scare them: they're 2-0 and their opponents have outgained them 817 to 816. Dead even. Tech's undefeated on takeaways, not dominance. Plus 4 in turnover margin, four picks for 54 yards. Take the turnovers away and those are two coin flips.
Style clash. Tech is run first but lethal when they throw. 9.33 yards per attempt, genuinely elite. We're the opposite. 83 passes to 73 runs, 269.5 through the air a game. They want it on the ground and short. We want it in the air.
Possession. They hold it 32:07 a game. We hold it 26:48. Outpossessed by six and a half minutes a night and we've won both anyway. Call that resilience or call it luck.
Where we have an edge: we're converting 46.9% on third down and their defense allows 44.8%. Stay on schedule and we move it.
So: tackle better than we have in two games, and don't hand it to a team that's already cashed four interceptions. Do those two things and we're 3-0.
First home game of the year. Yes, the east stands are closed. I've heard every joke this week. I'd still rather sit in a half-empty Welch at 3-0 than a full house explaining what happened.
Thoughts?
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