Plough's stach is worth at least 2 spots.

10-2 gets us a bye and at least one home game?

That's essentially FIVE weeks without getting on a plane, or sleeping in a hotel bed. That's gotta be worth a LOT.

One distance road game in seven weeks?

What a special young man. Fisher was given the game ball after rushing for 2,000 yards in HS, and in private he gave the ball to one of his lineman. His HS coach believed he was a P5 RB, and that he'll play in the NFL one day.

https://www.kptv.com/2022/11/11/westview-hs-football-star-runs-record-books/

Brandon Huffman of 247Sports: "...does he have that elite top-end speed? I think he does — all he does is run away from people."

Kickoff Return Yards Avg - 15.43 / Avg

Total Return Yards - 216 Yds

https://www.maxpreps.com/or/portland/westview-wildcats/athletes/jordan-fisher/football/21-22/stats/leader-rankings/?careerid=hn3g03kqcrvrb

There's an idea, though they may be protecting him bc of prior injuries. Coach Plough and staff have done an excellent job, but the teeth of the BS schedule is ahead.

I say we go 3-1 and do away w squeeking into the playoffs. Beat NC, one of two vs the Montanas, trounce Sac, get a bye, and fire it up!

UC Davis

Kickoff returns - #32
Punt returns - #110 (3.85 average yards)

Did Fisher or anyone down the depth chart excel at punt returns in high school? #110 isn't very good, while South Dakota State is averaging almost 21 yards per punt return.

Agreed 100%. I recall that when we inked Fisher it was considered a big signing. Plough wasn't here for that. Obviously we'll need to replace LL (and Magic) next year, so a LOT of PT opens up. But depth and development are also important. It also fired me up when Toki came in at FB! Reminds me of The Frig from Chicago days.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cu22lKUxjMg?si=YyCK7V-4rI1Fytx9

Since Magic isn't a RB now, puzzling why we only use 2 backs and we're really struggling in the running game. What happened to competition? We can say the O line is banged up, we made the wrong call, or the D was dominating, but sometimes players make plays. Perez did OK, but at least once I saw what appeared to be wide open field on the right side. Maybe Fisher would have broken that outside, even taken it to the house. We'll never know.

Fair analysis.

FloFootball: "Just How Good Is UC Davis Football?
UC Davis has quietly crept up into the number four spot in this week's FCS poll by being solid, sitting at 7-1 on the season with their only loss being to Cal. Some weeks they look dangerous, other weeks they barely scrape by. It just leaves the question of how good they truly are. This week they play bottom ranked Northern Colorado before a huge Top 25 showdown against Montana followed by another huge game against a top team in the conference, Montana State. For a team that has struggled to consistently dominate, UC Davis's identity will really be formed in these last few weeks of season. If they can get going this week and take care of Northern Colorado and come out firing on all cylinders the next few weeks, this team is one to watch these upcoming weeks."

https://www.flofootball.com/articles/12949765-5-things-to-know-about-the-fcs-football-schedule-in-week-10

FCS Football: Highest-Graded Defensive Players (Post-Week 9)

Linebacker:
1. Noah Martin (Samford; 92.5)
2. Gideon Lampron (Dayton; 91.1)
3. Eli Ennis (Nicholls; 90.7)
4. Jesse Powell II (Elon; 90.2)
5. Eric Rankin (VMI; 89.2)
6. Jaden Mosley (Samford; 87.0)
7. Gary Bryant (South Dakota; 86.5)
8. Will Leota (Sacramento State; 86.4)
9. David Meyer (UC Davis; 86.3)
10. Danny Uluilakepa (Montana State; 85.2)

Cornerback:
1. Gavin Shipman (Harvard; 87.1)
2. Jeremy Jonozzo (Dayton; 85.6)
3. Boogie Trotter (Tennessee State; 84.1)
4. Mike Reid (South Dakota; 83.2)
5. Caleb Francis (Presbyterian; 82.8)
6. Robert Carter (Robert Morris; 82.6)
7. Quincy Briggs (Georgetown; 82.4)
8. Tyris Harvey (Robert Morris; 82.3)
9. Semaj Verner (UC Davis; 82.1)
10. Sammy Anderson Jr. (Austin Peay; 81.6)

https://www.si.com/college/fcs/mvfc/fcs-football-highest-graded-defensive-players-week-9-pro-football-focus

Just for fun, noteworthy stats.

NCAA FCS National Statistics - UC Davis

Total offense - #10
Total defense - #58

3rd down conversion - #20
Fewest penalties per game - #46

Passing offense - #2 (325 ypg)
Rushing offense - #91 (125 ypg)

Red zone offense - #33
Team sacks - #103 (1.25 pg)
Turnover margin - #35

Individual Statistics

All purpose Yds - Lan Larison #2
Completion % - Miles Hastings #14
Receptions pg - Lan Larison - #50

Field Goal % - Hunter Ridley #5

Passes defended - Kavir Bains - #20
Solo tackles - David Myer - #15
Total tackles - David Myer - #37

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs

Obviously the explosive BSC makes it tough on defenses. It's surprising that our offense has struggled to establish a running game, yet we're only playing two running backs. I'd give Fisher some touches early with the 1s, and hopefully play him and Perez in the 2nd half. Along with giving Toki some PT at goal line offense. Go Ags.

Big boy football.

ND State 59 - 6 Murray State
Cal 44 - 7 Q4 over Oregon State, includes impromptu lateral from RB back to QB Mendoza for TD

Sac St Idaho St 14 - 14

According to John Canzano, Grand Canyon University skipped a WCC AD meeting, and is being courted by the Mountain West.

A recent member of the WCC, their entry fee was $16 Million. They forfeit that if they jump to the MW, which has their own entry fee. Reportedly, GCU wants to eventually join the Pac-12.

Canzano reports the Pac-12 still in search of one all-sports school.

He and his staff are doing a very good job. Hawkins left him Coombs, MH, LL and a strong defense. The first 3/4 of the schedule was also favorable.

End of season, and the playoffs, are two new tests. If we close out strong, it sounds like we have a potential for another Bye, and then a home game. Those are crucial if you really hope to go deep into the playoffs.

Next year could be a rebuild, at least on offense. There we will see Plough's ability to groom new QBs, and / or land another JM from the jucos. Hopefully the next game goes well, and we can go deep into the roster.

+1

Well, Hackett was the OC, Jets continue to struggle, so game-day play calling was pulled from him. Same results.

QB Aaron Roger's threw 4 picks a week ago, 2 picks yesterday. We'll see if Nathaniel lasts the year. Hackett and Roger's were (are?) tight.

Lan Larison Earns Big Sky Offensive Player Of The Week Honors; Racks Up 257 All-Purpose Yards At EWU

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2024/10/21/football-lan-larison-earns-big-sky-offensive-player-of-the-week-honors-racks-up-257-all-purpose-yards-at-ewu.aspx

Less distractions, and many are acclimated to playing in cold conditions?

https://youtu.be/USfKJYZcUmI?feature=shared

Just win, baby. And get the reserves PT.

I understand they want to maximize LL touches, but I agree, Fisher should still get a few carries a game.

Great to see new wrinkles.