The Sioux fell to 3-6 on the year after a 35-16 loss at home to UC Davis on Saturday. These were the types of games vs FCS opponents at home where you could count on the Sioux being in it down to the end and even winning. That didn’t happen, as the Sioux came out of the gates fine but couldn’t finish off drives, both offensively and defensively.
- The Sioux were outgained 410-298. The Sioux had 142 yards on the ground but could only come up with 156 yards through the air.
- Marcus Hendrickson provided a nice initial lift for the Sioux offense in his career debut but could not sustain it as the game went on. He is very athletic but it will take time to get his passing game polished. He got happy feet in the pocket as the game wore on and he missed some fairly easy throws to open receivers. Experience is key for a QB and these next two games will be vital for both Brent Goska and Hendrickson. This was never more evident than when both Goska and Hendrickson threw passes after crossing over the line of scrimmage while scrambling.
- The Sioux were looking at being down 7-6 at the half before Davis scored a TD late in the half. The Davis WR, Sean Credick was wide open in the corner of the end zone after a blown coverage. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last blown coverage of the game.
- A pivotal point in the game was when the Sioux could not get in the end zone after having 1st and goal on the 4 yard line. They had to settle for a FG. A touchdown there would have answered the Davis TD on the previous possession when Sean Credick was wide open after the Sioux secondary blew coverage again. Credick ran straight down the field and for some reason was not covered.
- On the next Sioux possession, they fumbled the handoff and it ended up in the end zone where a Davis player fell on it for a defensive TD. That essentially ended the game.
- True Freshman RJ McGill had a breakout game in the Kick Return department. He ended the day with 6 returns for 169 yards, the longest being 54 yards. The KR and PR units setup the Sioux O with great field position all day. RJ looked as confident on the field as we have seen him all year. Hopefully he uses that and builds on it for the final 2 games.
- Davis QB Randy Wright was 19-28 for 286 yards and 4 TD’s. The Sioux only managed 1 pass breakup and that was by OLB Damon Andrews.  Chris Hall had UND’s lone interception in the game.
- Zeb Miller was 3-4 on FG’s (31, 40, 24) with his lone miss bouncing off the left upright.
- The freshman and youth growing pains showed up on Saturday again, most notably in the secondary where multiple blown coverages were obvious. The offensive line’s youth showed as well and there could be some shakeup there as well. All of it comes with the territory of playing so many 1st and second year freshman.
- Crowd was poor again but that is what happens when you are 3-5.
- The Sioux D only had two sacks in the game but could have had 3-4 more. Wright showed some nice elusiveness throughout the game but those sacks need to be made.
- Things don’t get any easier this week with a trip out to Montana to take on a desperate Griz team that already has 3 losses and cannot afford another if they still want to make the playoffs. We will have the preview later this week.
