Photo courtesy of MVSU Athletics
The Game Vitals
Game Time – 6:30 pm.
Opponent – Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
Game Notes – UND
TV – Midco Sports Network
Radio – UND Radio Network
Online Streaming – Pluto TV
Spread – UND -41.5. Total = 56
Mississippi Valley State (0-0) Breakdown
— Offense = Spread
— Defense = 4-3
Offensively – The Delta Devils employ employ a spread-based offense. With the addition of new offensive coordinator Maurice Flowers (Fayettville State) we fully expect them to run the ball more to try and control the flow of the game and keep their defense off the field.
The DD’s ran this type of offense last year but threw the ball more than they ran it (433 to 273 in attempts). However, that may have had to do with playing from behind a lot.
We are expecting #11 Chris Fowler to be behind center when the DD’s take the field tomorrow night. Fowler put up some respectable numbers last year going 143-223 for 1,565 yards and 6 TD’s. The sophomore is not much of a rushing threat.
An interesting tidbit to this game is #81 WR Quinn McElfresh. The senior hails from Brainerd, MN but somehow made his way all the way down to Inna Beta, MS. McElfresh is their best returning receiver with 57 catches for 889 yards and 6 TD’s. At 6’2″-200 he will be a player UND has to keep an eye on each play.
Defensively – The Delta Devils employ a base 4-3 look and will show both ‘2-high’ and ‘1-high’ in the back. In ‘1-high’ man-free looks the free player tends to play shallow so the middle of the field could have some promise for the UND passing game. Not a ton of film out there about the DD’s but this is what we saw.
MVSU appears to play a lot of man coverage on the outside, but do not send a bunch of guys in the pass rush often. When they do blitz, they will send two off the edge in ‘Smoke’ blitz looks or two up the middle in the A-gaps in ‘Fire” blitz looks. Some of their coverage’s are tough to discern from watching what we could from last year.
The MVSU defense is led by LB #50 Patrick Harbin, who is a preseason 1st Team All-Conference selection in the SWAC. Harbin had 89 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2017.
Last season, they gave up 445 yards per game and 40.5 points.
North Dakota (0-0) Keys to Win The Game
- When you are playing an inferior opponent you need to get after them immediately. Only bad things can happen if there is a lethargic start to the game. The crowd loses focus, doubt creeps in and the opponent starts to feel better about their chances. Come out, punch them in the mouth and get the crowd into it.
- Establish the run. Set the tone for the next couple weeks by allowing your offensive line to build some confidence. They are the one of the main position groups that could be deemed a question mark coming into the home opener.
- Defensive front seven – create havoc on a play-by-play basis. The Delta Devils gave up an astounding 56 sacks for a total loss of 400 yards. UND has always hung their hat on bringing pressure so on paper this should be chaos in the backfield all night.
- QB Nate Ketteringham needs to run a solid offense. Efficiency and consistency is what we want to see in this first game. In and out of the huddle. Timing with receivers.
- Clean snaps. Clean exchanges. Clean special teams.
- Give the fans some early sizzle. Go up top on the first drive to get the faithful into it early and keep them engaged. This isn’t a knockdown-dragout type of game.
- Get a lead and use your roster to finish it off.
