Ball control still key for UC Davis
Some things never change. The UC Davis offense has more weapons this year, but the Aggies still hang their helmets on ball-control.
Eastern Washington knows that better than anyone. In their last meeting two years ago in California, the Eagle offense spent most of the first half on the sideline as the Aggies rolled down the field. By halftime, Eastern led 9-7 but had run just 27 plays.
The Eagles won that game 37-14, but the point was made: the Aggies can be a tough team to get off the field.
“They’ve always been a team that can emphasize the run and run it well,” Eastern coach Beau Baldwin said Wednesday. “It takes a lot of patience to get your team to that level.”
This year’s prime mover for UC Davis is senior running back and captain Manusamoa Luuga, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound senior who scored three touchdowns in the season opener at Oregon and hasn’t looked back. Luuga is up to 326 yards and five TDs on 66 carries; the rest of the team has just 51.
“He’s a quiet individual but he carries a big stick, and he’s a phenomenal leader,” Davis coach Ron Gould said. “We ask him to do a lot.”
That also includes catching the ball: with nine catches for 108 yards, Luuga is the Aggies’ third-leading receiver.
But things are changing at Davis, which is throwing the ball more. That could be due to the opponents (which included FBS teams Oregon and Wyoming), but Baldwin is seeing more diversity from the Aggies.
“To me, they’ve become more of a threat to come from behind by throwing the ball and spreading you out,” Baldwin said. “They are more dynamic than they ever have been at wide receiver in my opinion. … It’s never over and they are explosive. It will be a challenge.”
Kupp reflects on hurting and healing
Barely a week ago, EWU wide receiver Cooper Kupp had some time to reflect on football and life.
“You don’t understand how much you love something until it’s taken away,” Kupp said of the shoulder injury on Sept. 10 that left him on the sideline for Northern Iowa and left him questionable for last week’s Big Sky opener at Northern Arizona.
“It was a tough week, not being able to do what I was created to do,” said Kupp, who was cleared to play at NAU and duly caught 11 passes for 111 yards.
“The training staff did a great job,” Kupp said. “After week of self-reflection, I understand how blessed I am.”
Baldwin: FCS teams closing the gap
No stranger to playing the big boys, Baldwin was asked if FCS teams are becoming more competitive.
The answer is yes, to a point.
“There is a separation,” said Baldwin, who owns wins over Oregon State, Washington State and Idaho. “The Alabamas, you’re going to be in tough against some of these teams, but when you’re talking about some Pac-12 or Mountain West team, it’s more even ….”
One surprising reason: recruiting. “There’s more players to choose from” in a given geographical area, said Baldwin, who added that the third-ranked player at a position might not be that much better than the seventh- or eighth-best recruit.
In addition, many FBS schools are under more pressure to lock up their recruiting classes before those players finish senior year.
“We reap the benefits of those late bloomers,” said Baldwin, who offered one compelling example: Kupp, who didn’t attract a single FBS offer.
Cal Poly looks to build momentum
Cal Poly is under the radar no longer.
Unranked last week, the Mustangs are 19th in this week’s FCS poll after knocking off No. 6 Montana 42-41. That came a week after a win over No. 9 South Dakota State.
Winners of three straight, the Mustangs are on the road this week against another hot team, North Dakota (2-1), in an important early Big Sky game.
The battle lines are already set: Cal Poly has the league’s top rushing offense, averaging 362.8 yards per game; North Dakota owns the second-best rushing defense, allowing just 109.2 yards a contest.