3 Matchups I'm Watching: Univeristy of Northern Iowa


Here we go!  As the week has gone along I have become more and more excited for this match-up.  When I was a student at SDSU, UNI had our number every season.  UNI quarterback, Pat Grace, seemed to have the Jackrabbit's number every game.  However, the tables have turned with SDSU winning 3 of the last 4, with many Jackrabbit fans feeling that this should be 4 for 4.   This season UNI is again coming to Brookings after a tough non-conference schedule and a difficult loss last week against Western Illinois.  This is realistically a "must win" for UNI if they hope to make the playoffs this season.   If the weather isn't terrible, this should be a great day!

Here are the 3 matchups I'm watching this week:

1. Jordan Brown vs. UNI wide receiver #10 Daurice Fountain
 Jordan is coming off maybe his best game as a Jackrabbit.  He had an interception and was a force throughout the game making tackles in the run game and making sure that every pass that SIU completed on him was highly contested.  Fountain is having a big year for UNI with 32 receptions, 452 yards, and 4 touchdowns.  He is quarterback Eli Dunne's number one target.  I would expect that Brown and Fountain are locked up throughout the game and it should be a great battle to watch. 

2. Jackrabbit TE's and slot receivers vs. UNI safties
The Jackrabbits have two great pass catching tight ends in Dallas Goedert and Skyler Cavanaugh.  Both have made critical plays for the Jacks already this season.  UNI starts a true freshman, Suni Lane, and a red-shirt freshman, Korby Sander, at the safety position.  Both were targetted, and abused, last week against Western Illinois.  Any opportunity the Jacks have to matchup their talented tight ends against this duo is a huge advantage for SDSU. 


3.  Jackrabbit defensive ends vs. UNI tackles
If last week was a game where a sack would be hard to get, this week is the opposite.  Through 5 games Dunne has been sacked 14 times and hit 11 other times.  If Dunne is pressured he also tends to throw interceptions with 8 on the season.  The pressure comes from all over but UNI's tackles are not great.  Their right tackles is young and very beatable.  This is a week where #90 Ryan Earith and #66 Elijah Wilson record their first sacks on the season.

Happy Hobo Day and Go Jacks!
-Matt 



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