What to Watch: Quarterfinals vs SIU

The Jacks enter Sunday night’s quarterfinals matchup under the lights on ESPN 2 against Valley foe Southern Illinois.  SIU fought tooth and nail to get a seat at the table in this Spring’s unconventional season; that fight certainly did stop in their regular season finale as they made good on the at large nod from the committee by taking down Big Sky power Weber State in dramatic fashion.

None of us with the Jackrabbit Illustrated Team expect the lopsided affair we saw in Carbondale in March. Anticipate much more of a back and forth slugfest that’s common in Missouri Valley Football showdowns. With that being said, here’s what we’re keeping an eye on:

1. 605 Hogs

The offensive line has turned in some stout performances over the last trio of games! Even with that being the case, there’s still room for improvement in the execution department. No sacks because of technique, no points off the board because of penalties and no mental errors is always the aim for a Jacks O-Line. Establishing and owning the line scrimmage is of prime importance in this one! 

2. Body Blows & Jacks on T.O.P.

It’s no secret. Running over, around and past an opponent takes the wind out of their sails. Falling in line with the 605 Hogs establishing dominance in the trenches, the Jacks will feature a steady dose of Pierre Strong Jr. who didn’t play in the regular season contest as he was nursing an injury. Isaiah Davis will look to be factor as well having gone for a buck fifty on the ground with three touchdowns in his first career start in Carbondale. The Freshman looked as advertised in the opening round! Look for the other young Jack, Mark Gronkowski, to have some QB runs sprinkled in on the call sheet too. A balanced attack with a run emphasis will be part of a concerted effort to mirror the edge in Time of Possession that saw a 36:33 to 23:37 advantage in their March matchup. 

3. No Fly Zone

Coach Nick Hill went to the air heavily in their first round win at Weber State. They’ll look to capture some of that same magic to gain a second road upset. Stone Labanowitz seems to have gotten the nod throughout the remainder of the season—whether by skill or by attrition. He does a good job extending plays with his legs so Don Gardner, Malik Lofton, Dyshawn Gales, “The Barracuda”, Michael Griffin and the rest of the “Den of Thieves” will need to be sure they maintain tight coverage for extended periods. Avante’ Cox, Jerron Rollins and Landon Lenoir had a day in Ogden so Brookings will need to be the “No Fly Zone” it’s shown it can be in the recent past. 

4. Especially Special

Often overlooked until they command attention, Special Teams have been a factor in the lone loss and in all major victories for the Jacks this season. From Stalbird setting the tone with a blocked punt in Cedar Falls to Van Marel blocking a crucial field goal versus Youngstown (and Holy Cross) to Gruetzmacher stepping up to short snap to Dinkel doing what Dinkel does to Spalding flipping the momentum in the first SIU clash, Special Teams MATTER. Championship teams relish the opportunity to impact the game regardless of phase. It’s that simple. Look for Frahm, Dinkel & Janke to show up for their team this Saturday along with their ten other brothers in blue! 

5. Be Us

A Coach Stig Team can be expected to do a few things that are in line with his style. As sure as the sun will rise, he wants to establish the run to wear down an opposing defense but remain balanced overall. The 24-year-head-man wants his team to know they’re the most physical of the bunch and exert their will on the opponent—offense, defense & special teams. The Selby native, like all coaches, wants his squad to play a clean game in the penalty department. Above all, he wants to see a championship effort. Leave nothing to chance. Leave nothing in the tank—a Last Play mentality!

If the Jackrabbits can execute on the above aspects, we have no doubt they’ll show out under the national spotlight! 

Go Jacks | Run Rabbits