It’s do or die for the Skyhawks as they get their first playoff action since 2021 against the 8-4 New Hampshire Wildcats with kickoff set for 12 p.m. on Nov. 29.
The Skyhawks are tasked with stifling a Wildcat passing game in the harsh environment of Durham, New Hampshire with highs of 39 degrees at kickoff and reaching below freezing towards the end of the game.
Wildcat QB Seth Morgan leads a strong passing attack that has found success despite the cold temperatures. Morgan, a strong-armed pocket passer, spreads the ball around to his many playmakers in a Wildcat offense built around the quick passing game and occasional deep shots that keep defenses on their toes.
On the ground, the Wildcats have struggled finding a work horse back to carry the load on offense. In their most recent game, against the University of Maine, the Wildcats used CB/RB Caleb Mead as their guy on the ground. Mead led New Hampshire’s most efficient rushing attack of the season with 115 yards and a touchdown on just 21 carries. Mead brought a new dynamic to the Wildcat offense that had yet to be seen so far. He has the elusiveness to navigate cluttered rushing lanes and uses his athletic gifts to accelerate and hit the home run if it presents itself.
The Skyhawk’s defensive front should look to continue its success from last week in which the Skyhawks held Lindenwood’s running backs to just 35 yards and racked up seven sacks. Teams have been able to hit the explosive play on the Skyhawks and it’s something that could make them volatile defensively in the playoffs.
Defensively, the Wildcats hustle to the ball with five players with 50+ tackles from multiple different positions. DB Wande Owens leads the way by far with 101 tackles of his own.
The biggest thing to watch out for if you’re the Skyhawks is the New Hampshire pass rush. Both Josiah Silver and Flex Ruiz rush the passer with unrelenting effort and have totaled 17 sacks between just the two of them.
A Skyhawk offense, which has played well built on explosive plays in the run and pass game, will need to consistently sustain drives that result in seven points if they want to generate a semblance of the offensive production that they’re used to having.
A Skyhawk victory would lead the Skyhawks to Montana where they’d face the number one Montana State Bobcats in the second round of the playoffs.
Wildcats statistical leaders
Passing
QB Seth Morgan- 2,311 yards | 22 touchdowns | seven interceptions
Rushing
RB/CB *Caleb Mead*- 21 carries | 115 yards | one touchdown (one game)
RB Isaac Seide- 108 carries | 422 yards | two touchdowns
RB Denzell Gibson- 77 carries | 295 yards | three touchdowns
Receiving
WR Logan Tomlinson- 77 receptions | 821 yards | nine touchdowns
WR Caleb Burke- 49 receptions | 688 yards | six touchdowns
WR Joey Corcoran- 38 receptions | 448 yards | four touchdowns
Defense
DB Wande Owens- 101 tackles | one sack | one pick-six
LB Ryan Toscano- 88 tackles | three sacks | three passes defended
DE Josiah Silver- 57 tackles | nine sacks | one forced fumbled
CB Noah Stansbury- 47 tackles | eight passes defended | one interception
