My two cents on this matchup..
As I mentioned in an earlier post this will no doubt be the best opponent either team has faced this season so I'm really looking forward to it.
For UMHB, our offense the last two games has looked like it did on our Stagg Bowl run last season for the most part. Our HC mentioned after the game that we got conservative up 24-7 which was good to hear him address that because with all do respect to Trinity we should've put that game away at that point. So you can expect a great offense to prepare for.
On the other side of the ball is where I have my concerns as a Cru backer. Our secondary and linebackers are playing very close If not matching our standard but our defensive line is not the same as years past. They have improved and we looked good against the run but our pass rush is not elite, it usually is. So given that Bethel is one of the best pass pro Offensive line units in the country and has a Gagliardi caliber QB as well I do expect our defense to have a serious situation on their hands.. we've known that all year and it's only been a matter of time until we played a high level offense so it will be fun..
For that reason I think this game is a shootout... close game where both teams get into the upper 20's and potentially the 30's. Our team will not underestimate you guys but I hope our fans realize the challenge at hand and come out and pack the Cruthedral.
GO CRU
I think the game plan for beating UMHB for any playoff team is limiting their big plays. They have two incredibly explosive receivers, and one (probably more) really explosive RB - all of which can break plays of 20 or more for TDs at any given time. Against us (Trinity), their three TDs were from 20, 45 and 60 yards. Think they also had some other completions over 30 yards. Take those out, and their offense was good, but not necessarily dominant, since UMHB wasn't able to do much on the ground against Trinity. Looking at their game against Huntington, 6 of their 8 scores came on runs/passes of 15 yards or more, and 4 of the 8 came on runs/passes of 20 or more. In UMHB's other close games, UMHB's TDs were from only 7, 17, and 1 yards (vs. HPU - won by 3 on last second field goal) and 1, 2, and 11 yards (vs. UWW - lost by 4).
Don't get me wrong, UMHB is built to grind out drives with their fantastic line regardless of big plays; and obviously, limiting big plays should always be part of the game plan every week. But my two cents is you limit big plays by UMHB, then Bethel probably has a shot with their potent offense.
