Keys for beating North Dakota State are based on fundamentals


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OGDEN — Weber State’s 2014 football opener at No. 19 Arizona State revealed several things about the Wildcats, but primarily that they are improving.

However, nine days after opening against an opponent that is focused on winning one of college football’s power conferences, Weber hosts an FCS team that is used to just winning, regardless of the level — the North Dakota State Bison.

The Bison, who have won three consecutive national championships, are coming off a 34-14 victory over Iowa State of the Big 12, and rushed for 299 yards. With that in mind, the Wildcats have a tall task in beating one of the nation’s best, but this list of keys will come in handy for a Weber victory.

Keys to the game: Weber State =============================

1\. Use conditioning to the elevation ------------------------------------

College athletes are in such good shape that conditioning rarely comes into question, but a quality effort by Weber’s offensive line will tire out a defense that is used to playing its games at an elevation of 904 feet. It will force the Wildcats to run the ball effectively for three quarters, but if they can do that for three quarters, the fourth quarter will be much easier.

2. Stop the run

In the Bison’s victory over Iowa State, quarterback Carson Wentz passed for only 204 yards. While Wentz is an accurate passer, he does not have the big arm that is typical of many Big Sky quarterbacks. Thus, the Wildcats will have to stop North Dakota State’s rushing attack, which is led by senior John Crockett. Crockett scored three times last week and is tough to tackle. Weber State’s defensive staff always talks about the importance of stopping the run, and that will be no different this week. Hold each run to three yards, and Weber will hold North Dakota State.

3. Win the turnover margin

Last week against Arizona State, Weber State didn’t turn the ball over once, which is a key to victory for any team. However, the Wildcats also didn’t force a turnover, which is the key in defeating quality opponents. As the home team, Weber will benefit the most from having extra possessions. And the defense can maximize its performance by taking possessions away from the Bison. The logic here is that North Dakota State will score points, so the best way to keep the Bison from scoring points is to limit their possessions.

4. Control field position

In games against quality opponents, one of the keys to victory is controlling field position. Weber State coach Jay Hill is the former special teams coordinator at Utah, and he understands how important a good special teams unit is for a football team. Thus, punt placement will be critical, as will quality returns. Also, it’s important for each unit of the team to understand how critical one mistake is in destroying field position. If the Wildcats’ field position is ideal, their chances of victory will go up exponentially.

5. Be like Buster Douglas

Former boxer Buster Douglas wasn’t given much of a chance when he went up against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, but his commitment to his game plan allowed him to crawl past Tyson. Weber State needs to treat this game as a nearly identical situation, as the Wildcats are being given as much of a chance as Douglas was against Tyson. Be committed to the game plan of stopping the run and controlling the field, and the Wildcats will have a chance for the biggest-ever victory at Stewart Stadium.

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Jon Oglesby

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