For nearly two quarters, it was as if the offense were still in week one hangover. Stalled drive after stalled drive, the Wildcats couldn’t get the offense going. Looking for his first win as head coach, Coach Woodie made a game-altering decision late in the second quarter by pulling Walter Simmons. The sophomore didn’t play particularly well against Memphis and didn’t look much better against a lesser Savannah State Tigers team. Woodie appeared to have seen enough and turned to his backup, Luke Sprague, sooner than he did last week. That decision would turn the game on its head from there on out.
On his first drive, Sprague drove the offense twelve plays for 80 yards to score the first offensive touchdown of the season for the Wildcats. That drive would energize an offense searching for answers for 6-plus quarters. We saw a team that looked comfortable and competent for the rest of the game. Sprague and the offense didn’t force anything, and the defense kept the Tigers in check for most of the game.
Like Old Times
The way the team started rolling today was reminiscent of a time when losing nine games in a season was unfathomable. Once Woodie swapped his QBs, the offense scored on its next five possessions. That felt familiar. I know, I know. It’s Savannah State, a team we typically beat. However, Savannah State has been very competitive against us in recent years.
To win this one going away is a big deal for several reasons. First, it gives the team an early taste of success. With two of our first three games against Division I programs, losing can become expected, and that’s a bad precedent to set for a new team with a new coach looking to build a new culture. This win means more than it probably should, perhaps because wins have come few and far between in recent years.
This Wildcat program still has one more game before heading into SWAC play, and there are still plenty of things for both the defense and the offense to address, but this team looks poised for an improvement. We still likely know how far we’ve come until we see Jackson State in two weeks, but that’s enough time to build off this win.
The Road Ahead
Like the Memphis match-up, the Wildcats go into their game next week against the Miami Hurricanes as heavy underdogs. Additionally, the Canes picked up a big win this weekend against Texas A&M, which will galvanize their program. But could the Canes start sluggish next week and allow B-CU to hang around early? I guess we’ll soon see. Either way, the Wildcats can play against one of the best College football teams next week. It will be a learning experience for Coach Woodie and his program.
All Hail to Thee.
