Next: UND. Another battle in Grand Forks

[Theee Catrabbit]

well you just named probably 3 of the 4 best RB in school history, at the very least by total yardage they are that

and also B Mengarelli, who was an awesome jackrabbit and a very good football player in his own way but NOT EVEN CLOSE to the same class of RB as the other 3. and there is also a pretty good gap between Ranek, Zenner and Minnett, Strong

ZERO disrespect or offense to AJ but i will all but guarantee he will not become one of the top 5 backs in school history. i HOPE i am wrong!! that would be great. but i think i can safely say that he could be a player similar to Mengarelli, but i think if he comes anywhere close to being a zach zenner i will eat one of my used socks
!

I did name some of the best backs in school history, but after every one of those backs I bet every one of us said to ourselves "well crap. What are we going to do now?" And every time there has been someone there saying "hold my beer". I did say I dont know if he's going to be better or as capable, but nobody knew an unassuming quiet Zach Zenner was going to be anything special at all. Until he was. Who thought Isaac Davis would be able to replace Strong, until he showed us all that spring. I have grown to trust our RBs coach and recruiting more than any other group on this team, it's always my least worry

[MontanaRabbit]

I did name some of the best backs in school history, but after every one of those backs I bet every one of us said to ourselves "well crap. What are we going to do now?" And every time there has been someone there saying "hold my beer". I did say I dont know if he's going to be better or as capable, but nobody knew an unassuming quiet Zach Zenner was going to be anything special at all. Until he was. Who thought Isaac Davis would be able to replace Strong, until he showed us all that spring. I have grown to trust our RBs coach and recruiting more than any other group on this team, it's always my least worry

You can almost see AJ gaining confidence on every carry. Last week could very well have been his coming out party.

[goon]

The backup RB role has to be the hardest after back up qb. He gets limited snaps and time with the line to build confidence. Reps makes a huge difference. Last week AJ came out for and i bet will see more series he gets the ball.

[bigticket1]

According to the F-ing Hawks board, it sounds like there are somewhere between 2,000-3,000 tickets left for the game.

[jakejc795]

According to the F-ing Hawks board, it sounds like there are somewhere between 2,000-3,000 tickets left for the game.

Wonder how accurate that is based on Ticketmaster availability "map" -- seems closer to 1.5k

Random question -- the Ticketmaster site indicates children age 2yrs and older require a ticket. Is that a Ticketmaster provision?

The Jacks, Bison, and 'Yotes don't require tickets for kids that age.

[WestSideRabbit]

The Jacks are getting ready for yet another big game (The MVFC is still a grinder even on a down year)! Here is what you need to know about UND. #GoJacks

https://jackrabbitillustrated.com/20...tch-und-3.html

[Southeast]

One home loss in 4 years, and if I recall that was a close one to NDSU in which the Hawks made a crazy decision to go for it on 4th down around their own 20 yard line late in the game (and of course failed). It was the classic Bison horseshoe in action.

I definitely expect a struggle.

[NorCalJack]

We got our 3 tickets a couple of months ago and will be leaving this afternoon for GF.

Go Jacks.

[goon]

I hope this team is ready. We are going to get everyones best shot. Would hate to see us lose the #1 ranking after just 1 week. I doubt it went to the players heads. If it did though we could lose for sure. Good thing their defense gives up a lot of yards.

[LetsGoRabbits]

I guess i am not sure how much more motivated anyone is going to be playing us now than they were before

we were already #2

and beyond that we have been VERY arguably the second best program in FCS for a handful of years now. NO WORSE than a top 3 or 4 program for at least the last 5 or 6 years. SO..... i think teams have pretty much been bringing their A GAME against the jacks for quite a while

THIS does NOT NOW or probably ever really have any thing to do with the other team and how motivated they are. If the jacks go up and take care of the things they can take care of then the scoreboard should take care of itself. (minus game changing injuries)

[jakejc795]

I guess i am not sure how much more motivated anyone is going to be playing us now than they were before

we were already #2

and beyond that we have been VERY arguably the second best program in FCS for a handful of years now. NO WORSE than a top 3 or 4 program for at least the last 5 or 6 years. SO..... i think teams have pretty much been bringing their A GAME against the jacks for quite a while

THIS does NOT NOW or probably ever really have any thing to do with the other team and how motivated they are. If the jacks go up and take care of the things they can take care of then the scoreboard should take care of itself. (minus game changing injuries)

I tend to agree.

Sure, their "home" record is impressive, but game details suggest Jacks fans could be a bit more optimistic, consider the following re. home games:

2022

• won 29-27 vs UNI on 9/10
• won 48-31 vs. MSU Bears on 10/1

2021

• won 38-0 vs. Drake on 9/18
• won 16-10 vs. Bison on 10/2
• won 34-10 vs. WIU on 10/23
• won 24-21 vs. YSU on 11/6
• won 14-7 vs. Redbirds on 11/13

2020 (played Spring 2021)

• won 44-21 vs. SIU on 2/20
• won 28-17 vs. Jacks on 2/27
• won 21-10 vs. 'Yotes on 3/4
• won 44-10 vs. MSU Bears on 4/24 (playoffs)

2019

• won 47-7 vs. Drake on 8/31
• won 27-23 vs. Sam Houston on 9/14
• won 38-36 vs. UC-Davis on 10/5
• won 16-12 vs. MSU Bobcats on 10/26
• won 45-38 vs. Northern Colorado in 11/16
• won 36-18 vs. SUU on 11/23

They've had close games, including this season, to teams that weren't caliber of Jacks current team.

I was somewhat surprised to learn the Jacks' winning percentage vs. UND [56.89% (47-35-5)] is similar to that vs. Bison [57.96% (63-45-5)].

Regardless, I think by this evening, Jacks will have those percentages even closer following a 35-14 victory in which Kraft's most consequential first plays will be blocks springing Johnson and Janke for big gains, although Kraft will end up with more than 75yds receiving and at least one TD.