Non-Con 25

Hard as it is to believe, the non-conference portion of the schedule is already in the books. Beginning in Charleston then moving west for the first of three possible visits to the Music City in less than 18 months and finally with the debut of the White Gold in Fargo.

It's already been a wild ride of a season but the best is yet to come!

The highlight of the journey has been seeing the long-awaited inclusion of Cole Payton as QB1. Sure, we all saw him make those many, many punishing touchdown runs but until now the question of his ability to pass at the college level has hung over him. Truth be told, it won't go all the way away until he does in Brookings.

Win number three of the young season provided the best glimmer yet of what may be to come, plenty of promise that he won't just be a running back taking snaps. Maybe calling the third most passing yards in a game in the programs history a glimmer is down-playing it too much but better that than a flash-in-the-pan.

Because 70 of the 348 yards had nothing to do with Payton, he should hook Bryce Lance up with something nice after that tough TD run! Not to mention that less than 400 yards passing in college football today is generally average, if not below.

But I'm not actually looking to disparage the young man. He did what none of the great ones who came before him could so that does deserve the praise he's received and will continue to get through the bye week.

Aside from #9, Barika Kpeenu had his third-straight sterling game as the primary ball-carrier even as the number of totes he's getting remain in the low double-digits. That is the well-worn approach and he's also proving to be fully up to the task.

Can't just brush past the future draft pick who had his breakout game of the season either. We all got to see what Lance could do last season and him remaining in Fargo was the best vote of confidence in Payton that we received but the way he smashed out of the two-game slow start would make the Big Drink Man give some props! His three non-absurd catches eclipsed his total yardage from the first two weeks of the season. So yeah, dude had a day!!

That turn of phrase would also apply to the defense for the third time. Yes, the opponent got into the endzone but seven points allowed after the first series by SEMO is still a great showing! And if you were to ask me, the best part is that they've been so suffocating by way of fundamental defense with an average amount of flash (four turnovers, 10 sacks). Good numbers but the best defenses wouldn't be looking over their shoulders at that. But they're keeping teams to low or no points and that is the most important part!

If that isn't enough, the punt and kick are also already showing the kind of mettle that can be required during the tournament!

It's been a total team effort and with two weeks to get ready for Valley play there's no reason to think that the Herd won't keep rolling right along!

What say you?