Injuries are a part of any sport – especially one with as much contact as football – and the injury bug has bitten the Falcon squad often in the young season.

Through five games, the team already has six players out for the season and several others with nagging injuries that have flared up at times during games.

First-year coach Dave Clawson said tight end DeMark Jenkins, defensive lineman Winston Etheridge (illness) and freshman linebacker Eric Jordan (knee) are all out for the season.

Those three join the trio of receivers – Tyrone Pronty, Derek Brighton and Calvin Wiley – who went down earlier in the season.

Other players like running back Willie Geter (sprained toe) and receiver Ray Hutson (knee) have missed significant playing time in recent games.

‘We’re a little banged up right now,’ Clawson said. ‘That’s started to take a toll.’

Geter has healed up well after missing the second half two weeks ago against Boise State, but Hutson’s status is still unclear after he was roughed up on a play in the third quarter against Ohio.

‘We’re not sure if we’re going to have Ray Hutson or not,’ Clawson said. ‘We may not have him this week or we may not have him beyond that.’

Hutson has 16 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

Breakdown

Part of the reason the Falcons have struggled so much this season is because of breakdowns during plays – whether individually or as an offensive, defensive or special teams unit.

After each game, plays where the team broke down are the first thing the team practices after reviewing the game film.

‘We take every breakdown in the game that happened and we practice it,’ Clawson said.

After going through the plays the day after a game, Clawson later incorporates the situations into midweek practices without telling the payers.

Quarterback Tyler Sheehan said his coach’s strategy helps the team improve.

‘Practicing the situations and trying to put more pressure on situations in practice will help us,’ Sheehan said. ‘In the end, it comes down to guys focusing on that one play and not letting the previous play bother them.’

Special teams

Clawson had one word to describe the level at which his special teams units are playing.

‘We’re very average on special teams right now,’ Clawson said. He specifically mentioned freshman kicker Jerry Phillips, who ended a 1-for-4 slump by converting all three of his field goals attempts last weekend.

And while Phillips improved in field goals, Clawson couldn’t ignore a kickoff that was supposed to go to the right corner but went to left side into the hands of Ohio’s best return and a second kickoff that went out of bounds.

‘Are more of the kicks better? Yes,’ Clawson said. ‘But there were two terrible kicks that really cost us.”