4. Welcome Back Duke Watson
It was extremely welcome news to know that sophomore running back Duke Watson would be returning in his first game back from an injury-plagued season to this point. He was able to get the Cardinals on the board for the first time in this game with a rushing touchdown down near the goal line. He also showed moments of bursts, signalling that he is healthy and ready to make a difference.
Although he did not have big numbers in his return, just his presence and knowing the offense will have another one of the highly touted preseason targets is an excellent sign for the Cardinals. The injury to Isaac Brown greatly complicated the offensive flow, especially with how well he was performing before exiting the Virginia Tech game. Getting Duke back and getting him back in the flow of the offense with some confidence entering the last three games of the season will be huge for the Cardinals. The running game has been and always will be the driving factor for success for this particular team.