SWC75
Bored Historian
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Here is the field for the NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision, or FCS) playoffs, with the team name, the state they are in, (if it’s not already part of the name), the won-loss record, the points for and against, who they lost to, their ranking, their all time post season record, (including NAIA and other NCAA divisions and small college bowl games, and championships won. They run a 20 team playoff with the bottom four teams playing “play-in” games the first week, which is this week.
FIRST ROUND
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (8-3, 243-175) Lost to Kansas 17-31 on 9/1, Northern Illinois 6-27 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 17-20 on 11/10. Rank: #21. All-time: 0-2. No titles.
Vs.
EASTERN ILLINOIS (7-4, 428-376) Lost to Western Michigan 21-52 on 9/8, Illinois State 51-54 on 9/15, Tennessee-Martin 37-51 on 10/6 and Central Arkansas 30-48 on 11/17. Unranked. All-time: 8-15. Titles: NCAA II 1978 (1).
BETHUNE-COOKMAN of Florida (9-2, 339-195) Lost to Miami 10-38 on 9/15 and Tennessee State 14-21. Rank: #22. All-Time 5-7. No titles.
Vs.
COASTAL CAROLINA of South Carolina (7-4, 387-292) Lost to Eastern Kentucky 17-35 on 9/15, Toledo 28-38 on 9/22, Appalachian State 14-55 on 9/29 and Stony Brook 21-27 on 10/13. Unranked. All-time: 0-2. No titles.
STONY BROOK of New York (9-2, 430-176) Lost to Syracuse 17-28 on 9/15 and Liberty 14-28 on 11/10. Rank: #11. All-time: 1-1. No titles.
Vs.
VILLANOVA of Pennsylvania (8-3, 343-231) Lost to Temple 10-41 on 8/31, Richmond 17-28 on 10/6 and Towson 35-49 on 10/27. Rank: #18. All-time: 12-10-1. Titles: FCS 2009 (1).
WAGNER of New York (8-3, 242-179) Lost to Florida Atlantic 3-7 on 8/31, Georgetown 10-13 on 9/8 and Monmouth 17-38 on 9/15. Unranked. All-time: 4-3. Titles: NCAA DIII 1987 (1).
Vs.
COLGATE of New York (8-3, 453-349) Lost to Albany 23-40 on 9/1, South Dakota 21-32 on 9/8 and Stony Brook 31-32 on 9/22. Rank: #25. All-time: 4-8. No titles.
Byes:
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (10-1, 391-130) Lost to Indiana State 14-17 on 10/3. Rank: #1. All-time: 41-14. Titles: POLL 1965, 1968, 1969, NCAA DII 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, FCS 2011 (9).
WOFFORD of South Carolina (8-3, 345-195) Lost to Georgia Southern 9-17 on 10/13, Samford 17-24 on 11/3 and South Carolina 7-24 on 11/17. Rank: #9. All-time: 5-7. No titles.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (8-3, 402-314) Lost to Minnesota 7-44 on 9/8, Old Dominion 61-64, (yes, 61-64!) on 9/22 and Towson 35-64 on 11/17. Rank: #13. All-Time 7-13. No titles.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (8-3, 390-234) Lost to the Citadel 21-23 on 9/8, Appalachian State 28-31 on 11/3 and Georgia 14-45 on 11/17. Rank: #7 All-time: 43-12. Titles: FCS 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000 (6).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (9-2, 402-246) Lost to Mississippi 27-49 on 9/1 and Stephen F. Austin 37-42 on 9/29. Rank: #8. All-Time 15-15-2. NAIA DI 1984, 1985, 1991 (3).
OLD DOMINION of Virginia (10-1, 489-312) Lost to Villanova 14-38 on 10/13. Rank: #3. All-time: 1-1. No titles.
MONTANA STATE (10-1,403-230) Lost to Eastern Washington 24-27 on 10/13. Rank: #2. All-Time 9-6-2. NAIA 1956, NCAA DII 1976, FCS 1984 (3).
SAM HOUSTON STATE (8-3, 490-209) Lost to Baylor 23-48 on 9/15, Central Arkansas 20-24 on 9/22 and Texas A&M 28-47 on 11/17. Rank: #5. All-time 10-6-1. NAIA 1964 (1).
CAL POLY (9-2, 424-266) Lost to Sacramento State 29-35 on 10/27 and Eastern Washington 17-34 on 11/3. Rank: #12. All-time: 5-5. Titles: NCAA DII 1980 (1).
APPALACHIAN STATE of North Carolina (8-3, 358-314) Lost to East Carolina 13-35 on 9/1, the Citadel 28-52 on 9/15 and Wofford 28-38 on 10/20. Rank: #6. All-Time 26-22. Titles: FCS: 2005, 2006, 2007 (3).
ILLINOIS STATE (8-3, 320-151) Lost to Southern Illinois 0-17 on 10/6, Missouri State 17-24 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 20-38 on 11/17. Rank: #15. All-time: 3-3. Bo titles.
EASTERN WASHINGTON (9-2, 350-257) Lost to Washington State 20-24 on 9/8 and Southern Utah 27-30 on 10/27. Rank: #4. All-time: 10-8. Titles: FCS 2010 (1).
I have a soft spot in my heart for North Dakota State. They, Delaware and Ithaca are my favorite small college teams, Ithaca because of their success and the way they represented Upstate New York in the DIII playoffs from 1974-1991, Delaware because my cousin was a professor there for many years and because, I thought a team that dressed like Michigan, (but in a more appealing shade of blue), and called themselves the “Blue Hens” was cool. They were also the top upper-level, (mid-major?) small college program in the East for many years and, like the Ithaca Bombers, seemed to represent the region to the nation. My affection for North Dakota State dates back to a couple of articles I read in Sports Illustrated in 1966:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079213/3/index.htm
and
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079266/index.htm
The first article peaked my interest and the second elicited my sympathy and I’ve followed the Bison from a distance ever since, though their great success in the late 60’s and the 80’s. I was delighted to see them come back to prominence last year and win the FCS title over Sam Houston State, 17-6. My hope is to someday see the Blue Hens and the Bison duke it out for the FCS title. But this year I’m pulling for the Stony Brook Sea Wolves. It would be cool to think that SU had beaten the FCS champs.
FIRST ROUND
South Dakota State crushed Eastern Illinois 58-10 as Zach Zenner ran for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Reggie Handy ran for another 151 yards and two scores for the Jackrabbits. All three of Zenner‘s scores including an opening 63 yarder, and 246 of his rushing yards came in the first half and SDSU rolled up a 34-3 lead. They scored on six consecutive possessions.
Like South Dakota State, Coastal Carolina had never won a post-season game until they beat Bethune-Cookman. The Chanticleers, (Roosters), scored the game’s first 24 points and withstood a late rally to win, 24-14. A 17 point second quarter was all they needed. A field goal before halftime was set up by a disputed fumble recovery. BC Coach Brian Jenkins: “He did fumble and we had a couple players that were in the area of the ball, but they blew the play dead so they stopped and their player recovered the ball,” Jenkins said afterward. “And then they reviewed it. If you call a play dead, I don’t understand how you go back and review it, but they did. My argument was you blew the play dead so it negates anything else. ... That’s what happened. And then right before halftime, the guy who blew the play dead, he came to me and we talked and I appreciate what he said.” He didn’t reveal what he said, however. The 10 penalties for 108 yards the refs called on Wildcats didn’t help Jenkins’ disposition any, either. Bethune-Cookman finally scored twice in the final 6:44 but a failed try for two on the second score left them 10 points short.
I think we should all be rooting for Stony Brook to win this so we could brag that, while we played an FCS team, our FCS team won the national championship- and we beat them!. They could do it, too. Last year they lost in the playoffs to the #1 ranked team, Sam Houston State, by only a touchdown in their place. This year they started out by beating Villanova, the 2009 FCS champs, 20-10. Miguel Maysonet, who had the big run vs. us, ran for 160 yards and two second quarter scores against the Wildcats. To give the Sea wolves a 14-0 halftime lead. They extended the lead to 20-3 before Villanova scored with 6:57 left to make it 20-10. But Stony Brook clinched it by forcing the Wildcats to turn the ball over on downs three minutes later.
Back in the 60’s, my brother went to Hamilton and the toughest team they played every year was Wagner, a small school on Staten Island. They were still a division III schools in 1987 when they beat Dayton for the title. They jumps all the way from DIII to what was then 1AA in 1993. It seemed like a strange move for a school with only 2400 students. But their schedule didn’t change much. Basically the conference they were in, the Northeast Conference, declared themselves to be 1AA teams and they mostly played each other. Bryant, Central Connecticut, Duquesne, Monmouth, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (Pa), SUNY-Albany and Wagner. Not exactly a murder’s row. They conference didn’t even participate in the playoffs until 2010 and were 0-2. I didn’t give Wagner much of a chance against Colgate. I still see them as a DIII team. But the Seahawks pulled down the Red Raiders, 31-20. They had lost their first three games to Florida Atlantic, Georgetown and Monmouth but have responded with 9 wins in a row, 7 of them by 11 points or less. Colgate had been averaging 504 yards per game but got only 296 against Wagner, who forced 5 turnovers. Nick Dorscher tossed two touchdown passes and Dominique Williams rushed for 106 yards and a score for the winners.
SECOND ROUND
Defending champion North Dakota State had beaten South Dakota State, (once upon a time they were in North Central Conference but now they are together in the Missouri Valley), 20-17 on November 10th but this was the playoffs. The Bison haven’t won 9 national championships for nothing. “Our guys are vets in the playoffs. There's just a different look in their eye," NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said. "Once we get to postseason play they're kicking it into a different gear." (San Francisco Chronicle) After spotting the Jackrabbit’s a field goal, they trampled them the rest of the game on the way to a 28-3 win. They held FCS’s leading rusher, Zach Zenner to 46 yards rushing. It was 21-3 at the half. “The Bison (11-1) added a trick play for good measure when diminutive wide receiver Ryan Smith took a handoff from Jensen, took cover behind one of his offensive linemen and scampered 32 yards untouched on an end around in the second quarter. Most of the SDSU defenders and the 18,482 fans inside the Fargodome
had their eyes on Jensen. "Ryan stood there with the ball for a couple seconds. He took off and there was no one within 40 yards of him," Jensen said. "All 11 guys for South Dakota State thought I had the ball."
Old Dominion of Virginia won a game with a basketball score, 63-35 over Coastal Carolina. Quarterback Taylor Heincke had a record-setting day, completing 32 of 44 passes for 497 yards and 6 touchdowns. He ran for another 45 yards and two scores, giving him an FCS playoff record 542 yards of total offense. He’s passed for 4,655 yards this year, the second highest total in the Division’s history. The Monarchs are the FCS total offense champion with 549 yards per game, 46 more than any other team. And 46 is their division leading scoring average. They scored the final 28 points to break up a 35-35 tie with the Chanticleers, who scored two touchdowns in 28 seconds in the third quarter to tie it. An 11 yard fade from Aramis Hillary to DeMario Bennett made it 28-35. Tyree Lee fumbled and the “Chants” scored again on an 18 yard run by Travis Small. Heinicke threw three touchdown passes, one a beautiful 73 yarder in stride to Larry Pinkard and Nick Mayer ran it in from 13 yards out to put the game out of reach.
New York State got eliminated form the playoffs out west as Stony Brook lost to Montana State 10-16 and Wagner to Eastern Washington 19-29. (And the reason they weren’t playing each other instead is: ?). The Sea Wolves missed a field goal and Miguel Maysonet fumbled in the red zone ion the first half and Quarterback Kyle Essington fumbled when sacked with a minute left to kill their chances. DeNarius McGhee hit Tanner Bleskin for a 69 yard scoring strike and a 45 yarder that set up one of Roy Perez’s three field goals for the winners. Stony Brook’s one touchdown was set up by an interception and two interference calls as they were only able to gain 245 yards to 346 for the Bobcats.
Eastern Washington beat Wagner 29-19 as Kyle Padron threw for 327 yards, including 174 to Brandon Kaufman on 10 catches. Strangely, they never hooked up for a score. The Seahawks led 19-14 in the third quarter but short runs by Quincy Forte and Demitrius Bronson after long drives decided the issue. Wagner’s 1000 yard rusher, Dominique Williams, was unable to play. The Eagles out-gained the Seahawks 411-296.
Wofford ran right by New Hampshire, totaling 454 yards on the ground, 247 by Eric Breitenstein who scored three touchdowns in a 23-7 win. They average 348 for the season. “New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell said Wofford’s run-based offense led by Breitenstein is difficult to prepare for when you don’t see it much. ‘‘It’s like teaching another language in two weeks.”, (per Boston.com.) New Hampshire only gained 238 yards and their only score was on a fumble return.
Georgia Southern’s quarterback Jerick McKinnon ran for an incredible 316 yards on an even more incredible 34 carries, scored two touchdowns and actually passed for another in leading the Eagles to a 24-16 win over Central Arkansas. Georgia Southern, long masters of the triple option, ran for 404 yards. They have won the 1AA/FCS championship 6 times, more than any other school. Wynnick Smothers passed for 251 yards for Central Arkansas but 2 of his 41 passes fell incomplete.
Illinois State eliminated Appalachian State in a 38-37 thriller, blocking the game typing extra point to win it. Matt Brown passed for 322 yards and 5 touchdowns. App State had rallied from a 17-28 fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime. Brown threw 25 yards to James O’Shaughnessy to give the Redbirds the lead. Jamal Jackson threw 4 yards to Andrew Peacock but Shelby Harris blocked Sam Martin’s extra point for the win.
Sam Houston State was the hot team last year- until they ran into North Dakota State. This year has been a bumpier ride with three losses. But two of them have been to Baylor, (no, not Mary Hardin’s Baylor), and Texas A&M. The third was to Central Arkansas and they almost got a fourth vs. Cal Poly, who out-gained them 387-241 but came up short on the scoreboard, 16-18. The difference was a blocked punt that bounced through the end zone for a safety. The rest was mostly field goals. SHS got three of them and Cal Poly got two of them. Brian bell threw 18 yards to Keyshawn Hill for the Bearkats (sic) only TD while the Mustangs, (yes, Cal Poly is the Mustangs, not Sam Houston State) but a 50 yard bomb from Willie Tucker to Ryan Taylor with 1:34 left but they could not get the subsequent onsides kick.
The Pairings for the Quarterfinals:
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (11-1, 419-133) Lost to Indiana State 14-17 on 10/3. Rank: #1. All-time: 42-14. Titles: POLL 1965, 1968, 1969, NCAA DII 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, FCS 2011 (9).
Vs.
WOFFORD of South Carolina (9-3, 368-202) Lost to Georgia Southern 9-17 on 10/13, Samford 17-24 on 11/3 and South Carolina 7-24 on 11/17. Rank: #9. All-time: 6-7. No titles.
Wofford’s running attack may take some getting used to but so do the North Dakota State Bison do, too. Nobody could stop the Sam Houston State offense last year until the Bison shut them down tin the title game, 17-6. They also handled Georgia Southern’s option attack 35-7 in the semi-finals.
OLD DOMINION of Virginia (11-1, 552-347) Lost to Villanova 14-38 on 10/13. Rank: #3. All-time: 2-1. No titles.
Vs.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9-3, 414-250) Lost to the Citadel 21-23 on 9/8, Appalachian State 28-31 on 11/3 and Georgia 14-45 on 11/17. Rank: #7 All-time: 44-12. Titles: FCS 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000 (6).
The ultimate confrontation: a great passing team vs. a great running team. They met last year and Georgia Southern won 55-48. Who will win this time is anybody’s guess.
MONTANA STATE (11-1, 419-240) Lost to Eastern Washington 24-27 on 10/13. Rank: #2. All-Time 10-6-2. NAIA 1956, NCAA DII 1976, FCS 1984 (3)
Vs.
SAM HOUSTON STATE (9-3, 508-225) Lost to Baylor 23-48 on 9/15, Central Arkansas 20-24 on 9/22 and Texas A&M 28-47 on 11/17. Rank: #5. All-time 11-6-1. NAIA 1964 (1).
Last year the Bearkats handled the Bobcats, (gotta love these nicknames) 49-13 in the playoffs at their home field in Huntsville, Texas. But now they have to travel to Bozeman. Sam Houston is still formidable when they aren’t playing FBS teams but I have a feeling that Montana State, the only team to have won championships in three of the five small college tournaments, will get them this year.
EASTERN WASHINGTON (9-2, 350-257) Lost to Washington State 20-24 on 9/8 and Southern Utah 27-30 on 10/27. Rank: #4. All-time: 10-8. Titles: FCS 2010 (1).
Vs.
ILLINOIS STATE (9-3, 358-188) Lost to Southern Illinois 0-17 on 10/6, Missouri State 17-24 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 20-38 on 11/17. Rank: #15. All-time: 4-3. Bo titles.
The Eagles won it all over Delaware a couple of years ago, (sorry Joe Biden),, but that doesn’t mean much now. The Redbirds beat App State, who had won three previous titles, (in a row). I have no idea who is going to win this one.
The championship game won’t be played until Saturday, January 5th at 1PM EST in Frisco, Texas. It will be broadcast on ESPN2 (channel 25 on Time Warner Cable in Syracuse) and ESPN 3.
FIRST ROUND
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (8-3, 243-175) Lost to Kansas 17-31 on 9/1, Northern Illinois 6-27 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 17-20 on 11/10. Rank: #21. All-time: 0-2. No titles.
Vs.
EASTERN ILLINOIS (7-4, 428-376) Lost to Western Michigan 21-52 on 9/8, Illinois State 51-54 on 9/15, Tennessee-Martin 37-51 on 10/6 and Central Arkansas 30-48 on 11/17. Unranked. All-time: 8-15. Titles: NCAA II 1978 (1).
BETHUNE-COOKMAN of Florida (9-2, 339-195) Lost to Miami 10-38 on 9/15 and Tennessee State 14-21. Rank: #22. All-Time 5-7. No titles.
Vs.
COASTAL CAROLINA of South Carolina (7-4, 387-292) Lost to Eastern Kentucky 17-35 on 9/15, Toledo 28-38 on 9/22, Appalachian State 14-55 on 9/29 and Stony Brook 21-27 on 10/13. Unranked. All-time: 0-2. No titles.
STONY BROOK of New York (9-2, 430-176) Lost to Syracuse 17-28 on 9/15 and Liberty 14-28 on 11/10. Rank: #11. All-time: 1-1. No titles.
Vs.
VILLANOVA of Pennsylvania (8-3, 343-231) Lost to Temple 10-41 on 8/31, Richmond 17-28 on 10/6 and Towson 35-49 on 10/27. Rank: #18. All-time: 12-10-1. Titles: FCS 2009 (1).
WAGNER of New York (8-3, 242-179) Lost to Florida Atlantic 3-7 on 8/31, Georgetown 10-13 on 9/8 and Monmouth 17-38 on 9/15. Unranked. All-time: 4-3. Titles: NCAA DIII 1987 (1).
Vs.
COLGATE of New York (8-3, 453-349) Lost to Albany 23-40 on 9/1, South Dakota 21-32 on 9/8 and Stony Brook 31-32 on 9/22. Rank: #25. All-time: 4-8. No titles.
Byes:
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (10-1, 391-130) Lost to Indiana State 14-17 on 10/3. Rank: #1. All-time: 41-14. Titles: POLL 1965, 1968, 1969, NCAA DII 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, FCS 2011 (9).
WOFFORD of South Carolina (8-3, 345-195) Lost to Georgia Southern 9-17 on 10/13, Samford 17-24 on 11/3 and South Carolina 7-24 on 11/17. Rank: #9. All-time: 5-7. No titles.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (8-3, 402-314) Lost to Minnesota 7-44 on 9/8, Old Dominion 61-64, (yes, 61-64!) on 9/22 and Towson 35-64 on 11/17. Rank: #13. All-Time 7-13. No titles.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (8-3, 390-234) Lost to the Citadel 21-23 on 9/8, Appalachian State 28-31 on 11/3 and Georgia 14-45 on 11/17. Rank: #7 All-time: 43-12. Titles: FCS 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000 (6).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (9-2, 402-246) Lost to Mississippi 27-49 on 9/1 and Stephen F. Austin 37-42 on 9/29. Rank: #8. All-Time 15-15-2. NAIA DI 1984, 1985, 1991 (3).
OLD DOMINION of Virginia (10-1, 489-312) Lost to Villanova 14-38 on 10/13. Rank: #3. All-time: 1-1. No titles.
MONTANA STATE (10-1,403-230) Lost to Eastern Washington 24-27 on 10/13. Rank: #2. All-Time 9-6-2. NAIA 1956, NCAA DII 1976, FCS 1984 (3).
SAM HOUSTON STATE (8-3, 490-209) Lost to Baylor 23-48 on 9/15, Central Arkansas 20-24 on 9/22 and Texas A&M 28-47 on 11/17. Rank: #5. All-time 10-6-1. NAIA 1964 (1).
CAL POLY (9-2, 424-266) Lost to Sacramento State 29-35 on 10/27 and Eastern Washington 17-34 on 11/3. Rank: #12. All-time: 5-5. Titles: NCAA DII 1980 (1).
APPALACHIAN STATE of North Carolina (8-3, 358-314) Lost to East Carolina 13-35 on 9/1, the Citadel 28-52 on 9/15 and Wofford 28-38 on 10/20. Rank: #6. All-Time 26-22. Titles: FCS: 2005, 2006, 2007 (3).
ILLINOIS STATE (8-3, 320-151) Lost to Southern Illinois 0-17 on 10/6, Missouri State 17-24 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 20-38 on 11/17. Rank: #15. All-time: 3-3. Bo titles.
EASTERN WASHINGTON (9-2, 350-257) Lost to Washington State 20-24 on 9/8 and Southern Utah 27-30 on 10/27. Rank: #4. All-time: 10-8. Titles: FCS 2010 (1).
I have a soft spot in my heart for North Dakota State. They, Delaware and Ithaca are my favorite small college teams, Ithaca because of their success and the way they represented Upstate New York in the DIII playoffs from 1974-1991, Delaware because my cousin was a professor there for many years and because, I thought a team that dressed like Michigan, (but in a more appealing shade of blue), and called themselves the “Blue Hens” was cool. They were also the top upper-level, (mid-major?) small college program in the East for many years and, like the Ithaca Bombers, seemed to represent the region to the nation. My affection for North Dakota State dates back to a couple of articles I read in Sports Illustrated in 1966:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079213/3/index.htm
and
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079266/index.htm
The first article peaked my interest and the second elicited my sympathy and I’ve followed the Bison from a distance ever since, though their great success in the late 60’s and the 80’s. I was delighted to see them come back to prominence last year and win the FCS title over Sam Houston State, 17-6. My hope is to someday see the Blue Hens and the Bison duke it out for the FCS title. But this year I’m pulling for the Stony Brook Sea Wolves. It would be cool to think that SU had beaten the FCS champs.
FIRST ROUND
South Dakota State crushed Eastern Illinois 58-10 as Zach Zenner ran for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Reggie Handy ran for another 151 yards and two scores for the Jackrabbits. All three of Zenner‘s scores including an opening 63 yarder, and 246 of his rushing yards came in the first half and SDSU rolled up a 34-3 lead. They scored on six consecutive possessions.
Like South Dakota State, Coastal Carolina had never won a post-season game until they beat Bethune-Cookman. The Chanticleers, (Roosters), scored the game’s first 24 points and withstood a late rally to win, 24-14. A 17 point second quarter was all they needed. A field goal before halftime was set up by a disputed fumble recovery. BC Coach Brian Jenkins: “He did fumble and we had a couple players that were in the area of the ball, but they blew the play dead so they stopped and their player recovered the ball,” Jenkins said afterward. “And then they reviewed it. If you call a play dead, I don’t understand how you go back and review it, but they did. My argument was you blew the play dead so it negates anything else. ... That’s what happened. And then right before halftime, the guy who blew the play dead, he came to me and we talked and I appreciate what he said.” He didn’t reveal what he said, however. The 10 penalties for 108 yards the refs called on Wildcats didn’t help Jenkins’ disposition any, either. Bethune-Cookman finally scored twice in the final 6:44 but a failed try for two on the second score left them 10 points short.
I think we should all be rooting for Stony Brook to win this so we could brag that, while we played an FCS team, our FCS team won the national championship- and we beat them!. They could do it, too. Last year they lost in the playoffs to the #1 ranked team, Sam Houston State, by only a touchdown in their place. This year they started out by beating Villanova, the 2009 FCS champs, 20-10. Miguel Maysonet, who had the big run vs. us, ran for 160 yards and two second quarter scores against the Wildcats. To give the Sea wolves a 14-0 halftime lead. They extended the lead to 20-3 before Villanova scored with 6:57 left to make it 20-10. But Stony Brook clinched it by forcing the Wildcats to turn the ball over on downs three minutes later.
Back in the 60’s, my brother went to Hamilton and the toughest team they played every year was Wagner, a small school on Staten Island. They were still a division III schools in 1987 when they beat Dayton for the title. They jumps all the way from DIII to what was then 1AA in 1993. It seemed like a strange move for a school with only 2400 students. But their schedule didn’t change much. Basically the conference they were in, the Northeast Conference, declared themselves to be 1AA teams and they mostly played each other. Bryant, Central Connecticut, Duquesne, Monmouth, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (Pa), SUNY-Albany and Wagner. Not exactly a murder’s row. They conference didn’t even participate in the playoffs until 2010 and were 0-2. I didn’t give Wagner much of a chance against Colgate. I still see them as a DIII team. But the Seahawks pulled down the Red Raiders, 31-20. They had lost their first three games to Florida Atlantic, Georgetown and Monmouth but have responded with 9 wins in a row, 7 of them by 11 points or less. Colgate had been averaging 504 yards per game but got only 296 against Wagner, who forced 5 turnovers. Nick Dorscher tossed two touchdown passes and Dominique Williams rushed for 106 yards and a score for the winners.
SECOND ROUND
Defending champion North Dakota State had beaten South Dakota State, (once upon a time they were in North Central Conference but now they are together in the Missouri Valley), 20-17 on November 10th but this was the playoffs. The Bison haven’t won 9 national championships for nothing. “Our guys are vets in the playoffs. There's just a different look in their eye," NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said. "Once we get to postseason play they're kicking it into a different gear." (San Francisco Chronicle) After spotting the Jackrabbit’s a field goal, they trampled them the rest of the game on the way to a 28-3 win. They held FCS’s leading rusher, Zach Zenner to 46 yards rushing. It was 21-3 at the half. “The Bison (11-1) added a trick play for good measure when diminutive wide receiver Ryan Smith took a handoff from Jensen, took cover behind one of his offensive linemen and scampered 32 yards untouched on an end around in the second quarter. Most of the SDSU defenders and the 18,482 fans inside the Fargodome
had their eyes on Jensen. "Ryan stood there with the ball for a couple seconds. He took off and there was no one within 40 yards of him," Jensen said. "All 11 guys for South Dakota State thought I had the ball."
Old Dominion of Virginia won a game with a basketball score, 63-35 over Coastal Carolina. Quarterback Taylor Heincke had a record-setting day, completing 32 of 44 passes for 497 yards and 6 touchdowns. He ran for another 45 yards and two scores, giving him an FCS playoff record 542 yards of total offense. He’s passed for 4,655 yards this year, the second highest total in the Division’s history. The Monarchs are the FCS total offense champion with 549 yards per game, 46 more than any other team. And 46 is their division leading scoring average. They scored the final 28 points to break up a 35-35 tie with the Chanticleers, who scored two touchdowns in 28 seconds in the third quarter to tie it. An 11 yard fade from Aramis Hillary to DeMario Bennett made it 28-35. Tyree Lee fumbled and the “Chants” scored again on an 18 yard run by Travis Small. Heinicke threw three touchdown passes, one a beautiful 73 yarder in stride to Larry Pinkard and Nick Mayer ran it in from 13 yards out to put the game out of reach.
New York State got eliminated form the playoffs out west as Stony Brook lost to Montana State 10-16 and Wagner to Eastern Washington 19-29. (And the reason they weren’t playing each other instead is: ?). The Sea Wolves missed a field goal and Miguel Maysonet fumbled in the red zone ion the first half and Quarterback Kyle Essington fumbled when sacked with a minute left to kill their chances. DeNarius McGhee hit Tanner Bleskin for a 69 yard scoring strike and a 45 yarder that set up one of Roy Perez’s three field goals for the winners. Stony Brook’s one touchdown was set up by an interception and two interference calls as they were only able to gain 245 yards to 346 for the Bobcats.
Eastern Washington beat Wagner 29-19 as Kyle Padron threw for 327 yards, including 174 to Brandon Kaufman on 10 catches. Strangely, they never hooked up for a score. The Seahawks led 19-14 in the third quarter but short runs by Quincy Forte and Demitrius Bronson after long drives decided the issue. Wagner’s 1000 yard rusher, Dominique Williams, was unable to play. The Eagles out-gained the Seahawks 411-296.
Wofford ran right by New Hampshire, totaling 454 yards on the ground, 247 by Eric Breitenstein who scored three touchdowns in a 23-7 win. They average 348 for the season. “New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell said Wofford’s run-based offense led by Breitenstein is difficult to prepare for when you don’t see it much. ‘‘It’s like teaching another language in two weeks.”, (per Boston.com.) New Hampshire only gained 238 yards and their only score was on a fumble return.
Georgia Southern’s quarterback Jerick McKinnon ran for an incredible 316 yards on an even more incredible 34 carries, scored two touchdowns and actually passed for another in leading the Eagles to a 24-16 win over Central Arkansas. Georgia Southern, long masters of the triple option, ran for 404 yards. They have won the 1AA/FCS championship 6 times, more than any other school. Wynnick Smothers passed for 251 yards for Central Arkansas but 2 of his 41 passes fell incomplete.
Illinois State eliminated Appalachian State in a 38-37 thriller, blocking the game typing extra point to win it. Matt Brown passed for 322 yards and 5 touchdowns. App State had rallied from a 17-28 fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime. Brown threw 25 yards to James O’Shaughnessy to give the Redbirds the lead. Jamal Jackson threw 4 yards to Andrew Peacock but Shelby Harris blocked Sam Martin’s extra point for the win.
Sam Houston State was the hot team last year- until they ran into North Dakota State. This year has been a bumpier ride with three losses. But two of them have been to Baylor, (no, not Mary Hardin’s Baylor), and Texas A&M. The third was to Central Arkansas and they almost got a fourth vs. Cal Poly, who out-gained them 387-241 but came up short on the scoreboard, 16-18. The difference was a blocked punt that bounced through the end zone for a safety. The rest was mostly field goals. SHS got three of them and Cal Poly got two of them. Brian bell threw 18 yards to Keyshawn Hill for the Bearkats (sic) only TD while the Mustangs, (yes, Cal Poly is the Mustangs, not Sam Houston State) but a 50 yard bomb from Willie Tucker to Ryan Taylor with 1:34 left but they could not get the subsequent onsides kick.
The Pairings for the Quarterfinals:
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (11-1, 419-133) Lost to Indiana State 14-17 on 10/3. Rank: #1. All-time: 42-14. Titles: POLL 1965, 1968, 1969, NCAA DII 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, FCS 2011 (9).
Vs.
WOFFORD of South Carolina (9-3, 368-202) Lost to Georgia Southern 9-17 on 10/13, Samford 17-24 on 11/3 and South Carolina 7-24 on 11/17. Rank: #9. All-time: 6-7. No titles.
Wofford’s running attack may take some getting used to but so do the North Dakota State Bison do, too. Nobody could stop the Sam Houston State offense last year until the Bison shut them down tin the title game, 17-6. They also handled Georgia Southern’s option attack 35-7 in the semi-finals.
OLD DOMINION of Virginia (11-1, 552-347) Lost to Villanova 14-38 on 10/13. Rank: #3. All-time: 2-1. No titles.
Vs.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9-3, 414-250) Lost to the Citadel 21-23 on 9/8, Appalachian State 28-31 on 11/3 and Georgia 14-45 on 11/17. Rank: #7 All-time: 44-12. Titles: FCS 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000 (6).
The ultimate confrontation: a great passing team vs. a great running team. They met last year and Georgia Southern won 55-48. Who will win this time is anybody’s guess.
MONTANA STATE (11-1, 419-240) Lost to Eastern Washington 24-27 on 10/13. Rank: #2. All-Time 10-6-2. NAIA 1956, NCAA DII 1976, FCS 1984 (3)
Vs.
SAM HOUSTON STATE (9-3, 508-225) Lost to Baylor 23-48 on 9/15, Central Arkansas 20-24 on 9/22 and Texas A&M 28-47 on 11/17. Rank: #5. All-time 11-6-1. NAIA 1964 (1).
Last year the Bearkats handled the Bobcats, (gotta love these nicknames) 49-13 in the playoffs at their home field in Huntsville, Texas. But now they have to travel to Bozeman. Sam Houston is still formidable when they aren’t playing FBS teams but I have a feeling that Montana State, the only team to have won championships in three of the five small college tournaments, will get them this year.
EASTERN WASHINGTON (9-2, 350-257) Lost to Washington State 20-24 on 9/8 and Southern Utah 27-30 on 10/27. Rank: #4. All-time: 10-8. Titles: FCS 2010 (1).
Vs.
ILLINOIS STATE (9-3, 358-188) Lost to Southern Illinois 0-17 on 10/6, Missouri State 17-24 on 10/20 and North Dakota State 20-38 on 11/17. Rank: #15. All-time: 4-3. Bo titles.
The Eagles won it all over Delaware a couple of years ago, (sorry Joe Biden),, but that doesn’t mean much now. The Redbirds beat App State, who had won three previous titles, (in a row). I have no idea who is going to win this one.
The championship game won’t be played until Saturday, January 5th at 1PM EST in Frisco, Texas. It will be broadcast on ESPN2 (channel 25 on Time Warner Cable in Syracuse) and ESPN 3.
