As we wrap up week five of FCS play, we are left with a few takeaways; James Madison has cemented itself as the top team in the CAA, and everything else is pure mayhem. If anyone could have bet during the preseason that by week five we would see a win over William and Mary by Elon, or that Richmond who was the preseason pick to win the conference would take a loss to Stony Brook they would be very rich. One thing is for sure, with the meat grinder the is the CAA, no team is safe.
Rhode Island 28, Brown 13
The Rhode Island Rams did just enough against Brown to get the job done on Saturday and pick up their second win of the season. Rhode Island had a total of 264 yards with the majority of those coming on the ground finishing the day with 180 yards of total rushing. RB Harold Cooper of the Rams was their leading rusher of the day coming in at 135 yards off of 18 carries and two touchdowns.
James Madison 43, Delaware 20
James Madison has cemented itself as the current number one in the conference at the moment, and they showed us why during their 43 to 20 drubbing of Delaware on Saturday. The Dukes outgained the Blue Hens by a margin of 607 total yards to the Blue Hens 437 total yards. QB Bryan Schor led the Dukes in passing yards throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, RB Abdullah pounded the ball rushing 159 yards on ten carries and reaching the end zone twice for the Dukes.
Villanova 42, Elon 7
This week was the chance for Elon to show the CAA that their win against William and Mary during week four would help to propel them forward and emerge as contenders for the conference title. Unfortunately for the Phoenix, Villanova had other plans as QB Zack Bednarczyk passed the ball for 270 yards and three touchdowns. In all, Elon only gained 130 total yards compared to Villanova’s 557 total yards. That coupled with the T.O.P mismatch of Villanova’s 40:54 compared to Elon’s 19:06, helped to seal the deal for Villanova and dash the hopes of the Phoenix in week 5.
Maine 35, Bryant 31
The Black Bears were in the fight of their lives on Saturday as they overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Bulldogs of Bryant. The Bulldogs led until the mid-second quarter when Maine was finally able to get some points on the board off of a three-yard touchdown pass from Micah Wright to Dan Collins. The Black Bears would eventually battle back in the third quarter and take the lead in the fourth, squeaking out their first win of the season.
New Hampshire 21, William and Mary 12
The Tribe of William and Mary were hoping to bounce back after their week four loss to Elon, but the UNH Wildcats had other plans. Early in the first quarter, the Tribe took the lead from a 36 yard run by Kendall Andersen, but the PAT would miss its mark to keep the Tribe at six points. The Wildcats would capitalize off of the missed PAT early in the second when they would go up 7-6 on the Tribe off of a 28-yard TD run from Trevor Knight. The Cats would go on to score two more touchdowns while the Tribe would only secure one more score to come away with a 21-12 Homecoming win.
Richmond 31, Towson 28
The Spiders of Richmond barely escaped alive Saturday night against the Tigers of Towson. Towson would lead into the fourth quarter until David Broadus of Richmond would find the end zone on a two-yard run to take the lead for the Spiders and squeak away with a 31-28 victory over the Tigers.
Power Rankings:
- James Madison
- Villanova
- Richmond
- Albany
- New Hampshire
- Stony Brook
- Towson
- Maine
- Delaware
- William and Mary
- Elon
- Rhode Island