The FCS Wedge

National Notes Week 15

Kevin Marshall, National Contributor | December 11, 2015

The State of the Nation

What a tremendous second round of the FCS Playoffs! Three of the seeded teams went down in defeat. If you can get into the field and get on a roll you can hoist the trophy in Frisco! I believe that is why our system is superior to the so called ‘College Football Playoff’.

The Reviews

#1 Jacksonville State Chattanooga 35 OT
Just another epic slugfest in the series between these two. Gamecock quarterback Eli Jenkins threw for 208 yards, pushing him past the 5,000 yard mark in his career, and he also ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Troymaine Pope ran for 234 yards, the second most in a single game in school history, and also scored three touchdowns. The Mocs fought back from a 14 point deficit late in the third quarter and took the lead 35-28 with around nine minutes remaining in the contest. Pope promptly tied it at 35 apiece with a 74 yard touchdown run off of right tackle. In the extra session Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman was intercepted in the endzone. Jenkins then ended the Chattanooga season with a 14 yard game winning touchdown run to propel the Gamecocks to the final eight.

#2 Illinois State 36 Western Illinois 19
Western Illinois hung around a lot longer than the Redbirds and their faithful would have liked. ISU led 7-6 at the half but trailed 12-7 in the third quarter. The final stanza belonged to Brock Spack and his Redbirds. Illinois State outscored the Leathernecks 21-7 and that was the difference. The rushing attack of ISU continues to be impressive. ISU ran for 350 yards and Marshaun Coprich led them to the victory with 217 yards and two touchdowns.

#3 North Dakota State 37 Montana 6
North Dakota State dominated the Griz in all facets of this game. Emory Hunt likes to say that a “strong defense and a powerful running game is the recipe for success at any level” and the Bison have both of these. NDSU ran the ball for 250 yards and held Montana to just 6 rushing yards. NDSU possessed the ball for over 40 minutes. Montana Coach Bob Stitt doesn’t feel that time of possession is an important stat. He prefers to look at the number of plays run. It is hard to win when the quarterback throws interceptions and your opponent is running the ball as well as the Bison are right now.

Sam Houston State 34 McNeese State 29
McNeese State was hoping that their home misfortunes in the playoffs were over. Clearly they are not. Bearkat quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns. In the first meeting between these two Southland Conference schools the Cowboys defense held Sam Houston out of the endzone. That defense was torched this time around for 494 total yards and 26 first downs. McNeese still had a chance to take the lead late in the game. The Cowboys looked to be in excellent position with a first-and-goal at the Bearkat 1 yard line. Sacks and penalties pushed them back to the 40 and they had to punt. They never saw the ball again. Sam Houston went on an 11 play drive to end the game and the McNeese season.

Colgate 44 #5 James Madison 38
Emory and I don’t always get our picks correct, he does better than I do, but we both picked this upset. Colgate quarterback Jake Melville threw two touchdowns and ran for two more. Red Raider running back James Holland ran for 165 yards and two more touchdowns. Melville and Holland are quite the tandem for Coach Dan Hunt’s Colgate team. The Red Raiders started fast and made the Dukes play catchup most of the day. This was the seventh consecutive win for Colgate. They are playing as well as anyone left in the field.

Northern Iowa 29 #6 Portland State 17
Northern Iowa really ground this win out. Tyvis Smith and Aaron Bailey both rushed for over 200 yards and the Panther offensive line was outstanding. Jared Farley had 12 tackles and a pick for the stifling Panther defense. Brett McMakin added 10 tackles and also had an interception. Portland State has nothing to hang their heads about. The Vikings had an excellent season. Viking Coach Bruce Barnum was named the National Coach of the Year this week. I expect great things from PSU in the coming years.

#7 Richmond William and Mary 13
The Oldest Rivalry in the South was no contest the second time around in 2015. Spider running back Jacobi Green ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns to lead Richmond to the victory. The ground game was solid for Richmond. David Broadus added 60 yards and a touchdown to Green’s effort and quarterback Kyle Lauletta ran for two additional scores. The Richmond defense was also excellent. David Jones had a 100 yard pick six which really seemed to take the fight out of the Tribe. William and Mary quarterback Steve Cluley was ineffective. Cluley threw for just 79 yards and three interceptions.

#8 Charleston Southern 14 The Citadel 6
A defensive struggle that went down to wire in the Holy City sent CSU to the third round. Mike Holloway ran for 120 yards and a pair of second quarter touchdowns for the Buccaneers. Turnovers were the difference, as they usually are, and The Citadel put the ball on the ground five times. The Cadets were held to just 267 total yards, 199 on the ground, after piling up 524 in the Bulldogs first round win over Coastal Carolina. CSU has not lost to an FCS opponent all season. Perspective is tough to have when you lose a chance to get to the final eight but for The Citadel any way you look at it 2015 was one hell of a year. Picked to finish seventh in an eight team Southern Conference and playing for the right to advance to the final eight in the nation, not to mention beating USC, is an admirable achievement.

The Interviews

The FCS Wedge welcomes back Mr. KC Keeler, Head Coach at Sam Houston State, to the show this week. Mr. Mark Farley, Head Coach at Northern Iowa, makes his first appearance with us. Thanks to both of these gentlemen for making the time in a very busy week to be with us.

The Previews

Kris Kallem and Lance Berndt are with me this week to breakdown all of the Round Three games. These fellas bring stats galore and all you need to know about who is going to win and why.

#8 Charleston Southern @ #1 Jacksonville State
I like the Gamecocks in this one. The Buccaneers are seriously beat up at the quarterback position. Both of their top two signal callers are listed as doubtful for this game. The CSU defense will keep them in it but the offense can’t help them enough to win. Gamecocks 24-10.

#7 Richmond @ #2 Illinois State
This is a tough ballgame to pick. Each time I have left the Spiders eight legs up this season they have made me eat my words. The question for me is can Richmond stop the Redbird running game? Nobody else has been able to in 2015 but the Spiders may be that squad. If Richmond can contain Marshaun Coprich and make Tre Roberson beat them passing the ball they are capable of winning. It will be close but give me ISU 27-24.

Colgate @ Sam Houston State
The two headed monster for Colgate of quarterback James Melville and running back James Holland will be tough to stop. The Bearkat offense, led by Jeremiah Briscoe and Cory Avery, will also put up crooked numbers. This one comes down to the defenses and who can get off the field on third down. I expect the Bearkats to be more successful doing so. Sam Houston State 42-31.

Northern Iowa @ #3 North Dakota State
This matchup will feature two quarterbacks who were not on the field at the start of the season. Aaron Bailey, of UNI, really played well when inserted into the lineup in the second half of the regular season game between these two. Easton Stick, who did not play in the first meeting, will need his receivers to help him a bit more this week. Both defenses are excellent and points will be at a premium. I’ll take the Bison, in the Fargodome, 21-17.

Brandon Lawrence, National Contributor | December 08, 2015

2015 Freshman Player Of  The Year

Jabari Butler – CB, Abilene Christian

In a league like the Southland Conference, where offense generally runs rampant, it’s always a good idea for programs to reinforce the defense with young talent. That’s what Abilene Christian has done with a player like Butler, who contributed heavily in his inaugural season with the Wildcats.

Butler recorded 40 tackles in his first season, but did most of his damage keeping opposing quarterbacks from completing passes to their intended targets. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound freshman broke up nine passes this season and recorded six interceptions, also adding one fumble recovery in 11 games played. Butler ranked first in the Southland Conference in interceptions and second in passes defended with 1.36 per outing.

Case Cookus – QB, Northern Arizona

The way Cookus played in his first season, one would think he’s been at Northern Arizona for a number of years and is a veteran competing against Big Sky competition. The comfort level for Cookus taking over a Lumberjacks team that seems to be a perpetual contender in the conference was mind blowing, and his numbers support that. The freshman completed 222-of-322 passing in his first season for 3,111 yards and 37 touchdowns (an NAU and FCS freshman record) against only five interceptions.

Cookus completed a whopping 68.9 percent of his passes in 2015 and earned a 184.9 passer efficiency rating after averaging 282.8 passing ypg. For good measure, the signal caller added 90 rushing yards and three ground scores for 40 total touchdowns on the season. His 3,111 passing yards n a season ranks sixth in school history and ranked first in the entre FCS in terms of passing touchdowns.

John Santiago – RB, North Dakota

Unfortunately for Cookus, the freshman player of the year honor in the Big Sky Conference wasn’t a total runaway thanks to the efforts of Santiago, who was named the co-Freshman Player of the Year after an outstanding and explosive effort in which he rushed 223 times for 1,459 yards and 16 touchdowns, helping his North Dakota squad finish with a 5-3 overall record and a near miss on the FCS playoffs.

Santiago averaged 6.5 rushing yards per attempt, and gained 132.6 ypg on the ground in his first season. He also added five catches for 81 yards in 11 contests, and served as the team’s primary kickoff returner, boosting his all-purpose yardage to 196.3 ypg – good for third in the FCS in the category. Not bad for a rook.

Andrew Van Ginkel – DE, South Dakota

The Missouri Valley Conference is widely regarded as the best and deepest at the FCS level, and for a program like South Dakota that hasn’t been among the league’s annual giants in recent years, it’s important to build talent from the ground up to climb to that upper echelon. Van Ginkel gave the Coyotes a glimpse into the future with a strong freshman campaign in 2015, so much so that his efforts landed him among the freshman player of the year candidates.

Van Ginkel registered 54 total tackles for South Dakota – 18 of them were for a loss. The 6-4 lineman filled up the stat sheet with nine sacks, six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and added a blocked kick in 11 games played for a defense that surrendered 25.5 ppg to opponents.

Micah Wright – WR, Maine

It was a down year for the Black Bears in what many believe was a down year for the Colonial Athletic Association as a whole. But Wright provided a bright spot and gave coaches an exciting look at a potential star in his first season in Orono. Wright hauled in 61 receptions for the Bears for 818 yards (ranked 43rd in the FCS) and five touchdowns, averaging 74.4 receiving ypg.

Wright’s ypg average and 13.4 yards per catch were both team bests for the Black Bears. The freshman added three carries for 34 yards, and had one punt return during the season advertising his versatility. His five receiving touchdowns ranked fifth among FCS freshmen, and his 61 receptions were best among first years in the CAA.

Brandon Lawrence, National Contributor | December 08, 2015

2015 Defensive Player Of  The Year

James Cowser – DE, Southern Utah

Cowser represents consistency at its finest. And putting up consistently dominant numbers led to the senior defensive end becoming the FCS’ all-time leader in career sacks after recording two against Sam Houston State in SUU’s playoff loss. Cowser has 43.5 career sacks.

In his final season with the Thunderbirds, the 6-foot-4 lineman registered 62 total tackles with 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 11 games. He added three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to his stat line.

Cowser was the anchor of a defense that gave up just 20.8 ppg to opponents on the year. The Thunderbirds finished the regular season with an 8-3 record after a dismal 3-9 campaign in 2014.

Javon Hargrave – DT, South Carolina State

Talk about a bull rush up the middle. South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave has been wreaking havoc in opponents’ backfields for years, and his senior campaign in 2015 was no different. The man up the middle showed once again why he’s a power threat in stopping not just the run, but also collapsing a quarterback’s pocket from the inside.

Hargrave registered 59 tackles this season, while a whopping 22 of them were for a loss. Sacking the opposing quarterback isn’t always a defensive tackle’s specialty, but the 6-2 Bulldogs senior seems to have re-written the guidebook for the position. His 13.5 sacks this season ranked second in the nation, while his 1.23 sacks per game ranked third in the FCS.

Hargrave added 11 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles in his 11 contests.

Tyrone Holmes – DE, Montana

The Big Sky Conference is well represented with strong defensive players, but Holmes, who wasn’t a household name like Cowser or Sacramento State’s Darnell Sankey headed into the season, blew everyone away with his outlandish performances and statistics.

The senior notched 77 total tackles this season with 17.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in a conference largely known for its offense. Throw in seven quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles in his 11 games played during the regular season, and Holmes becomes a valid candidate for the defensive player of the year.

Patrick Onwuasor – S, Portland State

Sometimes it’s easy for defensive linemen and linebackers to get the all the credit, since the secondary is the last line of defense when facing an opponent. But Onwuasor was the anchor for a breakout Portland State team that allowed 21.7 ppg and 206.6 passing ypg to challengers.

Onwuasor recorded 75 tackles during the regular season en route to the Vikings’ Big Sky Conference championship, adding in two tackles for loss. When it comes to defensive backs, interceptions and passes defended are the stats most look at and judge. The 6-2 Arizona transfer recorded nine of each in his senior season to help the Vikings, who earned the sixth seed in the FCS playoffs.

Noah Spence – DE, Eastern Kentucky

Spence stands out as the only junior on the list of defensive player of the year candidates, and no one is more deserving after his outstanding season leading the Colonels up front. Eastern Kentucky’s front seven served as a well-oiled machine against the run in 2015, allowing just 111.8 rushing ypg to opponents thanks in large part to Spence’s efforts.

The 6-3 junior spent a significant amount of time in opponents’ backfields, evidenced by his 63 total tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss. The Ohio State transfer hurried the rival quarterback 15 times and managed 11.5 sacks in 11 games played. Spence added three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to his efforts for a team that spent a majority of the season among the nation’s top 25.

Brandon Lawrence, National Contributor | December 08, 2015

2015 Offensive Player Of  The Year

Marshaun Coprich – RB, Illinois State

After a breakout 2014 campaign in which Coprich led the FCS in rushing with 2,274 yards and was named a first-team all-American, the senior back was no longer a best-kept secret in 2015. Opponents keyed in on the workhorse runner defensively, but no matter how much attention was paid to him, this powerful ball carrier still was able to put up gaudy numbers.

Coprich followed up his monster 2014 season by carrying the ball 276 times for 1,720 yards and 20 touchdowns, tying Fordham back Chase Edmonds for second-most ground touchdowns in the country. His 6.2 yards per carry allowed the 5-foot-9 Coprich to gain 156.4 rushing ypg. He added 13 catches for 139 yards out of the backfield for good measure, serving as a major cog in leading Illinois State to a 9-2 record in the regular season.

Coprich helped his Redbirds earn the No. 2 overall seed in the 2015 playoff bracket.

Chase Edmonds – RB, Fordham

Talk about keeping with tradition. Edmonds, who was named the fourth recipient of the former Jerry Rice Award in 2014, given to the nation’s best freshman player, proved to everyone he wasn’t a one-year wonder. The sophomore running back for Fordham formed a weekly duel with Lamar ball carrier Kade Harrington during the regular season as fans watched the two top backs vie for statistical reign.

After losing a handful of major offensive pieces to graduation following the 2014 season, Fordham’s Edmonds made sure to pick up the slack by constantly putting up eye-catching numbers on the ground week after week. The back finished the year with 1,643 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 248 carries, giving him an average 149.4 ypg. His magnificent season started with a bang, accumulating 266 all-purpose yards and three rushing touchdowns in his Rams’ 37-35 upset of FBS member Army.

But it’s not just the rushing attack that had defenders fearing the 5-9 sophomore. Edmonds is an all-purpose threat, having caught 31 passes out of the backfield in 2015 for 383 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games played. Edmonds’s 169.2 all-purpose ypg rank fifth in the FCS.

Kade Harrington – RB, Lamar

Sometimes the rise from obscurity is much easier and faster than the rise to sheer dominance. Sometimes the two go hand-in-hand.

The aforementioned Harrington completed the latter in 2015 for his Lamar Cardinals, who finished in the middle of the Southland Conference pack but witnessed the rise of the most dominant FCS weapon in their own backfield. The junior running back thrashed all competition with eight consecutive games going over the 100-yard rushing barrier, including six times over 200 yards. Harrington and Edmonds each set the bar in the FCS this season with 347 rushing yards in a single game (Harrington against Abilene Christian). He finished the year as the nation’s leading rusher with 2,092 yards and 21 touchdowns on 266 carries, averaging an eye-popping 190.2 ypg.

Harrington also added 15 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games played, giving him the nation’s leading total of 213.4 all-purpose ypg. Not bad for someone who played in nine games a year ago and netted a total of 740 rushing yards.

Mark Iannotti – QB, Southern Illinois

It was a rough start for Iannotti’s Salukis, who lost three of their first four games in the 2015 campaign. But for what it’s worth, those three losses came by a grand total of five combined points (including a one-point loss to Big Ten power Indiana).

The senior Eastern Michigan transfer quarterback did everything he could to help his Missouri Valley Conference program stay afloat. Iannotti finished his senior season with 3,195 passing yards – tied for fourth in the country with Holy Cross’s Peter Pujals – and 24 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His 290.5 passing ypg also ranked fourth in the country.

When defenders weren’t trying to contain Iannotti’s accurate aerial assault (65.6 percent completions), they were attempting to contain his adept ability to run the football. The signal caller toted the ball 179 times in 2015 for 716 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 65.1 rushing ypg – the best ground average on Southern Illinois.

Cooper Kupp – WR, Eastern Washington

There is no stopping Kupp, only the ability to contain him.

The junior receiver demonstrated his outstanding prowess in catching the football, regardless of whether or not he was open, in just about every contest this season. And it didn’t matter that Vernon Adams Jr. wasn’t throwing him the ball anymore. Kupp still hauled in a Big Sky Conference-record 114 receptions in 2015 for 1,642 yards (most in the country) and 19 touchdowns, averaging 149.3 receiving ypg.

But those numbers only begin to scratch the surface of what Kupp accomplished this season. In just three years in the FCS, Kupp already sits just two receiving touchdowns shy of the all-time career record (58), set by former New Hampshire pass catcher David Ball. He’s second on the all-time list with 4,764 career receiving yards, sitting only behind Elon’s Terrell Hudgins, who amassed 5,250 yards in his playing days. Kupp passed Jerry Rice to reach each feat.

Kupp announced recently he will return to Eastern Washington for his senior season, which means when all is said and done on his career Kupp will be the greatest pass catcher statistically in the history of the FCS.

National Notes Week 14

Kevin Marshall, National Contributor | December 03, 2015

The State of the Nation

The first round of the national playoffs is in the books and what an exciting weekend it was! I expect a few more surprises this week in round two.

The Reviews

Chattanooga 50 Fordham 20
The Chattanooga Mocs, Co-Champions of the Southern Conference, easily handled the Patriot Leagues at large team the Fordham Rams. The Mocs led 31-0 at halftime. Chattanooga completely dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage and it was apparent to all who saw the game that Fordham was over-matched. UTC had 560 yards of total offense with 360 of them on the ground. Chattanooga faces the #1 seed this week the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in Alabama.

The Citadel 41 Coastal Carolina 38
Cadet Eric Goins kicked a 43 yard field goal as time expired to propel The Citadel to the second round. The Cadets had a school record four players rush for over 100 yards in the victory. Sophomore Quarterback Dominique Allen led the way with 174 yards and two touchdowns. Junior B-Back Tyler Renew followed up his herculean effort at South Carolina last week with 129 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore A-Back Cam Jackson added 113 yards and a touchdown while senior A-Back Vinny Miller posted a cool 100 yards on the ground. The Citadel defense forced four turnovers and made the plays when they had to. Coastal Carolina moves on to the Sun Belt with a loss in their last FCS game. The Citadel travels 17 miles up Interstate 26 for a rematch with the #8 seed Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Saturday in the second round.

Colgate 27 New Hampshire 20
The Red Raiders won their sixth consecutive game by outlasting New Hampshire of the CAA. Colgate was the definition of balance on offense gaining 189 yards on the ground and 188 through the air. Colgate tackled extremely well and is one of the more fundamentally sound football teams I have seen all year. They are obviously a well coached team. James Holland rushed for four touchdowns, one in each quarter, and hit paydirt after the Red Raiders had drives of 5, 11, 10, and 17 plays. Those long drives really took the starch out of New Hampshire. Colgate will play at the #5 seed James Madison on Saturday in Virginia.

Sam Houston State 42 Southern Utah 39
Bearkat quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe came off the bench hot and led Sam Houston State to a comeback victory over the Big Sky Conference Champion Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Briscoe, who entered the game due to an injury to the starter, was just what the Bearkats and Coach KC Keeler needed. Sam Houston had two 100 yard rushers in the contest. Ridgeway Frank posted a career high 137 yards and two touchdowns and Remus Bulmer had 116. Southern Utah quarterback Ammon Olsen completed 33 of his 58 attempts for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Olsen’s favorite target was Mike Sharp. Sharp caught eight balls for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Sam Houston State will travel to Louisiana on Saturday for a matchup with the #4 seed McNeese State.

Montana 24 South Dakota State 17
It was a great first half for Montana. In the opening thirty minutes the Griz looked like they could whip anyone in this playoff field. Montana led 24-0 at the intermission but had to hold on to defeat the Jackrabbits. The Griz offense, led by quarterback Brady Gustafson and his 295 yards passing, looked very impressive at times. The Montana defense looked impressive all the time. National Defensive Player of the Year candidate Tyrone Holmes had three sacks and three tackles for loss. Montana plays at the #3 seed North Dakota State Bison on Saturday in Fargo.

Northern Iowa 53 Eastern Illinois 17
UNI was clearly the better team in this one. Quarterback Aaron Bailey was efficient in the passing game finishing 7 of 11 for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Tyvis Smith rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown. The UNI defense played perhaps their best game of the season. EIU was just outclassed in this game. Northern Iowa is on the road at the #6 seed Portland State in round two.

William & Mary 52 Duquesne 49
The Tribe may have overlooked the Dukes and they almost got scalped. Duquesne outgained and outplayed the Tribe but William and Mary survived. The Tribe defense, which I was bragging on just a couple of weeks ago got torched for 540 total yards. The NEC Champions jumped out to a 14-0 lead and William and Mary was able to tie the score with about 4:00 to go in the first half. DeVonte Dedmon was huge for the Tribe. Dedmon hauled in three touchdown receptions. Tribe running back Kendell Anderson bounced back with 137 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns. William and Mary is at the #7 seed Richmond Spiders in a rematch of The Oldest Rivalry in the South.

Western Illinois 24 Dayton 7
Nikko Watson rushed for 152 yards and Pete Swenson had four sacks to lead the Leathernecks to the victory over the Pioneer League champion Dayton Flyers. The Flyers scored the first touchdown but after that it was all Leathernecks. Quarterback Sean McGuire led the Leathernecks on four scoring drives longer than 40 yards and Western Illinois did just enough to come away a winner.

The Interviews

This week I was privileged to sit down with Mr. Mark Wilson, the AD at Tennessee Tech, and the Chairman of the 2015 FCS Playoff Selection Committee. Mr. Wilson will clear up many of the questions FCS fans may have about the process of selection for the playoffs. Mr. Dan Hunt, Head Coach of the Colgate Red Raiders, also stops by to discuss his team.

The Previews

Chattanooga @ Jacksonville State
The games in this series have been incredibly close. Playoff football is a different thing though. I think the Gamecocks playoff troubles continue. Chattanooga in the upset 28-27.

Western Illinois @ Illinois State
All Redbirds in this one. Coprich carries the load and leads Illinois State to victory. ISU 31-17.

Montana @ North Dakota State
Rematch of the thrilling game in August. The Bison have the home field this time and 12 weeks of film on Coach Bob Stitt and the Griz. Bison 28-17.

Sam Houston State @ McNeese State
Can the Bearkats put together another run like last season? I don’t think so. Cowboys 38-35.

Colgate @ James Madison
Colgate is a very good football team. JMU may be looking ahead. Red Raiders shock the FCS. Colgate 27-24.

Northern Iowa @ Portland State
The Vikings are built to defeat a team like UNI. I don’t think the Panthers offense can keep up. PSU 31-24.

William & Mary @ Richmond
The Spiders controlled the line of scrimmage in the regular season game between these two. The Tribe get their revenge. Tribe 20-17.

The Citadel @ Charleston Southern
The Bulldogs have been hoping for a rematch with CSU. They have their wish and will not squander the opportunity. The Citadel 27-24.

National Notes Week 13

Kevin Marshall, National Contributor | November 27, 2015

The State of the Nation

The deliberations and debates are over and we have a field for the 2015 FCS Playoffs! Some fans are happy and others are livid with the selection committee. This is no different from any other year. If your team was on the bubble and didn’t make it then they should have won one more game and removed themselves from it.

The Reviews

The Citadel Bulldogs shocked everyone but themselves by beating the University of South Carolina 23-22 in front of 77,000 plus fans in Columbia, SC. This victory by The Military College of South Carolina was no fluke. The Cadets ran for 350 yards on an SEC defense and the Bulldog defense held them when they had to. Cadet Tyler Renew led the ‘Dogs with 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Southern Utah won the Big Sky Conference by beating Northern Arizona 49-41. Thunderbird quarterback Ammon Olsen was the difference. Olsen threw for 430 yards and five touchdowns in the victory over the Lumberjacks. Olsen’s favorite target was Mike Sharp who had 169 yards on eight receptions with three touchdowns. Congratulations to the Thunderbirds and Coach Ed Lamb.

Portland State closed the book on the Eastern Washington Eagles 2015 season with a 34-31 win on the road in Cheney, Washington. The Vikings were an impressive 13-17 on third down. The Eagle defense just couldn’t get off of the field. PSU running back David Jones was huge for them. Jones ran for 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

Montana beat the Bobcats of Montana State 54-35 in The Brawl of the Wild in Bozeman, Montana. The Griz led at the half 37-14 and never really let the Bobcats back into the contest. The defense was good again for Montana and is the reason they have been winning lately.

Richmond claimed the CAA automatic bid by beating the William and Mary Tribe 20-9. Spider running back Jacobi Green was the difference for Richmond. Green ran for 218 yards. The Richmond defense really played well. That unit held the Tribe without a touchdown.

Western Illinois played themselves into the playoffs by defeating South Dakota State 30-24 in two overtimes. Nikko Watson carried the ball for 163 yards for the Leathernecks and Sean McGuire passed for 282 yards and a touchdown.

McNeese State did something that very few have been able to accomplish. The Cowboy defense held Lamar running back Kade Harrington to just 70 yards on 17 carries and made him a non factor in the game. Three Cowboys rushed for over 100 yards in the 20-14 win over the Cardinals. McNeese Head Coach Matt Viator tied the record for the most wins by a Coach at McNeese State. Congratulations to Coach Viator.

The Bearkats of Sam Houston State destroyed Central Arkansas 42-13. Bearkat quarterback Jared Johnson passed for 279 yards and halfback Cory Avery ran for 100 yards for the fourth consecutive week. Central Arkansas allowed 550 yards of total offense. Coach KC Keeler seems to have his boys poised for a deep run in these playoffs.

The Interviews – Playoff Spectacular

Brand Lawrence and I discuss some of the upcoming national awards for players and so forth at the FCS level and then Brandon , Chad Lenz, and I will break down each game in Segment Four. You can get your printable bracket for the playoffs here.

The Previews

Picking these first round games was really tough. Emory and I disagreed more than usual. Tune in to get Mr. Hunt’s upset picks.

Southern Utah @ Sam Houston State
This game features two very good offenses and some of the best defensive players in the country. Southern Utah has faced tougher opponents this season than the Bearkats have and are more battle tested. Two excellent coaches lead these two programs. I think Ed Lamb and the Thunderbirds best KC Keeler and his Bearkats in Texas. SUU 31-27.

South Dakota State @ Montana
If history is any indicator then the Griz will spot the Jackrabbits a big lead and then come roaring back to win. I don’t think this one is going to play out that way. SDSU has to get pressure on Griz quarterback Brady Gustafson and make him throw it underneath and come up and make the tackle. Tackling is something the Jackrabbits have not done well this season. Give me the Griz in a cold and loud Washington-Grizzly Stadium 38-35.

Eastern Illinois @ Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa should win this battle of the Panthers. EIU may just be happy to be here while UNI thinks they can win the whole thing. Aaron Bailey will be the difference for Northern Iowa. UNI 35-13.

Duquesne @ William & Mary
The Tribe will be on the warpath after losing the Capital Cup and the CAA last week. Kendall Anderson gets back on track and the Tribe defense is tough! William and Mary 42-17.

Western Illinois @ Dayton
I’ll be shocked if the Flyers win this one. I do think this will be the most competitive team the Pioneer League has had since they received the automatic bid. Leathernecks 38-20.

Fordham @ Chattanooga
The Key in this one is Fordham running back Chase Edmonds. If the Ram offensive line can make some spaces for him to run through this could be on e of the better first round matchups. I think Jacob Huesman and the Mocs will be up to the challenge. Mocs 38-21.

Colgate @ New Hampshire
The past two seasons a Patriot League team has gone to Durham, New Hampshire and lost. Colgate is a good team and this is not the same UNH team that FCS fans are used to seeing in the playoffs. The Wildcats are tough to beat at home though. UNH 28-17

The Citadel @ Coastal Carolina
This should really be a good one. The Chanticleers come limping into the postseason off of a loss while the Cadets are sky high after defeating South Carolina. Can The Citadel offense sustain drives and keep their defense off the field? If they can’t Alex Ross and company will pick the ‘Dogs apart with their passing game. This one is really tough to pick. Coastal at home 31-28.

National Notes Week 12

Kevin Marshall, National Contributor | November 19, 2015

The State of the Nation

The Reviews

Last week saw a bit of clarity in the potential playoff participants but the scene is still quite muddy. The Selection Committee has its work cut out for them and I do not envy those in that room. There are many worthy teams but only 24 slots. Here’s to hoping you all get good news on Sunday!

Jacksonville State won their 16th consecutive Ohio Valley Conference game and junior receiver Josh Barge became the Gamecocks all time reception leader in JSU’s 56-28 victory over Southeast Missouri State. The Gamecock offense piled up 617 yards of total offense. This Jacksonville State team looks to be a tough out for anyone come playoff time.

North Dakota State continued to play well on the offensive side of the ball. The Bison offense tallied 500 yards of total offense for the third consecutive week. The Bison defense was solid as well holding Youngstown State to just 205 total yards with just 33 of those coming on the ground. NDSU won the game 27-24. Penguin Coach Bo Pelini really hurt his team, and any chance they had to go down the field and tie the game, with a sideline tirade against the officials. Pelini was reprimanded by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for his ungentlemanly outbursts.

South Dakota gave South Dakota State all they wanted and a whole lot more before falling late to the Jackrabbits. SDSU trailed by ten points in the final stanza but reserve quarterback Zach Lujan and receiver Jake Wieneke hooked up on some big plays and got them back into the game. Nick Farina tacked on a pick six to make the final 30-23 in favor of the Jackrabbits.

William & Mary won their sixth consecutive game whipping the Towson Tigers 31-17. Jimmye Laycock and his boys clinched at least a share of the CAA title with the victory. The Tribe put up 31 points but their defense has been the story for me. That unit is giving up just 17.8 points per game.

Andy Talley has done the best coaching job of his illustrious career this season. Villanova, who is just decimated with injuries to their best players, is right in the thick of the race for the CAA championship. Homecoming weekend was a happy one for the Wildcats. Villanova scored on a fourth down play with under a minute remaining to rally past Richmond 21-20. James Madison must seem like it was a lifetime ago for the Spiders.

Portland State survived Southern Utah 24-23. The Thunderbirds played well but the Vikings were just a little better. PSU won the game with defense, which is how SUU usually wins, and the three interceptions of Olsen were huge momentum changers in the contest.

Congratulations to the Chattanooga Mocs for earning the automatic bid from the Southern Conference. The Mocs beat The Citadel 31-23 to punch their ticket. The Cadets had to play their best game of the season to beat Chattanooga and instead the Mocs did. Both teams have identical 6-1 records in the SoCon and The Citadel is at the mercy of the selection committee. Whatever they decide this has been an excellent season for the Bulldogs.

Eastern Washington turned the ball over seven times and got destroyed by the Montana Grizzlies. The return of Griz quarterback Brady Gustafson was huge for Montana. His steady presence in the huddle and in the pocket was obvious to all who saw the game. The Griz defense was outstanding again led by Tyrone Holmes. Griz kicker Dan Sullivan knocked three field goals through for Montana.

The Central Arkansas Bears used a dominant rushing attack to run out ahead of Nicholls State and survived a furious comeback attempt to defeat Nicholls 34-31. The Bears ground game was paced by Blake Veasley’s 141 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Hayden Hildebrand made the safe throws and managed the game well for UCA. Hildebrand was 12-18 for 109 yards and a touchdown. Nicholls State quarterback Landry Klann was 30-47 for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

The Patriot League crown belongs to Colgate. The Red Raiders ran all over Lehigh with Demetrius Russell and quarterback Jake Melville combining for 273 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The Interviews

Mr. Bob Bonner, owner of the Torrey Pines Pub in Las Vegas, joins us to discuss the largest Griz-Cat gathering on the planet (outside of the actual game anyway) which takes place each year in his establishment.

Lance Berndt and I sit down and discuss the playoff situation as well. Tune in and be the smartest person at your tailgate this week.

The Previews

Portland State @ Eastern Washington
The Eagles find themselves having to win this one against the Vikings to make the field of 24. Eastern must not help the Vikings with turnovers, as they did for Montana last week, to have any chance in this one. The Vikings defense won it for them last week and I think they will do it again. PSU 31-27.

Northern Arizona @ Southern Utah
I really like this Thunderbird team and I think Ed Lamb is one of the better coaches in the FCS. I will be very impressed if the T-Birds can win at home over this high octane Lumberjack offense. I don’t think they will. NAU 38-31.

Villanova @ James Madison
What a matchup this could have been if Vad Lee and John Robertson were healthy. Both are gone for the season and this is a battle of the backup quarterbacks. The Dukes have the better athletes but Villanova has the edge when it comes to coaching. I think the athletes get it done. Dukes 24-20.

William & Mary @ Richmond “AGS Game of the Week”
This is the 125th meeting between these two fine academic schools located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is the oldest rivalry in the South. The Richmond Spiders come into this one on seven legs and the Tribe are streaking. Tribe 31-17.

Southern Illinois @ Northern Iowa
The Panthers have found enough offense, behind Aaron Bailey at quarterback, to go along with a fine defense and should win this one. UNI needs this one to make the playoffs. I think they will get it. Panthers 28-20.

Sam Houston State @ Central Arkansas
The Bears running game will pound the Bearkats early and wear them out in the fourth quarter. I think this one will be close but Central Arkansas pulls away late. UCA 27-17.

McNeese State @ Lamar
Daniel Sams has done it all for McNeese in 2015. His strong leadership and a stout Cowboy defense will be the difference in this one. McNeese State 31-27.

Bucknell @ Colgate
Colgate finishes strong and awaits their first round playoff opponent. Red Raiders 21-10.

Montana @ Montana State “The Brawl of the Wild”
Both of these teams can get up and down the field and score. That is where the similarities end. The Bobcats have been unable to stop anyone all year, save Idaho State last week, and the Griz have one of the better defenses in the FCS. I think the Griz make enough plays on offense and get the stops of Dakota Prukop they have to have and will win. Griz 34-24.