Georgia Southern Football

Missouri Valley Conference champion North Dakota State will ride its No. 1 ranked scoring defense to a pivotal FCS semifinal win over Georgia Southern on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET). 

No team has been as dominant as the Bison this season in shutting down opposing offenses. 

North Dakota State is only allowing 13.7 points per game in 2011, tops in all of FCS, and also leads the league in interception touchdowns, tied atop with Southern Utah with five. 

The lesson to be learned here is that the Bison's D is fierce, and championship-worthy. 

They blasted Lehigh last weekend 24-0 and have only given up 14 points total all postseason. 

Georgia Southern is no chump of a team, however. The Eagles sport the fourth-best scoring offense in all of FCS, averaging more than 37 points per game. 

In their two playoff wins over Old Dominion and Maine, the Eagles posted 55 and 35 on the board. 

Georgia Southern will rely on its second-ranked rushing attack for most if not all of its offense on Saturday though.

Quarterback Jaybo Shaw has thrown for only 1,342 yards this season, and the offense will likely continue to come from Shaw's legs as well as the one-two backfield punch of Robert Brown and Dominique Swope.

But balance is key for any team looking to win it all, at any level.

North Dakota State boasts an offense that can beat opponents in a variety of ways, with quarterback Brock Jensen completing more than 68 percent of his passes for 2,267 yards this season, and a lethal running back duo of Sam Ojuri and D.J. McNorton. 

Both backs have rushed for more than 10 touchdowns this season and will only add to Georgia Southern's defensive troubles on the road.

The Bison, playing at home with a chance to earn an FCS finals berth, will dominate on defense and apply far too much pressure on the Eagles to stop their balanced offensive attack.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—For the second season in a row, Georgia Southern finds itself as a part of the final four in the FCS postseason.

The SoCon has had a team reach the semifinals of the FCS playoffs in 12 of the past 14 seasons. Georgia Southern reached the semifinals as a result of its 35-23 win over CAA member Maine on Saturday.

The win over Maine marks the second CAA opponent Georgia Southern has taken out in the playoffs—the first being Old Dominion.  The Eagles advanced to the semifinals with a thrilling 55-48 win over the Monarchs.

The last time a SoCon team knocked off two or more teams from the CAA in the postseason was 2007, when Appalachian State took care of three CAA foes en route to a third straight national title. In that particular season, the Mountaineers took care of James Madison (28-27), Richmond (55-35) and Delaware (49-21).

A Look at the Georgia Southern-North Dakota State Matchup

Georgia Southern will now have to go on the road for the first time in the postseason, making the 1,500-mile trek to face North Dakota State at the Fargo Dome. The Eagles and Bison have met once on the gridiron, and that was back in 2006; the Bison trounced the Eagles in Statesboro, coming away with a 34-14 win at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.

North Dakota State advanced to play Georgia Southern by virtue of a second-round victory over James Madison (26-14) and last Saturday's 24-0 quarterfinal win against Lehigh.

The Bison entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, having posted a regular season record of 10-1. The Bison posted a 37-24 win over FBS foe and Big Ten member Minnesota earlier this season and gained a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title, along with Northern Iowa, as a result of a 7-1 league mark.

North Dakota State's only loss during the regular season came against league rival Youngstown State on Nov. 12, as the Penguins posted a 27-24 win over the Bison at the Fargo Dome.

North Dakota State is no stranger to the postseason, making its 25th overall appearance in the postseason in school history. The Bison were a long-time Division II power, making 17 appearances in the Division II playoffs, posting a 31-12 record and winning eight national titles (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990).

Overall, the Bison have compiled a combined postseason mark of 39-14. Georgia Southern is the only Southern Conference opponent the Bison have ever faced. Saturday's game against Georgia Southern will mark North Dakota State's first semifinal appearance at the Division I level; the Bison logged 11 semifinal appearances at the Division II level.

Like North Dakota State, Georgia Southern brings its own tradition into Saturday's showdown at the Fargo Dome, having compiled a playoff record of 43-11. The Eagles have won six national titles at the I-AA/FCS level (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000).

It's Georgia Southern's second straight trip to the FCS semifinals. In the 2010 semifinals, the Eagles dropped a 27-10 decision on the road at Delaware.

Overall, the Eagles have lost in their last three trips to the FCS semifinals, falling to eventual national champion Western Kentucky, 31-28, at home in 2002, and dropping a 24-17 contest to Furman in 2001 at Paulson Stadium.

A win Saturday for the Eagles would not only snap a two-game FCS semifinal losing streak, but would also snap a two-game skid for the SoCon in the FCS semifinals—Georgia Southern fell last season to Delaware, while Appalachian State was a 24-17 loser at Montana in 2009.

Appalachian State was the last team from the SoCon to make an appearance in the FCS semifinals, as the Mountaineers made the title game in 2007, posting a 49-21 win over Delaware.

A Look at the NDSU Defense

Coming into Saturday's matchup, North Dakota State will bring in one of the best defenses the potent Georgia Southern offense has faced in the 2011 season. The Bison come into the semifinal showdown with the Eagles ranking 25th nationally in total defense (322.7 YPG), first in scoring defense (13.6 PPG), 16th in rushing defense (115.3 YPG), 59th in passing defense (207.3 YPG), 20th in sacks (35 sacks, 2.69 SPG) and 10th in turnover margin (plus-1.15).

The Bison have an extremely physical defense, especially along the defensive front. Anchoring the NDSU line this season has been bookend Coulter Boyer (42 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, 2 FRs, 1 FF), who garnered All-Missouri Valley Conference honors this past season.

Boyer is simply a game-changer along the defensive front for the Green and Gold. He enjoyed his best game of the 2011 season in the win over Minnesota, recording 2.5 sacks in the 13-point triumph. He has been a sack king his entire career for the Bison, with 26.5 career sacks coming into Saturday's semifinal contest against the Eagles.

At linebacker, the Bison are led by another All-Missouri Valley Conference performer in senior weak-side linebacker Chad Wilson (81 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR). Wilson's 81 stops this season lead the Bison. He enjoyed his top game of the season against Youngstown State in NDSU's only loss, recording 12 tackles in the 27-24 setback.

The North Dakota State secondary is one of the best units in the FCS. The quartet has helped NDSU rank sixth in all of FCS in interceptions this fall, as the Bison have picked off a total of 19 passes during the 2011 campaign.

The secondary has been led the talented cornerback tandem of Christian Dudzik (64 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 8 PBUs, 1 INT) and All-Missouri Valley Conference performer Marcus Williams (47 tackles, 13 PBUs, 7 INTs).

Dudzik enjoyed one of the premier performances by any Bison defender this season against Illinois State, as he recorded 12 tackles and four PBUs in the Bison win. Williams is in line to challenge for the school's all-time interceptions mark, needing only one pick to tie the school's all-time leader in INTs, Frank Esposito, who picked off eight passes during the 1953 season.

A Look at the Georgia Southern Offense

Georgia Southern's offense will definitely be the stiffest test for the North Dakota State defense this season. Coming into Saturday afternoon's FCS semifinal showdown, Georgia Southern ranks seventh nationally in total offense (442.8 YPG), fourth in scoring offense (37.3 PPG), 118th in passing offense (108.7 YPG), second in rushing offense (334.0 YPG) and third in sacks allowed (.54).

The Eagle offense continues to be led by heady senior quarterback Jaybo Shaw (64-of-116 passing, 1,342 yds., 10 TDs, 3 INTs/153 rush att., 379 yds., 14 TDs, 2.5 YPC). Shaw hasn't had to do quite as much on the ground this season for the potent Eagle offense, which seems to get better as the season progresses.

Shaw has enjoyed several strong performances this season, with his best performance as a passer coming in GSU's 62-21 win over Tusculum. In that particular contest, Shaw made good on 6-of-9 passes for 181 yards and a TD. He also had an impressive performance throwing the football in a 50-20 win over Furman in mid-October, as he connected on 6-of-9 passes for 171 yards.

As a running threat, Shaw was most effective this season against Western Carolina in a 52-20 win, rushing for 72 yards and a TD on 17 attempts.

Shaw has had two pretty solid running backs to hand the ball off to this season in Robert Brown (136 att., 937 yds., 5 TDs, 6.9 YPC) and Dominique Swope (145 att., 927 yds., 6 TDs, 6.4 YPC). The two have combined to gain 1,864 yards and score 11 TDs this season.

Swope is having a season reminiscent of the one that Brown enjoyed last season as a freshman. He has been the primary ground-gainer of late for the potent ground-oriented Eagle attack, recording the best performance of his young career a couple of weeks ago in the 55-48 win over Old Dominion.

All Swope did in that contest was rush for 255 yards and a pair of TDs. With that performance, he became the first GSU player to rush for over 200 yards in a game since Jayson Foster did so in 2007.

Swope's 255 rushing yards accounted for the fourth-most ground yards gained in a game in program history. His 76-yard scoring run in the second-round win over Old Dominion also accounted for the longest playoff run for the Eagles in school history.

In each of its championship seasons, the Eagles have always seemed to have a game-breaker at slotback. In 1999, it was Bennie Cunningham and in 2000, who could forget Mark Myers? No one will soon forget the electric Frank Johnson, either; Johnson is known simply for having made "The Catch" in GSU's first national title win—a 44-42 win over Furman—in 1985.

This season is no different, as the Eagles have a pair of game-breaking slotbacks in Jonathan Bryant (11 rec., 327 yds., 2 TDs, 29.7 YPR/25 rush att., 216 yds., 2 TDs, 8.6 YPC) and Darreion Robinson (3 rec., 111 yds., 1 TD, 37.0 YPR/42 rush att., 258 yds., 1 TD, 6.1 YPC).

Bryant is the Eagles' leading receiver and has the speed to make plays in both the passing game and the ground attack. Robinson is also a multi-threat coming out of the GSU backfield, but his strength is as a runner with his speed and power.

At receiver, the Eagles ask players like Patrick Barker (4 rec., 42 yds., 10.5 YPR) and Mitch Williford (2 rec., 20 yds., 10.0 YPR) to act mostly as perimeter blockers, but the speed of Kentrellis Showers (10 rec., 202 yds., 3 TDs, 20.2 YPR) gives the Eagles the ability to go atop if they so desire.

Finally, the GSU offensive line has been one of the best in the SoCon over the past couple of seasons and is a major reason why the GSU program has seen such a resurgence in utilizing the flexbone offense for just the second season, after a four-year hiatus from the program's bread-and-butter.

Leading that unit this season have been (RT) Brett Moore and (LT) Dorian Byrd, who garnered first- and second-team All-SoCon honors, respectively, this season.

A Look at the North Dakota State Offense

NDSU enters its first FCS semifinal matchup ranking first nationally in turnovers lost, having only turned the ball over 11 times in 13 games so far in 2011. The Bison also rank 68th nationally in total offense (346.3 YPG), 27th in scoring offense (32.1 PPG), 77th in passing offense (179.4 YPG), 40th in rushing offense (166.9 YPG) and 31st in sacks allowed (1.38 SPG).

Leading head coach Craig Bohl's offense this season has been talented and efficient sophomore signal-caller Brock Jensen (199-of-291 passing, 2,267 yds., 12 TDs, 3 INTs, 174.4 passing eff. rating). Jensen has started all 13 games this season and has followed in the footsteps of talented Bison QBs of the recent past, such as Nick Mertens and Steve Walker.

Jensen has enjoyed several big performances in 2011 for the Green and Gold, with his top performance in a win over Missouri State on Oct. 15. In that contest, Jensen completed 19-of-23 passes for a season-high 211 yards and three TDs in the 51-21 home triumph. Jensen completed a season-standard 22 passes in a de facto conference title-deciding matchup with Northern Iowa, as the Bison took a hard-fought 27-19 win at the Fargo Dome.

Like Shaw, Jensen has had plenty of help coming from his skill position players—namely running backs D.J. McNorton (170 rush att., 887 yds., 12 TDs, 5.2 YPC) and Sam Ojuri (161 att., 978 yds., 10 TDs, 6.1 YPC). That duo has nearly matched the combined duo of Swope and Brown this season.

McNorton and Ojuri have combined to amass 1,865 yards and 22 TDs this season.

McNorton is a powerful running presence coming out of the backfield for the Bison once again, after rushing for 1,559 yards and scoring 15 TDs last season. He was a preseason second-team All-American, according to the College Sporting News.

McNorton enjoyed his best performance of the season in an early-season win over Lafayette, as he rushed 13 times for 80 yards and added three rushing scores. The three rushing TDs in the win were the most by a Bison running back in a game this season

In five FCS playoff games, McNorton has rushed 112 times for 647 yards and seven TDs. For his career, McNorton has rushed 540 times for 2,852 yards and 33 TDs in 48 games and is seventh all time at NDSU.

McNorton has also been effective as a receiving option coming out of the backfield, having hauled in 21 passes for 201 yards and 2 TDs (9.6 YPR).

Ojuri, a senior, comes into the semifinal clash with the Eagles needing just 22 yards to mark the ninth straight season in which a Bison running back has rushed for over 1,000 yards. Ojuri owns the top rushing yardage performance of the season by an NDSU running back, as he had 165 yards and a TD on only 12 rushes—including a season-long 95-yard TD run—in a 56-3 win over Saint Francis early in the campaign.

The Bison also have a big playmaker at wide receiver; Warren Holloway (70 rec., 920 yds., 7 TDs, 13.1 YPR) is one of the elite wideouts in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season. Holloway has big-time speed and great hands, and has come up big on numerous occasions in clutch situations this season.

Holloway, an All-Missouri Valley selection, has had a couple of big performances this season. In the win over Lafayette, Holloway hauled in six passes for 147 yards and a couple of scores, garnering MVFC Player of the Week honors for his efforts. In last week's win over Lehigh, Holloway matched a career high with eight catches for 98 yards.

Holloway is joined at wideout by Ryan Smith (40 rec., 471 yds., 11.8 YPR), who has also had a big season catching the football.

The offensive line is physical and proved to be one of the better offensive fronts in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season. Right tackle Paul Cornick, an All-Missouri Valley selection, anchors the front. He is one of three senior starters along the offensive line. Coming into the 2011 season, the Bison welcomed the return of four starters along the offensive front.

A Look at the Georgia Southern Defense

Coming into the season, it was certainly the Georgia Southern defense that made a majority of the headlines.

The Eagles were among the most physical defensive units in the Southern Conference last season. Most looked at the Georgia Southern defensive line as one of the top defensive fronts in the Southern Conference, and one of the elite units in all of FCS football entering the campaign.

The unit hasn't disappointed.

Overall, the Eagles enter Saturday afternoon's contest ranking 40th nationally in total defense (349.3 YPG), 32nd in scoring defense (22.7 PPG), 73rd in passing defense (212.2 YPG), 34th in rushing defense (137.1 YPG) and 67th in sacks (1.92 SPG).

Leading that stout defensive front has been nose tackle Brent Russell (61 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 1 blk. kick). All Russell did this season was garner SoCon Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

The junior nose tackle is simply one of the most dominant players in the FCS and has put himself in the same breath as former Eagle great defensive tackles, Alex Mash (1990-93) and Voncellies Allen (1996-99).

With 20 career sacks, Russell now ranks fifth on the school's all-time ledger, surpassing former standout Freddy Pesquiera (19.5 career sacks, 1999-02) in the Eagles' second-round win over Old Dominion. He enjoyed his top performance of the season against Appalachian State, recording 10 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a sack in the 24-17 loss.

Joining Russell as reputable players up front for the Eagles have been defensive ends John Douglas (32 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR) and Josh Gebhardt (22 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 FR).

In addition, Blake Riley (23 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 1 FR) has played well in his first season as a full-time starter alongside Russell. Roderick Tinsley (27 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 3 PBUs) and Javon Mention (27 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 blk. kick) give the GSU defensive front elite depth.

At linebacker, the Eagles were solid throughout the season. While the unit didn't have a standout star, such as Furman's Kadarron Anderson or Chattanooga's Ryan Consiglio, the Eagles fielded maybe the most combined talent at LB in the SoCon in 2011.

Leading the impressive trio this fall has been Josh Rowe (68 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 FF), who, despite not earning postseason All-SoCon accolades, proved to be one of the most important components of the GSU defense this season from his "MIKE" linebacker position.

Rowe has had some strong outings this season, turning in his top performance in the 28-27 win over Chattanooga, logging 11 tackles and a TFL.

Rowe will be flanked at LB on Saturday by a pair of talented performers in Darius Eubanks (62 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 2 INTs) and Kyle Oehlbeck (25 tackles, 1.0 TFL), both veterans. Eubanks is an excellent athlete and one of the hardest hitters on the GSU defense.

The most overlooked aspect of the GSU defense is the secondary, which, athletically, is as fast and opportunistic as any unit in the country against the pass. They've also proved to be very effective at stepping up and making plays against the run.

Cornerback LaRon Scott (49 tackles, 3 INTs, 17 PBUs) and safety Deion Stanley (77 tackles, 7 PBUs,1 INT, 1 FF, 1 blkd kick) are certainly the players to keep an eye on.

Stanley leads the defense in overall tackles this season, while Scott is one of the most explosive players on the GSU defense and special teams. As a special teams player, Scott has two kick returns for scores this season, including a 95-yard kickoff return against Alabama.

Final Prediction

Georgia Southern certainly has its work cut out for it on Saturday when it travels to North Dakota State for its second straight FCS semifinal game. The loss to Delaware was acceptable last season because no one really believed Georgia Southern would make it that far.

However, after last season's run, the Eagles entered the 2011 season as the No. 3-ranked team in all of FCS football and were the media's preseason pick to win the Southern Conference.

So far, so good for the Eagles, who have continued to get better with each passing Saturday this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

A victory on Saturday afternoon would give the Eagles a semifinal win for the first time since the 2000 season, when the Eagles went to Newark, DE and claimed a 27-18 win over the Blue Hens at Tubby Raymond Field.

For North Dakota State, Saturday afternoon represents uncharted territory for a program that has experienced so much success at the Division II level in past seasons. Now, head coach Craig Bohl has taken the Bison to that next step—the FCS semifinals—for the first time in program history.

No doubt the Fargo Dome will be boisterous on Saturday afternoon when the Eagles, playoff veterans, pay a visit to one of the best home-field environments in FCS football.

Of course, the Eagles know about playoff environments, sporting the best home winning percentage in the playoffs of any of the FCS playoff participants. NDSU could go a long way in establishing that type of atmosphere with a win on Saturday to get to the school's first national title game at the Division I level.

Maybe the greatest moment in Georgia Southern's football history—the 1985 come-from-behind national title win, 44-42, win over Furman—came in a domed stadium (the "Tacoma Dome" in Tacoma, Washington).

With that said, I believe Georgia Southern will get a stiffer challenge on Saturday afternoon than it will—should the Eagles win—get in the national title game. Georgia Southern might lose this game if it were outside, but on a fast track, the GSU offense has proven to be nearly unstoppable in the postseason.

The Eagles win a tough one.

Final Score Prediction: 24-21 Georgia Southern

The Georgia Southern-Furman rivalry is one of the best on the Southern Conference gridiron, and rightfully so, as the first two meetings between these tradition-rich programs took place in the national title game. The Eagles completed an unbelievable 44-42, come-from-behind win in the national title game in 1985, in which GSU trailed 28-6 early in the third quarter.

Furman would exact revenge three years later in Pocatello, Idaho, by coming up with a 17-12 win over the Eagles to claim the school's only national title. The Paladins and Eagles will be meeting for the 23rd time in series history this fall, with the Eagles holding a 14-8 all-time series edge. The Eagles and Paladins have played some epic games since GSU joined the SoCon as an official member in 1993.

No GSU fan can forget the Eagles' 27-24 win over the top-ranked Paladins in 2005, which allowed the Eagles to qualify for the FCS postseason. The Eagles were able to come up with the win when Terrance McBride stepped in front of an Ingle Martin pass in the waning moments to clinch the three-point win over the Paladins.

Most Furman fans won't soon forget the 2000 meeting with the Eagles, as Paul Johnson brought his top-ranked club to Paladin Stadium, having already clinched at least a share of the SoCon title. Furman needed a win to keep its postseason hopes alive. Johnson decided to bench his stud running back and all-time FCS leading rusher Adrian Peterson, who was nursing a minor injury.

The Paladins led 10-7 at the break, and the second half would belong to Furman running back Loius Ivory. Ivory not only set a school record, but also a SoCon regular-season record for rushing yards, rushing for 301 yards and three TDs and leading the Paladins to a lopsided 45-10 win over the Eagles. Furman would later end up qualifying for the postseason with a victory in its final game against Chattanooga, while Georgia Southern would be fueled by the thumping and go on to win their second-straight national title.

The 2001 season saw two classic games played between the schools, with Georgia Southern claiming a gritty 20-10 win in the regular-season home finale. Playing in front of the home folks for the final time, Adrian Peterson used the emotional, electric, sell-out atmosphere to rush for 158 yards on 24 attempts.

The two would meet against in the FCS semifinals, with the Paladins handing Georgia Southern its first postseason loss (27-0 coming in to the game) at Paulson Stadium, while also ending GSU's 39-game winning streak.

Furman, which played without star running back Louis Ivory, used a trio of running backs to control the ball and the clock in a 24-17 win over the Eagles in front 11,827 stunned fans. The Furman defense also did its job in the contest, holding Adrian Peterson to a career-low 68 yards rushing in the contest.

With nothing on the line for GSU in 2003 except a winning season, the Eagles showed a great sense of pride in gutting out a 29-24 win over the Paladins in a game that featured a matchup between two great running backs, FU's Hindley Brigham and GSU's Jermaine Austin.

It was Brigham who began the fireworks that afternoon with an 80-yard scoring scamper, establishing a Paulson Stadium record for the longest rushing TD by an opponent. However, it would be Austin that had the last laugh, rushing for 136 yards and a TD on 25 carries despite a slightly injured knee. GSU posted an impressive afternoon offensively, rolling up 448 yards against the nation's third-ranked defense.

Sean Holland connected on five field goals, which accounted for more than half of GSU's points, and tied Reed Haley's school mark set against The Citadel in 1994.

A year later, an epic battle would ensue between the Paladins and Eagles. Furman came into the matchup ranked seventh in the nation, while the Eagles' offense had been steamrolling their opponents to the tune of 49 PPG and 487 YPG. However, in what would go down as a classic, Furman would win a 29-22 contest. The Paladin defense slowed the Eagle offense to 412 yards and 22 points in a matchup between the top teams in the SoCon.

The Paladins would get the game-winning score, with just over a minute left, from fullback Jerome Felton to take a 27-22 lead. The Paladins would go on to claim the Southern Conference title in 2004 after that victory over the FCS juggernaut Eagles.

Ever since that initial win in Statesboro, the Paladins have claimed victories in their last two trips to the place Eagle fans call The Prettiest Little Stadium In America. Last season, however, it was the Eagles who were able to come back from an early deficit and post a thrilling 32-28 win over Furman. It was the final game for head coach Bobby Lamb, who's tied to the GSU rivalry as much as any Paladin, having also quarterbacked the 1985 squad.

The Eagles used their opportunistic defense to overcome an early 14-point deficit and get back in the game. It was the GSU defense that became dominant in the second half, as the Eagles controlled the line of scrimmage. In fact, the Eagles allowed the Paladins just three first downs in the second half and ended up holding nearly a 17-minute (38:20-21:40) advantage in time of possession.

It was a gutty performance by quarterback Jaybo Shaw, who kept getting up after taking vicious hits from Paladin linebackers Kadarron Anderson and Chris Wiley. Shaw more than showed his toughness, willing the Eagles to a win and rushing for 101 yards and three TDs, while passing for 126 yards.

Saturday's meeting promises to be an exciting one, as the past eight meetings have been decided by an average of five points per game.

1. Georgia Southern—2010 Record: 10-5, (5-3 Southern Conference), finished 3rd in conference.

With 19 of 22 starters returning from a 2010 season that included an appearance in the FCS post-season Final Four, Georgia Southern enters 2011 as co-favorites—along with Appalachian State— to win the Southern Conference title.

The Eagles have plenty of talent returning on both sides of the ball from a team that finished the season with a 27-10 road defeat to Delaware.

The Offense:

The Eagles return Jaybo Shaw (71 of 140 passing, 1,233 yds, 5 TDs, 5 INTs, 209 rush att, 514 yds, 16 TDs, 2.5 YPC) at quarterback for the 2011 season.

All Shaw did in his first season as the Eagles' starter was field the nation's fourth-best rushing attack (261.2 YPG) last fall—second-best in the SoCon. While Shaw won't ever be mistaken for past greats Greg Hill or Jayson Foster, he does give the Eagles a true field general under center. His leadership and decision-making were two reasons why the Eagles were able to make their run to the Final Four.

Shaw is also one of the SoCon's gutsiest signal-callers. In a late-season, come-from-behind 32-28 win at Furman, the dual-threat QB took some vicious shots to his injured shoulder, but got up every time.

He single-handedly willed the Eagles to that victory over the Paladins, rushing for 121 yards and three scores, while passing for another 48 yards.

In my humble opinion, not only is Shaw one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the SoCon, but he is also one of the most underrated QBs in all of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

The best news for Georgia Southern is that it will have the best depth at the quarterback position in the SoCon this season.

Shaw's back up this fall looks likely to be Jerrick McKinnon (109 rush att, 495 yds, 3 TDs, 4.5 YPC in 2010), who split time between quarterback and slot back last season. Unlike Shaw, McKinnon is as dynamic a player as past Eagles greats Foster and Hill.

He possesses the kind of open-field speed and quickness necessary to take it the distance any time he touches the pigskin. Expect him to get more touches this season, whether it be under center or at slot back. He's too good a playmaker to not put on the field.

The leading ball-carrier for the Eagles this fall will likely be sophomore fullback Robert Brown (1,004 rush yds, 7 TDs). The powerful back was a pleasant surprise last season as a freshman, becoming one of the best young backs in the nation. Brown became the first true freshman running back to post a 100-yard rushing effort in his first collegiate game, when he went for 152 yards in the Eagles' 48-3 rout of Savannah State in the season opener.

He enjoyed his best rushing performance in an FCS postseason win at William & Mary, rushing for 171 in the 31-15 upset.

Brown will have some good company at fullback this fall, as it was learned in late winter that Ole Miss fullback Martez Eastland would be transferring to program.

The powerful 265-pound Eastland will give the Eagles an added threat in short-yardage situations, with the potential to make an impact similar to that of Jerome Felton at Furman just a few seasons ago.

Eastland, however, has already been involved in some off-field issues since arriving in Statesboro, and needs to get out of Jeff Monken's dog house quickly if he wants to play this season.

Slot back was a strength for the Eagles last season, as Darreion Robinson (61 rush att, 460 yds, 3 TDs, 7.5 YPC in 2010) and J.J. Wilcox (85 rush att, 484 yds, 6 TDs, 5.7 YPC, 22 rec, 551 yds, 3 TDs, 25.0 YPR in 2010) were solid in their respective roles last season.

Robinson has game-breaker speed on the perimeter and finished the season as GSU's third-leading rusher.

Wilcox is maybe the most explosive offensive player in the SoCon. He led the Eagles in receiving yards last fall, and was GSU's go-to deep threat. He had a spectacular evening against Chattanooga in particular, hauling in three passes for 121 yards and a TD.

McKinnon and Robinson should also be significant contributors at slot back this season for the Eagles. In fact, don't be surprised if McKinnon is able to win a starting spot at slot back this fall for the Eagles. Having his big-play potential on the field as much as possible will be paramount this fall for GSU.

The Eagles will also return some solid options at wide receiver, welcoming the return of possession-type receivers Patrick Barker (3 rec, 27 yds, 9.0 YPR in 2010), Mitch Williford (12 rec, 151 yds, 12.6 YPR in 2010) and Tyler Sumner (10 rec, 149 yds, 14.9 YPR in 2010), while speedy Tray Butler (13 rec, 168 yds, 2 TDs, 12.9 YPC in 2010) is a big-play threat.

Barker and Sumner are sure-handed wideouts, with good size and perimeter blocking skills. Butler had a solid game in the 23-21 win at Wofford in the FCS quarterfinals, where he had a 16-yard scoring reception.

The biggest area of improvement—and the primary reason the Eagles were able to get as far as they did in the FCS postseason last fall—was the offensive line. The Eagles went from having one of the worst offensive lines in the SoCon in 2009 to having one of the league's elite front five last fall.

All five starters return along the offensive front, which will be anchored by All-America right tackle candidate Brett Moore.

Moore earned second-team All-SoCon as a junior in 2010, and will team with seniors William Maxwell (RG) and Brandavious Mann (C).

Both Mann and Maxwell were solid performers a season ago, each starting all 15 games. Those two have the potential to compete for all-league plaudits in 2011. Dorian Byrd (LT) and Blake DeBartola (LG) will give GSU a strong left side of its offensive front, with Byrd selected to the SoCon's All-Freshman team last fall.

Overall, look for the GSU offense to be much better off in its second season since returning to the flexbone. With so many playmakers, the Eagles should excel at putting teams under pressure.

The Defense:

While the offense was efficient and stepped up when it needed to last fall, it was the defensive unit—which ranked seventh nationally—that was the primary reason for GSU's success.

With the return of 10 starters on the defensive side of the ball—including what many believe to be the best defensive line in the FCS, the Eagles have a chance to field a defense better than the 1988 unit, which allowed just 240.0 YPG en route to finishing as the national runner-up.

The Eagles ranked ninth in total defense last season, yielding just 286.9 YPG.

You won't find a better tandem on the defensive interior than Roderick Tinsley (55 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 4 PBUs, 6 FFs in 2010) and Brent Russell (71 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, 2 PBUs, 2 FFs in 2010).

Russell will enter the season as a Buck Buchanan Award favorite—awarded to the best defensive player in FCS—while Tinsley will be on most everyone's preseason all-conference ballot. Both boast All-America talent.

The duo was dominant last season, combining to post 34 TFLs and 10 sacks. Russell has a chance to be the best defensive tackle to play in a GSU uniform since Alex Mash, who starred in the early 1990s, and Voncellies Allen in the latter part of that decade.

Both Mash and Allen are considered two of the best defenders ever to don the iconic navy-and-white jersey, Russell is making a case to be mentioned in the same breath as those two greats. Russell and Tinsley will no doubt be significant factors on the GSU defense this fall.

The Eagles will also be strong at the respective defensive end positions this season, returning starters John Douglas (33 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 FFs, 1 FR, 1 TD in 2010) and Dion DuBose (29 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF in 2010).

A freshman a season ago, Douglas enjoyed his most memorable play in that quarterfinal win over Wofford. Late in the opening quarter of that contest, Douglas gave the Eagles a two-touchdown advantage (14-0), when he picked up a Wofford fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown late in the opening quarter.

DuBose made the conversion from middle linebacker to defensive end in his first season as a starter in 2010. It proved to be a terrific move, as he was able to more effectively utilize his athleticism on the line. He battled injuries towards the end of the 2010 season, but returned in the spring and enters the upcoming season as a starter.

Set to add depth to the bookend positions for the 2011 season will be Josh Gebhardt (33 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 INT in 2010) and Terico Agnew (10 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks in 2010).

Both Gebhardt and Agnew are capable of challenging for starting positions at defensive end for the Eagles. At most other schools in the SoCon, the two would be starters. Gebhardt was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last fall, taking over the starting responsibilities after the late-season injury to DuBose.

While the Eagles weren't as strong at linebacker last season as they were along the defensive front and in the secondary, this unheralded group will continue to play with a chip on their shoulder.

Leading the unit is All-SoCon middle linebacker Josh Rowe (104 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF in 2010). Rowe led the Eagles in tackles last season, and while he lacks the athleticism of former star John Mohring in the middle of the GSU defense, he does have a constant motor similar to that of the former Eagles standout.

The lone loss on the defensive side of the ball is at weakside linebacker, where the Eagles must replace E.J. Webb. Set to step in for Webb is junior John Stevenson (21 tackles, 1.5 TFLs in 2010).

Stevenson saw plenty of action as a reserve at the position last fall, and he enters the 2011 season coming off a strong spring.

Rounding out the starters at linebacker for the Eagles will be 'bandit' linebacker Darius Eubanks (56 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 4 PBUs, 1 FR, 2 FFs in 2010). Eubanks is a hard-nosed player, and will heads into the season as a trendy all-league candidate.

Eubanks had one of his best games of the 2010 season in the regular-season finale win at Furman, as he broke up two Paladin passes in the come-from-behind win.

The Eagles will also have some strong reserves set to go at linebacker this fall, returning Carlos Cave (33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs) and Kyle Oehlbeck (18 tackles, 1.0 TFL) to the fold.

Georgia Southern's secondary had a strong season in 2010, finishing the campaign ranking second in the SoCon in pass defense, yielding just (116 YPG). The top returnees from that talented unit are hard-hitting safety Derek Heyden (98 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 5 PBUs, 3 INTs, 3 FFs in 2010) and cornerback LaRon Scott (44 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 6 INTs, 10 PBUs in 2010). Both players are legitimate All-America candidates.

Heyden enjoyed some strong performances in 2010, as did Scott. In the 27-10 loss to Delaware in the playoffs, Heyden recorded a career-high 14 tackles. Scott recorded his top performance in GSU's shutout, 20-0, win over The Citadel, as he picked off two passes. Scott also had an INT return for a score in GSU's 38-21 win over No. 10 Elon.

Joining the aforementioned standouts in the GSU secondary as starters will be free safety Michael Butler (36 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Lavelle Westbrooks (32 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2 INTs, 5 PBUs, 1 sack) at cornerback. Both were solid last season, as Westbrooks started eight games, with seven starts at cornerback. Butler ended up starting seven games at free safety for the Eagles last fall.

Not only are the Eagles talented in the secondary heading into the 2011 season, they are also deep. GSU returns Deonte Watkins (6 tackles) at cornerback and A.J. McCray (13 tackles, 1 INT) at free safety to add solid, experienced depth returning for GSU for the 2011 season.

The Special Teams:

Another area that the Eagles should be strong in this fall will be special teams, where Adrian Mora (19-of-21 on FGs, 45-of-45 PATs) returns as one of the top place-kickers in the SoCon. Charlie Edwards (39.2 YPP, 19 I20 in 2010) returns at punter, where he will have a chance to compete for all-league honors this fall. Scott ranked second in kickoff return average, posting 26.4 yards-per-return in 2010.

Final Analysis:

On paper, Georgia Southern has few weaknesses entering the 2011 season.

For the first time since 2004, this team has the talent to be considered a legitimate SoCon and national-title favorite, thanks in large to its stellar defense.

If GSU can somehow find a way to get a victory in Boone on Oct. 29, an undefeated conference season is not out of the realm of possibility. It would be the first time since 1998 the Eagles have accomplished that feat, and would mark just the second time the Eagles done so since joining the Southern Conference in 1993.

The Georgia Southern Eagles are back. I hope the rest of the Southern Conference has enjoyed the last four years, because all of the momentum is starting to move in the direction of Statesboro, Georgia.

The Eagles’ last two head coaches, Chris Hatcher and Brian VanGorder, combined for a 21-23 record in four seasons. A mark like that is sacrilege in Statesboro. Even worse, both coaches brought in their own offensive schemes that were decidedly not the triple option.

The triple option offense had been run at GSU from 1982 to 2005. In those 23 years, the Eagles collected a record six FCS National Championships. And despite the best efforts of Hatcher and VanGorder to sully the program’s good reputation, Georgia Southern still holds the record for most FCS playoff victories.

Don’t look now, but the triple option and National Title aspirations have returned to South Georgia. GSU could be on the verge of having something very special on their hands this season.

After a 48-3 (expected) thumping of Savannah State on opening weekend and a surprisingly close 13-7 loss to the Naval Academy in week two, the Eagles traveled to Coastal Carolina where they handed the Chanticleers a 43-26 beat-down.

That win was followed up with GSU’s most impressive victory of the season to this point, a 38-21 drubbing of Elon in what was both teams’ Southern Conference opener.

Yes, that Elon. The same Elon that was ranked 11th in the country and that had beaten the Eagles for three consecutive seasons leading into Saturday’s game. Someone should’ve reminded them that no SoCon team has ever beaten Georgia Southern in four consecutive seasons.

GSU (3-1) entered the contest ranked 24th, and is sure to fly up the standings when the new polls are released. Eagle fans expected sizable returns from the switch back to the triple option, but with a team comprised entirely of players recruited for a spread offense, who could have expected this kind of turnaround, this quick?

New coach Jeff Monken expected it.

A former Georgia Southern assistant coach under Paul Johnson who followed Johnson to Navy and Georgia Tech before returning to GSU as the head coach, Monken has made it abundantly clear that expectations for the program have not lowered since the last time he prowled the sidelines in Statesboro.

That was extremely evident in his halftime speech during the Navy loss, when he lambasted the team for not being in the lead, exclaiming, “Georgia Southern is supposed to win this game!”

It’s clear that Monken will accept nothing less than Eagle Domination, and he has injected his young team with program pride and supreme toughness.

Oh, and the words “young team” are an understatement. Georgia Southern is incredibly young. 16 true freshmen have made appearances this season, including two offensive starters and five second-stringers on the defensive two-deep.

Robert Brown is one such freshman making an immediate impact as the Eagles’ starter at B-Back, the primary ball-carrier in the triple option offense. Playing in three games, he’s racked up 233 rushing yards and two touchdowns. 

Despite their youth, Georgia Southern has also shown surprising depth. Quarterback Jaybo Shaw, a transfer from Georgia Tech, is doing an excellent job distributing the football to a large stable of running backs. Lee Banks and Darries Robinson, two backs who had four carries between them in the first three games, combined for 38 carries and 213 yards against Elon.

And the GSU defense isn’t embarrassing itself either. The unit is surrendering less than 16 points per game, which is in stark contrast to the open sieve defense that characterized the last few seasons, resulting in many shootout losses.

While several factors have influenced Georgia Southern’s early-season success, it all comes down to Coach Monken. Being the head man in Eagle Nation is a demanding task, and one that requires a refusal to accept even the smallest of failures. Eagle fans have grown used to success, and expect nothing less than perennial National Championships.

Georgia Southern has found the right man for the job. Look out, SoCon.

When the Georgia Southern Eagles take the field on Saturday to start their 2010 season, it will be with an offense that is both new and old at the same time. 

GSU fans will be treated to the return of the once-vaunted triple-option offense, the offense that led them to six FCS National Championships in the first twenty years of the program’s existence but one that has not been seen by any current Georgia Southern students who grimaced through the last four seasons of Brian VanGorder and Chris Hatcher’s pro-style and spread offenses.

The Eagles are going back to their roots, and former Georgia Southern assistant and Paul Johnson disciple Jeff Monken was hired away from his post as slotbacks coach at Georgia Tech to man the helm. Monken served under Johnson and helped engineer the triple-option attacks at Georgia Southern and Navy before helping lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2009 ACC Championship. Georgia Southern is hoping for the same kind of quick turnaround with their program as was seen when Johnson arrived at Tech in 2008.

Running the triple-option from 1984-2005 under five different head coaches, the Eagles claimed six FCS national titles, and were two times the runner-up. Two separate GSU coaches have been named the FCS National Coach of the Year.

One player from this span, Tracy Ham, has already been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, with another sure to follow in Adrian N. Peterson, who finished in the top three in the Walter Payton award voting in each of his four collegiate seasons, winning the award in 1999.

But those glory days seem like a distant memory for Eagle fans. Brian VanGorder went 3-8 in one season in Statesboro with his pro-style offense, and his successor Chris Hatcher went 18-15 in three seasons using a spread attack. Winning percentages like that just won’t cut it in a town where people have gotten used their football team winning very, very often.

So the triple-option is back, but how long will it take to fully implement? After all, this is a team full of players recruited to run a spread, passing offense. While some players were not so receptive to the change in system (the top two quarterbacks from last season, as well the leading rusher, left the program), others are making the most of their opportunity to shine in a new system.

Senior Lee Banks has moved over from the defensive side of the ball to play fullback, the primary ball carrier in the triple-option offense and receiver Nico Hickey has moved inside to play the slotback position.

But as with any time that a program undergoes such a colossal change in philosophy, freshmen and transfers brought in by the new coaching staff will be forced to contribute immediately.

All of the players who manned the quarterback position in spring practice have since switched to other positions or left the team, because the starting job is in the firm and capable grasp of junior transfer Jaybo Shaw. Shaw arrived this summer after playing for Monken at Georgia Tech and is the only Eagle with experience running this offense. He will be backed up by exciting true freshman Jerick McKinnon.

Freshmen Robert Brown, a fullback, and Tray Butler, a wide receiver, have also been contributing big plays in practice and expect to see a lot of time on the field in their first season on campus.

Georgia Southern hopefully will allow Monken enough time to turn the program around with his own recruits, but anything less than the kind of immediate success seen at Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson will likely not be enough for a starved Eagle fan base. GSU opens its season this Saturday in Statesboro against Savannah State.

Obviously this article (more of a blog) would only interest those interested in Georgia Southern Football. If you want to take a glimpse at some of the players on the GSU team, here is a quick scouting report on the top five players who impressed me.

5 – Tyler Sumner (WR -6'2/210, RdFr.) – This is a red-shirted freshman who nobody knew heading into this game. He is 6’2, 210 lbs. His route running was impressive, getting behind defenders well and positioning himself for the quarterback to make an easy pass.

He caught two touchdowns that were out of his reach, making it look easy. He lined up as an inside receiver time-to-time, but showed tight end characteristics to his style. He could be a gem and red-zone threat for this offense.

4 – Tavaris Williams (LB -5'11/200, So.) – Another player not too many have heard of, yet. Williams is a 5’11 linebacker from Lowndes County who has playmaking ability written all over him. Williams recorded five tackles (for the white team), so he was facing a majority of the offensive starters.

Williams also had a pick, but it was taken away from him as the play was called dead. Everywhere the ball went, Williams was there. Williams attacked the gaps aggressively and wraps up well. Plain and simple, he is a playmaker, I’m not sure there is another way to describe what I liked about him.  

3 – Leander Barney (WR -5'8/185, So.) & Nick Kyles (WR -6'2/198, Jr.) – Barney seemed to like the transition from running back to wide receiver. He is a dangerous runner in the open field, and he ran the screen pretty solidly. Not to mention he caught a jump ball 34 yards down the field for a touchdown, so he shows sign of being a deep threat.

Nick Kyles didn’t stand out on the stat sheet, but his style of play impressed me. Kyles seemed very aware of the field, which is a quarterback’s best friend on third down situations. Kyles had good positioning on his defenders and separates himself well when the ball is in the air. If he could focus on the ball better as it gets to his hands, he could be a crucial part of this team’s aerial success.

2 – Harland Bower (DE -6'2/240, Sr.)  – His three sacks definitely make him stand out, but there is more. He seems to have a pretty solid leadership role on this defense, and the fact that he is on the defensive line is a plus. He penetrated the gaps extremely well and showed a burst of speed to get to the quarterback.

What is scary is that he wasn’t running full speed into the quarterback, because you can’t tackle the quarterback in spring games. An explosive leader on the defensive line is what this team needs, and I believe Bower brings that.

1 – Lee Chapple (QB -6'1/190, So.)  – This will be Chapple’s first year as the full-time starter (for now). He had an impressive day throwing over 200 passing yards and two touchdowns. His leadership and confidence sets him apart from other quarterbacks. He has the accuracy to hit receivers in the best spot possible and the perfect amount of touch when lobbing it over defenders.

He seems to have a full understanding of the plays and runs them well. He reads the field well, looking at various options and delivers quickly. It seems maturity is something Chapple needs to work on, throwing a pick in the red-zone early in the game, but he is not far from achieving it.

He bounced back nicely after throwing that pick, almost as if it never bothered him. His confidence in everyone around him makes the team better. I like him as a top leader of this football team going into the fall, and if he doesn’t win next year, it will come. He seems like a winner.

Saturday’s Blue vs. White Spring Game was an overall successful day for the Georgia Southern football program. The blue team (mostly starters) defeated the white team, 31-0. Although we haven’t seen the full picture, Saturday gave Eagle fans a peek at which direction this program is headed going into the fall.

“A lot of the plays we called were mainly base stuff,” said Head Coach Chris Hatcher. “They were plays that a lot of our guys knew well, where they didn’t have to think much so I could get a good evaluation on them.”

Lee Chapple was behind center for the blue team a majority of the game. Chapple completed 26 of 35 passes, threw for 247 yards and tossed two touchdowns.

“Coming into this year I think I have to bring confidence, leadership, and consistency,” said Chapple. “I think we started off slow, but once we got rolling, we got confident in each other and started making plays.”

One play was a 34-yard touchdown to ex-half back Leander Barney, who moved to play the x-slot as a receiver this year.

“I told Coach Hatcher I would go from receiver to defensive line if it helps our team,” claimed Barney. “I just want to do what is good for the team and help us win.”

Barney was not the only receiver who stood out. Red-shirt freshman Tyler Sumner had a breakout game, catching two touchdown passes over his head, one of which was a one handed grab.

“I think we (blue team offense) looked pretty good today,” said Barney. “It’s like Coach Hatcher says, there are still things we need to work on and get better. Overall though, I think we did real well. The quarterbacks threw the ball well and the running backs ran the ball hard. It was fun.”

The running back position for the blue team was a rotation of carries between veteran Adam Urbano and freshman Darreion Robinson, who loves his new team.

“It feels good to come down here to a football town,” said Robinson. “It was a good crowd out here for a spring game. It feels like they were real supportive so I could get used to this.”

Robinson’s speed in the backfield can help contribute to a dangerous ground game. Robinson seemed to compliment Urbano’s smash attack style, which could give opposing defenses two styles of rushing to defend.

The defensive picture became clearer as well. For any questions about the defensive line, Harland Bower might be the answer. The defensive end recorded three sacks in the game and helped the blue team achieve a shutout.

“I want to bring leadership, tackles, and sacks,” said Bower. “Defense starts with the line. If we don’t get a pass rush, we’ll put the guys behind us in a bad spot. We just got to work hard every day to get that pass rush. We need to work on some red-zone stuff but I felt we (defense) got after it today. We are definitely headed in the right direction.”

Overall, the game was a success, but there is still a lot of time between now and August. However, the Eagles seem to be soaring in the right direction. The confidence these guys have shown in themselves and each other can help this team achieve success come fall.