FCS College Football

A dynasty came to an end Friday night as the five-time defending national champions North Dakota State Bison fell to the James Madison Dukes, 27-17, during the FCS semifinals from the Fargodome.  

Running back Khalid Abdullah rushed for 180 yards and gained another 51 yards and a touchdown through the air, while quarterback Bryan Schor passed for 242 with three scores, keeping up with James Madison's reputation of being one of the best offenses in the country.

Entering Friday night, the Dukes were averaging 49.6 points per game this season, good for first in the nation, per the ESPN telecast. 

To make the Dukes even tougher of a challenger, they limited a Sam Houston State program that averaged over 500 yards of offense and 50 points per game to just seven points in the quarterfinals. 

They did it again in the semifinals to North Dakota State, limiting the Bison to 348 yards of total offense and star quarterback Easton Stick to just a 50 percent completion rate for 216 yards.

James Madison picked up right where it left off last week offensively, scoring 10 unanswered points through the game's first 18 minutes. 

Schor hit Jonathan Kloosterman from 14 yards out to open the scoring with one minute, 18 seconds left in the opening quarter to cap off a dominating first frame, via Brian McLaughlin of Hero Sports:

James Madison has outgained North Dakota State 163-35 on offense after one quarter #GoBison #GoDukes

— Brian McLaughlin (@BrianMacWriter) December 17, 2016

After Tyler Gray knocked home a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter, North Dakota State's best drive of the day stalled deep within Dukes territory and ended with a missed field goal to build frustration.

It had John Nicholson of the Associated Press forecasting doom and gloom for the Bison:

https://twitter.com/ByJohnNicholson/status/809923748497276928

Much of James Madison's offensive success was due in part to Abdullah's rushing ability, as he broke the 100-yard mark in just the second quarter. 

He provided the Dukes' second score of the day with his hands, though, when a scrambling Schor delivered a 10-yard touchdown pass to the running back for a 17-0 lead. 

It was Abdullah's 23rd touchdown of the season and the highlight of a half in which he recorded 175 total yards. WHSV's Janson Silvers was floored by the back's playmaking prowess:

#Abdullah isn't HUMAN FOLKS. #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/vtVB1sVqZG

— Janson Silvers (@JansonSilvers) December 17, 2016

The deficit was the largest of North Dakota State's 22-game playoff winning streak, per the ESPN telecast. 

But the Bison wouldn't stay down for long, reeling off 17 unanswered points to get right back into the game.

The defense was just as impressive during that stretch, limiting Abdullah to four yards in the third quarter.

North Dakota State drove 80 yards in a little over five minutes to pull the deficit back within 10, when Chase Morlock rumbled in from three yards out late in the first half to go into halftime down 17-7.

They crept closer in the third with a field goal that made it a one-possession game with 11:29 left and tied the game less than six minutes later when King Frazier took a handoff up the middle 16 yards for the touchdown. 

He and his teammates were understandably amped as the game remained tied heading into the fourth quarter, via FCS Football:

TIE GAME!

The Bison get rolling in the 2nd half to tie the game at 17. #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Cma5OUQugy

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 17, 2016

An offside penalty on North Dakota State on a 4th-and-19 gave James Madison an extra five yards back, allowing Gray to hit a career-best 45-yard field goal and give the Dukes the lead with 11:51 to go. 

Abdullah finally came to life with nine minutes to go when he got loose for a 55-yard run to put James Madison deep into North Dakota State territory. Schor ended the drive with a dime to John Miller from 25 yards out to put the Dukes back up 10 with 6:59 remaining. 

Grant Ramey of 247Sports couldn't believe it:

So James Madison is about to do this?

— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) December 17, 2016

North Dakota State couldn't find a way past the James Madison defense late, which included a pair of turnovers on downs as the clock ran out.

Now James Madison will play the winner of Eastern Washington vs. Youngstown State for the national title, though James Madison has quickly become the favorite to win it all after taking down one of the greatest competitors in the history of all of college football. 

Postgame Reaction

It was difficult for James Madison head coach Mike Houston to comprehend what his program did in Fargo on Friday night, via the school's official website:

Right now it is surreal. To be able to come into an environment like this and win a game is certainly something we talked and dreamed about. To be able to come in here and do it is a different thing. It is a credit to our players and coaches for believing and trusting each other and believing in the philosophy that we came in here trying to establish. It has resulted in one of the biggest wins in school history. I am very blessed to have a wonderful group of kids and a wonderful group of coaches.

For North Dakota State, it's the end of one of the most dominant eras ever. But it's not the end of the world for head coach Chris Klieman, via Mike McFeely of The Forum: "The sun will rise tomorrow... I hope you all appreciate what we've seen. It's hard to do, guys. And somehow these guys got back there five times. It's unprecedented in college football."

But now it is James Madison's turn as the Dukes look for their first national title since 2004. 

                        

Stats courtesy of NCAA.com.

The quarterfinals of the 2016 FCS championship concluded Saturday, with three teams booking their places in the semifinals.

The James Madison Dukes were the first to qualify for the final four, beating the Sam Houston State Bearkats 65-7 on Friday.

The North Dakota State Bison were among those in action Saturday, with the defending national champions facing off against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Below is a brief overview of the three games.

             

Quarterfinals Results

Date	Result	Score
Dec. 9	No. 4 James Madison def. No. 5 Sam Houston State	65-7
Dec. 10	No. 1 North Dakota State def. No. 8 South Dakota State	36-10
Dec. 10	Youngstown State def. Wofford	30-23 (2 OT)
Dec. 10	No. 2 Eastern Washington def. Richmond	38-0

                     

Semifinals Schedule

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV Info
Dec. 16	No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 4 James Madison	7 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 17	No. 2 Eastern Washington vs. Youngstown State	6:30 p.m.	ESPNU

                 

Saturday Recap

North Dakota State 36, South Dakota State 10

The Bison's bid for a sixth straight national championship remains on track after their 36-10 win over South Dakota State.

"Year in and year out, our teams continue to get better," North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman, according to the team's official Twitter account. "We have improved as the year has gone on."

The Jackrabbits had no answer for North Dakota State's running game. The trio of King Frazier, Lance Dunn and Easton Stick combined to rush for 275 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries. 

On Stick's three-yard touchdown in the second quarter that put the Bison ahead 14-10, North Dakota State ate up 12 minutes, nine seconds of game clock, traveling 82 yards in 20 plays. The drive drew praise from alumnus and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz:

20 plays. 12 minutes and 9 seconds. Touchdown. That's Bison football right there on that drive!

— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) December 10, 2016

Stick also had a solid game through the air, throwing for 188 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-21 passing.

The Bison defense played the most instrumental role in the victory, though. North Dakota State allowed 192 yards of total offense to its opponent and held the Jackrabbits to 2-of-7 on third-down conversions.

North Dakota State was particularly dominant in the second half. South Dakota State ran a total of 19 plays and gained 48 yards in the final two quarters.

Between their productive ground attack and stout defense, the Bison remain the overwhelming favorites to bring home the 2016 FCS title.

              

Youngstown State 30, Wofford 23

Under Jim Tressel, Youngstown State was a Division I-AA dynasty. The Penguins won four national titles between 1991 and 1997.

Their fortunes subsequently dipped when Tressel left to coach Ohio State. In his second season in charge, Bo Pelini has Youngstown State two games away from being national champions once again. The Penguins toppled Wofford 30-23 in double overtime on Saturday.

Youngstown State shared a short clip of the postgame celebration:

Congratulations @YoungstownStFB! On to the semifinals! #YandProud #GoGuins pic.twitter.com/eFqnpuHc2B

— Youngstown State University (@youngstownstate) December 10, 2016

The Terriers nearly pulled out the win despite failing to register a single passing yard. Joe Newman and Brandon Goodson were a combined 0-of-3 through the air.

David Marvin had a chance to put Wofford through to the semifinals at the end of regulation. His 53-yard field-goal attempt landed well short, though. FCS Football provided a replay of the miss:

OVERTIME IN YOUNGSTOWN!

A missed FG sends Wofford & YSU into OT tied at 23. #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qyxPen5l6n

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2016

Tevin McCaster delivered the decisive score, running the ball in from two yards out on the first possession of the second overtime. The Penguins defense subsequently denied Wofford on a 4th-and-13 from the 28-yard line to preserve the result.

FCS Football tweeted out the game's final moments:

Youngstown St Penguins will return to the #FCSPlayoffs Semifinals for the 1st time since 2006. pic.twitter.com/ukGU1kUmM2

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2016

Youngstown State quarterback Hunter Wells had a nice game, throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-22 passing. He received ground support from Jody Webb, who ran for 213 yards on 34 carries, which was more than twice Wofford's season average against the run (91.2 YPG).

             

Eastern Washington 38, Richmond 0

Eastern Washington had little trouble brushing Richmond aside in the quarterfinals. The Eagles forced five turnovers and held the Spiders to 205 yards en route to a 38-0 win.

Eastern Washington provided a few stats behind the shutout:

STAT: Eags haven't pitched a shutout in 101 games (N. Colo, 9/19/09), and Richmond hasn't been shut out in 62 straight #FCSPlayoffs

— EWU Football 🏈 (@EWUFootball) December 10, 2016

Richmond had a difficult time dealing with the frigid conditions in Cheney, Washington. The Spiders fumbled the ball four times. FCS Football shared a replay of Deontez Thompson's turnover in the second quarter:

❄️+ 🏈= #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/d1xrXsLzvH

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2016

The Eagles, on the other hand, had little trouble with the weather. Gage Gubrud threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He and Cooper Kupp formed a lethal aerial duo, with the senior wideout catching six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Eastern Washington noted Kupp made history during the victory:

On that drive, Cooper Kupp became the ALL DIVISION receiving yards leader (including NAIA) with 6,190 yards. Congrats, Coop! #ProtectTheRed pic.twitter.com/QJ8KcBNyKk

— EWU Football 🏈 (@EWUFootball) December 10, 2016

The Eagles found success on the ground as well. They rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries as a team.

That kind of offensive balance will serve Eastern Washington well as it pursues its first national championship since 2010.

              

Note: The full bracket for the FCS playoffs is available at NCAA.com.

James Madison dismantled Sam Houston State 65-7 in the only FCS quarterfinal matchup on Friday night from Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 

Here is a look at the updated bracket with three quarterfinal games still to play on Saturday:

Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Finals	Semifinals	Quarterfinals
No. 1 North Dakota St.				Youngstown St.
vs.	Dec. 10, 12 p.m. ET		Dec. 10, 2 p.m. ET	vs.
No. 8 South Dakota St.				Wofford
	vs.		vs.
No. 5 Sam Houston St.				Richmond
vs.	James Madison		Dec. 10, 4 p.m. ET	vs.
No. 4 James Madison				No. 2 E. Washington

The Dukes were carried by the two-headed rushing attack of Khalid Abdullah and Trai Sharp, who put up almost identical numbers in the win. Abdullah carried the ball 22 times for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while Sharp recorded 23 carries for 144 yards and a pair of scores.

This game had every indication that it would be a shootout. Entering the quarterfinals, Sam Houston State was No. 1 in the nation with 53.1 points per game, while James Madison was No. 2 with 48.3 points per game.  

Sam Houston's Jeremiah Briscoe was a big reason for the Bearkats' offensive success with an FCS-record 57 touchdowns scored this year.

But it could not muster a thing against James Madison on Friday night, as the Bearkats were held to just 270 yards on the night, far off their season average that was over 500 yards per game. In fact, the Bearkats didn't get a first down until there was less than six minutes remaining in the second quarter.

After an Abdullah 14-yard touchdown run was followed by quarterback Bryan Schor punching in a one-yard run of his own, CAA Special Teams Player of the Year Rashard Davis took a punt 72 yards to the house to give James Madison a surprising three-touchdown lead after a quarter, via FCS Football:

Rashard Davis... TO THE HOUSE!

FCS-best 4th punt return TD of the year... JMU 21, SHSU 0. #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/3vMtQANUYA

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2016

Big-time special teams play carried into the second quarter for James Madison when Robert Carter Jr. blocked Joseph Figenshaw's punt.

Safety Bryce Maginley picked it up and returned it 20 yards for James Madison's fourth unanswered touchdown, via FCS Football:

😱 BLOCKED PUNT
😱 SCOOP
😱 AND SCORE!

JMU's special teams comes up with another BIG play! JMU 28, SHSU 0. #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0LY9ZPTsfK

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 10, 2016

The Dukes didn't let up as Schor hit Jonathan Kloosterman from 10 yards out, and later, Abdullah picked up his second touchdown of the day with 36 seconds left in the half to build a 42-0 lead. 

Halftime did nothing to slow James Madison down either after a failed Sam Houston onside kick attempt. With a short field, Sharp capped off an easy drive with a 20-yard score. 

After recording a safety, James Madison added insult to injury by scoring an additional two touchdowns with Abdullah picking up his third of the game in the process. 

With 11:49 left in the fourth quarter, the FCS' mightiest offense finally found its first score of the game, which was a 15-yard run from Remus Bulmer. 

The dominating performance has earned James Madison a potential meeting with the five-time defending national champions and FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, who will play South Dakota State on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. 

But given the way it dismantled Sam Houston State on Friday night, James Madison will like its chances against anyone as it looks to win its first national title since 2004. 

                 

Stats courtesy of NCAA.com. 

The Football Championship Subdivision playoffs moved back to the forefront on Saturday with eight second-round games, highlighted by No. 1 North Dakota State's 45-7 win over San Diego. 

Jacksonville State, which was coming off a first-round bye, was the highest-ranked team to lose 40-24 against Youngstown State. The Citadel also got sent home earlier than expected thanks to Wofford's stellar defensive effort.

Here are the results from Saturday's FCS playoffs action:

2016 FCS Playoff Results

Matchup	Winner
No. 1 North Dakota State vs. San Diego	North Dakota State, 45-7
No. 2 Eastern Washington vs. Central Arkansas	Eastern Washington, 31-14
No. 3 Jacksonville State vs. Youngstown State	Youngstown State, 40-24
No. 4 James Madison vs. New Hampshire	James Madison, 55-22
No. 5 Sam Houston State vs. Chattanooga	Sam Houston State, 41-36
No. 6 The Citadel vs. Wofford	Wofford, 17-3
No. 7 North Dakota vs. Richmond	Richmond, 27-24
No. 8 South Dakota State vs. Villanova	South Dakota State, 10-7

      

2016 FCS Playoff Quarterfinals

Date	Matchup	Start Time (ET)	Network
Friday, Dec. 9 or Saturday Dec. 10	No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 8 South Dakota State	TBD	ESPN3
Friday, Dec. 9 or Saturday Dec. 10	No. 4 James Madison vs. No. 5 Sam Houston State	TBD	ESPN3
Friday, Dec. 9 or Saturday Dec. 10	Youngstown State vs. Wofford	TBD	ESPN3
Friday, Dec. 9 or Saturday Dec. 10	No. 2 Eastern Washington vs. Richmond	TBD	ESPN3

     

Recap

North Dakota State 45, San Diego 7

North Dakota State wasted no time asserting its will against San Diego. The Bison jumped out to a 21-0 lead at halftime and never looked back. 

Their ground game was the key to success with six players combining for 299 yards on 31 carries. Easton Stick and Lance Dunn each had over 90 yards on a combined 13 rushes.  

Stick did get the passing game involved when asked. He finished 12-of-20 with 208 yards and three touchdowns through the air, setting a new school record in the process, via North Dakota State Football:

Easton Stick has tied an NDSU postseason with three passing TDs today. pic.twitter.com/4BloqX43p4

— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) December 3, 2016

                  

South Dakota State 10, Villanova 7

Things figure to be more interesting for North Dakota State next week in the quarterfinal against South Dakota State. The Bison's one loss this season came at home on October 15 when the Jackrabbits pulled off a 19-17 upset. 

North Dakota State did have a chance to win that game, even holding the lead literally until the final second when Taryn Christion found Jake Wieneke in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown to steal a win for South Dakota State. 

The Jackrabbits got a field goal from Chase Vinatieri, who is the nephew of Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, with 86 seconds left in the fourth quarter for a 10-7 win and the only second-half score from either team.

South Dakota State got the win despite having seven total rushing yards on 20 carries. 

                     

Youngstown State 40, Jacksonville State 24

Youngstown State outlasted Jacksonville State in an offensive shootout, giving the Penguins their fourth straight win and third straight game with at least 38 points. 

Hunter Wells only went 10-of-18, yet still managed to rack up 290 passing yards in the win. His lone touchdown pass opened the scoring on this 70-yard bomb to Damoun Patterson, via FCS Football:

Damoun Patterson... TO THE HOUSE!

A 70 yard TD pass gets the scoring started in Jacksonville! YSU 7, JSU 0. #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/zDrtxsSH8O

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 3, 2016

Jody Webb dominated on the ground with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. 

Jacksonville State's rushing attack was terrific, with Eli Jenkins and Josh Clemons each going over 100 yards. The problem is Jenkins was terrible when asked to pass, going 6-of-26 with one touchdown and two interceptions. 

The Gamecocks had won all 10 FCS games they played this season. Their lone defeat before Saturday was against LSU in September.

                     

Sam Houston State 41, Chattanooga 36

Sam Houston State kept its perfect record intact, along with its quest for a second national title, thanks to a narrow 41-36 win over Chattanooga. 

The Bearkats nearly squandered a 21-point lead when Chattanooga got two quick scores late in the second quarter. The Mocs would tie the game in the third quarter on Xavier Borishade's 18-yard touchdown catch with just under 12 minutes remaining. 

Sam Houston State responded with two touchdown drives of its own in the third quarter before holding on to its narrow margin by keeping the Mocs off the board for the final four minutes after Henrique Ribeiro cut the lead to 41-36. 

This was Sam Houston State's first single-digit victory of the season. 

                     

James Madison 55, New Hampshire 22

James Madison brought the offensive firepower to an overwhelmed New Hampshire defense in its 55-22 rout to reach the quarterfinals. 

New Hampshire did hold a 7-3 lead after the first quarter before James Madison scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter to blow the game wide open. 

Dukes quarterback Bryan Schor went 30-of-37 with 371 yards and tied a school record in the process, via James Madison Football's Twitter account:

Bryan Schor ties the program record with 5 passing touchdowns and JMU leads 52-15 with 15 minutes to play! #GoDukes #BeatUNH pic.twitter.com/cgoWkJhAVI

— JMU Football (@JMUFootball) December 3, 2016

New Hampshire running back Dalton Crossan had a good day in defeat with 92 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. 

                     

Eastern Washington 31, Central Arkansas 14

After falling behind 14-0 five minutes into the second quarter, Eastern Washington scored the last 31 points of the game to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. 

Gage Gubrud led the Eagles' offensive attack with 449 passing yards, 68 rushing yards and three total touchdowns (two passing). Kendrick Bourne and Cooper Kupp benefited from all of those passing yards, as the duo combined for 23 catches and 221 yards.

Eastern Washington's defense held Central Arkansas quarterback Hayden Hildebrand to just 115 yards and one interception. 

The Huskies have won 10 straight games since North Dakota State beat them in overtime on September 10. 

                          

Wofford 17, The Citadel 3

Devin Watson's 62-yard interception returned for a touchdown with 41 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter sealed Wofford's upset win over the Citadel. 

This game was a defensive struggle throughout, despite both teams having success running the ball. Wofford had 223 rushing yards on 42 carries, with Joe Newman's 36-yard score early in the fourth quarter giving the Terriers their first lead of the game. 

The Citadel had 237 rushing yards of their own but needed 57 carries to hit that mark. Quarterback Dominique Allen was uncomfortable in the pocket late in the game when he had to make a play, finishing just 11-of-22 for 121 yards and two interceptions. 

                            

Richmond 27, North Dakota 24

Richmond scored the final 20 points of the second half, capped off by Griffin Trau's 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, to give the Spiders a 27-24 upset win over North Dakota. 

Quarterback Kevin Johnson engineered Richmond's comeback. He went 15-of-22 with 289 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Brian Brown was a monster on the outside with seven catches for 187 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown in the first quarter. 

The Spiders defense also held its own throughout the game, limiting North Dakota's offense to 324 total yards. The Fighting Hawks averaged just 5.1 yards per play in their third loss of the season. 

The first round of the 2016 FCS playoffs got underway Saturday, with the 24-team bracket paring down to 16 ahead of next week's second-round action.

Each of the nation's top eight seeds were sitting at home awaiting their next opponent, which will travel to their home field next Saturday. The likes of top-seeded North Dakota State got a preview of Cal Poly and San Diego, while second-seeded Eastern Washington saw Central Arkansas and Illinois State battle for a second-round berth.

Here is a look at how each of the first-round matchups played out.

Matchup	Time (ET)
(1) North Dakota State vs. San Diego	3:30 p.m.
(8) South Dakota State vs. Villanova	3 p.m.
(4) James Madison vs. New Hampshire	2 p.m.
(5) Sam Houston State vs. Chattanooga	3 p.m.
(2) Eastern Washington vs. Central Arkansas	4 p.m.
(7) North Dakota vs. Richmond	6 p.m.
(3) Jacksonville State vs. Youngstown St.	2 p.m.
(6) The Citadel vs. Wofford	6 p.m.

                   

Villanova 31, Saint Francis (PA) 21

Zach Bednarczyk threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns, two going to Ryan Bell, as Villanova advanced with a 31-21 win over Saint Francis.

Each of Bednarczyk's scores came in the first half, as Villanova took a 31-7 lead into halftime before grinding out the win after the break. The Wildcats rushed for 241 yards as a team, with four players accumulating at least 42 yards.

"I think in order to win in the playoffs, you have to run the football and mix in a little bit of the passing game," coach Andy Talley told reporters. "Most importantly, you need to play defense. I think we are well-suited right now with a great defense and a pretty good offense."

Villanova will move on to play eighth-seeded South Dakota State.

              

New Hampshire 64, Lehigh 21

Dalton Crossan rushed for 184 yards and scored three touchdowns, as New Hampshire used a dominant ground game to earn a 64-21 blowout win over Lehigh.

The Wildcats rushed for 364 yards and six touchdowns, with both Crossan and Trevon Bryant going over the 100-yard mark. Bryant managed 113 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries.

Quarterback Adam Riese threw for three touchdowns and added another on the ground, atoning for a day where he threw three picks. Riese went 18 of 30 passing overall.

New Hampshire will travel to play James Madison next week.

             

Chattanooga 45, Weber State 14

Derrick Craine rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown as Weber State turned the ball over five times to help Chattanooga cruise to a 45-14 win.

"It's a really good win for us and our program here," Mocs coach Russ Huesman told reporters. "There's so many unknowns when you're playing teams you're not familiar with...I'm really proud of our guys and our football team."

Chattanooga didn't have to do all that much to curtail a sloppy Weber State effort. The Mocs led 24-0 at the half and held a consistent multiscore lead throughout despite most counting stats being similar. Craine and the rushing attack spearheaded the charge, accounting for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield added three total touchdowns of his own, including two passes to Alphonso Stewart.

       

Central Arkansas 31, Illinois State 24

Antwon Wells scored a four-yard touchdown with 1:28 remaining to cap off a 24-point fourth quarter and give Central Arkansas a come-from-behind 31-24 win over Illinois State.

The Bears trailed 17-7 going into the fourth quarter before going on a 17-point run to take a touchdown lead. Illinois State responded with a Jake Kolbe touchdown pass to Anthony Warrum, but Central Arkansas completed its comeback with a two-play, 43-yard drive running its two-minute offense.

Bears quarterback Hayden Hildebrand threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns against an interception, atoning for a running game that didn't work most of the day. Desmond Smith hauled in both of Hildebrand's touchdowns.

The Bears travel to Eastern Washington next week.

              

Richmond 39, North Carolina A&T 10

Kevin Johnson threw for 315 yards and a touchdown, and Griffin Trau knocked down all four of his field-goal attempts, leading the way in Richmond's 39-10 win over North Carolina A&T.

Johnson consistently picked up plays in big chunks, averaging 13.7 yards per attempt as A&T struggled to keep contain down the field. 

Richmond showed his touchdown:

https://twitter.com/SpiderFootball/status/802631203048173568

Garrett Hudson had a team-high 92 yards on three receptions, and Brian Brown had 75 yards and a score on his three grabs.

Running back Deontez Thompson had 98 yards on 24 carries. 

Richmond travels to North Dakota next week. 

        

Wofford 15, Charleston 14

Lorenzo Long scored a 32-yard touchdown with 2:32 remaining, and Wofford's defense held on late to give the Terriers a 15-14 win over Charleston on Saturday.

Long finished with 96 yards and two scores on the ground. Wofford won despite gaining only 185 yards of total offense.

Charleston's two interceptions played a pivotal role and allowed the Terriers to stay in the game just long enough to get back in the game.

Wofford travels to the Citadel next week.

Youngstown St. 38, Samford 24

Youngstown State's strong second half in which it scored 28 of its 38 points was enough to outlast Samford and move on to the second round. 

Jody Webb paced the Youngstown offense, rushing for 174 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

In fact, all of Youngstown's touchdowns came on the ground as four-different rushers recorded touchdowns on the game. 

Now it will face No. 3 Jacksonville State, who made the national championship last year. 

San Diego 35, Cal Poly 21

Muddy conditions put a stress on the run game as San Diego visited Cal Poly and it was the visitors who took full advantage. 

San Diego running back Jonah Hodges carried the ball 35 times, racking up 171 yards and three touchdowns. 

His second of the day broke a 14-14 tie in the third quarter while his third made it a two possession game with 2:26 left in the fourth, icing the victory. 

The No. 24 seed's reward for the win is facing the dynastic North Dakota State program that is five-time defending national champions. 

Nothing better than game week here in Dillon, TX...or is it Hamilton, NY? #GateFNL pic.twitter.com/wQCQqYHi31

— Colgate Football (@ColgateFB) August 31, 2016

When playing football under Friday night lights, one montages like Friday Night Lights.

Or at least Colgate University certainly believes so. 

The Raiders ushered in the start of a new season last week with this memorable and remarkably accurate homage to the former sports drama series—creating a video compilation nearly identical to the show's intro. 

Most notably missing, however, was coach Eric Taylor.

Rather than taking a 33-7 loss, maybe he would have given Colgate the edge over the Syracuse Orange.

[Twitter, h/t NCAA.com]

Wofford Terriers linebacker Michael Roach reportedly collapsed on the sideline during Thursday's season opener against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.

Continue for updates. 

---

Roach Hospitalized After Collapse

Friday, Sept. 2

Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports reported Roach was kept overnight at the hospital for observation. 

"Roach went down on [the] sideline and needed emergency help," the Spartanburg Herald-Journal's Todd Shanesy reported on Thursday. "They stripped him to [his] bare chest, pumped his heart."

After an ambulance picked up Roach, Shanesy reported the junior was breathing and alert. He added a public-address announcement at the stadium confirmed Roach was answering questions in the ambulance. 

A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Roach tallied 28 tackles and one sack as a freshman in 2014 before emerging as a key member of the defense last season.

Over the course of 11 games in 2015, Roach recorded 39 total tackles—including 6.5 for loss—to go with two sacks and an interception.

It's a fabulous fifth for the North Dakota State Bison, who won their fifth consecutive FCS national championship Saturday with a 37-10 win over No. 1 Jacksonville State.

The Bison are the first football team in NCAA history to win five consecutive titles, breaking a tie with Division III Augustana, who won four straight from 1983-1986.

ESPN captured the final play and celebration, via Alex Nguyen:

North Dakota State seals their 5th-straight FCS Title https://t.co/GeuPWoXVKy  -via ESPN

— a l e x (@apn200) January 9, 2016

North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman had to make the tough decision to start quarterback Carson Wentz for the championship game. The senior, who began the season as the starter, missed the past eight games due to a wrist injury and was replaced by redshirt freshman Easton Stick. Stick performed well in his absence, winning every game he started. 

But as an NFL prospect, Wentz was given one more opportunity to wow scouts, compiling 276 total yards and three touchdowns.

He outdueled a Jacksonville State offense that was ranked second in the nation thanks to a trio of weapons in quarterback Eli Jenkins, running back Troymaine Pope and wide receiver Josh Barge. 

ESPN College Football took a look at just how potent the Jacksonville State playmakers were entering Saturday:

If you want to stop Jacksonville State, then you have to stop these guys. pic.twitter.com/rdAxLGXVI5

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 9, 2016

An offense that averaged 529 yards per game heading into the championship was completely stifled by the North Dakota State defense. The Gamecocks were outgained 379-204. Barge had just two catches, while Pope rushed for 31 yards. Jenkins could muster only 145 total yards and turned the ball over four times.

While the defense was stout, the Bison offense was just as impressive in its efforts to slow down Jacksonville State, holding the ball for 40 out of 60 minutes. 

ABC's Joe Whelan noted the trend early:

Time of possession in the 1st quarter was about 11 minutes to 4 in favor of North Dakota State. Jax State needs to get stops.

— Joe Whelan, CFP® (@Joe_Whelan1) January 9, 2016

North Dakota State kicker Cam Pedersen put the team up three in its opening drive. And while a 29-yard field goal isn't anything to blink at, Pedersen needed it, as he'd hit just one of his first seven field-goal attempts in the postseason. 

He would hit two more on the day and go 3-of-3. 

After quickly stopping Jacksonville State, Wentz picked apart the Gamecocks defense, embarking on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took almost seven minutes to complete. Wentz capped it off by hitting fullback Andrew Bonnet for an eight-yard touchdown. 

That gave the Gamecocks the ball for the second time on the day with 12:33 left in the second quarter, but it didn't last long. Nick DeLuca picked Jenkins off on the first play of the drive and the Bison domination continued. 

Their play even had fans of FBS sides shaking in their boots, like Hammer & Rails of SB Nation:

There is never a valid excuse to lose to an FCS team, but i would be terrified if North Dakota State came to Purdue.

— Hammer and Rails (@HammerAndRails) January 9, 2016

Wentz showed off his legs after the interception, putting the Bison up 17-0 after an 11-yard touchdown run. As ESPN College Football showed, the one-sided score was perfectly indicative of the day's events up to that point:

North Dakota State offensive plays: 30
Jacksonville State offensive plays: 7#FCSChamp pic.twitter.com/qjfIvYVEPX

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 9, 2016

ESPN's Dustin Fox wanted to make sure the next level was keeping an eye on the impressive quarterback:

Carson Wentz looks really good today folks. I hope the @browns are watching.

— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) January 9, 2016

The Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen found who the Eagles should pick in the first round of the upcoming draft:

OK, I've changed my mind. Draft Carson Wentz 13th overall.

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 9, 2016

The Jacksonville State offense continued to falter when a bad exchange between Jenkins and Pope hit the turf and was recovered by the Bison. North Dakota State easily made it 24-0 with a King Frazier one-yard touchdown run with 6:12 to go in the first half.

Jenkins was finally able to put something together in the second half, using a 46-yard run to get into the red zone. He finished off the drive with a six-yard touchdown rush to get the Gamecocks within 17. 

ESPN had the replay:

Jacksonville State is on the board.

Can they rally or will NDSU win a 5th straight FCS title? Watch on ESPN2: https://t.co/OpY2dF0q0K

— ESPN (@espn) January 9, 2016

When it looked like NDSU was going to get points off of another long drive, Brandon Bender picked Wentz off, returning the interception inside the North Dakota State 15-yard-line. It was Wentz's second pick of the day. However, the Gamecocks could settle for only a 27-yard field goal to draw within two touchdowns. 

After a Pedersen field goal to go up 17, the game transformed into a turnover parade. Jenkins lost a fumble for the second time, this time inside the Jacksonville State 25. Instead of eating up the clock, North Dakota State went for a reverse-pass trick play, but it was intercepted in the end zone. 

Jenkins gave the ball right back to the Bison, though, throwing his second interception of the game on the very next play, which infuriated former ESPN writer Jeff Nusser:

For crap’s sake Jacksonville State. They’re trying to let you stay in it.

— Jeff Nusser (@NussCoug) January 9, 2016

North Dakota State calmed things down after the interception and Wentz tacked on his third touchdown of the game with a one-yard rush to go up 34-10 with 7:45 left in the game.

It was the exclamation point on the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen. It would be quite a tilt to see this team take on some of the top talent in Division I, but there is no taking away the achievements that this program has put together over the past half-decade.

Post-Game Reaction

For Klieman, there was little doubt that Wentz was going to deliver a solid performance for North Dakota State, per Scout.com:

"Some people thought (Carson) would be rusty. I didn't even question it." -Klieman

— Bison Report (@BisonReport) January 9, 2016

With such a good performance on Saturday, Klieman knows that it will do wonders for his future around April of 2016, per Valley News Live's Alex Egan:

Best line on radio post game from Chris Klieman "I think Carson made a lot of money today." Preach coach! Preach!

— Alex Egan (@AlexEganTV) January 9, 2016

But it wasn't just the offense that delivered North Dakota State's fifth-straight title, per Scout:

"We had the best defense in FCS football, especially as the season went on." -Klieman

— Bison Report (@BisonReport) January 9, 2016

Klieman was sure to remind everyone of the unit's abilities to shut down even the most explosive offenses, per Sam Herder of the Devils Lake Journal:

"I don't think our defense gets enough credit for being athletic and fast." - Klieman

— Sam Herder (@SamHerderFCS) January 9, 2016

This team is set up for success even after Wentz's name is called in the NFL draft. Giving a redshirt freshman like Stick more than half a season of starting time due to Wentz's injury, there's a good chance he already knows the ins and outs of this offense. 

So don't be surprised if North Dakota State are back for an unprecedented sixth time with another very solid quarterback.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com

The North Dakota State Bison are just two wins away from securing their fifth straight FCS championship, but they must first overcome dark horse Richmond in Friday's semifinal. 

The Bison are 11-2 and coming off a pair of convincing playoff wins over Montana and Northern Iowa, which they outscored 60-19 to reach the semifinal. 

Seventh-seeded Richmond is seeking its first national title since 2008

Friday’s victor will take on either No. 1 seed Jacksonville State or Sam Houston State, who meet in the remaining semifinal Saturday. 

No. 2 North Dakota State vs. No. 12 Richmond

Date: Friday, December 18

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

The Bison have won 18 straight playoff games and host Friday’s contest at the Fargodome, considered one of the most hostile environments in the FCS.

Despite a capacity of 18,700, the Fargodome has been measured to reach decibel levels of 115, per Dave Johnson of the Daily Press, which is on par with the New Orleans Saints’ Superdome. Such a figure is classified as the “average human pain threshold” by the Purdue University department of chemistry. 

Richmond head coach Danny Rocco said the Spiders conducted three days of practice in simulated noise environments this week, per Johnson. 

What’s remarkable is the Bison continue to win without star quarterback Carson Wentz—considered a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft —who has missed seven games after breaking his wrist in October. 

Wentz returned to practice last week with optimism, but ultimately was a no-go for the team’s quarterfinal win over Northern Iowa. His status for Friday remains in question. 

Yet the Bison are undefeated with backup Easton Stick, a freshman that won’t light up the stat board but embodies a winning poise. 

Either Stick or Wentz will duel with Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta, who ranks second in the FCS with 3,427 passing yards and 11th with a 150.8 passing efficiency. 

In his third year—he played as a true freshman before redshirting in 2014—Lauletta is gaining valuable experience at every checkpoint, particularly this late in the season, as he told the Colonial Athletic Association:

Lauletta - "Every single game I feel more and more comfortable back there." #CAAFB

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) December 14, 2015

But Lauletta and company will meet a NDSU defense that ranks seventh in scoring (16.4 points per game allowed) and total yardage allowed (281.5 yards per game). It’s historically been the Bison's catalyst as the root of their overall success. 

The allure and attention paid to the FCS playoffs—particularly North Dakota State’s unprecedented run—hasn’t gone unnoticed, and rightfully so. 

According to Sports TV Ratings, more people tuned into the Bison’s win last week than the college basketball game between North Carolina and Texas, which ended in a buzzer-beater:

https://twitter.com/SportsTVRatings/status/676830155277398016

The Bison and Spiders should duke it out for another exciting FCS playoff finish with the platform of a national audience to lean on. There should be some great fireworks from the Fargodome Friday. 

The final regular-season FCS coaches poll dropped Monday, with Jacksonville State continuing to reign supreme at No. 1 in the country.

Below is an overview of the full FCS coaches hierarchy, as seen on NCAA.com, followed by analysis as the kickoff to the postseason looms this Saturday.

Rank	Team (1st-Place Votes)	Points	Record
1	Jacksonville State (20)	547	10-1
2	McNeese State (1)	520	10-0
3	North Dakota State (1)	487	9-2
4	Illinois State	482	9-2
5	Portland State	417	9-2
6	James Madison	416	9-2
7	Charleston Southern	383	9-2
8	Chattanooga	362	8-3
9	Coastal Carolina	359	9-2
10	Sam Houston State	358	8-3
11	Richmond	323	8-3
12	South Dakota State	321	8-3
13	William & Mary	306	8-3
14	Northern Iowa	256	7-4
15	Fordham	238	9-2
16	Southern Utah	223	8-3
17	Montana	202	7-4
18	The Citadel	198	8-3
19	Harvard	129	9-1
20	North Carolina A&T	99	9-2
21	Bethune-Cookman	88	9-2
22	Dartmouth	77	9-1
23	Northern Arizona	58	7-4
24	Grambling State	55	8-2
25	Eastern Illinois	46	7-4

Analysis

Results of Monday's rankings bear less consequence than usual because on Sunday, the FCS playoff field of 24 was locked in. The Gamecocks claimed the No. 1 overall seed ahead of reigning national runner-up Illinois State and defending four-time champion North Dakota State.

Since losing to Auburn on the road 27-20 in its second contest of the year, Jacksonville State has dominated the FCS competition, rattling off nine wins in a row—with all but one coming by 21 points or more.

Dual-threat quarterback Eli Jenkins is largely to thank, as is 1,000-yard rusher Troymaine Pope and a Gamecocks defense that ranks fifth in allowing just 277.1 yards per game.

In the prior coaches poll release, Illinois State was all the way down at No. 6 and yet still vaulted ahead of an undefeated McNeese State team in the postseason picture. One can expect the Cowboys to play with a chip on their shoulder in the playoffs thanks to the lack of respect from the FCS selection committee.

A run-heavy, one-dimensional offense catalyzed by Daniel Sams is likely why McNeese doesn't garner such high status as it does in the coaches poll. The absence of a dynamic passing game almost cost the Cowboys at Lamar in the regular-season finale, as they escaped with a 20-14 win.

Alex Hickey of the Lake Charles American Press observed McNeese State's stubbornness to run the ball, as Sams scored a touchdown against Lamar to go with 104 yards rushing but went just 7-of-19 passing for 39 yards:

Sams goes up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown. I don't think McNeese needs to throw it tonight unless it is about 3rd and 15 or more.

— Alex Hickey (@bigahickey) November 22, 2015

Portland State was among the teams that was better in the selection committee's eyes than what the coaches perceived. After being ranked 11th in the prior coaches poll, the Vikings found themselves seeded sixth in the FCS playoffs.

Sam Houston State, which upset Jacksonville State in the 2014 postseason, was only one slot behind Portland State in the prior coaches release yet has to play a first-round game against Southern Utah before facing McNeese State.

One reason the selection committee has to like Portland State is its overall team discipline, evident in a plus-16 turnover margin that ranks second nationally to, yes, Southern Utah (plus-21).

This just goes to show how deep the playoff field is and how even the favorites can be tripped up. Don't expect one of those favorites to be the Bison of North Dakota State, though.

Despite losing senior QB Carson Wentz to a broken wrist, NDSU continues to roll on with a redshirt freshman in Easton Stick under center. Stick is thriving in his first taste of action for the FCS' pre-eminent powerhouse program, showing off running ability in addition to proficient passing, with 11 touchdowns to only two picks in six games.

Head coach Chris Klieman praised the way the Bison have fought after Wentz's devastating injury, crediting Stick and the men blocking for him for the team's results, per NDSU on Scout:

[I'm] really proud of what they've been able to accomplish as coaches and players to get everyone rallied around a young quarterback. I credit Easton Stick, he's prepared all season as if he's one play away. ... I've been really impressed with the offensive line, the way they've made things easier for Easton.

It would be compelling to see Jacksonville State avenge last year's defeat to Sam Houston State and get a chance at North Dakota State in the national title game, but there's plenty of football to play before that can happen.

The Gamecocks may face a tough test as early as the second round if and when they go up against Chattanooga, whom they beat by only three points in the season opener. NDSU's road seems a bit more navigable, and its collective experience should help against the likes of Portland State in a potential quarterfinal matchup.

High expectations follow the Bison no matter what, and Klieman won a national title in his maiden year at the helm in 2014. Jacksonville State may be playing the best football in the country and has no reason to lack confidence.

The team most eyes will be on after analyzing this coaches poll will be McNeese State. If the Cowboys are indeed for real, they can't be as tight as they were against non-Top 25 foe Lamar and will face the ultimate test if they progress far enough to take on the current No. 1 team in the nation during the FCS playoff semifinals.

With the best red-zone defense in the FCS, McNeese State may well have the goods to continue its perfect run all the way to Frisco, Texas, which would justify the coaches' favorable perception of the Cowboys.

Note: Stats and results courtesy of the Washington Post and NCAA.com.