DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum FCS Football Playoffs (Formerly I-AA)

Well, once agian it's that time of yr. for me to trumpet college football that not alot of you guys follow, hopefully I am changing that a little . Again (as I stand on my pedistal) this is some good football people, and it is decided the way it should be.......on the FIELD, not some darn computer or poll.

While maybe not the big time football that we all follow like the Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Maryland, Michigan (well......maybe not Michigan ), and several other schools I know you guys follow, it is damn good football and there are some definate NFL caliber players in these games. Joe Flacco played in the Championship last yr. against my boys from Appalachian and I know some of you watched that game. Who would have thought he would have the season he is having with the hated Ratbirds.

Here is a quick article mainly on Appalachian and the HISTORIC run they are on, but also about the playoffs in general.

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By Tommy Bowman

JOURNAL REPORTER

Published: November 24, 2008

Appalachian State, as expected, was awarded the No. 2 seed yesterday in the 16-team NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff field.

The Mountaineers, who have won three straight FCS titles and are ranked No. 2 in national polls, will play S.C. State at noon Saturday in Boone in a first-round game to be televised by ESPNU.

James Madison, which beat the Mountaineers 35-32 earlier this season, was awarded the No. 1 seed and will play Wofford in the first round.

As the top two seeds, Appalachian and James Madison will play at home as long as they advance up until the title game on Dec. 19 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Mountaineers will attempt to become only the second team in NCAA football history to win a national championship four straight years. Augustana (Ill.) won four straight titles in Division III from 1983 through 1986.

"It's history, and it would be special, but we won't get up caught up in that," said Pierre Banks, a senior linebacker for the Mountaineers. "We're going at it like it's our first one, and be hungry for it. That's the way we've approached every year going into the playoffs -- like it's our first shot at it and we won't ever get another shot. I think it's that hunger that drives us."

S.C. State, 10-2, went unbeaten in MEAC play this season. The Bulldogs' only losses are to bowl-division teams Central Florida (17-0) and Clemson (54-0).

Will Ford, a junior running back for the Bulldogs, led the MEAC in rushing this season with 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Bulldogs closed the season with three straight shutouts.

Coach Jerry Moore of the Mountaineers said that he saw the Bulldogs play on television earlier this season.

"The first thing that came to my mind was their team speed," Moore said of the matchup. "From what I've seen, a lot of their offense is very similar to ours."

The Mountaineers, averaging 39 points a game, are led by dual-threat quarterback Armanti Edwards, who sat out Saturday's final regular-season game against Western Carolina with a bruised hip but is expected to play against S.C. State.

Appalachian, 10-2 and Southern Conference champion, has played S.C. State once -- winning 24-0 in 1984 at Boone. The Mountaineers are 5-2 all-time against teams from the MEAC. They lost 44-29 to Florida A&M in a first-round playoff game in 1999 in their last meeting against a MEAC opponent.

Appalachian and Wofford were the only two teams from the SoCon to make the playoff field. Elon, which finished 8-4 after back-to-back losses to Appalachian and Liberty, wasn't selected, along with Big South champion Liberty (10-2) and Jacksonville State (8-3) of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Colonial Athletic Association received a record-matching five berths for the second straight year with James Madison, Villanova, Richmond, New Hampshire and Maine (the only four-loss team to receive an at-large berth) all making the field.

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Link

Here is a link to the Bracket as well:
BRACKET

Well, good luck to Montana Con, I hope you get to go to some of those games and if any of you get a chance I hope you tune in for some quality football. Maybe we will see your guys in the Championship .

LET THE QUEST FOR 4 OFFICIALLY BEGIN !!!!!!!!!
GO APP. STATE !!!!!!!

Having grown up near Youngstown, I still check to see how the Youngstown St. Penguins are doing. So, by proxy, I still follow the old I-AA schools, too.

That is some good football, I'll say that much.

I was born in Youngstown and my dad graduated from YSU while working at Youngstown sheet and tube. Both he and I still follow YSU as well, acually we still have family that holds season tickets up there. Two yrs. ago YSU came to App. for a playoff game and my dad had a special shirt made up.

Across the top was "Quandray" (sp?)

One side was black and gold and had:
ASU Grad- Son, Daughter, and Daughter-In-Law, Money went here
the other side was red and white and had:
YSU Grad- Me, YSU helped me make that money so........
Then across the middle
GO YSU !!!

He got alot of laughs at the game for that one.

Anyway, YSU had a tough year but they will be back.

Like you siad though, it is some good football and I hope some more of you watch it if given the chance.

Edit: as a side note, not that anyone cares but I am proud of the fact that I paid my way through college with the GI bill. Not saying my parents didn't help me out because they DID, but...........just wanted to put that out there.

I do not mean to be a downer on YSU, but it will be a while until they are ever like they were when Tressel was there. I still follow them though.

James Madison will be a tough draw when you get to them, but Good Luck to the 'Neers. Four in row would be the accomplishment of a college football lifetime, so hats off to Appalachian State and to you for being a good fan. Programs like theirs and YSU go a long way in validating 1-AA football and the playoff process.

I wish The Citadel could be more competitive, but it is just way too tough to sell the lifestyle those kids have to put up with, therefore recruiting is just a waste of time in my book. Not making excuses, though. The last time they had a big playoff game, YSU cleaned their clock, IN Charleston.

Anyhow,.....again, all the best to Boone !!

here is a little bit more comprehensive article:

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NCAA Division I Football Championship Field Announced
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - James Madison earned the No. 1 seed for the first time as the 16-team field for the NCAA Division I Football Championships was announced on Sunday evening.

The Dukes (10-1) were joined by three-time national champion Appalachian State, Northern Iowa and Montana as the four seeds in the tournament, which begins play at campus sites on Saturday. Three of the four seeds, JMU, ASU and Montana have won national championships in the past seven years and UNI was the runner- up to ASU in 2005.

JMU, ranked No. 1 in the country for the past eight weeks in The Sports Network FCS Top-25 poll, qualified for the tournament by winning the championship of the Colonial Athletic Association and will take on Southern Conference runner- up Wofford (9-2) in Saturday's first round. Game times will be announced on Monday.

The Dukes will be hosting their first playoff game since 1994 when they beat Troy State 45-26 in the first round before losing at Marshall 28-21 in overtime in the quarterfinals. In its only national championship run in 2004, JMU had to win three road games before taking title win over Montana in Chattanooga, TN. It is the ninth FCS playoff appearance for James Madison.

Wofford will be making its third appearance in the FCS playoffs since 2003, its second straight and its first as an at-large team. The Terriers reached the semifinals in 2003 before losing to eventual national champion Delaware and lost 21-10 to Richmond last year at home after a 23-22 first-round victory at Montana.

The winner of the JMU-Wofford matchup will face either CAA runner-up Villanova (9-2) or Patriot League champion Colgate (9-2) in the quarterfinals on the following weekend.

Villanova garnered its first berth to the postseason since its 2002 run to the semifinals and will be making its seven trip overall. The Wildcats, who enter the field as one of eight at-large teams, were one of several teams being considered in the long deliberations for the final two seeds.

Colgate is the automatic qualifier out of the Patriot League, claiming the league title on the last day of the regular-season with a 28-27 win over Holy Cross. The Raiders, making their eighth trip to playoff, reached the tournament for the last time in 2005 and advanced to the 2003 championship game.

No. 4 seeded Montana (11-1) earned a share of its 11th straight Big Sky Conference title and its 16th consecutive playoff berth as an at-large entrant. Making a record-tying 19th appearance overall, the Grizzlies will host Texas State.

Texas State (8-4) won the Southland auto bid to earn its second FCS postseason berth. The Bobcats' 48-45 overtime win at Sam Houston State on Saturday propelled them to their first appearance since reaching the 2005 semifinals.

The winner of that game will meet the survivor of the Cal Poly-Weber State battle.

Cal Poly, which nearly earned a top-four seed after its 36-35 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday, qualified for the second time with an at-large bid. The Mustangs (8-2) reached the quarterfinals in 2005 after beating Montana 35-21 in the first round. Cal Poly won the Great West Conference title, which does not have an auto bid.

Weber State (9-3) will be making its first FCS postseason appearance since 1991 and its third overall after winning the Big Sky auto bid. The Wildcats beat Montana 45-28 in the regular season, but their first outright league title and a top-four seed go out the window with a 33-26 loss to Eastern Washington on Saturday.

No.2 Appalachian State (10-2) will begin defense of its title at home against South Carolina State (10-2), the champion of the MEAC. The game will be played at 12 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised on ESPNU.

The Mountaineers, the champions of the Southern Conference, have been at home for the first three rounds of the championship tournament in all three years of their title run, a place where they are 41-1 since the 2003 season. ASU was the No. 2 seed in 2005 and was unseeded last year. ASU is in the playoffs for the 16th time and for the 14th time in Jerry Moore's 20 years as coach.

South Carolina State has not been to the FCS postseason in 26 years, marking the longest playoff drought for any of the 16-team field. The Bulldogs are the automatic qualifiers from the MEAC after winning their first league crown since 1994.

SCSU, located just 228 miles away, has not met ASU since 1984, losing 24-0 in Boone, N.C. The Bulldogs have won first-round games in their previous two playoff appearances in 1981-82 before losing in the semifinals.

The Appalachian State-South Carolina State winner draws either Richmond (9-3) or Eastern Kentucky (8-3) in the quarterfinals.

Richmond, a semifinalist last season, will start with the same opponent it met in last year's first round. The Spiders' trek to the semifinals was their best finish in school history. The Spiders earned a 31-14 win over Eastern Kentucky last year.

Richmond, which placed third in the CAA's South Division, is in the tournament as an at-large team for the second straight season and is making its seventh appearance overall.

Eastern Kentucky will make an FCS record-tying 19th postseason appearance after defeating Tennessee-Martin, 33-31, Saturday to win the Ohio Valley Conference crown and the automatic bid. The tradition-rich Colonels program owns two FCS national titles (1979 and 1982) and appeared in four consecutive national title games from 1979-82 under coach Roy Kidd.

EKU's Dean Hood and Richmond's Mike London are two of three first-year head coaches, joining Southern Illinois' Dale Lennon.

No. 3 seed Northern Iowa hosts Maine to the UNI in a reprise of the 2001 quarterfinals. The Panthers, coming off a 10-2 season and a share of the MVFC title, are an at-large entrant.

UNI was the top seed last season before being upset by Delaware in the quarterfinals. The Panthers will be making their 14th appearance in the playoffs, the most by any team that hasn't won a national championship.

Maine (8-4) finds itself in the playoff field for the first time since 2002 and just the fifth time in school history. The Black Bears were the last team to defeat Appalachian State in a playoff game at Kidd Brewer Stadium, winning 14-13 in a first round matchup in 2002 before losing to Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals.

The Black Bears, who have won six of their past seven games to win an at-large berth, were the surprise of the 16-team draw after losing 28-24 to New Hampshire on Saturday. It is the second straight year that a record five teams from the CAA were selected. No other conference received more than two bids.

Maine was selected ahead of Big South champion Liberty (10-2), William & Mary (7-4, fourth in the CAA South Division), Elon (8-4, third in the SoCon), Jacksonville State (8-3, third in the OVC) and Florida A&M (9-3, tied for second in the MEAC).

Maine joins Appalachian State (1992), Idaho (1995), Montana State (2006), Eastern Illinois (2006) and New Hampshire (2007) as teams with four losses to earn at-large bids.

New Hampshire (9-2) will be making its fifth-straight FCS postseason appearance and its seventh overall when it travels to Southern Illinois. The Wildcats have never advanced past the quarterfinal round.

Southern Illinois (9-2) won the one of the 2007 semifinalists and will be making its seventh appearance in the postseason, including their sixth straight. The Salukis, who wrapped up the MVFC auto bid Saturday with a 17-10 overtime win at Illinois State, won the 1983 national championship with a 43-7 win over Western Carolina.

The quarterfinals will be held on campus sites on Dec. 6, with the semifinals being played on Dec. 12-13. The 31st FCS national championship game will be held Dec. 19 at Chattanooga's Finley Stadium.

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LINKY-DO

being as my last thread died pretty quick, I guess there is not much interest, but I am still plugging along with my stubburn self.

App. State won a pretty hard fought game for a 1st rounder, the game was ALOT closer than the score.

Montana also won, hope you got to see the game con.
James Madison is still alive and so is Northern Iowa.

Those are the top four seeds and although JMU and App. had tough games (JMU won by 3 over Wofford), It so far has played out as most thought. It just gets tougher from here though, as expected.

Damn, I wish the big boys would do this as well.....at least the top 8

anyway, here is a link to the bracket and wether you guys like it or not, I will keep everyone updated

BRACKET

I know most of you will be tuned to the big boy games this Sat., but if the one you are watching becomes a blow-out, look for one of these games locally, beating a dead horse here (where's that avatar ?), but there are some NFL caliber players and they are usually pretty good games.

Finally found the article that I was looking for, a small recap of all of the games:

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Around FCS: Signature Moments
By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - You never know when the crucial play in an NCAA Division I Football Championship playoff game will come. For some teams in Saturday's first-round, the signature play was on the opening kickoff. For others, it was in the final minutes.

But one thing was certain, there were defining moments in every one of the eight first-round games.


FIRST THING'S FIRST

I took a trip down to the Main Line to see Villanova host Colgate on Saturday. I wasn't even planted in my seat when Matthew Szczur returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a Villanova touchdown, 13 seconds into the game.

The excitement turned to trepidation in a moment, when the crowd noticed star linebacker Darrel Young laying motionless at the Wildcat 26-yard line. Young was airlifted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was diagnosed with a sprained neck. Other tests were negative.

"It was fairly emotional," said veteran Villanova coach Andy Talley. When you're out there looking at it, you're thinking the worst, But he never lost consciousness, his hands and feet were moving, he had strength in all his limbs, so I reported that to the players."

The Wildcats played with some extra emotion the rest of the way and destroyed Colgate, 55-28, in a game that was easily the most lopsided of the day. Szczur led the way with three touchdowns, adding a four-yard scoring run and a 16- yard TD pass from Chris Whitney as Villanova opened up a 41-7 first-half lead.

Szczur finished with 153 all-purpose yards on just five touches and the Wildcats turned the game into a track meet. And the Villanova defense took the Raiders out of their ball-control comfort zone early.

Buchanan Award candidate and defensive end Greg Miller said losing one of the leaders of that defensive unit played a big part in Villanova's defensive success.

"It was tough," Miller explained. "Darrel is a big part of our defense. We said we were going to do it for Darrel, because Darrel would have done it for us."

The most memorable thing for Colgate was the final game for star tailback Jordan Scott, who finished the game with 27 carries for 94 yards and three touchdowns. Scott had three carries on the Raiders' first possession to become the all-time Division I leader in rushing attempts.

Scott, who battled an ankle injury for half of the season, ended his career with 1,240 carries for 5,621 yards and a school-record 57 touchdowns, breaking the mark of the first Payton Award winner, Kenny Gamble. His 350 points were the most ever by a Raider player, eclipsing the mark of Ed Tryon, established in 1925. Scott had become just the eighth FCS player to run for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons a week earlier.


A GAME OF INCHES

Anyone who has tried to tackle James Madison's Rodney Landers knows that the bruising quarterback is one of the toughest runners in FCS. The highlight reel for Landers is long in his two years as the Dukes' offensive leader, but he may have recorded his signature play in a 38-35 squeaker against Wofford.

Facing a 3rd-and-goal from the six in the fourth quarter, Landers appeared to be stopped several yards short of the goal line before breaking three tackles to lunge into the end zone. That gave the Dukes a 38-28 lead with 3:21 remaining.

Wofford responded with a scoring drive of its own as Mike Rucker's 12-yard burst made it a three-point game with 1:02 to play. But Bosco Williams, the Hail Mary hero of JMU's win over Villanova, grabbed an onside kick to end Wofford's season in the Dukes' first home playoff game since 1994.

Two other plays figured significantly. Landers (292 yards of total offense) faked a spike from the Terrier 23 with 20 seconds left and hit Rockeed McCarter with his second TD catch of the first half.

Wofford was driving towards a potential game-tying touchdown before Landers' six-yard scoring run when fullback Dane Romero appeared to bang up the middle for a first down in JMU territory on a 4th-and-6 dive play. But the ball appeared to be mis-spotted by officials, and was marked inches short of the first down.

Romero had 87 yards on 25 carries with four touchdowns, while Rucker rushed for 107 yards on just 11 attempts. Quarterback Ben Widmyer added 98 yards rushing and 94 passing from the Terriers' potent option attack on a day where JMU's 469-431 total offense advantage was about as close as this classic game.

JMU will now host Villanova in the quarterfinals, as those two teams try to find a way to out-do their Oct. 25th barn-burner, won on the final play by the Dukes, 23-19.


THE GREAT ARMANTI

South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough fretted all week about how his defense would contain Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards. But midway through the fourth quarter in the hostile environs of Kidd Brewer Stadium, Pough's Bulldogs trailed the three-time defending national champion just 24-21.

Then Edwards made one of his signature escape maneuvers to evade a heavy pass rush and hit T.J. Courman for a key third-down conversion. That set up Edwards and Brian Quick for the first of two touchdown hook-ups and the No. 2-seeded Mountaineers had escaped with a 37-21 win against one of the most athletic and talented teams they had faced this season.

It was a game of big plays in the passing game for both teams and big turnovers in the first half. Malcolm Long fired two TD strikes to Octavius Darby and William Ford kept the Mountaineers off-balance with 23 carries for 117 yards and a 13-yard scoring scamper after a blocked punt in the third quarter.

But Edwards, somewhat slowed by a hip pointer that limited him to 19 carries for 48 yards, took to the air and broke Richie Williams' ASU single-game passing standard, hitting 29-of-41 attempts for 433 yards.

ASU safety Mark LeGree had his 10th interception in the first half, extending his school single-season record and moving him within four of Buchanan Award winner Rashean Mathis' FCS mark.


SPLIT DECISION

Eastern Kentucky threw some schematic curves at Richmond to out-play the Spiders and take a 10-7 lead late in the first half of a first-round playoff rematch from 2007. But Richmond tied it on an Andrew Howard 27-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

The second half belonged to the Spiders, however, as they erupted for 28 points to win 38-10.

Eric Ward hit 16-of-23 passes for 245 yards and three TDs, while Josh Vaughan rushed 23 times for 90 yards and two second-half scores. Most of Richmond's running prowess came in the second half.

For the second year in a row, turnovers also killed the Colonels, who coughed the ball up four times to the tough Richmond defense.

The win sets up another rematch from the 2007 postseason for Richmond, as the Spiders travel back to Boone, N.C. to face Appalachian State. ASU pounded out a 55-35 win over Richmond in last year's semifinals.


THE HIGH COST OF SPECIAL TEAMS

Southern Illinois has made its mark in FCS as a disciplined team that doesn't make many mistakes, but the Salukis imploded on special teams in a 29-20 loss at home to New Hampshire.

UNH piled up 199 yards on five kickoff returns, blocked an SIU punt and Tom Bishop was a perfect 5-of-5 on field goal attempts to give the Wildcats a tough win. New Hampshire committed four turnovers, including three interceptions off of quarterback R.J. Toman (16-of-32, 257 yards), but Southern Illinois made three turnovers of its own in the sloppy game.

The key came in the final three minutes of the third period when New Hampshire scored 10 points to build a 26-13 lead. Bishop kicked his fourth field goal from 33 yards and Ryan McGuinness blocked a punt 93 seconds later. John Clements recovered the ball and raced 26 yards for a touchdown that gave the Wildcats an insurmountable advantage.

Mike Boyle had seven catches for 131 yards to spark UNH, while Larry Warner managed 93 yards on 21 carries for Southern Illinois.


THE MAINE EVENT

A year ago, there was great debate among FCS observers when New Hampshire was allowed into the playoff field with a 7-4 record. Colonial Athletic Association apologists were quick to defend the pick when UNH pushed No. 1 ranked and undefeated Northern Iowa to the final seven seconds before losing 38-35 on a 24-yard Eric Sanders to Montari Leonard TD pass.

The reasoning was if the Wildcats played that well against the top-seeded Panthers, then they deserved to be in the tournament.

This year, Northern Iowa found itself as the No. 3 seed, hosting a Maine squad that was being equally panned with its 8-4 mark. This time, UNI dominated the Black Bears 40-15, leaving many to wonder if the selection committee couldn't have picked a more deserving team, such as 10-2 Liberty.

The Panthers took control by stopping Maine's ball-control rushing attack, limiting the Black Bears to 84 yards on the ground. And then Northern Iowa forced Maine out of its gameplan with a pair of long touchdown strikes from quarterback Pat Grace to Jarred Herring.

Grace hit Herring for a 42-yard scoring aerial to break a 7-7 tie with 5:20 left in the first half and then found Herring again for 55 yards 89 seconds later to stake UNI to a 23-7 halftime lead.

Grace finished 15-of-24 for 229 yards, with one interception, while his counterpart Michael Brusko was 15-of-23 for 180 yards and a touchdown, but gave up four interceptions.

That victory sets up another Northern Iowa-New Hampshire showdown, the third playoff meeting between the two in four years.


TAKING THE OFFENSIVE

When Cal Poly dropped a heartbreaking 36-35 decision in overtime to Wisconsin on the final night of the regular season, many viewed the Mustangs as having the potential to make a run to the championship game.

But an even more dangerous opponent cut down Cal Poly's dreams when Weber State slashed the Mustangs, 49-35. In a wild game that didn't feature much defense, WSU put together just enough stops to pull away in the second half.

Cameron Higgins was 21-of-33 for 399 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Trevyn Smith added 23 carries for 137 yards and two scores on the ground and one more TD on a beautiful 37-yard pass reception. But the big man on offense was receiver Tim Toone, who grabbed 10 catches for 199 yards and a TD. Several of Toone's receptions came on key third-down conversions.

Cal Poly quarterback Jonathan Dally came in as the NCAA leader in passing efficiency, with just one interception all season. He exited with 23 carries for 177 yards and two scores, but he was 11-of-30 passing for 185 yards and two TDs with four interceptions.

Still, the game was in doubt when Dally hit Ramses Barden for a five-yard scoring pass with 3:08 left to cut the lead to 42-35. A perfectly placed onside kick attempt bounced high into the hands of the 6-6 Barden, but a Weber State player knocked the ball out of bounds to give the Wildcats the ball and Justin White's 21-yard scoring burst clinched it.

WSU racked the Mustang defense for 564 yards, while Cal Poly piled up 548, but couldn't overcome the turnovers, a dropped TD bomb by Barden and a fourth-down stop by the Wildcats of a Tredale Tolver reverse at the one-yard line.


GETTING A WAKE-UP CALL

Montana quarterback Cole Bergquist has a vivid memory of the two first-round playoff losses the Grizzlies had suffered to Cal Poly in 2005 and Wofford in 2007. So he knew he didn't want to extend that Montana legacy when the Grizzlies got off to a rough early start against Texas State.

The Bobcats took advantage of a Bergquist interception and some Montana defensive miscues to build a 10-0 in the first quarter. TSU could have buried the Grizzlies later in the first half and when they didn't, No. 4 Montana awoke from its hibernation.

A Karrington Bush fumble deep in Montana territory and a defensive stop at the five by the Grizzlies started turning the tide. Bradley George passed for 259 yards, but the Bobcats couldn't balance their attack with a running game.

Bergquist connected with an injured Marc Mariani for a 14-yard TD reception with 16 seconds left in the second quarter and Montana used the opening drive of the second half to methodically move the ball down the field for a 21-yard Bergquist scoring jaunt. When Chase Reynolds (38 carries, 233 yards and two TDs) scored from four yards out on the next Montana possession, the rout was on and the Grizzlies were headed to a 31-13 victory.

Next up for Montana is a rematch with Weber State, a squad that dismantled the Grizzlies, 45-28, on Oct. 4 in Ogden, Utah.


BAYOU BLUES

Grambling has experienced plenty of success over the past decade in the SWAC, reaching the league title game last year before losing to Jackson State. But the Tigers would have traded most, if not all of those wins, to claim a few more victories over arch-rival Southern.

Grambling had dropped four of its past six games in the Bayou Classic, but a crowd of 59,874 at the Louisiana Superdome and a national TV audience on NBC watched the Tigers get some revenge with a 29-14 victory on Saturday.

There were plenty of wacky plays and turnovers early on, but Southern forged a 14-0 lead on a 26-yard Bryant Lee to Juamorris Stewart touchdown strike, followed by Alvin Fosselman's one-yard scoring blast.

Grambling answered with a pair of touchdowns of its own as quarterback Greg Dillon (287 yards of total offense) dashed 14 yards for one score and tossed an 11-yard pass to Nick Lewis in the second period. But Grambling missed its first extra point and a two-point try failed to leave the Tigers trailing 14-12 at the half.

Luis Leal's 25-yard field goal finally gave the Tigers a 15-14 advantage in the third period, and Grambling sealed the victory with great defense and fourth-quarter TD runs by Cornelius Walker and Frank Warren.

Bryant Lee was on fire early for the Jaguars, completing 11 passes in a row before he lacerated his hand. He finished 12-of-17 for 184 yards passing and ran six times for 24 more yards before departing. Lee's replacement, Warren Matthews, fired three interceptions as Southern lost a shot at forcing a three-way tie for first place with Grambling and Prairie View in the SWAC West Division.

Instead, Grambling earned the West Division title and will get another shot at East Division champ Jackson State in a couple of weeks in the SWAC title game in Birmingham, AL. Grambling beat JSU, 14-5, earlier in the season.


TURKEY OF A CLASSIC

It hasn't been the best of years for Alabama State, but the Hornets will remember their third and final victory of the season for a long time. Alabama State ended Division II Tuskegee's 26-game win streak and knocked the Golden Tigers from the top spot in the Sheridan black college poll by hanging on for a 17-13 victory.

Alabama State forged a 14-7 halftime lead on an 11-yard scoring pass from Brandon Dowdell to Nicholas Andrews, followed by Rahmad Taylor's three-yard TD burst.

Tuskegee struggled almost all day, but finally put together a big drive in the fourth quarter and Jacary Atkinson (21-of-38, 218 yards passing) snuck in from the one with 4:50 left. But Alabama State blocked the PAT to leave them in front by one point.

The Hornets showed some gutsy play-calling with a key third-down completion by Dowdell to keep the ball out of Tuskegee's hands and Andrew Lyons expanded the lead to four with a 38-yard field goal at the 1:39 mark.

Atkinson moved the Golden Tigers right back down the field and had four shots at the end zone in the final seconds, but Alabama State's secondary held off Tuskegee for the win.


12/02 10:37:04 ET

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Link

My Wife and I are going up to Boone for the game this weekend, she has NEVER seen a playoff game live......App or Cleveland .

Well, I hope see gets to see a victory but if should be fun either way.......no kids for a day and night .

It was a great game this week. I'm not looking forward to our next opponent though, Weber St destroyed us last time.

good luck con. lots of griz fans down here rooting for you guys.

on a side note the salmon savages won the idaho state football championship. first time ever!

hey Con, what's up with the Chase reynolds kid? 38 carries and 238 yrds???

sounds like a workhorse, any NFL potential at all??

Anyway, good luck and jsut because of this board and the fact that your a Browns fan.....I'll be rooting for you guys.

By the way, did you actually get to go to the game? I have read a few articles saying that you guys know how to tailgate.

He definitely has NFL potential. I'd be surprised not to see him drafted at least somewhere.

As for us, we beat the only team who beat us this year and advanced. Not bad at all for a "rebuilding" year. We got a tough matchup next week though at James Madison.

Well, the "quest for Four" is officially over, we got beat by a better team this weekend and it's my wife's fault. It was her 1st ever App. playoff game and we got schooled, she never gets to go agian .

I am just kidding as I hope most of you guys know. Richmond just took advantage of every turnover we made and you can't win with 7 turnovers. It's amazing we we even in the game late into the 4th quarter.

here is a little blurb on all the games and yes.......I will still watch, after all, it is decided the way it should be.....on the field....and......we'll be back next year......

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Around FCS: Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers
By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Pillsbury Doughboy didn't perform mascot duties at any of the four stadiums this past weekend for the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championships, but he would have felt right at home with all of the turnovers that were being served up.

Coaches talk all season long about winning the turnover battle and in postseason play there is even more emphasis on that statistic. If they ever needed a sermon illustration for that point, this weekend's FCS games were the perfect examples.

Appalachian State saw its three-year reign as FCS champion come to an end as the Mountaineers committed seven turnovers in a 33-13 loss to Richmond. Weber State helped stake Montana to an early lead with miscues and finished with three turnovers in a 24-13 defeat. Neither Richmond nor Montana had a single turnover in winning those games.

Northern Iowa and New Hampshire put on a turnover-fest, particularly in the first half. Northern Iowa was picked off once for a touchdown, lost a pair of fumbles and had a punt blocked. But New Hampshire was even worse, with six turnovers and a blocked punt for a safety in a 36-34 loss.

The game between James Madison and Villanova was the cleanest of the day from a mistake standpoint, but turnovers still played a determining factor. JMU won the turnover battle, 2-1, the final advantage coming when Marcus Haywood picked off a Chris Whitney pass to seal the Dukes' 31-27 victory in the final minute.

But this was also a game where the need for video replay in playoff games was most noticeable.

A pass from Rodney Landers to tight end Mike Caussin late in the first quarter was ruled as simultaneous possession between Caussin and a Villanova defender. Replay would have helped determine for sure if it was a six-yard touchdown pass or an interception.

Replay would have almost certainly overturned a fumble by Villanova receiver Phil Atkinson later in the first period. Television replays showed that Atkinson was down when Haywood forced the ball loose and recovered it at the Villanova 40.

That led to a 26-yard Landers-to-Bosco Williams TD pass on the first play of the second quarter to give the Dukes a 14-0 lead.

Villanova fought back to tie the game at 14-14 before the half, and the contest see-sawed in the second half before Landers constructed a game- winning, 11-play, 54-yard drive and scored on a one-yard burst with 1:38 remaining.

But there was that Whitney turnover waiting to put its signature on the end of a classic battle between two FCS heavyweights.

Emerging as semifinal participants in the survival-of-the-fittest scenario were four teams sure to give us some great football this weekend. On Friday night, No. 1 James Madison hosts No. 4 Montana in a rematch of the 2004 national championship game at 8 p.m. eastern time, with No. 3 Northern Iowa entertaining giant-killer Richmond at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

But before we dive into previewing those games later this week, let's break down the quarterfinals, and also look at another championship game, last Saturday's Gridiron Classic.


RICHMOND AT APPALACHIAN STATE

Coming off a 55-35 loss in last year's semifinals at Appalachian State, a team that had won an FCS-record 13 consecutive playoff games and 42 of 43 home games since 2003, Richmond knew it would have its hands full.

But the Spiders showed the ability to turn up the pressure in the second half for the second week in a row in stunning the defending champs on a snowy and cold day at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Both ASU and Richmond missed opportunities in the first half, particularly in the kicking game. Richmond's dependable kicker, Andrew Howard, missed just the second PAT in his career and also failed on a couple of field goal chances during the game.

The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns by each squad's marquee player, Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State and Josh Vaughan of Richmond. The Mountaineers led on the strength of a Jason Vitaris extra point, but when they moved into scoring position in the final minute of the second quarter, Vitaris had a momentum-sapping 38-yard field goal miss of his own that sparked the Spiders into the locker room.

Howard finally found his range on the opening drive of the second half and converted a 36-yard field goal to give Richmond a 9-7 lead. Then, the Spiders watched the Mountaineers go into a complete meltdown.

Edwards, slowed by knee and hip injuries that limited him to eight carries for three yards, abandoned the running game and forced a pass that was intercepted by Seth Williams, the first of three interceptions by the junior cornerback. Williams returned the ball 35 yards to the one to set up the second of three Vaughan TD runs.

Williams struck again when an Edwards' pass slipped through the fingers of CoCo Hillary and into the cornerback's hands. This time, Williams ran it back 40 yards to the five and Richmond quarterback Eric Ward scampered in on the next play to make it a 23-7 Spider lead.

Hillary was responsible for his third turnover on the ensuing kickoff return, but Howard missed another field goal. ASU's hopes for a comeback were renewed when Edwards tossed a four-yard scoring pass to T.J. Courman to make it a 23-13 game late in the third period.

But Richmond closed out the game behind the time-eating running of Vaughan (32 carries, 133 yards and three TDs) and a couple more ASU turnovers. Trying desperately to get his team back in the game, Edwards (26-of-41 for 323 yards) threw a career-high five picks, one occurring when an open Brian Quick slipped and fell in the end zone on a pass that could have cut the lead to 26-20 in the fourth quarter.

Richmond quarterback Eric Ward had a rough day throwing (10-of-24 for 121 yards), but he didn't have any turnovers and also ran 16 times for 91 yards. The Spiders lost the total offense battle 362-359, but their defense limited ASU to 39 rushing yards, and that plus-seven takeaway advantage proved bigger in a 20-point victory.


WEBER STATE AT MONTANA

Montana used a quick start, capitalizing on a pair of Weber State turnovers, and then allowed its defense and running back Chase Reynolds ((33 carries, 185 yards, two TDs) to keep the lead as the Grizzlies avenged an earlier loss to the Wildcats.

Quarterback Cole Bergquist put Montana in front, racing 35 yards on a fourth- down draw play for the Grizzlies' first touchdown. Reynolds scored from the one after WSU had given Montana a short field to work with, and it was 14-0 after the first quarter.

Weber State cut that advantage in half behind running back Trevyn Smith (19 carries, 104 yards, seven catches for 129 yards), whose rushing and pass- receiving abilities sparked a nice drive that ended with his two-yard scoring plunge.

But the key to the game was Montana's ability to keep Weber State out of the end zone in the second half. After Montana had extended the lead to 17-7 on Brody McKnight's 38-yard field goal, the Grizzlies stopped two deep Wildcat drives and forced Weber State to settle for Jon Williams kicks.

With its lead trimmed to 17-13, Montana milked the clock on a nice fourth- quarter march, with Reynolds sweeping in from 12-yards out to make it 24-13 with 4:02 remaining.

The Grizzlies held off one more Weber State possession in Montana territory to clinch the game. Cameron Higgins was 19-of-40 for 270 yards, but he looked uncomfortable all day while being pressured by the Grizzly defense.

Higgins was held without a touchdown pass for the first time in 18 games and was intercepted once by Montana's Buchanan Award-candidate strong safety, Colt Anderson.

Bergquist was inconsistent in the passing game, finishing 8-of-19 for 113 yards, but he avoided the sacks that had hurt his team in the 45-28 loss to Weber State earlier in the season, and he didn't make any turnovers. Bergquist also rushed 10 times for 68 yards, picking up some key first downs on a day when the Grizzlies ran for 314 yards.

The victory was the ninth in a row for Montana in quarterfinal play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and when the win over Weber State was complete, many in the crowd of 21,583 settled back to watch the conclusion of the Villanova-James Madison contest on the big stadium screen. Fans were hoping for a Villanova victory that would have given the Grizzlies one more home game.


VILLANOVA AT JAMES MADISON

Those Montana fans didn't go home completely happy. Rodney Landers showed his force of personality again as James Madison rolled to its 13th consecutive win. Landers rushed 26 times for 143 yards and the game-winning touchdown, and completed 14-of-20 passes for 157 yards and three more scores.

But one of the biggest keys to this win was the way that JMU's defense shut down the forceful Villanova rushing attack. Switching from a normal 4-2-5 defensive set to a 4-3-4, the Dukes were able to keep more people in the box and limited the Wildcats - a team that came in averaging 228 yards per game on the ground - to 81 yards rushing.

Villanova passed for 229 yards, but wasn't able to control the clock with the same efficiency as it had in the first game against James Madison. This time, JMU won the time of possession war, 37-23.

Haywood, JMU's Buchanan Award candidate at free safety, had both of the Dukes' takeaways and the James Madison defensive line put pressure all day on Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney. Arthur Moats had 11 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and Hassan Abdul-Wahid added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.


NEW HAMPSHIRE AT NORTHERN IOWA

This was a game that took fans on a road filled with twists and turns, as the two teams traded momentum and turnovers.

The tone of the game was set early when UNI's Josh Mahoney intercepted an R.J. Toman pass and returned it to the 13-yard line to set up a nine-yard scoring run by quarterback Pat Grace. It was the first of two Mahoney interceptions on the evening and one of four costly picks that Toman would throw.

The game went back and forth through the rest of the half, with the Panthers taking a 26-20 lead and threatening to score again as the half ended. But New Hampshire safety John Clements stepped in front of a Grace pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats a 27-26 halftime advantage.

Northern Iowa took control again in the third quarter, driving for a 35-yard Billy Hallgren field goal that gave the Panthers a 29-27 edge. Terrell McMoore then extended UNI's lead with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown.

New Hampshire battled back to within two points on a Robert Simpson one-yard scoring blast with 12:20 remaining, but that was as close as the Wildcats would get, as the Panther defense made some big plays in the final period and Grace returned to the game after suffering a shoulder injury to help grind out the clock.

Grace finished with one of his better nights of the season, hitting 18-of-26 passes for 255 yards and one interception. He also rushed for a team-high 84 yards on 14 carries.

New Hampshire out-gained Northern Iowa, 404-342, but the Wildcats couldn't overcome all of their miscues. Toman was 16-of-30 for 243 yards, with one TD.


GRIDIRON CLASSIC

Northeast Conference champion Albany, battle-tested by four Colonial Athletic Association opponents in the regular season, won the Gridiron Classic for the first time with a commanding 28-0 victory over Pioneer Football League titlist Jacksonville.

Albany running back David McCarty rushed 33 times for 271 yards and all four touchdowns, allowing the Great Danes to keep the ball away from Jacksonville's offense and scorching a Dolphin defense that ranked 21st nationally and had allowed five of their last seven opponents to nine points or less.

Ahead 7-0 after a 16-yard scoring run by McCarty in the first quarter, the Great Danes pulled away with a one-yard TD blast by the hard-nosed runner late in the third period. He then tacked on a three-yard TD and a 77-yard touchdown jaunt in the fourth period.

McCarty finished with an FCS-best 1,852 yards rushing and placed second nationally in yards per game at 154.3. He set school records for Albany as a Division I program in single-game rushing yards, all-purpose yards (286), rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. He also broke Gary Jones' school mark for all-purpose yards in a season (2,208) and extended his single-season rushing record.

Albany's defense limited Jacksonville's talent running back, Rudell Small, to 16 carries for 46 yards and held quarterback Josh McGregor to 10-of-25 passing for 113 yards and an interception. The Great Danes forced four turnovers on the day and were the first team to hold Jacksonville scoreless since Sept. 6, 2003 - a string of 63 games.

It was the first postseason win for Albany since it beat No. 21-ranked Duquesne in the old ECAC Classic in 2002, an event that matched the winners of the NEC and now-defunct MAAC Football League.



12/08 15:42:14 ET

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Con....I am officially rooting for your boys now, after all, I have a daughter named Montana (yes, she was named that BEFORE Hannah montana became popular, she is 6 1/2 ), and I have partied in Missoula before and had a blast.

GO GRIZZZ !!!!!!!

I think it woul be great to see an all Virginia final, at this point.

I remember the year the Spiders came to Youngstown and punked the Penguins,....not a Tressel year though.

WOOHOO!!! CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN A REBUILDING YEAR!!


Grizzlies punch ticket to Chattanooga
by: Tim San Pedro of MontanaGrizzlies.Com
Friday, 12/12/2008 Updated: 12/13/2008 8:58 AM


The Montana Grizzlies are going back to Chattanooga.

Top-seeded James Madison could not overcome four lost turnovers and one injured star quarterback to the fourth-seeded Montana Grizzlies. Montana notched a 35-27 victory over the Dukes and advance to their sixth appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title game.

Griz running back Chase Reynolds ran 26 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns while adding a receiving touchdown on three catches for 50 yards. Quarterback Cole Bergquist completed 11 of his 17 passes for 142 yards and three touchdown passes. Montana’s defense created four turnovers — three fumbles and one interception — while holding the Dukes to 26 points, 12 below JMU’s average.

James Madison’s backup quarterback Drew Dudzik — replacing JMU’s star quarterback Rodney Landers, who was knocked out with an injury in the first half — ran 12 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Eugene Holloman added 105 rushing yards and one touchdown to the Dukes’ run-first offense.

James Madison’s offense took the field as advertised: rush, rush, rush. On their first drive they ran the ball nine out of ten plays. The biggest run of the drive came from Landers on a fourth-and-3 on Montana’s 24-yard line. Landers took a hit behind the first down line, but kept his feet pumping and surged forward for the first down. Montana’s defense held on the next set of downs and forced the Dukes to kick a field goal. Kicker Dave Stannard connected on a 32-yard field goal to give JMU the early 3-0 lead with 9:16 to go in the first quarter.

Montana, on their first drive, was faced with a third-and-10 on JMU’s 49-yard line. Bergquist snuck out of the pocket and picked up 13 yards to keep the drive alive. On the next play, Reynolds followed his fullback through the line and picked up 35 yards before being tackled at the two-yard line. Three plays later on third-and-goal at the two, Reynolds powered his way into the end zone, 7-3.

On the following kickoff, freshman special teamer Caleb McSurdy forced Dukes’ returner Scotty McGee to fumble. Freshman defensive back Donny Lisowski recovered the ball at James Madison’s 15-yard line with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. It took Montana just two plays to punch it in for their second touchdown. Reynolds took the ball left, put his head down, got hit, and then rolled over his own player into the end zone. The seven-yard run put the Griz up 14-3 with 4:02 to go in the first quarter.

James Madison rumbled down the field all the way to the Montana 4-yard line when they were faced with a third-and-2. With 12:56 to go in the second quarter, Landers took on a herd of Montana defenders and picked up just enough for a first down at the 1-foot line. Two plays later, running back Eugene Holloman jumped into the end zone to bring the Dukes within four at 10-14.

Montana kicker Brody McKnight missed a 45-yard field goal on their next drive giving JMU the ball on their 28-yard line with 9:31 still in the first half. James Madison was on a 10-play drive and on Montana’s 12-yard line when the Grizzlies forced their second fumble on the evening. With 4:36 remaining in the first half, senior defensive end Mike Stadnyk stripped Landers and junior linebacker Tyler Pelluer recovered the fumble at JMU’s 8-yard line. They were unable to get a first down and punted it back to the Dukes.

Landers — the Dukes’ season leading rusher — injured his ankle on the second play of the drive and did not return. Sophomore quarterback Dudzik replaced Landers with two minutes to go in the first half. Dudzik’s second pass was intercepted by junior cornerback Andrew Swink at the end of the first half. Montana went into the locker room with the 14-10 lead with the help of three JMU first-half turnovers despite the Dukes possessing the ball more than 20 of the 30 first half minutes.

The Grizzlies received the ball to start the first half with great field position at their 48-yard line when Mark Mariani returned the kickoff to his 48-yard line. On second-and-3 from JMU’s 27-yard line, Bergquist faked the handoff and threw to a streaking Reynolds who elevated to catch the ball and fell into the end zone to put the Griz up 21-10 with 11:06 on the third quarter clock.

On the ensuing kickoff, freshman defensive end Ryan Fetherston stripped Dukes’ returner Patrick Ward and recovered the fumble at JMU’s 34-yard line. The Grizzlies’ offense went 4-for-4 on scoring off of turnovers when Bergquist found junior tight end Steve Pfahler for the 16-yard touchdown catch. Montana took the 28-10 lead with 8:14 to go in third quarter.

James Madison was not going to go away though. On third-and-5, Dudzik ran a quarterback keeper for the 10-yard touchdown run to make it a 17-28 football game with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

A couple of big plays put the Griz within striking distance: a 16-yard shovel pass to Reynolds and a 32-yard Bergquist run put the Griz at JMU’s nine-yard line. Bergquist found Mike Ferriter in the end zone to extend Montana’s lead to 35-17 with just over a minute to go in the third.

With less than 11 minutes to go in the game, James Madison found themselves going for it on fourth-and-goal from Montana’s 1-yard line. Holloman’s run was stuffed for a 2-yard loss resulting in a turnover on downs.

JMU’s defense forced Montana to punt from its own end zone. Kevin Klaboe sailed the snap over punter Ken Wood’s head, resulting in a safety to make it a two-score game at 35-19.

James Madison quickly scored with 6:10 remaining in the game when Dudzik scored from 18 yards out on a quarterback draw. JMU elected to go for the two-point conversion and got it when Dudzik jumped for the end zone, with instant replay ruling the ball just over the goal line, to bring the Dukes within eight points at 27-35.

James Madison got the ball back and needed to go 93 yards in 2:06 to keep their season alive. They were unable to do so as receiver Rockeed McCarter dropped the potential first down pass on fourth down, turning the ball over on downs to Montana. The Griz ran the game clock out to punch their ticket to Chattanooga.

The national championship will be played Friday, Dec. 19. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. (MST) and airs on ESPN2. Link

Well, sorry it took so long to get back but................let's just say it's been a very interesting week or two for me at work. To sum it up quickly, the economy is finally catching up to the Charlotte area and times have been pretty stressfull. I am still employed but some very good people are not, and before Christmas too .

But on to one of my favorite,......A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF !!!!!!

This yr. my Mountianeers got knocked out by a good Richmond team that has made the finals against Con's Montana Grizzlies. The game is Friday Night and televised by ESPN so I know most of you can get it.

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Around FCS: An unexpected event

By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director

Chattanooga, TN (Sports Network) - Not many people would have picked a Montana-Richmond final for the NCAA Division I Football Championship, either before the season, or even three weeks ago when the playoff field was announced.

But these two hard-nosed, workmanlike teams have survived the 16-team field and won difficult games on the road to set up an unexpected, yet compelling title game.

"I am not sure what to expect from this team," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said in July at the Big Sky Conference media event in Park City, UT. "But that is what makes this season exciting."

Like a child anticipating Christmas morning, Hauck has a bigger package than expected under his championship tree, as the Grizzlies play for their third national crown and the sixth-year coach looks for his first title as the head man.

Richmond's first-year coach Mike London, a standout defensive back with the Spiders from 1979-82, knew he was inheriting a strong program, with plenty of talent back from last year's national semifinal squad, but he has managed to push his team even farther than predecessor Dave Clawson.

"A lot of people said, 'You guys don't belong here,'" London explained. "I think we belong. In the first three rounds we played conference champions. This is a significant accomplishment for these players."

Richmond (12-3) actually was ranked No. 1 in the Sports Network FCS top-25 poll for one week this season, but the Spiders lost 26-20 to Villanova the next Saturday (Sept. 27) and then dropped a 38-31 decision to James Madison two weeks later, blowing a 31-23 lead in the final minute.

But since that time, the No. 7-ranked Spiders have won eight consecutive games, including wins over second-seeded Appalachian State - the three-time FCS champion - and No. 3 Northern Iowa, at two of the toughest road venues in the subdivision.

Montana (14-1) also survived some out-of-kilter performances early in the season, including a 45-28 loss at Weber State on Oct. 4. Following that loss, however, the Grizzlies have won 10 consecutive games.

Defense has been the key to the improved performances of both teams.

Richmond has allowed just 13.3 points per game since the loss to JMU, and ranks sixth overall in scoring defense (16.2). The Spiders are third in turnover margin (plus-22 on the season), 14th in rushing defense (98 yards), 22nd in passing defense (169 yards) and 10th in total defense (266 yards).

Richmond's defensive success starts with its bookends at defensive end, Sherman Logan and Lawrence Sidbury, Jr.

Logan is a rare sixth-year senior, who missed all but four games last year with a broken foot. Returning to All-American form this season, Logan has piled up 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and 49 tackles.

Sidbury has blossomed in his senior season, with 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 51 tackles.

With those two garnering plenty of attention from offenses, linebackers Eric McBride (team-high 103 tackles) and Patrick Weldon (89 tackles, 13 tackles for loss) have been able to make plays.

The Spider secondary has been largely responsible for the team's ability to force turnovers. Richmond has 28 interceptions, one behind Grambling for the most in FCS.

Cornerback Justin Rogers has seven of those picks and is one off the team record held by Jeff Nixon (1976). Michael Ireland, Derek Hatcher and Seth Williams have four each.

Montana doesn't have as quality overall defensive numbers as Richmond (45th in total defense, allowing 331 yards per game), but the Grizzlies have been nearly as tough to score on (eighth in FCS at 17.3 points per game) and have also excelled in forcing turnovers (eighth nationally, plus-18).

The Grizzlies, with their bend-but-don't-break philosophy, are giving up 131 yards rushing on average (39th), but have shown more vulnerability in shutting down passing attacks (61st at 200 yards per game). But Montana is 19th in passing efficiency defense.

Montana had allowed just 91 points in its previous nine wins, but was stung for 27 points and 419 yards by James Madison, the third-highest total offense figure the Grizzlies had given up all year. But Montana made up for it by forcing four turnovers.

Senior strong safety and Buchanan Award candidate Colt Anderson is the heart and soul of the Montana defense. He had 18 tackles in the win over JMU, and 121 tackles for the season.

Defensive end Mike Stadnyk, who has already been drafted in the second round by the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, is the lone Montana player remaining that played in the 2004 national championship loss to JMU. He has 59 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Jace Palmer (44 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss) anchors the other side of the Grizzly defensive line, while defensive tackle Craig Mettler is a force on the inside (48 tackles, five tackles for loss).

Brandon Fisher (102 tackles), Tyler Corwin (91 tackles) and Shawn Lebsock (89 tackles) give the Grizzlies a solid linebacking corps.

The similarities for the two teams on offense start with the offensive lines. Both squads are big and solid up front, and that works well for teams that want to establish the running game.

Three of Montana's offensive linemen - guard Colin Dow, tackle Brent Russum and center J.D. Quinn - are pro prospects. Richmond lost one All-American tackle in Tim Silver to injury, but has another in Matthew McCracken, while Michael Silva has stepped into the gap forced by physical ailments.

It took a while for Montana to offset the loss of running back Lex Hilliard to the NFL, but the offense awoke around the gritty rushing of sophomore Chase Reynolds, who played eight-man football in high school. Reynolds has eight straight 100-yard rushing efforts on the way to 1,536 yards (5.7 average per carry) and a school-record 21 TDs on the ground.

Reynolds' work has made it easier for quarterback Cole Bergquist to thrive as a play-action passer. The efficient Bergquist has thrown for 2,889 yards and 28 touchdowns, while being intercepted just seven times.

Bergquist has a pair of first-class receivers to depend on, with Marc Mariani (62 catches, 18.3 average, 15 TDs) and Mike Ferriter (49 catches, 16.7, 10 TDs). Mariani is also a threat as a returnman.

The focal point of the Richmond attack is running back Josh Vaughan (1,722 yards, 5.2 average, 19 touchdowns). His success takes the pressure off quarterback Eric Ward, who is often more dependable as a runner (394 yards, eight TDs) than as a passer.

Ward has thrown for 2,712 yards and 16 TDs, including a game-winning pass with 15 seconds left against Northern Iowa. But he is often inaccurate when he is forced from the pocket.

Another problem for the Spiders has been the health of top receiver Kevin Grayson (59 catches, 14.0 average, three TDs), who suffered a leg injury against UNI that could limit his ability to stretch the defense. If Grayson is unable to be effective, freshman Tre Gray (53 catches, 12.8 average, four TDs) will have to step up.

Tight end Joe Stewart has become a more important target of late for Ward. Stewart had a career-high five catches for 71 yards last week, including the game-winning 13-yard touchdown reception in the 21-20 win over Northern Iowa.

Montana and Richmond are two of the few teams left in FCS that still put an emphasis on using fullbacks in the power rushing game. The Grizzlies' Kevin Klaboe and Spiders' John Crone are two of the best blocking backs in the country.

If the game comes down to the kicking game, Andrew Howard of Richmond has the reputation as one of the top clutch kickers in the country. He holds the NCAA record for career extra-point percentage (148-of-150, 98.6%), but he has struggled of late, missing one PAT and five field goals in four games.

Montana freshman Brody McKnight replaced the all-time leading kick scorer in FCS, Dan Carpenter, now of the Miami Dolphins. McKnight has been up and down, but did have a game-winning field goal against Central Washington.

This game may come down to how well the two offenses control the ball on the ground, and if either of them can strike for big plays in the passing game. Both teams have also shown the ability to force turnovers, so ball security will be even more important.

In a contest where points are likely to come at a premium, Montana probably has a few more playmakers than Richmond, and expect the Grizzlies to come away with one or two more plays to win their fourth national championship.

Montana 21, Richmond 17.

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Man I wish the big boys would pay attention, if any of you guys kept up with the season of any of these teams, you would see that "every game" still mattered. Richmond basically had two regular season playoff games to erd the yr. just to make it in the fieldof sixteen.

If the big boys could do this.......well, Ohio State-Texas would actually mean something.

Good luck to you Con, I hope your boys can pull it out.

As a side note, Jeff Fishers son plays SS/LB for the Griz, he isn't bad.........maybe we can draft him or pick him up as a FA, then lure Fisher here to coach his son !!!!!!

Thought this would be a good place to put this as it highlights some guys that might be available latter in the draft.

Don't forget that this is the same league that put guys like Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Dexter Coakley, Chad Pennington, Joe Flacco, and several others in the NFL. I am sure that there are alot more that I cannot think of right off the bat (if anyone wants to help me here feel free ), but my piont is that while not the overall quantity/caliber of I-A, there are some damn good players to be found here, and these may be just a few to keep an eye on.

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Edwards leads FCS All-America Team
Associated Press

Updated: December 17, 2008, 6:16 PM ET
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NEW YORK -- Armanti Edwards can add All-American to a list of accomplishments that already includes two national championships and one of the greatest upsets in college football history.

The Appalachian State quarterback, along with fellow Walter Payton Award finalist Herb Donaldson of Western Illinois, headline the AP's FCS All-America Team released Wednesday.

Edwards, a junior from Greenwood S.C., had his best passing season yet, throwing for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns despite missing a game with a hip injury and playing the final three games with a right knee injury that might need surgery.

"The thing people found out about Armanti is he's very capable of throwing the ball," Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said in a telephone interview.

And Edwards can still run it. He had 941 yards on the ground.

Edwards had run for 2,741 yards in his first two seasons, leading the Mountaineers to two of their three straight national titles and a victory at Michigan to start the 2007 season.

"He's not a really fiery, pep talk guy," Moore said. "He's more of leader in making the plays that he does.

"They see him take hits, they see his toughness. ... They feed off that. And he's done it since he was a freshman."

Donaldson leads the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) with 162 yards rushing per game.

The Payton Award, which goes to the nation's best FCS player, will be handed out Thursday night in Chattanooga, Tenn. The other finalist is James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers, who was a second-team All-America selection.

Montana, which plays Richmond for the national championship in Chattanooga on Friday night, had two first-teamers: offensive lineman Colin Dow and safety Colt Anderson.

Joining Edwards and Donaldson in the All-America backfield is Liberty's Rashad Jennings, who ran for 1,500 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

The receivers are San Diego's John Matthews and Ramses Barden of Cal Poly. Matthews led the nation with 102 catches for 1,478 yards. Barden had 1,257 yards and was the Great West offensive player of the year.

The tight end was Scott Sicko from New Hampshire.

On the line with Dow was Joel Bell from Furman, Cornelius Lewis from Tennessee State, Scott Lemn from James Madison and Stephen Field from Cal Poly.

Southern Illinois running back Larry Warner was selected as an all-purpose player. He averaged 187 total yards per game.

Andrew Wilcox of Elon was the kicker. He was 22-for-27 on field goal attempts. All-America punter Brett Arnold of Massachusetts averaged 45.2 yards per kick.

Eastern Washington defensive end Greg Peach leads the nation with 18 sacks and is a leading contender for the Buchanan Award, given the best FCS defensive player.

Central Arkansas' Larry Hart, Maine's Jovan Belcher and UC Davis' John Faletoese were all Buchanan finalists and their conference's defensive players of the year.

Hart had 12 sacks and was the Southland Conference defensive player of the year.

"He was certainly an impact player for us," Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque said. "He really changed the complexion of our defensive front."

Zach East, who helped once lowly Prairie View to a 9-1 season, leads the linebackers, along with Jason Williams of Western Illinois and Nathan Williams of Murray State.

Nathan Williams leads the nation in tackles with 179.

Joining Anderson in the secondary are Northern Arizona's K.J. Gerard, Nicholls State's Lardarius Webb and Appalachian State's Mark Legree.

Legree, who leads the country with 10 interceptions, was the only sophomore to make the first team.

After three straight national titles, Appalachian State was knocked out of the FCS playoffs in the second round by Richmond. The Spiders placed two players, offensive linemen Matthew McCracken and Tim Silver, on the second team.

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Jeff Wilkins (YSU), Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell (Citadel), Ron Jaworski (YSU),....and I thought I just heard sometime last week on one of those documentaries--didn't Jack Youngblood go to Appalachian State or Western Carolina ??

Richmond,....

Where men who can't get a big ride to Virginia, VaTech or James Madison go.

Nice ride for The Spiders.

Great win by the Spiders!! After starting the season 4-3 every game was a must win and they went on to win 9 straight. Very impressive, especially for a small, private, academically oriented institution.

As far as they relate to the Browns, Richmond's DE Lawrence Sidbury Jr. is a beast. Multiple moves, great motor, good size, and is also an intelligent young man. Their RB Josh Vaughan may also be a 7 round/UDFA guy to keep an eye on.