After another scintillating week of Football Championship Subdivision play, only four teams are left in the running for the FCS Championship. Sam Houston State Bearkats routed Colgate Raiders in easy enough fashion last Saturday, while North Dakota State Bison pulled off a victory over Northern Iowa Panthers after a slower-than-normal first half for the Bison. In Normal, Illinois, the Richmond Spiders propelled past Illinois State Redbirds after a dominant offensive performance, while Jacksonville State Gamecocks took care of business vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers on national TV Friday night. This week, the nation will see who advances to the FCS Championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco; will North Dakota State cool the red-hot Richmond? Will Sam Houston pull off the upset vs #1 Jacksonville State? VAVEL USA has everything you need to know, from previews to predictions, right here.
(3) North Dakota State vs. (7) Richmond (Dec. 18, 8:00 PM ET, ESPN2)
Many are saying that the FCS Title could be decided during this game, and they may have a point. Richmond’s done nothing but beat higher ranked teams on the road thus far, and while North Dakota State is easily the most daunting team in FCS, the Spiders may be the only kind of spiders not afraid of things bigger than themselves.
The Spiders propelled past the Redbirds with a dominant offensive performance: QB Kyle Lauletta was 18 for 30 with 369 yards in the air, and in his absence backup QB David Broadus tallied 28 yards and a TD on 6 carries while going 1-for-1 in the air. On the ground, Jacobi Green had himself a day, rushing for 137 yards and 3 scores on 20 attempts. Simply put, the Illinois State defense had no answer for the Spider attack and their attack had no answer for the Spider defense.
All-FCS halfback Marshaun Coprich was held to just 30 yards on 14 carries, his one touchdown coming at the goal line. While QB Tre Roberson threw for 370 yards and 2 touchdowns, Richmond stepped up when it mattered; a crucial 4th quarter interception in the red zone by Linebacker Omar Howard is what stamped the Spider ticket to the semifinals. Green’s ensuing touchdown was merely insurance.
However, if there is one thing to remember about the Bison's, it’s that they find ways to win. They have the four consecutive rings to prove it. For these Bison, no obstacle is too daunting. Star QB and projected first-rounder Carson Wentz is still unable to return? It’s okay, because backup Easton Stick went 13 for 17 in a brilliantly managed effort, while halfback King Frazier added 107 yards and a score. Offense having trouble outscoring Aaron Bailey and UNI? Not a problem. How about a 97-yard Bruce Anderson TD return and a 4th quarter safety to add nine points? Dynasties aren’t the teams that make everything work smoothly. Dynasties are the teams that win even when things don’t go smoothly.
North Dakota’s defense and special teams saved them last Saturday afternoon, but Richmond may perhaps be their toughest test yet. To win, standout punter Ben LeCompte (whose coffin corner punt allowed the NDSU defense to get their safety) will need another career performance and dictate field position to Richmond. Linemen Greg Menard and Brian Schaetz will need to provide the same kind of pressure that earned them a safety Saturday, and CJ Smith will need to be a presence in the secondary like he has been all season.
Prediction: It’s the unstoppable force meets the immovable object. Richmond’s the hottest team in FCS right now, but NDSU has been the most dominant. The Bison, however, find a way to pull away as they always do. 42-35 (OT), North Dakota State heads to their 5th straight title game.
(1) Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston State (Dec. 19, 12PM ET, ESPNU)
While the first two semifinalists fought their way through gritty competition to make the top four, both Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State got to the semifinals with relative ease. Despite giving up 38 points to Charleston Southern, Jacksonville State still managed to win by 20 points last Friday, meanwhile Sam Houston dismantled the also unseeded Colgate 48-21.
For Sam Houston, victory came on the back of QB Jeremiah Briscoe, who was the sole man under center for SHSU, as opposed to the two QB system many predicted they would use. One thing is for sure, however: The Bearkats picked the right man in Briscoe. He went 21-for-48 and 358 yards with 4 TDs, absolutely shredding a Raider defense that was fresh off shutting down the nation’s #1 offense in James Madison University. A cause for concern for SHSU may be their run defense, which allowed 192 yards and two touchdowns from Colgate’s top five rushers.
If there’s one thing that Jacksonville State can do well, it’s run the ball. Both Troymaine Pope and Eli Jenkins rushed for more than 150 yards in their win over Charleston, (Pope-250 yards and 3 TDs, Jenkins-195 yards and 2 TDs) while Miles Jones added 67 yards as well. In other words… Sam Houston has their work cut out for them.
Prediction: Sam Houston has performed admirably thus far in the playoffs, but Jacksonville State has been the best team in the nation all year for a reason. They can beat teams in the air or on the ground, but knowing how well they run the ball, they may not need to throw the ball once. Jacksonville State 38-13 over the scrappy underdogs, (or dare you say…UnderKats?).