2016-17 FCS playoffs

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,463
Meeting Place, Canada
THREE DAKOTAS STILL ALIVE

2 p.m.
New Hampshire at James Madison WatchESPN
Youngstown St at Jacksonville State WatchESPN

3 p.m.
Villanova at South Dakota St WatchESPN
Chattanooga at Sam Houston St WatchESPN

3:30 p.m. San Diego at North Dakota St WatchESPN
4 p.m. Central Arkansas at E. Washington WatchESPN

6 p.m.
Richmond at North Dakota WatchESPN
Wofford at The Citadel WatchESPN

Also
4 p.m. SWAC Championship game
Grambling at Alcorn State ESPNU, WatchESPN
 
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InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,767
Pittsburgh, PA
Did nobody else here just watch that FCS semifinal?

Down goes (5-time defending champ) N Dakota State, to 4-seed James Madison.
 

Warning Track Speed

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Jul 20, 2005
1,547
astride the divide
Madison had a 17-0 lead, NDSU tied it and had all the momentum after what looked like a fourth down sack. JMU had called timeout though, then NDSU jumped offside on the punt, which allowed Madison to kick a field goal and take the lead.

A remarkable run for NDSU comes to an end. They've claimed a number of FBS scalps in recent years, including a pretty good Iowa team this year.

The last non-Bison champ? Eastern Washington in 2010. They host Youngstown tomorrow on that hideous red field.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,767
Pittsburgh, PA
I'm too harsh on you - they were undefeated against FCS opponents, they just took the cash and scheduled a game at an FBS team. ND State meanwhile lost to SD State (prior to last night).

Fact remains, though, that JMU were seeded behind three other teams, not to mention they were playing at their opponents' home stadium, so I'm a little hesitant to declare that the favorite won.
 

Rick Burlesons Yam Bag

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My dad is from Youngstown so we are YSU fans. As some may know, Jim Tressel built a dynasty there before building the Michigan Obliteration Machine (MOM) in Columbus. Now Bo Pellini - another Youngstown native - is at the reins and has done a really nice job of recreating the model - lock down the area within 50 miles of the school and play hard-noses football. The team is probably a year or so away from having a real shot at winning the championship, and I can't see them beating Eastern Washington, but they are fun to watch.
 

Warning Track Speed

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Jul 20, 2005
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astride the divide
Remarkable finish in the Eastern Washington/Youngstown game. It was snowing and cold as balls in Cheney--maybe dipped below 0 by the end? Youngstown wins on a touchdown with 1 second left, a little slant pass, but the dude was completely covered and made the catch with one hand holding the ball against the back of the defender. 40-38.

So, Youngstown vs. James Madison on Jan 7. Madison's lone title came in 2004 over Montana, my adopted home team. Youngstown has won it four times, most recently in 1997. My first playoff game in Missoula was in 1999 against Youngstown, a close game and the Griz missed a field goal at the buzzer to lose it.
 

Rick Burlesons Yam Bag

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SoSH Member
It was a fun game to watch, particularly if you were rooting for YSU. I still can't believe that catch, the throw was literally in the only spot he had a chance of catching it and even then the chances were slim. I feel bad for that CB, he had him draped.

But overall, both teams played great in spurts, then seemed to go on cruise control. We'll see what happens in the final, JMU are very, very good.
 

RSN Diaspora

molests goats for comedy
SoSH Member
Jul 29, 2005
11,347
Washington, DC
I think I'm probably still the only JMU grad here, and next to the 2004 championship over Montana, Friday's win over NDSU was probably the biggest in the program's history (some might point to JMU's 2010 upset of VA Tech, but I'd put this win over that one). JMU's list of prominent NFL alumni is short (and includes Scott Norwood), but Khalid Abdullah might be JMU's next addition to that list. He is an absolute beast of a running back.

Despite his skills and those of QB Bryan Schor, as well as a solid defense, I didn't expect to make it out of Fargo. Youngstown State is going to be a hell of a tough opponent--if they could take out Eastern Washington on the road, they could do the same to us on neutral ground.

As an aside, alumni had access to $75 tickets and flights from DC to Dallas were relatively cheap, but my inconsiderate asshole brother just had to go schedule his wedding for that night.