The two semi-finals were all action and the rankings got it right.
I was not surprised by the NDSU victory over Georgia Southern. I still believe they will win it all. Georgia Southern was excellent all year against ground games, but struggled to stop good passing games. They barely beat a passing UTC. They lost to a passing App St. Brock Jensen was poised to take them down. Oddly enough, NDSU did it on the ground. Jensen did pass for a TD to open scoring and hit a 2 pt conversion pass later, but he was only 10 for 15. Although Jensen did a lot with his legs including a 55 yard TD run. NDSU ended up with one 100 yard rusher and two more players with 94 yards a piece (one was Jensen). Even more impressive was the fact that Swope was held under 100 yards rushing. He did get one TD early in the game, but NDSU was ready for him all day. It was a big day in the Fargo Dome for the NDSU defense.
The shocker for me was Sam Houston State taking down Montana. I thought for sure Montana was going to win this game, and I have been discounting Sam Houston most of the season. The jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and Montana had to fight back to simply be close. Sam Houston actually had a bad day as a team. They were only 5 for 13 on 3rd down, but they did convert both their 4th down attempts. They simply road Flanders their RB to this victory. They had over 400 yards of offense, but over half of that was Flanders. He had an unbelievable 287 yards on the ground. Which by the way means the O-Line had a great game as well. I would never have thought Montana could get pushed around the way they did. His early runs including a 1st Quarter TD along with a running TD by Bell the QB made Montana vulnerable to the pass. This led to a 2nd Quarter TD where the Montana men were not ready for it. Still they were ready the next time and returned one to the house to make the half time score 28-14. Sam Houston only managed a field goal in the second half, but held on to win 31-28.
The game really turned on two key plays late in the game. Montana was marching back, and had scored to pull within three with over 10 minutes left in the game. Montana had gotten it back on a three and out, and was now in Sam Houston territory, but on a second and seven Jordan Canada ran the ball, but was stuffed for a 4 yard loss. This made a passing down, and it was incomplete. A punt with 6 minutes left made a stop important. The next big play came after Sam Houston had converted one of those 5 converted 3rd downs on a Flanders run. They responded to that big moment with a false start penalty for a 1st and 15. This was the time for Montana. A stop here and the ball is in your hands with a chance to win the game. Flanders rushes for 9. Rushes again for 5. Then he is stopped on 3rd down for no gain. It is now 4th and 1 at their own 47. Montana would not need much for a game tying field goal, and momentum would be on their side if you failed the conversion. A punt leaves it up to your Defense. They go for it and Flanders rambles off a 22 yard run. That ended the game and all hopes of Montana getting back to the finals.
NDSU versus Sam Houston State. The power conferences come up empty this year, and it is going to be a great game. NDSU just held one of the best rushers in the nation to under 100 yards. Now they face a red hot Flanders for the title on Jan. 7. Looking forward to it.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Playoffs 2011 Quarterfinals
Just so we know Grambling St beat Alabama A&M 16 - 15 for the SWAC championship.
Sam Houston State dominated this game showing their defense was not going to collapse against a good offense. They picked off a pass, recovered fumbles, and turned them all into points. They ran a kick back on their first possession of the second half breaking Montana State in half. The running game was halted by Sam Houston State. Kirk did not even get 2 yards a run on 12 runs, and he did break an 11 yard rumble on their TD drive. The speed on Sam Houston State was impressive, but Montana State was not ready for it, and they gave up on tackling early in the second half. The #1 team won 49-13.
North Dakota State blanked Lehigh in a 24-0 win. It is going to be hard to go into Fargo and win. Brock Jensen was effective, but did not have anything great. He threw 1 TD, but it was the 200+ yards on the ground that won it for NDSU. The defense was great as they picked off 3 passes. A shut out should have been enough to show everyone that NDSU was great and is still my choice to win it all.
Georgia Southern put up 330+ yards to ensure their win. Maine had a kick return for a TD in the first quarter to keep it interesting at 14-7. However, Georgia Southern took over after that. They have a lot of offensive talent but they can give up a lot of points. Maine was not the team that was going to be able to do it, but next weeks opponent of NDSU ought to be able to do it with Jensen throwing it around.
Friday night Montana defeated Northern Iowa. The option attack was too much. Canada and Nguyen kept the running going when it was not kept by Johnson their QB. It was not close as Montana dominated the game. Their defense also picked off three passes taking one to the house as UNI ran out of the strange luck that won them the last game.
All four ranked teams advance and next week will be very entertaining.
Sam Houston State dominated this game showing their defense was not going to collapse against a good offense. They picked off a pass, recovered fumbles, and turned them all into points. They ran a kick back on their first possession of the second half breaking Montana State in half. The running game was halted by Sam Houston State. Kirk did not even get 2 yards a run on 12 runs, and he did break an 11 yard rumble on their TD drive. The speed on Sam Houston State was impressive, but Montana State was not ready for it, and they gave up on tackling early in the second half. The #1 team won 49-13.
North Dakota State blanked Lehigh in a 24-0 win. It is going to be hard to go into Fargo and win. Brock Jensen was effective, but did not have anything great. He threw 1 TD, but it was the 200+ yards on the ground that won it for NDSU. The defense was great as they picked off 3 passes. A shut out should have been enough to show everyone that NDSU was great and is still my choice to win it all.
Georgia Southern put up 330+ yards to ensure their win. Maine had a kick return for a TD in the first quarter to keep it interesting at 14-7. However, Georgia Southern took over after that. They have a lot of offensive talent but they can give up a lot of points. Maine was not the team that was going to be able to do it, but next weeks opponent of NDSU ought to be able to do it with Jensen throwing it around.
Friday night Montana defeated Northern Iowa. The option attack was too much. Canada and Nguyen kept the running going when it was not kept by Johnson their QB. It was not close as Montana dominated the game. Their defense also picked off three passes taking one to the house as UNI ran out of the strange luck that won them the last game.
All four ranked teams advance and next week will be very entertaining.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Playoffs 2011 Round 2 - preview
There are some really good games this weekend. I will give a look and my prediction.
Stony Brook vs. Sam Houston St. - Overall #1 Sam Houston should have no problem with Stony Brook. I think Sam Houston is a weak overall #1, but this is one they ought to win.
James Madison vs. North Dakota St. - #2 NDSU is really good and lost one slip up game. They have an accurate QB, and a defense that can play. I know JMU has history, but it was a four loss team.
Old Dominion vs. Georgia Southern - #3 overall Georgia Southern has the toughest opponent of any ranked team in ODU. ODU is 10-2, and used to big games coming out of the CAA. However, Georgia Southern has a rushing attack that is hard to slow down, just ask Alabama. They were number 1 most of the year, and I think they get through.
Central Arkansas vs. Montana - Montana is #4 and playing at home. It is hard to win at Montana. This is a program that has been in 7 of the 16 FCS title games. Central Arkansas looked good last weekend, but this weekend they lose.
New Hampshire vs. Montana St. - This game looks tough on paper. Montana State played well all year, and was briefly the top ranked team until they hit Montana. But New Hampshire is overrated. They avoided ODU and Delaware in the CAA, and lost to Towson and William and Mary on the road. The only big game the won was James Madison at home and an early season overtime victory at Leigh. Montana St.
Maine vs. Appalachin St. - This is not the same App St. team that lost to Wofford and was blown out by Va Tech. They changed their QB and shared the RB duties more, and since then they have looked pretty good. App. should win with ease in Boone.
Leigh vs. Towson - Leigh is on the road, but they have been over looked most of the season. They are on a 9 game win streak, and they beat Yale and Princeton pretty ease this year. Their only loss is the aforementioned overtime loss to New Hampshire. I just don't have faith that surprising Towson can keep it up. Leigh in the upset.
Wofford vs. Northern Iowa - This game is also interesting. UNI had a great season that included only a loss to NDSU and Iowa St both of which were close (a combined total of 9 points). They did struggle in the last game of the season and have to pull out an OT win over a good Illinois State team. They also beat SF Austin on the road, which is a good win. They are battle tested. However, Wofford has a hard to read rushing attack that has not been stopped often this year. They are senior laden in the D-Line and in their rushing attack. They were here last year and won on the road in the playoffs. So I am going with the upset with Wofford. But then again I am an alum.
Enjoy!
Stony Brook vs. Sam Houston St. - Overall #1 Sam Houston should have no problem with Stony Brook. I think Sam Houston is a weak overall #1, but this is one they ought to win.
James Madison vs. North Dakota St. - #2 NDSU is really good and lost one slip up game. They have an accurate QB, and a defense that can play. I know JMU has history, but it was a four loss team.
Old Dominion vs. Georgia Southern - #3 overall Georgia Southern has the toughest opponent of any ranked team in ODU. ODU is 10-2, and used to big games coming out of the CAA. However, Georgia Southern has a rushing attack that is hard to slow down, just ask Alabama. They were number 1 most of the year, and I think they get through.
Central Arkansas vs. Montana - Montana is #4 and playing at home. It is hard to win at Montana. This is a program that has been in 7 of the 16 FCS title games. Central Arkansas looked good last weekend, but this weekend they lose.
New Hampshire vs. Montana St. - This game looks tough on paper. Montana State played well all year, and was briefly the top ranked team until they hit Montana. But New Hampshire is overrated. They avoided ODU and Delaware in the CAA, and lost to Towson and William and Mary on the road. The only big game the won was James Madison at home and an early season overtime victory at Leigh. Montana St.
Maine vs. Appalachin St. - This is not the same App St. team that lost to Wofford and was blown out by Va Tech. They changed their QB and shared the RB duties more, and since then they have looked pretty good. App. should win with ease in Boone.
Leigh vs. Towson - Leigh is on the road, but they have been over looked most of the season. They are on a 9 game win streak, and they beat Yale and Princeton pretty ease this year. Their only loss is the aforementioned overtime loss to New Hampshire. I just don't have faith that surprising Towson can keep it up. Leigh in the upset.
Wofford vs. Northern Iowa - This game is also interesting. UNI had a great season that included only a loss to NDSU and Iowa St both of which were close (a combined total of 9 points). They did struggle in the last game of the season and have to pull out an OT win over a good Illinois State team. They also beat SF Austin on the road, which is a good win. They are battle tested. However, Wofford has a hard to read rushing attack that has not been stopped often this year. They are senior laden in the D-Line and in their rushing attack. They were here last year and won on the road in the playoffs. So I am going with the upset with Wofford. But then again I am an alum.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)