News/Commentary

FCS Playoff Recap: ETSU Stages Incredible Comeback, Jackson State Wins SWAC

December 5, 2021 by Staff

Villanova and Montana advanced in the FCS playoffs as two of the top 8 seeds won their hosted openers on Friday night. The Wildcats got past Holy Cross 21-16 while the Griz blitzed Eastern Washington 57-41.

The EWU-Montana game outcome defied the stats which had the visiting Eagles gaining 608 yards to Montana's 368, and 32 first downs to 13 for the Griz. Eastern Washington QB Eric Barriere threw 80 passes, completing 47 for 530 yards and 5 TD's in a losing effort. For Montana, Cameron Humphrey was just 11-of-23, but tossed 3 touchdown strikes.

James Madison will host Montana next week after the Dukes rolled 59-20 past Southeastern Louisiana in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday.

Villanova will host South Dakota State after the Jackrabbits won 24-19 at Sacramento State on Saturday night. The 4-seed Hornets were the only seeded team to lose.

The most scintillating game of the postseason, thus far, occurred in Johnson City, Tennessee where ETSU scored two touchdowns in 47 seconds to rally past Kennesaw State 32-31. The Owls led 31-17 before the Buccaneers cut the deficit to 7 Tyler Riddell's 12-yard pass to Will Huzzie with 1:28 to play. After a successful onside kick was recovered at the KSU 48, the Bucs needed just 5 plays to pull within 31-30 with 35 seconds remaining on Riddell's 4-yard pass to Quay Holmes. To put the icing on the cake and secure the victory, ETSU needed to convert a two-point conversion and achieved that with another Riddell's pass - this one to Nate Adkins - for the lead.

North Dakota State will host ETSU next week after the Bison took care of business with a 38-7 home win over Southern Illinois. NDSU chewed up 389 yards on the ground.

Sam Houston State stopped Incarnate Word 1-yard shy of its goal line with 8 seconds left to preserve a 49-42 win. The Bearkats opened a 31-10 lead in the first half, only to give it all away and fall behind on the first play of the fourth quarter, 35-34. But they recaptured the lead with a 13-play drive and converted the 2-point play for a 42-35 lead. The Cardinals came right back with a 62-yard TD pass on the second-play of their ensuing possession to know the game at 42.  Sam Houston State used another long 12-play, 75-yard drive to go ahead 49-42 on QB Eric Schmid's 3-yard run with 2:07 remaining in what ultimately proved to be the game-winner. In the valiant upset effort, Word QB Cameron Ward threw for 481 yards with 5 TD passes and 0 INT's on a 39-of-61 performance.

Montana State will visit Sam Houston State next week after the Bobcats eliminated UT Martin with a 26-7 win Bozeman to give the Treasure State 25% of the final 8 teams in the playoff.

Jackson State won the SWAC title as Deion Sanders' Tigers defeated Prairie View A&M 27-10 in Jackson. Isaiah Bolden had a 91-yard KO return for a touchdown, Peytton Picket ran for 107 yards and a score, and Shedeur Sanders threw a TD pass Malachi Wideman.  Now 11-1, Jackson State will take a 9-game winning streak to Atlanta to face South Carolina State (6-5) in the Celebration Bowl on December 18. The only loss was a 12-7 setback at FBS member UL-Monroe on September 18.

NCAA Playoffs

All games on ESPN+. All times eastern.

Dates/Sites/Pairings/Scores of 2nd-Round Games

NOTE: Computer pick is based on the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com

December 3 at Philadelphia, Pennyslvania, 7 p.m.
(5) Villanova (10-2) 21, Holy Cross (10-3) 16

December 3 at Missoula, Montana, 9 p.m.
(6) Montana (10-2)  57, Eastern Washington (10-3) 41

December 4 at Johnson City, Tennessee, 2 p.m.
(7) ETSU (11-1) 32, Kennesaw State (11-2) 31

December 4 at Harrisonburg, Virginia, 2 p.m.
(3) James Madison (11-1) 59, SE Louisiana (9-4) 20

December 4  at Huntsville, Texas, 3 p.m
(1) Sam Houston State (11-0) 49, Incarnate Word (10-3) 42

December 4 at Fargo, North Dakota, 3:30 p.m.
(2) North Dakota State (11-1) 38, Southern Illinois (8-5) 7

December 4  at Bozeman, Montana, 4 p.m.
(8) Montana State (10-2) 26, UT-Martin (10-3) 7

December 4 at Sacramento, California 9 p.m.
South Dakota State (10-3) 24, (4) Sacramento State (9-3) 19

1st Round 2nd Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
(at Frisco, TX)
UT Martin 32
Missouri State 31
 UT-Martin 7
(8) Montana State 25
      
    (8 Montana State
(1) Sam Houston State		    
Stephen F. Austin 28
Incarnate Word 35
 Incarnate Word 42
(1) Sam Houston State 49		      
         
UC Davis 24
South Dakota State 56		 South Dakota State 24
(4) Sacramento State 19		      
    South Dakota State
(5) Villanova		    
Sacred Heart 10
Holy Cross 13		 Holy Cross 16
(5) Villanova 21		      
         
Northern Iowa 10
Eastern Washington 19		 Eastern Washington 41
(6) Montana 57		      
    (6) Montana
(3) James Madison		    
Florida A&M 14
SE Louisiana 38
 SE Louisiana 20
(3) James Madison 59		      
         
Davidson 21
Kennesaw State 48
 Kennesaw State 31
(7) ETSU 32
      
    (7) ETSU
(2) NDSU		    
Southern Illinois 22
South Dakota 10
 Southern Illinois  7
(2) NDSU 38		      

FCS vs. FBS

2 teams played 2 FCS teams this fall (UConn and UMass), and 115 teams played 1 FCS school for a total of 117 such matchups.

The FBS finishes the season is 105-12 vs. the FCS. Since we began tracking this in 2003, the FBS teams are 1,574-140 (.918).

Last year, 30 FBS teams played a total of just 34 games against FCS schools and the FCS won just 1 game (1-33). That honor also went to Jacksonville State with its 19-10 victory over FIU.

Here are the FCS wins in 2021:
September 2: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
September 2: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2 OT)
September 3: South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
September 4: Holy Cross 38, UConn 28September 4: Montana 13, Washington 7
September 4: ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
September 11: Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
September 11: Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17.
September 18: Incarnate Word 42, Texas State 34.
September 18: Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19
November 6: Rhode Island 35, Massachusetts 22
November 13: Maine 35, Massachusetts 10

This was the only FCS win vs. the FBS in 2020:
October 23: Jacksonville State 19, FIU 10

In 2019, FBS teams were 111-3 (.974) in such games. These were the only FCS wins that season:
August 29: Central Arkansas 35, Western Kentucky 28
September 7: Southern Illinois 45, Massachusetts 20
September 14: The Citadel 27, Georgia Tech 24 (OT)

Streaks

SAM HOUSTON STATE - Won 22 straight games overall (FCS longest).
Last: Won 49-42 at home over Incarnate Word in NCAA Playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Next: Hosts Montana State in Semifinal.

ALCORN STATE - Won 13 straight home games (FCS longest).
Last: Lost 24-10 at Jackson State on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (6-5)

MONMOUTH - Had won 16 straight conference games (was FCS longest).
Last: Lost 49-17 at Kennesaw State on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (7-4)

DARTMOUTH - Won 11 straight road games (FCS longest).
Last: Won 52-31 at Brown on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (9-1) Ivy League champs.

TEXAS SOUTHERN - Lost 18 straight road games (FCS longest).
Last: Lost 24-21 at Alabama State on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (3-8)

YOUNGSTOWN STATE - End road losing streak at 17 games (was tied for FCS longest).
Last: Won 35-18 at Southern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (3-7).

BUTLER - Snapped 14-game conference losing streak (was FCS longest)..
Last: Won 28-21 at Marist on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (3-8).

WAGNER - Lost 20 straight overall (FCS longest).
LAST: Lost 44-0 at home vs. Duquesne on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Next: Season complete (0-11).