Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - All-Big South quarterback Aramis Hillary
has been outstanding for Coastal Carolina throughout the season.
But the Chanticleers learned something during a tight loss to Stony Brook on
Oct. 13 - they can win by running the ball.
They churned out 201 yards in a defeat that dropped them to 2-4, but haven't
looked back ever since. They've gone over 200 yards on the ground in six
straight wins, including Saturday's 24-14 triumph over Bethune-Cookman in the
FCS playoff first round, which was easier than the final score suggests.
In fact, the four teams that posted wins to reach next Saturday's Round of 16
followed the first-round blueprint of a year ago. They controlled the clock
with a strong run game.
Coastal, which held a 24-0 lead, rushed for 202 yards and held the ball for 34
minutes, 1 second.
Wagner, behind Dominique Williams' 21st career 100-yard game, rushed for 245
yards and held the ball for 35:07 in a 31-20 win over Colgate.
Stony Brook totaled 263 rushing yards behind Miguel Maysonet and Marcus Coker
to stop Villanova, 20-10. The Seawolves held the ball for 39:32.
South Dakota State tore apart Eastern Illinois, 58-10, with 434 rushing yards,
as FCS rushing leader Zach Zenner (295) and Reggie Gandy (151) led the way.
The Jackrabbits held the ball for 37:03.
The four winners will be on the road next Saturday against seeded teams, so a
strong run game can be most effective for taking the crowd out of a game.
Football today may be about passing, but it's not quite being felt in the FCS
this season. The nation's top three rushing attacks - Georgia Southern,
Wofford and Cal Poly, which all run the triple option - remain in the playoff
field and Sam Houston State boasts Timothy Flanders and one of the nation's
better rushing attacks.
Follow the big uglies up front.
FCS PLAYOFF ROUNDUP
A recap of the first-round playoff games can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/c5t5qa6.
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
No teams have more to prove in the playoffs than Appalachian State and Montana
State, who both host second-round games next Saturday.
Of course, it would seem hard to criticize the two perennial powers. App State
has won at least a share of seven of the last eight Southern Conference
championships and Montana State has captured a piece of the last three Big Sky
titles.
But both programs underachieved in the playoffs in 2010 and last season.
App State has as much talent as any team in the FCS, but the pieces don't
always fit together in the big games, especially on defense. After an easy win
over Western Illinois in the 2010 playoffs, the Mountaineers have been blown
out at home in their last two playoff games, first by 18 points to Villanova
in 2010 and then by 22 to Maine last year.
Coach Jerry Moore is 73 and the second-oldest coach in the FCS to Albany's Bob
Ford. He may have lost a step as he works his way toward retirement.
Montana State's most recent losses in the playoffs are worse than App State's.
The Bobcats lost at home by 25 points to North Dakota State two years ago and
then edged New Hampshire by one point in last year's second round before being
mauled by 36 points at Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals.
With a third-year starting quarterback in DeNarius McGhee, a bruising running
game and a stout defense, it's time for Montana State to make a bold statement
in the playoffs.
App State, too.
ATTENDANCE WATCH
Attendance usually drops off in playoff games because of declining weather,
higher ticket prices, the holiday season and a short buildup to the games.
Saturday's attendance figures weren't particularly strong:
Coastal Carolina-Bethune-Cookman: 5,465
Villanova-Stony Brook: 4,905
Eastern Illinois-South Dakota State: 4,367
Colgate-Wagner: 3,032
STOCK RISING, STOCK FALLING
Rising: The Big South Conference validated having two teams in the field with
wins from both Coastal Carolina and Stony Brook.
Falling: Villanova didn't show up offensively against Stony Brook or take
advantage of the Seawolves missing injured quarterback Kyle Essington. It's a
bad start for CAA Football.
FCS AWARDS
The playoffs included 24 players and 12 coaches who are finalists for the four
major awards in the FCS. They are:
Walter Payton Award (outstanding player): Eric Breitenstein (Wofford), Timothy
Flanders (Sam Houston State), Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois), Taylor
Heinicke (Old Dominion), Jamal Jackson (Appalachian State), Erik Lora (Eastern
Illinois), Miguel Maysonet (Stony Brook), Gavin McCarney (Colgate), DeNarius
McGhee (Montana State), Wynrick Smothers (Central Arkansas), Deonte Williams
(Cal Poly) and Zach Zenner (South Dakota State).
Buck Buchanan Award (outstanding defensive player): Matt Evans (New
Hampshire), Jeremy Kimbrough (Appalachian State), Demetrius McCray
(Appalachian State), Brent Russell (Georgia Southern), Caleb Schreibeis
(Montana State), Darnell Taylor (Sam Houston State), Colton Underwood
(Illinois State) and Marcus Williams (North Dakota State).
Jerry Rice Award (freshman of the year): Vernon Adams (Eastern Washington),
T.J. Lally (South Dakota State), Sean Price (Appalachian State) and John
Robertson (Villanova).
Eddie Robinson (coach of the year): Dino Babers (Eastern Illinois), Beau
Baldwin (Eastern Washington), Dick Biddle (Colgate), Craig Bohl (North Dakota
State), Clint Conque (Central Arkansas), Walt Hameline (Wagner), Brian Jenkins
(Bethune-Cookman), Joe Moglia (Coastal Carolina), Chuck Priore (Stony Brook),
Brock Spack (Illinois State), Andy Talley (Villanova) and Tim Walsh (Cal
Poly).
The FCS Awards winners, to be announced Dec. 17, can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/yhv6oh8.
THE PICKS
Last Week's Record: 4-2 (.667)
Season Record: 565-184 (.754)
Saturday, Dec. 1
All Times ET
Regular Season
X-San Diego (7-3, 6-1 Pioneer) at Marist (4-6, 3-4), noon. With a win, the
Toreros will earn a share of the Pioneer Football League title with Butler and
Drake.
Nicholls (1-9) at X-Oregon State (8-3), 2:30 p.m. Thanks, but we're going to
pass on watching this game.
FCS Playoff Second Round
X-Illinois State (8-3) at Appalachian State (8-3), 2 p.m. In a terrific
matchup, Illinois State has the better defense.
Central Arkansas (9-2) at X-No. 5 seed Georgia Southern (8-3), 2 p.m. GSU
quarterback Jerick McKinnon has rushed for over 100 yards in four straight
games.
Coastal Carolina (8-4) at X-No. 4 seed Old Dominion (10-1), 2 p.m. Monarchs
quarterback Taylor Heinicke will throw for, oh, 400-500 yards.
New Hampshire (8-3) at X-Wofford (8-3), 2 p.m. The visiting Wildcats are in
the playoffs for a ninth straight year, but they need to tighten their
defense.
South Dakota State (9-3) at X-No. 1 seed North Dakota State (10-1), 4 p.m. The
defensive blueprint can be found in Fargo, N.D.
Cal Poly (9-2) at X-Sam Houston State (8-3), 4 p.m. The Bearkats are playing a
home game? No way.
Wagner (9-3) at X-No. 2 seed Eastern Washington (9-2), 6 p.m. The Seahawks are
flying 2,600 miles to learn the Eagles sit on a higher perch.
Stony Brook (10-2) at X-No. 3 seed Montana State (10-1), 7 p.m. The Seawolves
probably need quarterback Kyle Essington back in the lineup.
The Sports Network