FCS Football Week 5 Breakdown
Welcome to the second month of the Football Championship Series season.
If it is as entertaining as the first month was, we're in for some seriously good football as the leaves fall off the trees on most college campuses.
One shoe dropped last week when James Madison knocked off William and Mary, the No. 2 ranked team in the country. Appalachian State's shoes still fit for now, but another rough test is on the horizon as the Mountaineers attempt to keep that top spot.
Appalachian State's game is one of three top 25 matchups this week. Let's take a look at these top games and a couple others with significance:
NO. 1 APPALACHIAN STATE AT NO. 5 WOFFORD (3 p.m. Saturday at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.)
The top team in the nation survived a huge test against up-and-coming Chattanooga, and the Tennessee-based opponents proved they belonged in postseason discussion even though Chattanooga only lost 14-12. Potential playoff preview? It could be. For now, the Mountaineers travel to South Carolina, where they will have their hands full with a Wofford offense that has produced 355.7 yards rushing per game (second in the NCAA) and 481.67 yards total offense (sixth in the nation). Appalachian State (2-1, 1-0 Southern Conference) does hold a 17-10 edge in the overall series, and it won last year in convincing style with a 43-13 victory. It took a 46-yard fumble return by Jeremy Kimbrough to seal Appalachian State's win. Quarterback DeAndre Presley led the way with 195 total yards (143 passing, 52 rushing), and Travaris Cadet (63 rushing yards) and Brian Quick (65 receiving yards) also contributed. Wofford (3-1, 1-0) ground out 443 yards on 65 attempts in a 38-23 win over Samford to start the Southern Conference season. Watch out for the triple threat of Donovan Johnson (173 yards, one touchdown), Eric Breitenstein (126 yards, three touchdowns) and Mitch Allen (110 yards, one touchdown), as those three made Samford's night a living hell last week.
NO. 17 JAMES MADISON AT NO. 8 RICHMOND (3:30 p.m. Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va.)
It is homecoming in Harrisonburg this weekend, and there has been a double reason to celebrate for James Madison. The Colonial Athletic Association may be one of the toughest FCS conferences around and last week certainly proved that. The Dukes knocked off then No. 2 William and Mary last week, 20-14, on the strength of two Cameron Starke field goals (26 and 34 yards), running back Dae'Quan Scott (26 carries, 112 yards, one touchdown) and the dual-purpose threat of quarterback Justin Thorpe (81 rushing, 69 passing yards). James Madison (3-1, 1-0 CAA) survived the throwing arm of W&M quarterback Michael Graham, who tossed for 215 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked four times. That Dukes defense will be vital once again in order to stop a high-scoring Richmond squad. The Spiders (3-1, 0-1) lost a heartbreaking 45-43 slugfest to New Hampshire last week, but they have won three straight times in Harrisonburg and have not lost consecutive games in a regular season since 2006. Wide receiver Tre Gray is among the top receivers in the nation with 8.5 catches and 126 receiving yards per game. He had 16 catches and 194 yards against New Hampshire, and the Dukes need to stop Gray if they have any chance of winning this game.
NO. 24 SACRAMENTO STATE AT NO. 4 MONTANA STATE (3:35 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Mont.)
At first glance, a win over Eastern Washington would look impressive. The catch? Only if that win came in the first week or two of the season. Montana State's 36-21 win last week looks less stellar now that we know Eastern Washington isn't the same team that won last year's FCS Championship game. Still, Montana State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky Conference) isn't taking this game lightly. Two things: Like with James Madison's game, it is Montana State's homecoming. There is no way the Bobcats will want to roll over now. Sacramento State (2-2, 1-1) broke a two-game losing streak with a 42-28 win over Montana, ranked 10th in the FCS poll this week. The Bobcats must respect both the run and the pass in this game. Sacramento State had 238 rushing and 224 passing yards in victory a week ago, so if both parts of the offense come out blazing it could be a long day in Bozeman. Bryan Hilliard (22 carries, 100 yards) and Morris Norrise (six catches, 96 yards) were shut out of the scoring despite leading their stat categories. The big honors went to quarterback Jeff Fleming with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns, not to mention 59 rushing yards and two more scores. Montana State's big weapon is one foot: kicker Jason Cunningham booted five field goals, two from 55 yards out, as the Bobcats became the first team to win on Eastern Washington's red turf. It was Montana State's first win at EWU since 1990. DeNarius McGhee ran for 77 yards and a touchdown and passed for 161 yards and a score, but EWU sacked him three times and picked him off once.
NO. 3 GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT ELON (1:30 p.m. Saturday at Rhodes Stadium in Elon, N.C.)
The Southern Conference may well be the equivalent of the Big East in college basketball. Not every game is going to be difficult, but some might be more so than others. Although Elon is not ranked, it could be a potential pitfall for a Georgia Southern team seeking its best conference start since 2004. The Phoenix (3-1, 1-0) needed four field goals, including a game-winning 33-yard kick by Adam Shreiner, to hold off The Citadel 18-15 a week ago. Elon has won three of the last four meetings, and this one could be low-scoring. Georgia Southern (3-0, 2-0) has the second-best FCS offense in the country (48.3 points per game), but Elon's defense is ranked fifth and gives up 23 points a game. One team will have to give up something. Although the Eagles ran for 634 yards last week in a 52-20 win over Western Carolina, this is an entirely different game. Elon will have trouble stopping a four-pronged rushing attack that includes Ezazi Youyoute (119 yards last week), J.J. Wilcox (115), Jerick McKinnon (114) and Robert Brown (99). Oh, and did we mention Georgia Southern plays Chattanooga next week? Yes, the Eagles likely are not looking ahead, but it's the classic trap game. There is never an easy day in this league.
TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO AT NO. 12 SAM HOUSTON STATE (7 p.m. Saturday at Elliott Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Ala.)
This will not be a contest for Sam Houston, as the Bearkats (3-0, 1-0 Southland Conference) are going up against a non-conference opponent and a first-year football program to boot. So why include this game? Just to tell people to keep an eye on Sam Houston State, which knocked off New Mexico in a 48-45 thriller last week. Beating any Football Bowl Series team is impressive, and the Bearkats could be a sleeper team in the FCS playoffs if they keep flying under the radar. It was the first time since 2001 that Sam Houston knocked off an FBS program. Sam Houston gained 373 rushing yards last week, its highest output in 20 years. Running back Tim Flanders had 30 carries, 194 yards and five touchdowns against New Mexico and is quickly becoming a go-to threat for the Bearkats.
