FCS Football Week 11 Breakdown
Here we are, down to the final two weeks of the 2011 Football Championship Subdivision regular season, and there are still several big battles yet to be fought. There are only two top-25 matchups this week, but both will go a long way toward deciding two conference races and the playoff picture for the FCS teams that qualify. There are also a few other games on the horizon that involve tough tests or could throw monkey wrenches into other league races.
#4 GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT #5 WOFFORD (3 p.m. Saturday at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
The Southern Conference race will go down to the final week of the season, but the identity of its leader could change based on what happens this week. Georgia Southern (8-1, 6-1) is a half-game ahead of Wofford (7-2, 5-1) in the standings, and if Wofford wins it would take sole possession of first place heading into the final week of the season. This is Georgia Southern’s final regular-season game in the conference, because the Eagles close the year with a non-league matchup at Alabama. Georgia Southern is coming off a gigantic scare a week ago, as The Citadel almost caught the Eagles napping before Georgia Southern woke up and won 14-12. A 14-yard run by Nico Hickey with 3:53 to go in the second quarter was the last score, and it put the Eagles on top to stay. Jaybo Shaw threw for 129 yards in the GSU win. Wofford can win the league title by beating Georgia Southern and Chattanooga in the final two weeks. Wofford topped Western Carolina, 42-24, behind 136 yards and two rushing touchdowns by Donovan Johnson and 112 yards and one touchdown by Eric Breitenstein.
#10 NEW HAMPSHIRE AT #12 TOWSON (3:30 p.m. Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland)
Which conference is likely to have the wildest finish of the year? Look no further than the CAA, where it seems like there is one big game per week lately. The next two weeks are no exception. Maine, New Hampshire and Towson sport identical 5-1 league records (and 7-2 overall marks), and all three schools are a half-game ahead of Old Dominion in the CAA standings. Towson is coming off a wild 40-30 victory over Maine, which dealt the Black Bears their first league loss of the season, and New Hampshire closes its season with a game against Maine. This is going to be a great finish. New Hampshire extended its winning streak to three games with a 28-10 win over James Madison as Kevin Decker threw for 186 yards and one touchdown and Dontra Peters had 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Look out for defensive standout Matt Evans, who led New Hampshire with 17 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Towson overcame a lackluster night from quarterback Grant Enders, who was sacked three times by Maine, as running backs Terrance West and Tremayne Dameron combined for 292 yards and four touchdowns.
#18 TENNESSEE TECH AT EASTERN KENTUCKY (Noon Saturday at Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky)
Just because one team is unranked doesn’t mean the game can’t be fun, right? The Ohio Valley Conference is on the line here as unranked Eastern Kentucky (6-3, 5-1) is one game ahead of Tennessee Tech (5-3, 4-2) in the OVC standings. Eastern Kentucky has won 50 of the 67 matchups between these teams, and Eastern Kentucky won last year’s matchup 42-29. While these stats favor the Colonels, that doesn’t mean the game is an afterthought. After all, Tennessee Tech could put up a battle, as evidenced by last week’s 38-37 loss to Murray State in another OVC showdown. Dontey Gay had 89 yards rushing and three touchdowns for the Eagles, while quarterback Tre Lamb passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns despite missing on half his throws. The Colonels survived a slugfest with Jacksonville State last week as both defenses went out the window in a 52-48 victory. Eastern Kentucky trailed by 24 points halfway through the fourth quarter before rallying for the unbelievable win. Don’t be surprised to see points a plenty in this game.
#24 JACKSON STATE AT ALABAMA A&M (2 p.m. Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama)
The Southwestern Athletic Conference only has one ranked team in the top 25, Jackson State, but that doesn’t reduce the significance of this matchup. The SWAC East is up for grabs as Alabama A&M carries a 6-1 record in SWAC play while Jackson State is 5-2. Keep in mind Jackson State cannot take part in the SWAC championship game because of low academic progress, but don’t let that take anything away from enjoying a battle for the SWAC East lead. Alabama State is 7-1 and in front of the division, by the way. Jackson State is coming off its second loss in league play, a 26-23 defeat at the hands of Grambling State. Quarterback Casey Therriault, who threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns while suffering three sacks at the hands of Grambling’s defense, is the catalyst for the offense. Alabama A&M is coming off a 28-14 victory over Alcorn State, spotlighted by a 158-yard, one-touchdown effort from running back Kaderius Lacey.
ALBANY AT MONMOUTH (Noon Saturday at Kessler Field in West Long Branch, New Jersey)
Since this week lacks a lot of spotlight games, let’s shine the light on the Northeast Conference for a second. Albany is normally a member of the America East Conference, but since it has football it is also an associate member of the NEC. Albany and Duquesne are tied atop the NEC with identical 5-1 records, a game ahead of Bryant and Monmouth. This game could go a long way toward deciding who gets the NEC’s automatic bid, but there is one more week of football after this and Albany does have the upper hand, having beaten Duquesne 38-10 earlier this season. Albany (6-3 overall) saw its six-game win streak snapped last week at the hands of Bryant, 31-17, as quarterback Dan Di Lella threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns but suffered two interceptions and three sacks at the hands of Bryant’s defense. Monmouth survived a thriller against St. Francis (Pa.) and won 48-45. Julian Hayes had 128 yards and four touchdowns for Monmouth, including the go-ahead 7-yard score with 7:26 to go in the game.
Week 11 Football Breakdown Page
