eGriz
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Big Sky football notebook: PSU coach seeks assist from above (Missoulian).
Returns Home To Face #4 Montana (PSU).
---
Griz No. 4 in Sports Network's I-AA College Football Poll (TSN).
Harmon Forecasts and the TSN Top 25; Portland St 20, Montana 17.
I-AA Review: Week Eight (Coulson, I-AA.Org).
Griz at Portland State: I-AA.org TV Game of the Week (I-AA.org).
***
Vote for Monte as Mascot of the Year!
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***
Big Sky football notebook: PSU coach seeks assist from above
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/10/26/sports/sports02. txt
When the Montana Grizzlies, the Big Sky co-leaders, travel to Portland State on
Saturday, they'll find a football team seeking answers -- and, in the case of Coach
Tim Walsh, a better class of karma.
"If there are football gods, I don't think they are with Portland State right now,"
Walsh told the Arizona Daily Sun after Northern Arizona, erasing a 10-point deficit
in the final seven minutes, edged his Vikings 21-20 last Saturday. "I don't want to
take anything away from the team that we played, because they had more points than
we did. But for large percentages of the game, they were outplayed."
It was the same song, second verse for the Vikings, who for the second straight game
were beaten on the road in the final seconds after failing to hold a commanding
second-half lead. The week before, Montana State scored the tying touchdown as time
expired, then won in overtime.
PSU (3-4, 1-3) fell from conference and playoff contention with its third Big Sky
loss in four weeks, while NAU (4-3, 3-1) remained in the hunt heading into a
critical home game against conference co-leader Montana State.
A 55-yard touchdown run by Ryan Fuqua boosted PSU ahead 20-10 late in the third
quarter, but the Vikings failed to extend their lead when kicker Eric Azorr's
field-goal attempt bounced off the left upright. The Vikings' next possession ended
on a safety, sparking NAU's run of 11 unanswered points that continued with a short
TD run by Roger Robinson and, following a successful onside kick, Paul Ernster's
winning 48-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining.
"To be honest, I never thought we'd lose," Walsh said. "I told (the Vikings) that
nobody says life is fair, in football or other things that you do."
Walsh's lament to the gods will sound familiar to longtime Grizzly fans. Then
Montana basketball coach Mike Montgomery, who went on to Stanford and the Golden
State Warriors, made a similar comment in 1986 after losing the Big Sky championship
to Montana State.
NAU's safety will loom large should Coach Jerome Souers' Lumberjacks advance to the
playoffs for a second straight year.
PSU led 20-10 when quarterback Joe Wiser dropped back on third-and-11 from his own
6-yard line. The play collapsed and Wiser, circling back to try and find space to
get rid of the football, stepped on the end line for a safety with 7:02 remaining.
Just like that, it was 20-12.
Blitzing linebacker Vince Henman, who helped trap Wiser, credited a new defensive
scheme for the game-turning play.
"We ran a pressure that we hadn't run all year," said Henman, a senior from Laurel
who led NAU with 12 tackles, including three sacks. "It's real tough to pick up from
the outside edge because we've got three guys coming into one gap. So the
(offensive) tackle's got to make up his mind about who he's going to block. Then the
running back has to pick up someone else, so someone's always free."
In this case, it was Henman.
"The play got eaten up. I tried to get outside and throw it away," Wiser said. "I
didn't feel like I was that deep in the end zone. I felt I still had room. ... That
was obviously the play of the night."
Portland State dominated the game for most of the first three quarters.
PSU running backs Joe Rubin (133 yards) and Ryan Fuqua (90) found plenty of room
behind an offensive line that started 17-year-old freshman Brennan Carvalho at guard
in place of injured Steve Blatchley.
"They were going to shove it down our throats with the run, we just had to shove
back," said NAU linebacker Sean Sovacool.
The Lumberjacks did that to some extent. They managed 130 yards rushing themselves,
although 50 of them came on one snap, a TD burst by Philo Sanchez.
Eastern Washington has no shortage of quality running backs. With seniors Darius
Washington and Reggie Witherspoon nursing injuries, sophomore Dezmon Cole rushed for
199 yards in the Eagles' 51-7 victory at winless Weber State.
Cole, making his first career start, busted loose on a 67-yard TD run to open the
second half. True freshman Toke Kefu added 89 yards rushing and EWU, rebounding from
a 31-28 loss to Montana, totaled 295 on the ground.
"It doesn't surprise me," said EWU coach Paul Wulff. "He (Cole) had a great fall
camp, and just didn't get the opportunity yet this year. We know he has some
ability. If he realizes he's the guy that day, he's going to play well."
Montana State's 1984 national champions held a 20th anniversary reunion last weekend
in Bozeman.
Among the former players in attendance at Saturday's 27-24 win over South Dakota
State were Mark Fellows, Joe Roberts, the Timmer brothers and the Kimball boys.
Their coach, Dave Arnold, now an assistant under Sonny Lubick at Colorado State, was
also on hand since CSU played on Friday night (defeating Wyoming).
Joe Bignell, the star tight end on that '84 Bobcat team, couldn't make the game, but
had an age-old Montana excuse. Bignell, a prep standout at Deer Lodge, was on
horseback on the family ranch near Avon.
"Joe, who was here (Friday) night, couldn't be in attendance today because he was
moving cattle," MSU coach Mike Kramer told the Great Falls Tribune.
Quick kicks: EWU's 44-point margin of victory was its widest against a I-AA team
since 1994. ... EWU's Eric Kimble caught only one pass, but scored on a 73-yard punt
return. He has 31 TDs in 29 career games. ... Sacramento State forced six turnovers,
but netted just seven points from them in a 29-24 loss at Idaho State. Sac State,
limited to a net 37 yards rushing, is 0-5 in Big Sky road games under Coach Steve
Mooshagian. ... Sophomore QB Ian Pizzaro, making his first career start for Weber
State, was sacked nine times by EWU. Welcome to the Big Sky, kid. ... Weber (0-8)
has matched the 1975 Wildcats for the worst start in school history. ... MSU senior
tight end Blake Wolf, primarily known as a blocker, had 11 catches for 137 yards and
a TD against South Dakota State. That was just one fewer catch than Wolf had all of
last season.
***
Returns Home To Face #4 Montana
Portland State University
Montana Grizzlies (6-1, 3-0)
at
Portland State Vikings (3-4, 1-3)
Oct. 30, 2004 * 3:35 p.m. * PGE Park, Portland, OR
TELEVISION: None, KPAX in Montana
RADIO: KPOJ 620 AM (Portland), and www.620kpoj.com
Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Analyst: Matt James
Pregame Show: 2:30 p.m.
THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time: Montana leads 21-10 * Big Sky: Montana leads 7-1
Montana leads at Portland 10-7 * Montana leads at Missoula 11-3
Montana has won four in a row and eight of the last nine meetings.
1965: UM 33-7 @ Portland
1966: UM 10-0 @ Missoula
1967: UM 55-7 @ Portland
1968: UM 58-0 @ Missoula
1969: UM 49-14 @ Portland
1970: UM 31-25 @ Missoula
1971: PSU 36-29 @ Portland
1974: UM 24-14 @ Portland
1975: UM 33-16 @ Missoula
1976: PSU 50-49 @ Portland
1977: UM 40-25 @ Missoula
1978: PSU 27-16 @ Portland
1979: PSU 40-32 @ Missoula
1980: PSU 29-0 @ Portland
1981: UM 33-3 @ Missoula
1982: PSU 35-28 @ Portland
1983: UM 35-19 @ Missoula
1984: UM 17-16 @ Portland
1985: PSU 21-16 @ Missoula
1986: UM 35-14 @ Portland
1987: PSU 20-3 @ Missoula
1988: PSU 21-0 @ Portland
1989: UM 30-21 @ Missoula
1996: UM 63-6 @ Missoula
1997: UM 37-7 @ Portland
1998: UM 20-17 @ Missoula
1999: PSU 51-48 @ Portland (OT)
2000: UM 33-21 @ Portland
2001: UM 33-13 @ Missoula
2002: UM 24-21 @ Portland
2003: UM 42-14 @ Missoula
STREAKS
* Portland State is 2-1 at home this year and 24-8 at home since the start of the
1999 season.
* PSU has lost four in a row to the Grizzlies.
PSU's last home win: 9/25/04 vs. McNeese State, 35-14
PSU's last home loss: 10/2/04 vs. Eastern Washington, 41-21
* Montana is 2-1 on the road this year and was 3-2 on the road last year.
* The Grizzlies have won four games in a row, two in a row on the road.
UM's last road win: 10/16/04 @ Eastern Washington, 31-28
UM's last road loss: 9/18/04 @ Sam Houston State, 41-29
LAST YEAR
12th-ranked Montana had a huge fourth quarter to pull away from the Vikings in
Missoula, 42-14. PSU outgained the Grizzlies in the first half but trailed 20-7 at
intermission. The Vikings pulled within 20-14 by the end of the third period, but
Montana put up 22 fourth-quarter points to make the game a rout.
NEMESIS, THY NAME IS MONTANA Throughout history, Portland State has faced Montana
more than any other school - 31 times - and as a result, have lost more games to
Montana - 21 - than any other school. PSU has had some memorable moments during 10
victories over the Grizzlies - most notably a 50-49 win in 1976 and a 51-48 overtime
win in 1999.
VIKINGS MUST PUT EMOTIONAL LOSSES BEHIND THEM AND STAND UP TO ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST
The Portland State Vikings are coming off two of the most difficult losses a team
can face over the past two weeks. But, they must put all that behind them and face
no less a team than fourth-ranked Montana (coming off a bye week) this Saturday at
PGE Park. Kickoff for Saturday's game, PSU's first at home since Oct. 2, is 3:35
p.m.
PSU suffered a 21-20 setback at Northern Arizona on Saturday after leading 20-10
midway through the fourth period. An NAU field goal with 12 seconds remaining
spelled the Vikings' doom. That came a week after losing to Montana State in
overtime, 31-24, after leading 21-10 in the fourth period. Both losses came on the
road against last year's Big Sky co-champions and put PSU at 3-4 on the season. With
a 1-3 Big Sky Conference record, Portland State must now settle for playing the
spoiler's role the rest of the season.
This Saturday would be an excellent time to start as the Vikings host Montana (6-1,
3-0). PSU has lost the last four meetings with the Grizzlies. The last time PSU beat
Montana - in 1999 - the Grizzlies were ranked second in the nation.
PSU will play for a winning season and its best record in three seasons as it plays
three of the final four at home. After Montana, the Vikings host Idaho State (2-5,
1-3) on Nov. 6, travel to Weber State (0-8, 0-5) on Nov. 13, then host a
non-conference game with UC Davis (5-2) on Nov. 20.
NEW GAME TIMES
Portland State will move its next two home games (Montana, Idaho State) to 3:35 p.m.
It will be a change from the traditional starting time for PSU football (6:05 p.m.)
to be more accommodating to families and because of the normal downturn in the
weather.
The Vikings final home game of the season, Nov. 20 vs. UC-Davis, will kickoff at
12:05 p.m. The early start is intended to avoid conflict with the annual Civil War
game (Oregon vs. Oregon State at 3:30 p.m.).
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Montana has continued its tradition of being one of the finest teams in the nation
at the 1-AA level. The Grizzlies enter Saturday's game ranked fourth at 6-1 overall,
3-0 in the Big Sky Conference.
Senior quarterback Craig Ochs has had a great season, completing 63% of his passes
for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ochs leads an offense that has been great at
taking care of the ball. Montana has just six turnovers and a Big Sky-leading +11
turnover margin.
Jefferson Heidelberger leads the team with 38 catches for 612 yards and five
touchdowns. Justin Green and Lex Hilliard have shared backfield duties, combining
for 677 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Linebacker Shane McIntyre has been having a banner year on defense. McIntyre leads
the team with 46 tackles. He also has seven tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries
and an interception. Cornerback Kevin Edwards leads the team with four
interceptions.
The Grizzlies have struggled to stop teams on defense. Among 120 Division 1-AA
teams, Montana ranks 117th in pass defense (330.4 allowed per game) and 113th in
total defense (448.9 allowed per game). The key has been holding opponents to an
average of 24.4 points which ranks 62nd in the nation, and creating 17 turnovers. In
the Big Sky, the Grizzlies are first in rushing defense (118.4 ypg, and just a
half-yard better than the Vikings), but last in passing defense (330.4).
COACH WALSH SAYS
ON THE LOSS TO NORTHERN ARIZONA: "It was probably tougher to take this loss (than
last week's), because we really kicked their rear ends for 58 minutes. But, we also
hurt ourselves with a couple of penalties and a lack of execution in the latter part
of the game where we could have finished it."
"As for effort, being ready to play, rebounding off an emotional loss, these guys
deserved a better reward. It's tough, because we preach preparation and playing hard
and good things will happen. We are doing those things, but for whatever reason good
things are not happening for us."
ON FACING MONTANA THIS WEEK: "It's my hope that we will be excited to play the
number four team in the country and prove we are a good football team. We have put
ourselves in position the last two weeks and not finished games. Hopefully, we will
have that same intensity and will that we brought to the games the last couple of
weeks. If we do, my expectation is we will have a better result at the end."
"Montana has the best defensive line in the Big Sky. Their rush defense is ranked
first and their pass defense is last. It's a conundrum."
YOU READ IT RIGHT...
The University of Montana's Athletic Director, Don Read, is a former Grizzlies head
football coach. Read coached 10 seasons (1986-95) compiling an 85-36 record and
leading Montana to its first national championship in 1995. But, did you know that
Read also spent nine seasons as Portland State's head coach in two different stints?
Read coached the Vikings from 1968 to 1971 and 1981 to 1985 compiling a career mark
of 39-52-1.
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
* Every Thursday night, Viking Sports Talk will be broadcast on 620 AM KPOJ from 7
to 8 p.m. Tom Hewitt hosts the live event from Champions Sports Bar at 1401 SW Naito
Parkway. Tim Walsh will preview and review games, and there will be special guests,
including other PSU Head Coaches. Fans are welcome to attend.
* Portland State's pregame tailgate party takes place before every home game in
front of the Kingston Bar and Grill, at SW Morrison between 20th and 21st. It starts
two hours prior to each game.
* The Viking Family Fun Zone will open on the field one hour prior to every home
game and continue through the second quarter. There will be giant inflatables and
interactive games that kids, and kids at heart will love. Other activities include
bouncers to jump on, football toss, basketball, soccer, and other games.
QUICK SNAPS
* WINS AND LOSSES: The Lumberjacks have now beaten the Vikings three straight
times... with the NCAA 1-AA playoffs now out of the picture, the Vikings will
compete to improve on last season's 4-7 record and possibly the 6-5 mark of 2002.
PSU will have a strong chance to accomplish both as it plays three of its final four
games at home, with the road game at 0-8 Weber State.
* JOLTIN' JOE RUMBLES THROUGH THE 'JACKS: JR RB Joe Rubin has made two starts this
season and, with his physical, brusing running style, has really taken advantage of
his opportunity. In starts against Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona - two of
the better teams in the Big Sky Conference - Rubin has 59 carries for 300 yards and
two touchdowns. On the season, Rubin has a career-high 426 rushing yards and four
TDs. Rubin has two 100-yard games this year and three in his career... PSU rushed
for 213 yards against Northern Arizona, and has totaled at least 116 in every game
this year.
* KICKING IT UP A NOTCH: SO K Eric Azorr's career is still young, but he already
finds himself on the all-time field goals made list at PSU. Azorr made two of three
kicks at Northern Arizona to raise his season total to six and career total to
eight. That places him 10th all-time... Azorr is 6-9 on field goals this year and
24-24 on extra points... Azorr's career-long 49-yard field goal against Sacramento
State (Oct. 9) was the longest by a Viking in 15 years.
* TEAM LEADERS: JR WR Shaun Bodiford caught five passes for 93 against Northern
Arizona. It was the highest receiving yard total by a Viking this year and the third
straight game that Bodiford has made five catches. He leads the team with 29
receptions for 409 yards this season... SR RB Ryan Fuqua has a team-leading 607
rushing yards and six touchdowns... JR LB Joey King and SR LB Tolo Tuitele lead the
Vikings with 49 tackles each... SR DT Chuck Jones leads the Vikings with seven
tackles for loss and four sacks... SO CBs Dominic Dixon and Odell Jackson each have
five pass breakups, while SR SS Nick Chenault leads the team with three
interceptions.
* BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State continues to lead the Big Sky Conference in
scoring defense (19.1), total defense (328.4), pass efficiency defense (100.7
rating), third-down defense (38-111), fourth down conversions (8-13), and fewest
sacks allowed (10).
* DON'T CONFUSE HIM WITH LOU: Well, first of all he weighs about 100 pounds less
than the former body-building champion and Incredible Hulk actor. And secondly, it's
pronounced "fer-EEN-yo". That said, SO WR/PR Brendan Ferrigno has been coming on of
late. With 25 more punt return yards against Northern Arizona, Ferrigno now has 462
career yards - second best in PSU history. With 264 punt return yards this year,
Ferrigno ranks third on PSU's season-best list. The PSU career record is 490, held
by Roger Daniels, and the season record is 303, held by Brian Coushay.
* ACHES AND PAINS: SR CB Reynard Carrie (broken ankle), SO OL Steve Blatchley (ankle
sprain) SR DE Kevin Keanaaina (shoulder) SR WR Erik Selden (ankle sprain) and FR FS
Jordan Senn (left thumb) did not play for the Vikings against Northern Arizona.
Blatchley, Keanaaina, Senn and Selden will be questionable for this week's game.
* CURTIS RECEIVES HULA BOWL INVITATION: Portland State tight end Tony Curtis has
received an invitation to participate in the Hula Bowl Maui on January 22, 2005. He
is the first Viking to receive an invitation since running back Charles Dunn took
part following the 2000 season. Curtis is a 6-6, 250-pound senior from Seaside,
California. He attended Seaside High School and Fresno City College. This season,
Curtis has started three games, catching four passes for 47 yards. Last year, he had
nine receptions for 79 yards. The Hula Bowl Maui is a post-season all-star game
featuring the top senior football players in the nation and serves as a valuable
observational tool for NFL scouts. It will be played at 4 p.m. PT on January 22nd.
It can be seen on ESPN and heard on the Westwood One Radio Network.
RECORD RUSH
Portland State is now in its ninth season as a member of the Big Sky Conference - a
football league that is 42 years old. In PSU's brief history in The Sky, it has
produced two of the finest running backs in league history, Charles Dunn and Ryan
Fuqua. That pair has spent the past eight years (Dunn redshirted in 1996 - PSU's
first season in the Big Sky) running over, around, and on top of conference
opponents. They rank among the top five rushers in league history and, on Fuqua's
current pace, should be two of the top three all-time in league history. Both were
Big Sky Newcomers of the Year as freshmen. Dunn was three times named first team
All-Big Sky, earning second team as a freshman. Fuqua has been both second team and
honorable mention in his career.
Speaking of Fuqua's career numbers, he currently leads all active players in rushing
yards, and all-purpose yards. He has moved up to second in total touchdowns and
carries, and has moved up to fourth in rushing yards per game, and fifth in rushing
touchdowns sicne the start of the season.
RYAN FUQUA AMONG ACTIVE NCAA 1-AA PLAYERS
Rushing yards: 4,316, 2nd
Total carries: 848, 2nd
Rushing yards per game: 110.7, 4th
Rushing touchdowns: 38, t4th
All-Purpose yards: 5,925, 1st
Total touchdowns: 44, 3rd-tie
*** ***
Southern Illinois maintains top billing
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/news/AGN3567319.htm
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - After a third straight double-digit victory, the
Southern Illinois Salukis sit atop The Sports Network I-AA top 25 for the sixth
straight week and seventh time this season. The Salukis' defense held Southwest
Missouri State to three points in a 27-3 win and has allowed just five points in two
conference road games this season. The Salukis captured 79 of a possible 102
first-place votes and earned 2, 518 points. Southern Illinois (7-1) hosts Western
Illinois in a Gateway Conference game this Saturday.
Georgia Southern remained at No. 2 after winning easily again, defeating The
Citadel, 42-7. Delaware stayed at No. 3 by holding off No. 14 William & Mary, 31-28.
No. 4 Montana had a bye, while Cal Poly moved into the top five with a 13-10 win at
North Dakota State. The Mustangs are one of only two remaining I- AA undefeated
teams, along with Harvard.
Furman moved up a spot to No. 6 with a win at Elon. Western Kentucky jumped three
places to No. 7 and Sam Houston State went up three to No. 8 after both teams won at
home. James Madison vaulted four positions to No. 9 and New Hampshire moved five
spaces to No. 10 after victories.
The group at 11-15 all had at least a few spots of change from last week. Wofford,
ranked No. 5 last week, dropped six positions to No. 11 after losing, 38-17, at No.
23 Appalachian State. Lehigh is up four rungs to No. 12, while Stephen F. Austin is
down five to No. 13 after losing at Texas State. Hampton won at South Carolina State
to move up three to No. 14 and Northwestern State went down six spots to No. 15 with
a loss at Nicholls State.
William & Mary is down two spots to No. 16 after the loss to Delaware, while
Appalachian State had the biggest leap of the week by going up six spots to No. 17
with the win against Wofford. Colgate, Maine and Jacksonville State round out the
top 20. The Gamecocks had the poll's biggest slide, eight places, after losing at
Tennessee Tech.
Harvard, Penn, Villanova, Montana State and Eastern Washington round out the top 25.
Montana State and Eastern Washington are back in the poll after falling out earlier
in the season. South Carolina State and UC Davis dropped out of the rankings.
This week, 22 of the top 25 teams are in action with two games between ranked teams.
No. 8 Sam Houston State is at No. 13 Stephen F. Austin in a pivotal Southland
Conference matchup, while No. 12 Lehigh hosts No. 18 Colgate in a Patriot League
battle. No. 3 Delaware travels to Navy.
---
Sports Network's I-AA College Football Poll
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/misc/tsn-div-1aa-poll.htm
Team (First-place votes) 2004 Record Points Previous Rank
1. Southern Illinois Salukis (79) 7-1 2,518 1
2. Georgia Southern Eagles (17) 7-1 2,448 2
3. Delaware Blue Hens (4) 6-1 2,323 3
4. Montana Grizzlies 6-1 2,215 4
5. Cal Poly Mustangs (1) 7-0 2,061 6
6. Furman Paladins 6-2 2,011 7
7. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 5-2 1,856 10
8. Sam Houston State Bearkats 6-1 1,798 11
9. James Madison Dukes (1) 6-1 1,652 13
10. New Hampshire Wildcats 5-2 1,354 15
11. Wofford Terriers 5-2 1,314 5
12. Lehigh Mountain Hawks 6-1 1,279 16
13. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 5-2 1,244 8
14. Hampton Pirates 7-1 1,119 17
15. Northwestern State Demons 5-2 934 9
16. William & Mary Tribe 5-2 905 14
17. Appalachian State Mountaineers 5-3 833 23
18. Colgate Raiders 5-2 826 18
19. Maine Black Bears 4-3 762 19
20. Jacksonville State Gamecocks 6-1 736 12
21. Harvard Crimson 6-0 625 22
22. Penn Quakers 5-1 591 21
23. Villanova Wildcats 5-3 390 24
24. Montana State Bobcats 5-2 383 NR
25. Eastern Washington Eagles 5-3 231 NR
Others receiving votes:
26. Alabama State 115
27. Southern 115
28. South Carolina State 95
29. Tennessee Tech 84
30. Northern Arizona 78
31. UC Davis 49
32. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 36
33. Coastal Carolina 33
34. Lafayette 28
35. Southeastern Louisiana 26
36. Northern Iowa 13
37. Nicholls State 10
38. Dayton 9
39. Samford 8
40. Princeton 7
41. McNeese State 7
***
Harmon Forecasts and the TSN Top 25
http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/5625861
Portland St 20, Montana 17
Eastern Wash 44, Sacramento St 7
NAU 20 Montana St 14
Sam Houston St 17, at SF Austin 13
Hofstra 22, Richmond 14
Maine 21, at UMass 14
1. Southern Ill 34, Western Ill 7
2. Georgia So 28, S Dakota St 9
3. Delaware 8, at Navy 26
4. Montana 17, at Portland St 20
5. Cal Poly 21, UC Davis 20
6. Furman, idle
7. Western Ky 28, Ill St 12
8. Sam Houston St 17, at SF Austin 13
9. James Madison 52, VMI 7
10. New Hampshire 19, at Northeastern 23
11. Wofford 24, The Citadel 17
12. Lehigh 22, Colgate 13
13. SF Austin 13, Sam Houston St 17
14. Hampton, idle
15. Northwestern St 10, at N Dakota St 21
16. William & Mary 25, at Towson 10
17. Appalachian St 33, at Chattanooga 8
18. Colgate 13, at Lehigh 22
19. Maine 21, at UMass 14
20. Jacksonville St, idle
21. Harvard 23, at Dartmouth 13
22. Penn 29, Brown 13
23. Villanova 23, at Rhode Island 17
24. Montana St 14, at NAU 20
25. Eastern Washington 44, Sac St 7
***
I-AA Review: Week Eight
By David Coulson, I-AA.Org
http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=62490
Living On A Prayer
Jon Bon Jovi would have been a big I-AA football fan on Saturday, because there were
a lot of teams living on a prayer.
In the case of Delaware, Cal Poly and Montana State, those prayers were answered.
But for Stephen F. Austin and Jacksonville State, their urgent requests were met
with Muzak.
Sorry, your call has been placed on hold.
Delaware, Cal Poly and Montana State have made a season out of living dangerously.
And all three survived tight-wire excursions again on Saturday.
A year ago, Delaware looked like one of the most dominant I-AA teams of all time in
marauding its way to a championship. But nothing has been easy for the No. 3 ranked
Blue Hens in 2004.
On Saturday, William & Mary's passing combination of quarterback Lang Campbell
(20-30-0, 355 yards) and Dominique Thompson (six catches for 244 yards) hooked up
for four touchdowns of 10, 62, 87 and 64 yards in this Atlantic 10 showdown in
Newark, De.
The last of those scores with 12:15 remaining gave the No. 9 Tribe a 28-24 lead.
But like a championship club, Delaware responded again with a five-play, 77-yard
drive. Sonny Riccio (24 of 40 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns) found Joe
Bleymaier for a 25-yard scoring strike with 4:41 left. It was the second week in a
row that Riccio and Bleymaier had combined to provide the winning points for the
Blue Hens.
A six-yard TD pass from Riccio to Bleymaier lifted Delaware past Hofstra, 21-19,
late in the fourth quarter last week.
"We didn't have an easy time of it today," said Delaware coach K.C. Keeler, after
watching his Blue Hen team come from behind for the fourth time in six wins. "We
spotted them 14 quick points and gave them some good field position but we fought
back.
"Our kids just keep playing. We've instilled in them since preseason and every day
at practice to play hard every snap. We can't worry about what the scoreboard says
or what just happened. We just play."
Things don't get any easier for the Blue Hens the rest of the season. Delaware
travels to Annapolis, Md. to play I-A Navy next week -- with the Midshipmen
remembering last year's 21-17 homecoming loss to the Blue Hens.
After that, Delaware goes to James Madison for a game that could determine the
A-10's automatic bid to the playoffs and then closes the season at Richmond and
hosting arch-rival Villanova.
Cal Poly, who along with Harvard is one of only two remaining undefeated teams in
I-AA, has crawled up the rankings to No. 6 by pulling out close games with its
defense.
Saturday was no different as the Mustangs used a 73-yard interception return by Karl
Ivory late in the first half to take the lead and held on for a 13-10 victory at
North Dakota State in a Great West Conference game.
Cal Poly managed just 159 yards of total offense, survived four turnovers and scored
only one offensive touchdown, but its defense -- led by Buchanan Award candidate
Jordan Beck at linebacker -- came up big again.
The big question for the Mustangs now is this:
If Cal Poly finishes undefeated, do they deserve the No. 1 ranking in the West Region?
The Mustangs still have to persevere against a schedule that includes 5-2 and No. 25
ranked UC-Davis (a 19-15 upset loser to Southern Utah on Saturday) next week in San
Luis Obispo and a tough trip to Eastern Washington a week later, as well as a home
game against Northern Colorado and another road trip to Sacramento State.
But with an 11-0 record, Cal Poly will draw consideration for a top-four seed.
Currently top-ranked Southern Illinois -- an easy 27-3 winner over Southwest
Missouri State on Saturday -- looks like a shoe-in for one of those seeds. But Sam
Houston State, Montana and Cal Poly are all in contention for that other seeded spot
in the West.
The spoils for that victor could be first and second round home games in the playoffs.
Montana State has gritted its way to back-to-back playoff berths and the Bobcats of
Mike Kramer are winning ugly again in 2004 and staying in contention for another Big
Sky crown.
MSU went out of conference Saturday, but the Cardiac Cats had their fans reaching
for the nitroglycerin tablets again in a 27-24 victory over South Dakota State.
Led by Travis Lulay's passing (33-of-51 for 411 yards and three TDs), Montana State
took a 24-10 lead into the final two minutes. But South Dakota State's Brad Nelson
fired two touchdown passes in 23 seconds to tie the game with 49 seconds left.
Not to worry, Lulay completed four passes in a row from the MSU 26, the final one a
28-yard aerial to Chaz Guinn to set up E.J. Cochrane's 22-yard game-winning field
goal.
The third win in a row on its final possession of the game is starting to take its
toll on Kramer.
"I'm glad we won," said Kramer, "but I've had enough of this tomfoolery. We cannot
continue to win this way."
Kramer is right. He knows that the remaining schedule for the Bobcats has them on
the road at Northern Arizona, Sacramento State and Montana in three of the next four
weeks and at Bozeman on Nov. 13 against a talented Eastern Washington squad.
Stephen F. Austin learned that lesson again on Saturday night when the No. 8
Lumberjacks lost their second straight game and their Southland Conference opener
17-14 on the road to Texas State.
With top rusher Derek Farmer slowed by injury, Texas State limited SFA to 24 yards
of rushing on 27 carries and a 41-yard scamper by Chase Wasson late in the third
quarter put the Bobcats in front for good.
But the Lumberjacks were not the only Southland team to be upset on the road this
week. No. 9 Northwestern State did about everything wrong it could do wrong in a
40-14 loss at Nicholls State on Thursday night.
The Demons lost six turnovers and were penalized 14 times for 87 yards. After
scoring on its first two possessions to lead 14-7, Northwestern State never scored
again.
A former Southland team also went down on the road on Saturday night. Previously
unbeaten and No. 12 ranked Jacksonville State led 13-6 midway through the fourth
quarter before collapsing to Tennessee Tech in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.
A 16-yard scoring strike from Robert Craft (17-of-35 for 284 yards passing) to Brent
McNeal with 6:16 left and Josh Foster's 23-yard field goal on the final play of the
game gave Tennessee Tech the improbable win.
Contenders Or Pretenders
As the I-AA season moves towards the final four weeks of the regular season, the
wheat begins to separate itself from the chaff.
In a MEAC showdown on Saturday, No. 17 Hampton kept alive its title hopes and
playoff aspirations with a huge 52-36 road win over No. 20 South Carolina State.
Quarterback Princeton Shepherd threw for one TD and ran for another as the Pirates
built a 24-0 halftime lead and then held on.
Even more remarkable was the Hampton defense, which scored three times. Dirul Diaab
returned an interception 23 yards for a TD in the first quarter, Justin Durant
picked off a pass and raced nine yards for a score and Kendall Langford raced 30
yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Pirates the win.
A victory at home in two weeks against Bethune-Cookman would put Hampton in position
to claim a share of the MEAC championship and that automatic playoff bid.
While Hampton and South Carolina State were sorting things out in the MEAC, No. 23
Appalachian State and No. 5 Wofford were playing what amounted to a
playoff-elimination game in the Southern Conference.
Playing its third top-five opponent in a row, ASU recovered from last week's 54-7
disaster at Georgia Southern to dominate Wofford 38-17.
Richie Williams was back on the beam as he shredded Wofford's porous pass defense
for 405 yards, completing 31-of-40 passes for three touchdowns. The Mountaineers
finished with a school record 458 passing yards.
On defense, ASU limited Wofford to 108 yards in the second half, 66 of those coming
on a meaningless drive in garbage time.
Appalachian, with two wins over top-five teams (Furman and Wofford) simply must beat
Tennessee-Chattanooga, Elon and Western Carolina, teams with a combined 5-17 record,
the rest of the way to secure a playoff berth with an 8-3 record.
Things are not so easy for Wofford, however. The Terriers need No. 2 Georgia
Southern to beat No. 7 Furman on the road and must beat the Paladins at home on Nov.
13 to have any shot at the playoffs as an 8-3 squad with a weak non-conference
schedule.
A victory by Furman over Georgia Southern could throw those two teams into a
three-way tie with Appalachian for the conference title and would leave Wofford in
fourth place at best.
Wofford must also win the rest of its games against The Citadel, Gardner-Webb and
VMI, not a sure thing with injuries piling up for the Terriers.
In the wild A-10 on Saturday, No. 13 James Madison, No. 19 Maine, No. 15 New
Hampshire and No. 24 Villanova all kept their playoff hopes alive with wins.
James Madison held off Richmond 26-20, Maine came back to drop Northeastern out of
contention with a 35-26 victory, New Hampshire rallied for a 33-27 win over Hofstra
and Villanova crushed Towson 41-6.
The Ancient Eight
Harvard and Penn kept marching towards an Ivy League title showdown with key wins on
Saturday,
Harvard trailed 14-3 after one period before rallying for a 39-14 win over
Princeton. The No. 22 Crimson improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
Clifton Dawson scored three times to break two single-season Harvard scoring
records. He now has 14 rushing touchdowns and 15 overall TDs.
Harvard plays two of the Ivy's worst teams, Columbia and Dartmouth, in the next two
weeks before traveling to Philadelphia to play Penn on Nov. 13 and hosting Yale a
week later.
Penn's defense came up big again, limiting the potent Yale offense to one score in a
17-7 victory.
Yale managed just 87 yards and six minutes of possession time in the second half
against the No. 21 Quakers (5-1, 3-0).
Penn hosts Brown next week and then travels to Princeton before meeting Harvard and
closing on the road against Cornell.
***
Griz at Portland State: I-AA.org TV Game of the Week
I-AA.org
http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=40408
Results of our 2004 I-AA TV Game of the Week Survey: We began the survey in
February, taking nominations from visitors to the I-AA.org website. We asked all the
schools / Conferences / Messageboards / Fan websites to pass the word around so that
we could get a well-rounded collection of games. We continued accepting nominations
throughout the Spring. After much fact-checking and verification we finalized the
list of candidates.
On May 1 we began the official voting. Ballots were cast throughout the month of May
and the voting ended on May 31. We realize that an online process has drawbacks
(voting requires online capability) but over 20,000 verified, individual votes were
cast on the website and the results are now final.
All the games nominated are worthy of television coverage. We look forward to a
great year of I-AA on TV and we're proud to share the results of our survey with
you. Thanks to all who participated. We'll provide a list each week of televised
games on the I-AA.org website but without further ado, here is the voice of the
online fan telling you what should be the national I-AA TV Games of the Week.
2004 National I-AA TV Game of the Week Winners
Week 1: McNeese State @ Southern
Week 2: Eastern Kentucky @ Appalachian State
Week 3: Wofford @ Georgia Southern
Week 4: Delaware @ UMass
Week 5: Northern Iowa @ Southern Illinois
Week 6: North Dakota State @ South Dakota State
Week 7: Appalachian State @ Georgia Southern
Week 8: Northwestern State @ Nicholls State
Week 9: Montana @ Portland State
Week 10: Georgia Southern @ Furman
Week 11: McNeese State @ S.F. Austin
Week 12: Montana State @ Montana
Game of the Year: Montana State @ Montana
DETAIL
Pct. of Vote - Game
Week 1
22.48% McNeese State @ Southern
20.30% Maine @ Montana
9.84% New Hampshire @ Delaware
9.53% South Dakota State @ UC Davis
9.49% Eastern Washington @ Nicholls State
Week 2
16.33% Eastern Kentucky @ Appalachian State
14.56% Hofstra @ Montana
11.90% Northern Colorado @ Maine
9.47% Colgate @ UMass
9.16% Cal Poly @ Idaho State
7.72% Northern Arizona @ Stephen F. Austin
Week 3
14.65% Wofford @ Georgia Southern
13.11% Youngstown State @ McNeese State
11.59% Western Kentucky @ Eastern Kentucky
10.82% Cal Poly @ Montana State
9.81% Montana @ Sam Houston State
9.12% Stephen F. Austin @ Northern Iowa
7.75% Idaho St @ Northern Colorado
Week 4
21.33% Delaware @ UMass
16.89% Sacramento State @ UC Davis
13.87% Northern Colorado @ Montana
8.98% Appalachian State @ Northwestern State
6.49% McNeese State @ Portland State
4.29% Florida A&M vs. Tennessee State
3.84% Idaho State @ Eastern Washington
Week 5
15.94% Northern Iowa @ Southern Illinois
10.98% Maine @ Delaware
9.75% Youngstown State @ Western Kentucky
9.00% UC Davis @ Northern Colorado
8.36% North Dakota State @ Nicholls State
5.97% Montana State @ Idaho State
5.75% Montana @ Weber State
Week 6
20.43% North Dakota State @ South Dakota State
11.70% Western Kentucky @ Northern Iowa
11.12% Furman @ Appalachian State
10.90% Idaho State @ Montana
6.23% Southern Illinois @ Youngstown State
4.56% Weber State @ Montana State
Week 7
12.48% Appalachian State @ Georgia Southern
10.58% Montana @ Eastern Washington
9.86% McNeese State @ Northwestern State
8.93% Western Kentucky @ Southern Illinois
8.68% Nicholls State @ Sam Houston State
8.61% Southern Utah @ North Dakota State
6.99% Northern Iowa @ Youngstown State
6.60% Delaware @ Hofstra
5.20% Portland State @ Montana State
Week 8
10.50% Northwestern State @ Nicholls State
9.91% Western Illinois @ Northern Iowa
7.04% Wofford @ Appalachian State
6.05% South Dakota State @ Montana State
5.90% William & Mary @ Delaware
5.42% Cal Poly @ North Dakota State
5.11% Indiana State @ Western Kentucky
4.52% Sacramento State @ Idaho State
4.44% Georgia Southern @ The Citadel
4.17% Northern Colorado @ Sam Houston State
3.77% Texas State @ Stephen F. Austin
3.30% Southern Illinois @ Southwest Missouri State
3.14% UMass @ Rhode Island
3.11% Furman @ Elon
3.11% Penn @ Yale
3.03% Youngstown State @ Illinois State
2.95% Portland State @ Northern Arizona
Week 9
9.65% Montana @ Portland State
9.17% Western Illinois @ Southern Illinois
7.57% Maine @ UMass
7.05% Northwestern State @ North Dakota State
6.86% UC Davis @ Cal Poly
6.79% Illinois State @ Western Kentucky
6.79% Texas State @ McNeese State
6.75% Montana State @ Northern Arizona
6.64% South Dakota State @ Georgia Southern
5.86% Colgate @ Lehigh
4.82% Sam Houston State @ Stephen F. Austin
Week 10
12.17% Georgia Southern @ Furman
10.00% Northern Arizona @ Montana
8.91% McNeese State @ Sam Houston State
7.01% Delaware @ James Madison
6.28% Montana State @ Sacramento State
6.24% North Dakota State @ Weber State
5.58% Youngstown State @ Western Illinois
4.88% Western Kentucky @ Southwest Missouri State
4.46% UMass @ Northeastern
4.15% Elon @ Appalachian State
3.84% Texas State @ Northwestern State
3.53% Idaho State @ Portland State
3.06% Northern Iowa @ Indiana State
2.71% Southern Utah @ Northern Colorado
Week 11
11.32% McNeese State @ S.F. Austin
10.41% Western Illinois @ Western Kentucky
7.64% Sacramento State @ Montana
6.69% North Dakota State @ UC Davis
6.65% Delaware @ Richmond
6.22% Furman @ Wofford
5.78% Appalachian State @ Western Carolina
5.70% Eastern Washington @ Montana State
4.71% Northern Colorado @ Cal Poly
4.63% Illinois State @ Northern Iowa
4.00% Sam Houston State @ Northwestern State
Week 12
27.96% Montana State @ Montana
11.64% Yale @ Harvard
10.29% Nicholls State @ McNeese State
7.91% Northern Iowa @ Northern Arizona
7.81% Villanova @ Delaware
4.36% Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman
3.14% South Dakota State @ Northern Colorado
Game of the Year
(those receiving 1% of the vote or more are listed)
7.92% Montana State @ Montana
4.74% McNeese State @ Southern
3.93% Sacramento State @ UC Davis
3.89% Villanova @ Delaware
3.40% Northern Iowa @ Southern Illinois
3.08% North Dakota State @ South Dakota State
2.83% Western Illinois @ Western Kentucky
2.55% Delaware @ UMass
2.41% Western Kentucky @ Eastern Kentucky
2.30% Maine @ Montana
2.26% North Dakota State @ Northern Colorado
2.16% Nicholls State @ McNeese State
1.95% Colgate @ UMass
1.73% Nicholls State @ Western Carolina
1.73% Valparaiso @ North Dakota State
1.73% North Dakota State @ UC Davis
1.73% Eastern Washington @ Nicholls State
1.73% South Dakota State @ UC Davis
1.70% Wofford @ Georgia Southern
1.59% Furman @ Appalachian State
1.49% Georgia Southern @ Furman
1.45% Western Illinois @ Southern Illinois
1.34% McNeese State @ Northwestern State
1.31% Cal Poly @ North Dakota State
1.20% Appalachian State @ Georgia Southern
1.13% Yale @ Harvard
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