FCS Football Week 9 Breakdown
If last week was the calm before the storm, this week the storm hits with full fury. There are two big matchups involving top-five teams and four top-25 matchups. The Football Championship Subdivision standings and playoff rankings could undergo a major upheaval this week depending on what happens next.
# 1 NORTHERN IOWA AT #4 NORTH DAKOTA STATE (4 p.m. Saturday at The Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota)
The nation’s top-ranked team is also atop the Missouri Valley Conference, but a loss by the Panthers and North Dakota State would move into the top spot. If the Bison can pull off the victory, the MVC race will be one of the most exciting in the nation in the next few weeks. Northern Iowa (6-1 overall, 5-0 MVC) hung on through a tense fourth quarter to beat Southern Illinois, 17-10, as Tirrell Rennie threw for 167 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a second score. Northern Iowa’s defense did not force any turnovers, but it limited SIU to 212 total yards. North Dakota State (7-0, 4-0) easily defeated South Dakota State, 38-14, to win the border battle and retain the “Dakota Marker”. SDSU’s defense sacked ND quarterback Brock Jensen three times, but a pair of 1-yard Jensen touchdown runs helped soothe some of the hurt caused by the sacks.
#2 GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT #5 APPALACHIAN STATE (3 p.m. Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina)
The Southern Conference’s big showdown this season is attracting national attention, and rightly so, as Georgia Southern could attain the No. 1 ranking in the country with a win and a Northern Iowa loss. Georgia Southern (7-0, 5-0) leads Appalachian State (5-2, 3-1) and Wofford by a game and a half and Furman by two games, so an Appalachian State win will result in a tighter Southern Conference picture. Georgia Southern easily handled Presbyterian, 48-14, in last week’s matchup. The Eagles scored 31 points in the second quarter and amassed 504 yards total offense in victory. A pair of touchdowns by Jerick McKinnon, from 3 and 10 yards out, led the way. Appalachian State defeated Samford, 35-17, in its homecoming contest. The Mountaineers also had a strong second quarter with 21 points scored, as Jamal Jackson passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Appalachian State racked up 519 total yards. Look for this to be a potentially wild offensive showdown.
#24 TENNESSEE TECH AT #8 JACKSONVILLE STATE (4 p.m. Saturday at Burgess-Snow Field in Jacksonville, Alabama)
The Ohio Valley Conference also gets a turn in the spotlight thanks to this marquee matchup, which pits fast-rising Jacksonville State against a Tennessee Tech squad determined to trip up the Gamecocks. Jacksonville State (5-2, 4-0) is unbeaten in OVC play and leads Tennessee Tech (4-2, 3-1) and Eastern Kentucky by a full game in the standings. Jacksonville State is coming off a 38-14 loss last week, but it was against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Kentucky so not much was expected of this contest. Special teams highlighted the contest, thanks to a 99-yard kickoff return by Gabbie Chambers. Otherwise, the Gamecocks mustered only 270 yards total offense as quarterback Coty Blanchard was picked off twice. Tennessee Tech had an off week and last played on October 15, when Tennessee State took possession of the Sergeant York Trophy in a 42-40 thriller. Tre Lamb threw two touchdowns and passed for 348 yards in the loss, which came despite a furious 20-point second-half comeback by Tennessee Tech.
#12 JAMES MADISON AT #22 OLD DOMINION (Noon Saturday at Foreman Field in Norfolk, Virginia)
The 62nd annual Oyster Bowl gets underway at the stroke of noon as the Colonial Athletic Association spotlights two strong Saturday contests. These clashes aren’t as big as the ones above, but they will go a long way toward shaping the CAA standings. James Madison (5-2, 3-1) is tied for third place with New Hampshire, one game behind Maine and Towson. Meanwhile, Old Dominion (6-2, 3-2) is a half-game back of James Madison and New Hampshire and could leapfrog some opponents with a victory here. James Madison has had two weeks to prepare for this game after a 34-10 win over Villanova on October 15. Freshman quarterback Jace Edwards overcame three sacks to throw for 203 yards and two touchdowns, one of 12 yards to Dae’Quan Scott and one of 80 yards to Kerby Long. Old Dominion then beat Villanova last week, 37-14, behind two touchdowns and 204 yards passing by Taylor Heinicke. Old Dominion had 381 yards total offense and six players scoring touchdowns.
DELAWARE AT #14 TOWSON (7 p.m. Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland)
The other CAA matchup promises to be a border war between Maryland and Delaware as Towson is gaining traction as one of the top teams in the FCS. Towson (6-1, 4-0) is tied with Maine for first place in the CAA, and since Maine faces Villanova this week the teams figure to be knotted again if Towson wins. Delaware (4-4, 2-3) is not ranked and won’t be a factor in the CAA standings, but Delaware could play spoiler when all is said and done. Towson held off William & Mary a week ago, 38-27, behind three short touchdown runs of 2, 2 and 6 yards by Terrance West. West rushed 23 times for 141 yards in the win, and quarterback Grant Enders survived one interception to throw 15-for-21 for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Delaware traveled to Rhode Island last week but lost, 38-34. The game was actually a little farther apart than the score indicated; Rob Jones’ 36-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Tim Donnelly came with no time remaining. Donnelly finished with two touchdowns and 194 yards passing.
Week 9 Football Breakdown Page
