First round recaps, second round previews, and some news and stuff. Jump on over that link for the goods.
Note that only the top five seeds are actually “seeds”, and are guaranteed to play at home through the quarterfinals. The remaining seeds, as listed here, are simply bracket extrapolations for illustrative purposes.
First Round:
at (13)North Dakota State 43, (20)Robert Morris 17
Robert Morris, the NEC’s first automatic qualifier, hung tight with the Bison (8-4); the score was 20-17 NDSU with 12 minutes to play. But North Dakota State opened up all batteries in the final 12 minutes, reeling off 23 unanswered points to put the game, and the Colonials, away. Robert Morris ends their year 8-3.
(19)Lehigh 14, at (14)Northern Iowa 7
Lehigh (10-2), who has a history of doing things like this, knocked off the Panthers in what, except for one play, was a defensive struggle. That play was a 62-yard touchdown pass from Chris Lum to Jake Drwal in the third quarter. The Mountain Hawks’ other touchdown was the direct result of an interception deep in Northern Iowa territory later in the quarter. UNI ends the season 7-5.
at (15)Georgia Southern 41, (18)South Carolina State 16
Georgia Southern (8-4) had no trouble disposing of the Bulldogs, who bow out in the first round for the third consecutive year. The Eagles got on the board first midway through the opening period, and never trailed. South Carolina State, whose two touchdowns were provided by a 90-yard Lennel Elmore kickoff return and a 56-yard TD pass from Malcom Long to Elmore, finishes the 2010 campaign at 9-3.
(17)Western Illinois 17, at (16)Coastal Carolina 10
Coastal Carolina put forth a good effort in representing the Big South in its first automatic entry to the playoffs, but it wasn’t enough to get past the Leathernecks (8-4), who won the game on a 5-yard Matt Barr TD run with under two minutes to go. Coastal Carolina goes home, heads held high, with a 6-6 mark.
Second Round:
(17)Western Illinois (8-4) at (1)Appalachian State (9-2)
I mean no disrespect to anyone when I say this, but given the circumstances of WIU’s win over Coastal Carolina, you can probably expect Appy to roll here.
(15)Georgia Southern (8-4) at (2)William & Mary (8-3)
This may be the most interesting game of the day. Southern, which you’ll probably remember as a major power back in the Paul Johnson days, is resurgent under Johnson protege Jeff Monken. William & Mary has shown that they’re just as capable of screwing things up as they are of laying the wood down when things are on the line. You’ve got two ball-control offenses going up against two stingy defenses; SEC fans should love this one. I’m going to tab the Tribe to win this one, but don’t be surprised if the Eagles move on.
(19)Lehigh (10-2) at (3)Delaware (9-2)
Lehigh’s two losses have both been to CAA teams, and they’ve been ass-whoopins. Neither of those two losses was to Delaware, and they’re arguably the best team in the CAA. It’ll be a battle between Delaware’s CAA-best offense against Lehigh’s 10th-in-the-nation defense, but Delaware’s probably going to win that battle.
(13)North Dakota State (8-4) at (4)Montana State (9-2)
North Dakota State is 6-1 in the comfortable confines of the FargoDome. Unfortunately, this game will be outdoors, in the cold, in Bozeman. The Bison are not incapable of winning this game, but Montana State should be a solid favorite.
(12)Southeast Missouri State (9-2) at (5)Eastern Washington (9-2)
SEMO will take the longest trip of the second round, hauling themselves to the wilds of eastern Washington to do combat on the red turf of Roos Field. Eastern Washington is ranked #1, and while I do not in any way mean to suggest they don’t deserve it, they basically ended up there because nobody else wanted to hold onto the ranking. The dichotomy between their seed and their poll ranking shouldn’t be ignored; their seeding was explicitly intended to send them on the road to Montana State should they both reach the quarterfinals. They’re not the best team in the country, and SEMO is not a bad team at all, capable of running the ball down people’s throats. EWU catches a break here, however, as SEMO is a running team, and EWU’s defensive weakness is against the pass. The Eagles should win, unless SEMO comes out with a pass-heavy gameplan and executes it.
(11)New Hampshire (7-4) at (6)Bethune-Cookman (10-1)
Both teams sport strong defense, and Bethune-Cookman runs an explosive no-huddle offense that gives opponents fits. BCU QB Matt Johnson injured his non-throwing shoulder two weeks ago, however, and will be a game-time decision. There’s the always lingering question of how good a MEAC team really is, and Johnson’s potential ineffectiveness is just one more reason to expect UNH to come away with the win here.
(10)Wofford (9-2) at (7)Jacksonville State (9-2)
It’s the SoCon runner-up against the OVC runner-up (well, they’re both co-champions technically, but they’re here as at-large invites). Wofford is a running team, which defends well against the pass. Jacksonville State is a passing team, which… uh, hasn’t defended the run for squat in two of their last three games, both of which resulted in ugly upset defeats. On the other hand, Jax did squeak past SEMO three weeks ago, and SEMO has a potent option attack. Are the Gamecocks a team which can’t defend the run, or were they just up for the SEMO game and lazy in two games they thought didn’t matter? Make your pick accordingly.
(9)Villanova (7-4) at (8)Stephen F. Austin (9-2)
Cutting to the chase: Villanova was sick and unstoppable until Matt Szczur went down against Penn. Since then, ‘Nova is 3-3, and it’s fair to say they’re roadkill without him. He’s expected to get some playing time Saturday, and how much he gets is going to determine the outcome of this game. SFA has had one troublesome day this year (coughing up a 28-point fourth quarter lead against a bad Texas State team). Outside of that embarrassment, however, the Lumberjacks have been very solid. I’m inclined to think SFA is the favorite here regardless of Szczur’s playing time this week, but if he doesn’t get a lot, Villanova’s going down hard.
Colonial:
(2)William & Mary, (3)Delaware, (11) New Hampshire, and (9)Villanova idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (15)Georgia Southern at (2)William & Mary
Second Round: (19)Lehigh at (3)Delaware
Second Round: (11)New Hampshire at (6)Bethune-Cookman
Second Round: (9)Villanova at (8)Stephen F. Austin
Rhode Island announced that it’s leaving the CAA for the Northeast Conference. Shortly after that announcement, rumours regarding Massachusetts moving up to FBS and joining the MAC started percolating rapidly. (And, of course, the Big East has an offer on the table for Villanova.) More on this as it develops.
Southern:
First Round: at (15)Georgia Southern 41, (18)South Carolina State 16
(1)Appalachian State and (10)Wofford idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (17)Western Illinois at (1)Appalachian State
Second Round: (10)Wofford at (7)Jacksonville State
Second Round: (15)Georgia Southern at (2)William & Mary
Big Sky:
(4)Montana State and (5)Eastern Washington idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (13)North Dakota State at (4)Montana State
Second Round: (12)Southeast Missouri State at (5)Eastern Washington
Ohio Valley:
(7)Jacksonville State and (12)Southeast Missouri State idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (10)Wofford at (7)Jacksonville State
Second Round: (12)Southeast Missouri State at (5)Eastern Washington
Southland:
(8)Stephen F. Austin idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (9)Villanova at (8)Stephen F. Austin
As you’re certainly aware, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State are leaving the Southland to join the WAC in 2012. Well, the Southland (which is actually seriously damaged by this move, although still standing) isn’t taking it lying down; both schools have been fined $250,000 by the conference for failing to provide two years’ notice of their intent. The schools will also immediately forfeit all future conference revenue distribution shares. Texas State, additionally, has been declared ineligible for the 2011 Southland football championship, although that’s a move which is actually required since the conditions of TSU’s transition to FBS make them ineligible for the FCS playoffs next year anyway.
Missouri Valley:
First Round: at (13)North Dakota State 43, (20)Robert Morris 17
First Round: (19)Lehigh 14, at (14)Northern Iowa 7
First Round: (17)Western Illinois 17, at (16)Coastal Carolina 10
Saturday:
Second Round: (13)North Dakota State at (4)Montana State
Second Round: (17)Western Illinois at (1)Appalachian State
Mid-Eastern:
First Round: at (15)Georgia Southern 41, (18)South Carolina State 16
(6)Bethune-Cookman idle
Saturday:
Second Round: (11)New Hampshire at (6)Bethune-Cookman
Delaware State (3-8) fired coach Al Lavan on Thursday. Lavan had been at the helm for seven years, with a 41-36 record. At the end of 2007, Lavan was a hero in Dover; he had a record of 29-16, had just led the Hornets to a 10-2 record and a playoff spot, and things looked rosy. They’ve gone 12-20 since then, and it was decided to try a new approach. DC Raymond Petty takes over on an interim basis, but a full search will commence for a permanent replacement.
Great West:
Season complete.
Big South:
First Round: (17)Western Illinois 17, at (16)Coastal Carolina 10
Saturday:
Season complete.
Gardner-Webb has parted ways with coach Steve Patton, who spent 14 years in Boiling Springs and compiled a career record of 87-66. Patton was the coach who led the Bulldogs through their transition to Division I, but the team has been stuck behind Liberty and Stony Brook for years, and the school decided it was time to make a change.
Ivy:
Season complete.
Pioneer:
Season complete.
Southwestern:
Tuskegee 17, at Alabama State 10 (non-conference, Thanksgiving)
#24 Grambling State 38, at Southern 17
Saturday, December 11:
SWAC Championship Game: Alabama State at Texas Southern
Northeast:
First Round: at (13)North Dakota State 43, (20)Robert Morris 17
Saturday:
Season complete.
Patriot:
First Round: (19)Lehigh 14, at (14)Northern Iowa 7
Saturday:
Second Round: (19)Lehigh at (3)Delaware
Independent:
Season complete.