The two strongest conferences pretty much tanked, leaving the Big Sky and Missouri Valley to argue over bragging rights for the year, and three games were decided by odd plays. Scores, links to SID releases, and updated standings after the jump.
BIG SKY:
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Montana, Montana State
MONTANA STATE 26, New Hampshire 25
New Hampshire scored in the final seconds, but the extra point attempt which would have sent the game into overtime was blocked, and Montana State escaped with the win. They’ll travel to Sam Houston State on Saturday.
MONTANA 41, Central Arkansas 14
The Grizzlies steamrolled the Bears, and will host Northern Iowa on Friday night.
BIG SOUTH:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Stony Brook
Sam Houston State 34, STONY BROOK 27
The Seawolves had Sam Houston State on the ropes all game, and it took a touchdown with a minute to go for the Bearcats to finally emerge with the win. A tremendous effort for Stony Brook, but their season is now complete, as is the Big South’s.
COLONIAL:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Towson
Lehigh 40, TOWSON 38
A game of trading punches pretty much ended when, tied at 38 with 5:14 to go, Grant Enders was hauled down in the end zone by Lehigh’s Tom Bianchi for a safety. Lehigh ran out the clock, ending Towson’s cinderella season.
Montana State 26, NEW HAMPSHIRE 25
A blocked extra point in the final seconds prevented New Hampshire from sending the game into overtime, and brought the Wildcats’ season to a close.
MAINE 34, Appalachian State 12
The Black Bears had no trouble with Appalachian State, becoming the only CAA team to reach the quarterfinals. They’ll get a shot at another SoCon team on Saturday when they travel to Georgia Southern.
Georgia Southern 55, OLD DOMINION 48
Another CAA cinderella season ended as Old Dominion, who hung with mighty Georgia Southern all day long, finally made a mistake midway through the fourth quarter. A fumble returned for a touchdown gave the Eagles a 14-point lead, and even then the Monarchs still fought back, not going down until failing to recover an onside kick after again closing to within a score in the final minute.
North Dakota State 26, JAMES MADISON 14
Madison hung in for the first half, but never could get its running game going and allowed the Bison to pull away.
Summing up: horrible day for the CAA, as four of its five teams go home for the winter.
GREAT WEST:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Cal Poly-SLO, North Dakota
IVY:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Harvard (clinched outright title)
MID-EASTERN:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Norfolk State
MISSOURI VALLEY:
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: North Dakota State, Northern Iowa
NORTHERN IOWA 28, Wofford 21
Northern Iowa received a gift when a boneheaded play resulted in the Panthers recovering an uncontested fumble in the end zone to extend their lead to 14 early in the fourth quarter. They’ll now visit Montana on Friday night in the quarterfinals.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 26, James Madison 14
The Bison pulled away late to put down the Dukes after a tight first half. Saturday, they’ll host Lehigh in the quarterfinals.
NORTHEAST:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Albany, Duquesne
OHIO VALLEY:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Tennessee Tech, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State
PATRIOT:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Lehigh
LEHIGH 40, Towson 38
A back-and-forth shootout was decided on a safety with just over five minutes to go in the final period. Lehigh now travels to North Dakota State on Saturday.
PIONEER:
Season complete.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: San Diego, Drake
SOUTHERN:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Georgia Southern
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 55, Old Dominion 48
Georgia Southern outlasted Old Dominion in a wild shootout, with a late fumble return for a touchdown providing insurance in a game where Old Dominion responded to every Eagle’s offensive score. The Eagles will now host Maine in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Northern Iowa 28, WOFFORD 21
Receiving a kickoff at the start of the fourth quarter, trailing 21-14, Stephon Shelton committed a colossal blunder: taking the kick in the end zone, he tossed the ball to the ground without taking a knee. Northern Iowa recovered what was by rule a fumble, giving them the cushion to survive.
Maine 34, APPALACHIAN STATE 12
The Mountaineers were never really in this one, as Maine jumped out in front and then just kept going.
The SoCon falls from three teams to one in the course of a day.
SOUTHLAND:
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Sam Houston State
SAM HOUSTON STATE 34, Stony Brook 27
The Bearkats had a lot of trouble with a pesky Seawolves squad, and had to score a touchdown with a minute to go to finally send Stony Brook home. SHSU will now host Montana State on Saturday.
Montana 41, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 14
Central Arkansas was simply no match for the Grizzlies, and concluded their first playoff run.
SOUTHWESTERN:
EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS: Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Jackson State
WESTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS: Grambling State
Nothing happened last week, but this Saturday Alabama A&M and Grambling State will face off in Birmingham for the SWAC title.
INDEPENDENT:
Season complete.
