ursus arctos horribilis
March 5th, 2021, 03:12 PM
FCS FOOTBALL – KEY LINKS
NCAA Statistics -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs) | NCAA Scoreboard / Schedule -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs) | Standings -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fcs)
Rankings / Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll) (Stats Perform poll begins Feb. 22 / AFCA Coaches Poll begins March 15)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/) | Stats Perform – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/fcsfront.asp) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://herosports.com/college-football/fcs/)
HEADLINES
Key Matchups – Twenty of the Stats Perform Top 25 are in action this week. Here are the three games featuring top-25 teams against one another:
Last Night – No. 4 North Dakota 21, No. 20 South Dakota 10
Tonight – No. 13 Albany at No. 14 New Hampshire (FLO), 7 p.m. ET
Saturday – No. 15 Illinois State at No. 3 UNI (ESPN+), 5 p.m. ET
Stats Perform National Players of the Week (Feb. 22) – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210301124943688201604&ref=rec&tm=&src=FCS)
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Rankings (Week 1) -- Click Here for Story (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210301124943688201604&ref=rec&tm=&src=FCS)
Craig’s Take (Must See Games This Week) -- Story (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210303060133766545704&ref=hea&tm=&src=FCS)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Three #BigskyFB teams are ranked in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 (#2 Weber State – Highest ranking in school history; #19 Idaho – First Top 25 ranking since returning to the FCS in 2018; #22 Eastern Washington – Ranked as high as #12 this season)
Two games during Week 1 were decided by one touchdown or less, while Idaho punter/kicker Cade Coffey was named the STATS Perform National Special Teams Player of the Week.
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Gardner-Webb overcame a 17-point deficit with a 35-point second half to defeat No. 24 Elon last week, 42-20, in the head coaching debut of Tre Lamb. GWU will look to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2006 as the Runnin’ Bulldogs host former league member Presbyterian on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb WR Izaiah Gathings has recorded five consecutive games with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards, dating back to the 2019 campaign.
No. 9 Kennesaw State has been nationally-ranked for 37 consecutive polling weeks dating back to Oct. 30, 2017. The Owls are idle this week and return to action March 13 in their Big South opener.
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Conference play in CAA Football kicks off with a nationally ranked matchup on Friday night and four more contests on Saturday afternoon.
#13 UAlbany travels to #14 New Hampshire for the CAA opener on Friday. The Great Danes advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2019, while the Wildcats are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 when they had a streak of 14 consecutive appearances.
The other matchups in the North Division include #5 Villanova at Stony Brook and #25 Delaware hosting Maine. In the South, #1 James Madison heads to Elon and longtime rivals William & Mary and Richmond face off.
IVY LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://ivyleague.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MEAC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://meacsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Norfolk State University Athletics Director Melody Webb announced Wednesday that head football coach Latrell Scott has resigned his position to accept another career opportunity. Assistant head coach William "B.T." Sherman will serve as interim head coach.
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
On Thursday (March 4), North Dakota (3-0, 3-0 MVFC) scored 21 straight in the second and third quarters and a late Jordan Canady interception helped thwart a Coyote rally to make it 14 straight wins over South Dakota in Grand Forks.
When Southern Illinois knocked off top-ranked and previously unbeaten North Dakota State this past Saturday, it marked the 18th time an MVFC member had recorded a win vs. the nation’s top-rated team (10 of those 18 wins were against a fellow league member).
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Austin Peay sophomore RB Brian Snead had touchdown runs of 75, 67 and 44 yards in the first quarter against Tennessee State on February 28; the 204 rushing yards set a new FCS record for rushing yards in a quarter...Snead was named the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.
In the March 1 Stats Perform media poll, Jacksonville State was ranked No. 10 (up from 16 last week) while Southeast Missouri was ranked No. 16 (up from 21st last week). Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech were among the other teams receiving votes. The first AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll will be released in mid-March.
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
Patriot League Announces Spring 2021 Preseason Honors -- Click Here (https://patriotleague.org/news/2021/3/3/patriot-league-announces-2021-spring-football-preseason-honors.aspx)
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
34 Returning All-PFL Selections Named to Spring 2021 Preseason All-PFL Watch List -- Click Here (http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2020/1593/thirty-four-returning-all-pfl-selections-named-to-spring-2021-preseason-all-pfl-watch-list/)
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Samford quarterback Liam Welch accounted for five touchdowns and turned in his first career 300-yard passing day as the Bulldogs dropped Western Carolina 55-27 on Saturday. The senior from Augusta, Georgia, was 26-for-36 through the air for 311 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 18 times for 83 yards and three scores in finishing with 394 yards of total offense.
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Sam Houston’s Eric Schmid, a redshirt junior quarterback, is the Offensive Player of the Week after he accounted for 517 yards of total offense with 428 yards through the air and another 89 on the ground in the Bearkats’ 43-38 win over No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Four games are scheduled this weekend as Jackson State takes on Grambling State; Alabama A&M travels to play at South Carolina State; Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits Southern; and Texas Southern battles Prairie View A&M on the road.
NCAA Statistics -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs) | NCAA Scoreboard / Schedule -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fcs) | Standings -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/standings/football/fcs)
Rankings / Polls -- Click Here (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fcs/fcs-coaches-poll) (Stats Perform poll begins Feb. 22 / AFCA Coaches Poll begins March 15)
FCS Insider -- Click Here (https://fcsinsider.com/) | Stats Perform – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/fcsfront.asp) | HERO Sports -- Click Here (https://herosports.com/college-football/fcs/)
HEADLINES
Key Matchups – Twenty of the Stats Perform Top 25 are in action this week. Here are the three games featuring top-25 teams against one another:
Last Night – No. 4 North Dakota 21, No. 20 South Dakota 10
Tonight – No. 13 Albany at No. 14 New Hampshire (FLO), 7 p.m. ET
Saturday – No. 15 Illinois State at No. 3 UNI (ESPN+), 5 p.m. ET
Stats Perform National Players of the Week (Feb. 22) – Click Here (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210301124943688201604&ref=rec&tm=&src=FCS)
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Rankings (Week 1) -- Click Here for Story (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210301124943688201604&ref=rec&tm=&src=FCS)
Craig’s Take (Must See Games This Week) -- Story (http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20210303060133766545704&ref=hea&tm=&src=FCS)
BIG SKY -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Three #BigskyFB teams are ranked in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 (#2 Weber State – Highest ranking in school history; #19 Idaho – First Top 25 ranking since returning to the FCS in 2018; #22 Eastern Washington – Ranked as high as #12 this season)
Two games during Week 1 were decided by one touchdown or less, while Idaho punter/kicker Cade Coffey was named the STATS Perform National Special Teams Player of the Week.
BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://bigsouthsports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Gardner-Webb overcame a 17-point deficit with a 35-point second half to defeat No. 24 Elon last week, 42-20, in the head coaching debut of Tre Lamb. GWU will look to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2006 as the Runnin’ Bulldogs host former league member Presbyterian on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb WR Izaiah Gathings has recorded five consecutive games with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards, dating back to the 2019 campaign.
No. 9 Kennesaw State has been nationally-ranked for 37 consecutive polling weeks dating back to Oct. 30, 2017. The Owls are idle this week and return to action March 13 in their Big South opener.
CAA FOOTBALL -- Link to CAA Football Home Page (https://caasports.com/index.aspx?path=football&)
Conference play in CAA Football kicks off with a nationally ranked matchup on Friday night and four more contests on Saturday afternoon.
#13 UAlbany travels to #14 New Hampshire for the CAA opener on Friday. The Great Danes advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2019, while the Wildcats are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 when they had a streak of 14 consecutive appearances.
The other matchups in the North Division include #5 Villanova at Stony Brook and #25 Delaware hosting Maine. In the South, #1 James Madison heads to Elon and longtime rivals William & Mary and Richmond face off.
IVY LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://ivyleague.com/index.aspx?path=football)
MEAC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://meacsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Norfolk State University Athletics Director Melody Webb announced Wednesday that head football coach Latrell Scott has resigned his position to accept another career opportunity. Assistant head coach William "B.T." Sherman will serve as interim head coach.
MISSOURI VALLEY – Link to Football Home Page (https://valley-football.org/)
On Thursday (March 4), North Dakota (3-0, 3-0 MVFC) scored 21 straight in the second and third quarters and a late Jordan Canady interception helped thwart a Coyote rally to make it 14 straight wins over South Dakota in Grand Forks.
When Southern Illinois knocked off top-ranked and previously unbeaten North Dakota State this past Saturday, it marked the 18th time an MVFC member had recorded a win vs. the nation’s top-rated team (10 of those 18 wins were against a fellow league member).
NEC FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://northeastconference.org/index.aspx?path=fball&)
OHIO VALLEY – Click for More Info (http://ovcsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Austin Peay sophomore RB Brian Snead had touchdown runs of 75, 67 and 44 yards in the first quarter against Tennessee State on February 28; the 204 rushing yards set a new FCS record for rushing yards in a quarter...Snead was named the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.
In the March 1 Stats Perform media poll, Jacksonville State was ranked No. 10 (up from 16 last week) while Southeast Missouri was ranked No. 16 (up from 21st last week). Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech were among the other teams receiving votes. The first AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll will be released in mid-March.
PATRIOT LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (https://patriotleague.org/index.aspx?path=football&)
Patriot League Announces Spring 2021 Preseason Honors -- Click Here (https://patriotleague.org/news/2021/3/3/patriot-league-announces-2021-spring-football-preseason-honors.aspx)
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE -- Link to Football Home Page (http://www.pioneer-football.org/)
34 Returning All-PFL Selections Named to Spring 2021 Preseason All-PFL Watch List -- Click Here (http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2020/1593/thirty-four-returning-all-pfl-selections-named-to-spring-2021-preseason-all-pfl-watch-list/)
SoCON FOOTBALL -- Link to Football Home Page (https://soconsports.com/index.aspx?path=football)
Samford quarterback Liam Welch accounted for five touchdowns and turned in his first career 300-yard passing day as the Bulldogs dropped Western Carolina 55-27 on Saturday. The senior from Augusta, Georgia, was 26-for-36 through the air for 311 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 18 times for 83 yards and three scores in finishing with 394 yards of total offense.
SOUTHLAND -- Link to Football Home Page (https://www.southland.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Sam Houston’s Eric Schmid, a redshirt junior quarterback, is the Offensive Player of the Week after he accounted for 517 yards of total offense with 428 yards through the air and another 89 on the ground in the Bearkats’ 43-38 win over No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
SWAC – Link to Football Home Page (https://swac.org/index.aspx?path=football)
Four games are scheduled this weekend as Jackson State takes on Grambling State; Alabama A&M travels to play at South Carolina State; Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits Southern; and Texas Southern battles Prairie View A&M on the road.