No. 1 South Dakota State and No. 2 Sam Houston eye their first FCS national championship in program history Sunday. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. CT on ABC.
Yesterday, we broke down each position group and which team had the edge. Now, let’s dive into some key matchups.
Don Gardner vs. Jequez Ezzard
SHSU lines up its All-American wide receiver Jequez Ezzard all over the field, but SDSU’s All-American cornerback Don Gardner will have plenty of chances to defend the playmaker. Gardner has the size advantage at 6-foot-1 to Ezzard’s 5-foot-9 stature. That doesn’t stop Ezzard from being the most explosive player in the FCS, though, averaging 26.9 yards per catch (28 receptions for 753 yards and seven TDs).
Wes Genant vs. Joseph Wallace
Guards Eagan Lickiss and Mason McCormick along with center Wes Genant will have their hands full versus Joseph Wallace and Trace Mascorro. The 300-pound Wallace is a problem in the middle of SHSU’s defense. Genant is 295 pounds with multiple years of starting experience. Opening up running lanes and allowing Mark Gronowski to step up in the pocket will be key.
Pierre Strong Jr. vs. Trevor Williams and Quentin Brown
Pierre Strong Jr is an All-American running back for SDSU. With how dominant SHSU’s defensive line has been, Trevor Williams and Quentin Brown have stayed mostly clean in their linebacker spots to fly around and make plays. The two have combined for 136 tackles and 22 tackles for loss. For SDSU to have success on the ground, Strong is going to have to win his 1-on-1 battles against the SHSU backers and make them miss. The Bearkats are arguably the best tackling team this spring.
Jaxon or Jadon Janke vs. Jaylen Thomas
Half of SDSU’s receiving production goes to the Janke twins. Zyon McCollum is a standout 6-foot-4 cornerback for SHSU, who coincidentally has a twin brother (Tristin) in the secondary playing safety. Zyon will hold his own, making it a big day for Jaylen Thomas to lock down the other Janke. SHSU allows 277.6 passing yards a game compared to 78.9 rushing yards.
Reece Winkelman vs. D’Ary Patton
SDSU’s defensive line manhandled Delaware in the semifinals, totaling seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Reece Winkelman was a huge part of that, recording 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. SHSU right tackle D’Ary Patton will have his hands full as the Jackrabbits bring the heat. The best way for SDSU to slow down SHSU’s offense is getting to QB Eric Schmid.
Mark Gronowski vs. Eric Schmid
The Offensive Players of the Year in their respective conferences, both QBs make their offense go with their clutch throws and ability to run. Gronowski has thrown for 1,387 yards (97-170), 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions with seven rushing TDs. Schmid is completing 174-of-288 passes for 2,599 yards, 17 TDs, and nine interceptions with eight rushing TDs. Whoever has the better game and avoids the big mistake will likely determine which team celebrates on the Frisco stage.
NEXT: Title Game Prediction
