The 2017 FCS Playoffs are here and we've got game-by-game wrap ups.
[divider]COMPARE: Any Two FCS Players | Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
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New Hampshire 21Central Arkansas 15 |
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Next up: New Hampshire (9-4) vs. South Dakota State (10-2) Date/Time: TBA | TV: ESPN3 COMPARE: New Hampshire vs. South Dakota State |
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THE STANDOUTS
Evan Horn, S — UNH: 5 tackles, 1 INT returned 56 yards for TD
Rick Holt, DL — UNH: 9 tackles, 3 sacks
Jae'Wuan Horton, DE — UNH: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
Evan Gray, RB — UNH: 24 carries, 85 yards
Hayden Hildebrand, QB — UCA: 27 of 40, 261 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Cedric Battle, WR — UCA: 3 rec., 154 yards, 2 TD
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THE TURNING POINT
With Central Arkansas driving to attempt to score the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes, UCA QB Hayden Hildebrand stepped up in the pocket to take off running, but Jae'Wuan Horton chased down Hildebrand from behind, stripped the ball, and Jared Kuehl jumped on the fumble to stop the comeback attempt and seal the victory.
Take a look at the strip sack that thwarted UCA’s comeback and sealed a quarterfinals appearance for New Hampshire#FCS pic.twitter.com/K4tf4WW0K0
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 2, 2017
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THE SKINNY
In a back and forth contest, New Hampshire won the turnover battle 4-1 — taking one turnover to the house and sealing the victory with the other — to earn a trip to the FCS quarterfinals.
A 7-7 game at half, New Hampshire took the lead in the third quarter thanks to a 56-yard pick six from safety Evan Horn. Central Arkansas managed a safety but UNH answered with a touchdown to go up 21-9. Hildebrand found Cedric Battle for his second long touchdown of the day (78 yards, his first was from 74 yards out) but UCA missed the extra point to make it a 21-15 game.
UCA had one last chance to win the game, but the UNH defense again rose to the occasion, forcing a fumble to end the game.
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PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
New Hampshire will take on a South Dakota State team that easily handled fellow MVFC foe Northern Iowa in a blowout 37-22 win that wasn't as close as the 15-point margin suggests. The UNH defense that was so strong against Central Arkansas will have its work cut out against a potent Jackrabbit attack from Taryn Christion, Dallas Goedert and Jake Wieneke.
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THE PREDICTION
South Dakota State 35, New Hampshire 17[divider]
