FCS PLAYOFFS: Eastern Washington Beats Nicholls, Advances to Quarterfinals

The 2018 FCS Playoffs are here and we've got game-by-game wrap ups.

[divider]COMPARE: Any Two FCS Players | Any Two FCS Teams[divider]



	Nicholls 21 Eastern Washington 42
	Next up: No. 6 UC Davis Time/Date: Dec. 8 \| TV: ESPN family COMPARE: E WU vs. UC Davis

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THE STANDOUTS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sam McPherson, RB — Eastern Washington

McPherson did it all for EWU, especially in the second half. He ran for over 100 yards, scored multiple touchdowns and even completed a long pass. He finished the day with 20 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns, adding 3 catches for 35 yards and a 32 yard completion, much of that production coming during Eastern's run of 39 unanswered points.

OTHER STAT STANDOUTS:

Eric Berriere, QB — EWU: 17/29 for 162 yards, 1 TD/1INT; 9 carries for 54 yards
Dylan Ledbetter, DT — EWU: FG block, 2 tackles
Kedrick Johnson, DB — EWU: 55-yard FG block TD return, 7 tackles (2 solo), TFL
Ketner Kupp, LB — EWU: 12 tackles (6 solo), 95-yard INT TD
Dontrell Taylor, RB — Nicholls: 20 carries, 112 yards, TD
Chase Fourcade, QB — Nicholls: 17/30 for 146 yards, 1INT; 15 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD
Khristian Mims, DB — Nicholls: 11 tackles (9 solo), INT

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THE TURNING POINT

Nicholls lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the first half, looking to take a 17-3 lead into the break. Instead, Dylan Ledbetter got a mitt on Lorran Fonseca's attempt and Kedrick Johnson returned it 55 yards for a TD. EWU went into the half down only 14-10 and ran away with the game in the second half.

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THE SKINNY

It looked like Nicholls was on its way to a massive upset until about 2 seconds were left in the first half. The Colonels picked off EWU QB Eric Berriere on the first drive of the game and turned it into seven points. After an EWU field goal made it a 7-3 game, Nicholls went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive to make it a 14-3 game.

The Colonels missed a field goal in the second quarter, but came up with a fumble recovery in their own red zone late in the first half, setting up an 11-play, 68-yard drive that looked to set up a field goal attempt that would give Nicholls an opportunity to go up 17-3 at the break.

That, obviously, did not happen, as Dylan Ledbetter and Kedrick Johnson teamed up for the special teams score and made it a 14-10 game. Eastern built on the play to score 39 unanswered points, punctuated by a 95-yard pick-six from Ketner Kupp.

Chase Fourcade finally put the Colonels back on the board with a long TD run late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late, and EWU secured the 42-21 victory to advance to the quarterfinals.

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