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]
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Wofford 19Elon 7 |
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Next up: Wofford (9-3) at Kennesaw State (10-1) Time/Date: Sat., Dec. 1 – 2 p.m. | TV: ESPN3 COMPARE: Wofford at Kennesaw State |
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THE STANDOUTS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jireh Wilson, LB, Wofford — Was a monster defensively, with 7 tackles, 2 TFLs and a key fumble recovery, he was one of several defense standouts who helped hold Elon to 51 yards rushing and 1.8 yards per attempt.
OTHER STAT STANDOUTS:
Nathan Walker, RB, Wofford – 90 yds rushing, 1 TD
George Gbesee, DB, Wofford – 6 tackles
Miles Brown, DL, Wofford – 5 tackles, 1 TFL
Cole Taylor, WR, Elon – 9 receptions, 83 yards
Cole Coleman, DB, Elon – 11 tackles, 1 TFL
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THE TURNING POINT
With Nathan Walker scoring the go-ahead touchdown for Wofford in the third quarter, the Terriers stymied an Elon drive when Jireh Wilson recovered a fumble in Elon territory. There were 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter and Wofford ate up another four minutes of the clock and Luke Carter kicked his second field goal to put Wofford up 16-7.
By then it became apparent it would be tough for Elon to rally with the way Wofford was eating up the clock and playing defense.
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THE SKINNY
Coming into this game, it appeared this would be a battle between two physical and well-coached programs. Well, we were right. Elon has been injury-plagued this year, but gave CAA champion Maine all it wanted late this year — even without stars like QB Davis Cheek and RB Malcolm Summers and many others out there.
But early on, it appeared Elon might be able to scrap its way through this one against SoCon co-champion Wofford. The problem was, Wofford's defense wasn't willing to comply with that plan.
Wofford, under first-year head coach Josh Conklin — who replaced the legendary Mike Ayres, who coached the Terriers since the 1980s — is right back where it usually is, in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
This is the third straight year, and this has traditionally happened thanks to the boa constrictor style of the option offense Wofford runs, as well as a staunch, throwback style of defense. The "Wofford Way" works well … how about that for the four Ws? Would it work everywhere? Nope. But it works here.
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THE QUOTE
"It was a hard-fought game, Wofford is a good football team. We certainly had our chances, particularly early, but didn't convert. On our defense, I'm really proud of their effort and their fight and their tenacity. It wasn't always perfect – we gave up too many yards between the tackles in the second half – but we fought until the end." – Elon head coach Curt Cignetti
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PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
Now, we to see two programs that do things pretty similarly. Wofford and Kennesaw State get it done by controlling the clock and running an option attack. Neither team will have a massive advantage when it comes to "facing this rare offense" because both sides are used to it.
On top of that Wofford, faces option attacks in the SoCon frequently. My question? What does this feisty Wofford defense have for Kennesaw State touchdown machine Chandler Burks, its QB with 26 scores on the year? That's going to be the key here.
