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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No. 7 Maine 23No. 2 Weber St. 18 |
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Next up: No. 6 UC Davis or No. 3 EWU Time/Date: Dec. 14 or Dec. 15 | TV: ESPN2 COMPARE: Maine vs. FCS Opponent |
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PREDICTIONS: What Did We Get Wrong In The Quarterfinals?
THE STANDOUTS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sterling Sheffield, LB, Maine — The senior was all over the field tonight with a team-high five solo tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.
OTHER STAT STANDOUTS:
Deshawn Stevens, LB, Maine – 9 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs
Taji Lowe, LB, Maine – 9 total tackles, 2 TFLs
Ramon Jefferson, RB, Maine – 15 rushes, 88 yards, 1 TD
LeGrand Toia, LB, Weber – 10 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT.
Darryl Denby, WR, Weber – 7 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD
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THE TURNING POINT
In a game where sustaining drives was unbelievably hard to do, Maine turned a simple slant route into an Earnest Edwards 67-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 just 1.5 minutes into the second half. Weber State brought the score back to 14-12, but an 11-point lead was too much to overcome with Maine's defense coming up with big stops or turnovers.
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COACH RUMORS: FCS Carousel
THE SKINNY
If you play strong defense in the playoffs, you have a chance in any game. Maine proved that Friday at Weber State and is heading to its first semifinal appearance in program history.
For those that appreciate an assignment-sound defensive unit and solid tackling, this was your game. The defenses were a big part of why both offenses struggled so much. But let's also be real with this, neither offense was very good in the opportunities given to them to make plays (not connecting on easy completions when there was no pressure from the defensive lines).
Maine has never been a flashy team this year. The team probably doesn't care about the Twitter reaction to the win. Because the only thing that matters is getting that win. Traveling across the country on a short week, the Black Bears took their black-and-blue style and did it better than Weber's black-and-blue style.
The offensive numbers aren't going to wow you.
But just look at this beautiful stat line for the Black Bears defense: -1 rushing yards allowed on 25 attempts, 271 total yards allowed, three sacks, 13 tackles for loss and four interceptions.
How's that saying go?
"Defense wins championships."
Well, the CAA champs are now in the Final 4 of the FCS playoffs because of that side of the ball.
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PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
It'll be another trip across the country against either No. 6 UC Davis or No. 3 Eastern Washington. This team has the defense to play with anyone in the country. But EWU and UC Davis' offenses are on a different level than Weber's.
The Black Bears will need a better offensive showing to earn a trip to the national title game. They showed that scoring ability last week in the second round. This week featured a grind-it-out sort of win. But the nice thing about the playoffs is it doesn't matter how you win. And all Maine has to do next week is find a way to get another victory and it's off to the national championship.
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WEBER: Wildcats Set To Reload Next Year
NEXT: Odds To Win The National Title
