The 2017 FCS Playoffs are here and we've got game-by-game wrap ups. Nicholls and South Dakota hit the gridiron Saturday in the first round of the FCS Playoffs for the right to take on 6-seed Sam Houston State in the next round.
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Nicholls 31South Dakota 38 |
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Next up: South Dakota (8-4) at Sam Houston State (10-1) |
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THE STANDOUTS
Chris Streveler: 25 of 37 for 378 YDS, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 34 rush YDS
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THE TURNING POINT
On first and goal with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter, all Nicholls needed to do was punch it in from a couple yards out to tie the game. Instead, Kyran Irvin was hit a yard out and fumbled, and the Coyotes jumped on the ball to preserve the 38-31 lead and run out the clock to win.
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THE SKINNY
Not many gave Nicholls a chance against the high-powered Coyotes offense, but the Colonels showed up for a dogfight, continually answering South Dakota each time Chris Streveler led USD to points.
The Coyotes jumped out to a 17-7 lead at the half, but Nicholls answered as Chase Fourcade and Irvin combined for 165 yards on the ground, with Tahj Smith adding 65 yards and two scores. Fourcade threw for 232 yards, but had no touchdowns and threw what proved to be three costly interceptions.
Streveler, meanwhile, was fantastic, completing 68 percent of his passes for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns, including a 75-yard score late in the third quarter and a go-ahead 10-yard TD pass with less than 4 minutes to play with the game tied at 31.
After Streveler carried the team to the home stretch, the defense carried the ball across the finish line to seal the victory for the Coyotes.
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PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
South Dakota's win sets up a showdown between two prolific quarterbacks, USD's Chris Streveler and SHSU's Jeremiah Briscoe. Which offense will move on to the next round? This will be a fun one.
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