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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South Dakota 42Sam Houston State 54 |
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Next up: Sam Houston State (11-1) vs. Kennesaw State (12-1) Date/Time: TBA | TV: ESPN3 COMPARE: Sam Houston State vs. Kennesaw State |
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THE STANDOUTS
Jeremiah Briscoe, QB — SHSU: 28 of 43 for 505 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT,
Davion Davis, WR, SHSU: 8 receptions, 131 yards, 3 TD; 2 carries for 10 yards and a TD
Nathan Stewart, WR — SHSU: 7 receptions, 180 yards, 1 TD
Corey Avery, RB — SHSU: 16 carries for 100 yards and 2 TD
Chris Streveler, QB — USD: 33 of 54 for 520 yards, 5 TD and 2 INT; 15 carries for 51 yards and a TD
Brandt Van Roekel, WR — USD: 11 rec. for 234 yards and a TD
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THE TURNING POINT
All the momentum was in South Dakota's favor in the second half, but a timely interception stopped the Coyotes' comeback as late in the fourth quarter a Chris Streveler screen pass went off the back of his own lineman and Khalil Welsh hauled in the interception to effectively end the game.
Sam Houston State's Kahlil Welsh with the bank-shot INT!!!
SHSU 51, USD 42 – 4Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPN3: https://t.co/mH2cX0MU60 pic.twitter.com/zpUN6nCzSy— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 2, 2017
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THE SKINNY
Offense, offense and more offense.
Sam Houston State jumped out to a 41-14 lead at the half thanks to four first-half touchdowns from wide receiver Davion Davis, but South Dakota stormed back in the second half in a wild contest.
The Coyotes scored 21 unanswered points to make it a 41-35 game, and later crept within 2 points at 44-42 with 10:45 left in the fourth, but SHSU answered with a touchdown and a field goal then got the defensive stop noted above to seal the victory.
Both quarterbacks — South Dakota's Chris Streveler and Sam Houston State's Jeremiah Briscoe — threw for more than 500 yards and the two teams combined for 1,345 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.
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PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
Sam Houston State has a matchup with upset-minded Kennesaw State, who just took down No. 3 seed Jacksonville State in the second round in a 17-7 victory. The Bearkats defense will need to stay disciplined against the triple option attack from the Owls, but if the offense keeps rolling it may not matter.
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THE PREDICTION
Score prediction: SHSU 41, Kennesaw State 20
