FCS playoffs - final 4

[fourthandshort]

In a shocker, NDSU destroyed SHSU 55-14

Today, SDSU at JMU just finished Q1 .. get this though. SDSU is shutting down JMU offense. But JMU is still up just 7-0 in a defensive battle. Reason ?? SDSU has 5 turnovers in 5 drives (2 picks, 3 fumbles), and just started their 6th drive before Q1 ended. QB Christion is crapping the bed with 2 picks and 2 fumbles on sacks. SDSU has 7 first downs to JMU's 4. JMU only score came on fumble that put them on 5 yard line.

Q2 just starting .. SDSU had ball again .. for now.

 

[fourthandshort]

SDSU just drove field to tie up game at 7 .. incredible they are still in this game with 5 TO in Q1 .. their defense is carrying them so far. If offense settles down, things look good for SDSU and MVFC.

Under the category of "this and 2 bucks will get you cup of coffee ...", our loss to SDSU by 3 in OT and NDSU by 13 after late score .. were both far more competitive scores and games then any game either team has played in playoffs so far ... would you like room in your coffee for cream ??

 

[fourthandshort]

wow ... SDSU collapsed both sides of ball. Up to 8 turnovers ... 4 picks + 4 fumbles lost, plus couple big runs by JMU ... QB Christion has 7 of 8 TOs.

Incredible collapse .. score is 55-16 with 12 mins left in game ... Christion is still in the game ... wow !!!!

 

[fourthandshort]

uh ... Christion just threw his 5th pick ... why is she still in game ??

 

[fourthandshort]

incredible .. Christion just threw 6th pick.

 

[Chi-bird]

SDSU had 10 turnovers today vs. JMU.

That's 10 as in ten.

 

[fourthandshort]

QB Christion had 9 of the 10 TOs ... 6 picks and 3 fumbles on sacks. Give credit to JMU for getting to him ... must have been something hey picked up in scouting him and their offense, and/or he just had a complete meltdown. But why their coach left him in game that long is amazing ... but likely means they have no 2nd stringer even close to ready. This game could ruin him mentally for next year.

 

[Sanantoniobird]

QB Christion had 9 of the 10 TOs ... 6 picks and 3 fumbles on sacks. Give credit to JMU for getting to him ... must have been something hey picked up in scouting him and their offense, and/or he just had a complete meltdown. But why their coach left him in game that long is amazing ... but likely means they have no 2nd stringer even close to ready. This game could ruin him mentally for next year.

JMU looks like a national champ. Seriously...other than UNC, what defense can stop them?

 

[fourthandshort]

I think JMU defense is stronger than their offense .. needed 10 TOs to get 51 points. If Christion doesn't have meltdown, I think SDSU gives JMU a game and possibly wins. I realize that may sound nuts .. but one guy caused that result. And it took an insane # of TOs for JMU to win by 35 points. Think of it this way, every turnover is potential worth 7 to 14 point swings .. JMU won by just 35.

I like NDSU chances this year. I think JMU was better a year ago, and further think NDSU is better this year .. and playing very well right now.

 

[Chi-bird]

I think JMU defense is stronger than their offense .. needed 10 TOs to get 51 points. If Christion doesn't have meltdown, I think SDSU gives JMU a game and possibly wins. I realize that may sound nuts .. but one guy caused that result. And it took an insane # of TOs for JMU to win by 35 points. Think of it this way, every turnover is potential worth 7 to 14 point swings .. JMU won by just 35..

C'mon 4th. Turnovers are not a fluke. They are often the result of a higher risk play, which a team is more likely to call if they are not successful moving the ball on lesser, conservative plays.

JMU thoroughly-dominated SDSU in this game. It's not as if SDSU was moving the ball well against them when they weren't turning it over. JMU even averaged 50% more yardage per play.

I think this championship game is going to be a great one. Not sure it can match the epic game in January 2015, but it should be very close. I think many will be surprised with just how well the dukes run on the Bison.

 

[fourthandshort]

I think JMU defense is stronger than their offense .. needed 10 TOs to get 51 points. If Christion doesn't have meltdown, I think SDSU gives JMU a game and possibly wins. I realize that may sound nuts .. but one guy caused that result. And it took an insane # of TOs for JMU to win by 35 points. Think of it this way, every turnover is potential worth 7 to 14 point swings .. JMU won by just 35..

C'mon 4th. Turnovers are not a fluke. They are often the result of a higher risk play, which a team is more likely to call if they are not successful moving the ball on lesser, conservative plays.

JMU thoroughly-dominated SDSU in this game. It's not as if SDSU was moving the ball well against them when they weren't turning it over. JMU even averaged 50% more yardage per play.

I think this championship game is going to be a great one. Not sure it can match the epic game in January 2015, but it should be very close. I think many will be surprised with just how well the dukes run on the Bison.

Not suggesting SDSU was/is better ... but this game was decided by 1 player meltdown.

SDSU had 25 1st downs to JMU's 16.

JMU scored on a 5 yard drive, a 8 yard drive (FG), 2 long runs from scrimmage (57 and 87 yard TD runs) .. and needed 10 TOs to their own 2 TOs to win a lopsided game .. 9 of 10 TOs from QB Christion. My only point is that the lopsided score was a fluke score, because something that has probably never happened before to either team, happened. Christion has never had meltdown like that. And JMU has never caused another team, even a bad CAA team, to do that either. .. it was fluke.

That said, JMU clearly deserves to be in title game. But I really like NDSU chances.

 

[FriscoBird90]

This will be almost like a home game for NDSU, with the stands full of green and gold. Should be a good match-up between the defending national champions and an NDSU team that seems to have picked up the level of its play by a notch or two since the playoffs began.