FCS playoffs quaterfinals

So we are thru the quarterfinals and what we got this weekend was what felt to me like a sandwich of games...and not the one you really like but tolerate anyways (pick your own average sandwich). We got a couple of good (one great) games as the bread and then two stinkers at depending on how you look at it showed the dominance of a conference or luck running out. 

Either way you slice it we have arrived at our final four and when you think about it was there really any doubt of the four teams? Yea maybe Sam Houston St is a surprise but the other three? If you had seen someone other than them make it we would have some "cinderella" intrigue, though the intrigue that we have got is pretty damn interesting. All four teams have some flaws, though in the case of NDSU we really haven't seen it in the playoffs, and all four have a chance to make it. We shall see what this weekend has in store

Oh and before I forget...Its no secret how much ESPN loves James Madison and North Dakota St...by putting those games on ESPN2 it got a chance for the casual fan to observe FCS football. Now it doesn't hurt that both games had 13,000+ fans in attendance and the JMU/Weber St game was about as good as it gets this year. But in the same breath for a guy like me it really sucks that only half of the games were featured on cable. The other four teams deserve the spotlight just as bright. Just makes you wish that there was a way for other networks to get in on the action so every playoff game is shown on cable. I'm gonna touch on this a bit more later during the offseason.

One more thing about ESPN, if your are going to have a non FBS game can we not get more coverage of the Hesiman or the Playoff Series? Why not preview the other games or talk about the finalist for the awards on the FCS level. No offense to Trevor Madich but him stumbling thru 5 minutes of a game he just watch then to turn around and go on and on and on about Baker Mayfield isn't really doing it for me when all I have to do is change the channel for that

Also I'm gonna try and do more than just yap about the games and notes I saw from them. Probably gonna be some Top 5 or Top 10 lists, talks about how to better do the bracket, and a few other things I've had dancing around in my head. And hopefully I'll be starting a podcast soon so you get to hear y crappy voice instead of reading my crappy writing lol...but for now some notes on our lovely sandwich.

James Madison 31 - Weber St 28

• Was this the game of the year? Probably not, but it was really close. From the opening kickoff you could tell that this matchup was the best of the bunch and it also goes to show you a bit of how evenly the top teams in the part of the bracket were. The 4th quarter alone saw 35 points and these teams traded shot after shot
• As much as I want to say JMU won the game, I think Weber St kinda helped them out a lot. All game long you saw a mostly passive defense on passing downs daring JMU QB Bryan Schor to beat him. Granted he did throw for 359 but there were about 5 or 6 throws that could have been picked. The last two drives of the game the Wildcats sent blitz after blitz (7 straight at one point) and it left the back end vulnerable
• On the game tying touchdown pass a major breakdown in coverage (pretty sure you don't send both safeties to the underneath TE and leave 0 coverage in the back)
• Here is another reason why I think JMU got some help...its 3rd & 9 on the JMU 36 and you call a pass with just over 3 left. Now you get the result you wanted (great catch and throw) but in a similar situation in the first round game versus Western Illinois, they opted to get the first down and run out the clock. Overall I think they left too much time for the Dukes
• I said at the top how luck ESPN got because of the crowd...13,490 brave souls got out and saw a great game is some cold weather. Plus did you see the Weber St fans? A good 2,500 made the trip from Ogden, Utah to see them play. Gotta love that

North Dakota St 42 - Wofford 10

• You know for my money, the Fargo Dome is probably top two or three FCS stadiums and would argue that the atmosphere there is better than save the top tier Power 5 schools. They get loud, they are on top of you, and the PA announcer can sound annoying but damn that guy gets things going. Plus how they just kinda burst outta the locker room, almost makes me wish I could have done that, but I'll take my trot to Hanson Field any day
• I know Wofford isn't going throw the ball all over the field but to go over a half without a completed pass isn't gonna do you any favors 
• The thing about NDSU that makes them so good is that if you get caught in the stampede, you are as good as done. Just as you think Wofford had a chance after getting the turnover and turning it into point, the Bison scored 21 in a blink and put that game out of reach 
• When you watch a blowout, you usually tend to get some good stories about a player or two. One story in particular is the one about Wofford CB George Gbesee. Born in Ghana, his family moved all around the country before he found a home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and he picked up football by watching YouTube videos. That's pretty dame cool...oh and his family ended up in all places Fargo and saw him play in a game live for the first time. That's just all around cool

South Dakota St 56 - New Hampshire 14

• This game was over before you could ask yourself "where is Brookings, SD?" The Jackrabbits were as efficient as one can be taking care of a New Hampshire team that had their luck run out
• If there is one thing to take out of this game is to show how good MVFC is...SDSU made a really good, really hot defense look average all game long. Its easy to say the Missouri Valley is the SEC of the FCS but that's kinda selling it short. The depth in the league is pretty incredible when you think about it and if the Dakota St's win this weekend we get a Mile Marker rematch for the 'ship
• Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is really beautiful and what it replaced is a far cry from its beauty now. The Stadium before was an old school grassy stadium with that one huge stand on the home side and had some really old run down press boxes

Sam Houston St 34 - Kennesaw St 27

• To put the top on the weekend sandwich we got a game that initially looking like another blowout but turned into a pretty good game that could have gone the Owls way
• Its been two straight games were Sam Houston St looked on the brink of blowing a double digit lead in the second half. Yes it probably wasn't as bad as it was versus S. Dakota but they pull off the gas at any point next week versus the Bison and they might not recover
• I wonder what draft grade Jeremiah Briscoe has from pro scouts. I'm guessing its no higher then a late 4th but he seems like a player that given the right time to develop in a system could be a solid pro QB. At worst he looks like he could go the route of former FCS QB Bo Levi Mitchell and be a star in the CFL