Around FCS: Patriot League is all shook up
By Brett Kahn, FCS Assistant Philadelphia (Sports Network) - Holy Cross finished off a solid 2009 campaign with a 28-26 win over Lafayette at home Saturday, earning an automatic FCS playoff berth and at least a share of the Patriot League Championship.
But is that the end of the story? Although the Crusaders have consistently been the best team in the league all season and were ranked 13th in last week's Sports Network poll, the PL has two other teams that could potentially find its way into post-season play.
With the Leopards (8-2, 4-1 in PL) and Colgate (9-2, 4-2 in PL) both with two losses and some quality wins this season, many have wondered if the conference will get a second playoff bid.
Let's look inside the numbers.
Lafayette took down Penn in week two, 20-17 in overtime, beating arguably the nation's top defense. The Quakers have received a consistent amount of votes in the top-25 poll for most of the season and are tied for 28th in the latest Gridiron Power Index.
The Leopards picked up one other quality win in a 56-49 shootout over Colgate. The Raiders rank 41st in the GPI and were ranked as high as 18th in the TSN poll at one point.
In the game against Holy Cross, Lafayette took a 12-0 lead in the first quarter after a one-yard run by running back Maurice White and a two-yard pass from quarterback Rob Curley.
However, Holy Cross scored three times in the second quarter, led by Payton Award nominated quarterback Dominic Randolph, who tallied two scores in the frame. Randolph finished the game completing, 23-of-37 passes for 348 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The likely finalist for this year's award has compiled 3,594 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns this season.
Colgate picked up quality wins this season over Monmouth, an early-season contender in the NEC and Stony Brook, who still has a chance to share the Big South Conference crown with a win over Liberty next weekend.
Currently, Colgate is a longer shot than Lafayette to make the field of 16, but isn't completely out of the race.
Lets look at the potential at-large teams ahead of two lingering PL squads.
Montana State (No. 23 in GPI) out of the Big Sky Conference is currently 7-3 after beating Sacramento State, 27-17 on Saturday. The Bobcats take on Montana next week that could very well decide their playoff chances.
MSU has a quality win over Weber State (26-21) when the Wildcats were ranked 11th in the TSN poll. The Wildcats are 6-4 after a 27-9 win over Northern Arizona and ranked a solid 16th in this week's GPI.
MSU's only two losses this season came against Northern Arizona (tied for 19th in GPI) and Eastern Washington (13th in GPI).
Eastern Washington is also in the playoff mix at 7-3 after a 41-28 win over a much improved Southern Utah squad. EWU came into the weekend at No. 18 in the top-25 poll and ranked 13th in the GPI. However, Eastern Washington's lone quality win came in a 35-24 win over Montana State.
Liberty, although likely the Big South Champs this season, can't rely on an automatic bid. The Flames are 8-2 after a 51-28 win over Gardner-Webb, their third straight 50-point outburst.
Liberty was ranked 21st in the GPI last week, but the strength of schedule might hurt the Flames. However, Liberty took down Lafayette, 19-13 early in the season, which could possibly eliminate the Leopards from playoff contention.
Finally, there is the mix in the Southland Conference. Going into the day, four teams were tied atop the league with Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Texas State all deadlocked at 4-1 in conference play. However, SFA and Southeastern Louisiana played each other today with McNeese State battling Texas State.
SFA blew out the Lions, 41-10. The Lumberjacks went into today's contest ranked 15th in the TSN top-25 poll and tied for 19th in the GPI. They can earn a share of the SLC title next weekend and the automatic bid with a win over Northwestern State.
The Cowboys can also earn at least a share of the title next week with a win over Central Arkansas, after taking down Texas State on Saturday, 30-27, but can not earn the automatic bid if Stephen F. Austin wins next weekend, due to a 16-13 loss to the Lumberjacks early this season.
With all of this commotion surrounding the FCS playoffs, Lafayette and Colgate will likely have to cross their fingers until the official announcement is made that will either leave the teams in jubilation or disdain after solid 2009 seasons.
BC-AGN;KAHN-COLUMN By Brett Kahn, FCS Assistant Philadelphia (Sports Network) - Holy Cross finished off a solid 2009 campaign with a 28-26 win over Lafayette at home Saturday, earning an automatic FCS playoff berth and at least a share of the Patriot League Championship.
But is that the end of the story? Although the Crusaders have consistently been the best team in the league all season and were ranked 13th in last week's Sports Network poll, the PL has two other teams that could potentially find its way into post-season play.
With the Leopards (8-2, 4-1 in PL) and Colgate (9-2, 4-2 in PL) both with two losses and some quality wins this season, many have wondered if the conference will get a second playoff bid.
Let's look inside the numbers.
Lafayette took down Penn in week two, 20-17 in overtime, beating arguably the nation's top defense. The Quakers have received a consistent amount of votes in the top-25 poll for most of the season and are tied for 28th in the latest Gridiron Power Index.
The Leopards picked up one other quality win in a 56-49 shootout over Colgate. The Raiders rank 41st in the GPI and were ranked as high as 18th in the TSN poll at one point.
In the game against Holy Cross, Lafayette took a 12-0 lead in the first quarterHowever, Holy Cross scored three times in the second quarter, led by Payton Awar Colgate picked up quality wins this season over Monmouth, an early-season contender in the NEC and Stony Brook, who still has a chance to share the Big South Conference crown with a win over Liberty next weekend.
Currently, Colgate is a longer shot than Lafayette to make the field of 16, but isn't completely out of the race.
Lets look at the potential at-large teams ahead of two lingering PL squads.
Montana State (No. 23 in GPI) out of the Big Sky Conference is currently 7-3 after beating Sacramento State, 27-17 on Saturday. The Bobcats take on Montana next week that could very well decide their playoff chances.
MSU has a quality win over Weber State (26-21) when the Wildcats were ranked 11th in the TSN poll. The Wildcats are 6-4 after a 27-9 win over Northern Arizona and ranked a solid 16th in this week's GPI.
MSU's only two losses this season came against Northern Arizona (tied for 19th in GPI) and Eastern Washington (13th in GPI).
Eastern Washington is also in the playoff mix at 7-3 after a 41-28 win over a much improved Southern Utah squad. EWU came into the weekend at No. 18 in the top-25 poll and ranked 13th in the GPI. However, Eastern Washington's lone quality win came in a 35-24 win over Montana State.
Liberty, although likely the Big South Champs this season, can't rely on an automatic bid. The Flames are 8-2 after a 51-28 win over Gardner-Webb, their third straight 50-point outburst.
Liberty was ranked 21st in the GPI last week, but the strength of schedule might hurt the Flames. However, Liberty took down Lafayette, 19-13 early in the season, which could possibly eliminate the Leopards from playoff contention.
Finally, there is the mix in the Southland Conference. Going into the day, four teams were tied atop the league with Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Texas State all deadlocked at 4-1 in conference play. However, SFA and Southeastern Louisiana played each other today with McNeese State battling Texas State.
SFA blew out the Lions, 41-10. The Lumberjacks went into today's contest ranked 15th in the TSN top-25 poll and tied for 19th in the GPI. They can earn a share of the SLC title next weekend and the automatic bid with a win over Northwestern State.
The Cowboys can also earn at least a share of the title next week with a win over Central Arkansas, after taking down Texas State on Saturday, 30-27, but can not earn the automatic bid if Stephen F. Austin wins next weekend, due to a 16-13 loss to the Lumberjacks early this season.
With all of this commotion surrounding the FCS playoffs, Lafayette and Colgate will likely have to cross their fingers until the official announcement is made that will either leave the teams in jubilation or disdain after solid 2009 seasons.
11/16 18:29:46 ET
