Storyline: It’s “Never Say Die” Youngstown v. Madison’s terrific offense in the 2017 FCS Championship game.
The big game, of course, is Monday night in Tampa–Clemson v. Alabama. But the NCAA will crown another college football champion in Frisco, TX on Saturday afternoon. Either Youngstown State or James Madison will win the 2017 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championship.
It’s good, exciting football, too. And the FCS playoff format makes a lot of sense, especially for fans. It’s a 24-team playoff with eight top-seeded teams getting a bye.
Courtesy: JMU
Madison (Colonial Athletic Conference, 13-1, with its lone loss to UNC) earned one of those byes. Youngstown State (Missouri Valley Football Conference, 12-3 with losses to WVU, North Dakota St., and South Dakota St.) did not.
Madison is favored by 7.5 points on Saturday. One reason is that the #4-seed Dukes took out #1-seed and 5-time defending champ, North Dakota State, on the road in the national semi. Another reason is that JMU steamrolled their other tournament opponents–New Hampshire by 33 and #5-seed Sam Houston State by … get this … 58 points.
YSU, on the other hand, is the tournament’s underdog-made-good team. The Penguins beat Samford (not to be confused with Stanford) to get to the Sweet 16. Then came a 2-OT win over Wofford (SC) followed by a third victory, this time over #3-seed Jacksonville (AL) State. YSU’s largest margin of victory in those games was 16 points.
Courtesy: YSU
The big win–and a huge upset it was–came in the national semi, played on the road against #2-seed Eastern Washington. The Penguins won in spectacular fashion, too.
“THE PLAY” came at game’s end in a classic football environment: night game, double digit below 0 temps, a brisk wind, and off-and-on snow.
EWU looked prime to win, up by four points with time running out, but YSU had one, last chance to pull off a victory. On 4th Down-and-Goal YSU’s QB, Hunter Wells, retreated from scrimmage at EWU’s 5-yard line and threw to TE Kevin Rader in the EWU end zone.
Wells’ pass hit an EWU defender in the back. But Rader reached around, cradled the ball on the defender’s back, and fell to the turf with 1 second left—hugging the defender all the way to the ground.
Touchdown! YSU 40, EWU 38. (Watch the play here.)
JMU’s Khalid Abdullah (photo, Daily Press)
Spectacular finish aside, JMU has the offensive horses to beat YSU. QB Bryan Schor has thrown for nearly 3000 yards on the year and has 27 TDs through the air. His 73% completion rate is the best in the FCS. If that wasn’t enough, Schor added another 550 yards on the ground with 10 TDs.
RB Khalid Abdullah, a must-watch talent and rising pro prospect, ran for over 1700 yards with 20 TDs. And WR Brandon Ravenel caught 45 passes for 720 yards and scored 5 TDs.
Defense is the key for the Penguins. YSU has formidable defensive ends: Derek Rivers had 52 total tackles on the year with 17.5 tackles for losses and 14 sacks and partner, Avery Moss, matched Rivers’ output with 51 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for losses, and 10 sacks. Linebacker Armand Dellovade is a workhorse (98 TT, 11.5 TFL).
Derek Rivers, YSU (photo, The Vindicator)
I think a pattern in this game will be set early, a matter of whether JMU can have its way against the Penguins’ defense. To avoid that outcome, YSU will need to do what NDSU could not: control Abdullah and frustrate Schor. If that happens, a grind-it-out-game favors Youngstown. YSU has come-from-behind this year to win five games in the 4th Quarter.
With an over/under of 63.5 points, Vegas predicts a high-scoring game. Both teams can score and Madison is prolific in that regard, having scored over 80 points (that’s right, 80) twice this year and over 60 points in six games. YSU didn’t come close to that output, but did score 40+ points multiple times.
Offense aside, the fact is that neither team needs to score a lot of points to win. JMU limited four opponents to 7 points. YSU stymied four opponents by limiting them to 10 or fewer points.
Jim Tressel, former Penguin head football coach, is serving currently as YSU’s president (photo, Huffington Post)
A factor in YSU’s favor is championship game experience. The Penguins have been here a lot! YSU has won four FCS championships and has finished second twice. Legendary coach, Jim Tressel, made his mark at Youngstown before moving on to Ohio State and winning another championship ring there.
Tressel’s now back in Youngstown as the university’s president. Current coach, Bo Pelini, also has big-game coaching experience. He came to YSU after having served as HC of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
But the past is just that—past. The Dukes’ head coach, Mike Houston, is an up-and-comer. In his very first year (after coming over from The Citadel), Houston has lead JMU to the championship game. Houston is impressive, the FCS version of WMU’s P.J. Fleck.
Houston’s Dukes are impressive, too. I’ve watched them play and what stands out is their killer instinct, which was on full display in the dismantling of a very good Sam Houston State team. Once up, the Dukes stay up.
What’s my pick? My heart says YSU, but my head tells me Madison, 31-17.
