Best Performance: (#5) Montana 35, Montana St. 3 - Wearing the classic "copper" & "gold", the Griz stomp their hated rivals so bad that Bobcat RB Demetrius Crawford's 203 yards rushing turned into a complete waste.
Worst Performance: Sacramento St. 33, Idaho St. 36 (OT) - Like the Griz, the Hornets also returned one last time to their storied past… by losing to a really bad team. Also, like the Bobcats, the Hornets wasted a 200 yard rusher (Bryan Hilliard).
Most Surprising Result: (#8) Weber St. 26, Eastern Washington 33 - Though they did make a valiant comeback in the 3rd. quarter, the Wildcats ruined their chances at a seed & a home playoff game thanks to an uncharacteristic 4 INTs from Cameron Higgins.
Southland
NWST 34-24 SFA TXST 48-45 SHSU
MCNSE 30-47 UCA
SELA 28-35 NICH
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 19-14
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 10-5
Best Performance: (#13) Central Arkansas 47, (#14) McNeese St. 30 - The stats were pretty even, but the Bears still won easily to become the true Southland champions regardless of what any official outlet says.
Worst Performance: Southeastern Louisiana 28, Nicholls St. 35 - Nicholls dominated most of this one, though the Lions made it interesting in the 4th.
Most Surprising Result: Stephen F. Austin 24, Northwestern St. 34 - I figured the Lumberjacks would knock off the stumbling Demons at home, but 4 picks from Jeremy Moses made that impossible.
Missouri Valley
SDKST 25-24 NDSU UNI 34-24 SUU SIU 17-10 ILST YSU 31-28 WIU MIZST 27-24 INST (OT)
NConf Record: 1-0 Overall: 13-18
vs. FCS: 1-0 Overall: 11-7
Best Performance: South Dakota St. 25, North Dakota St. 24 - Jackrabbits gamble & get a 2 point conversion late to win in Fargo for the first time since 1962.
Worst Performance: Indiana St. 24, Missouri St. 27 (OT) - The Sycs get 237 yards rushing from Darrius Gates, but still manage to lose for the 50th. time in 51 games after allowing a 19 yard TD pass on the final play of regulation.
Most Surprising Result: (#23) Western Illinois 28, Youngstown St. 31 - Herb Donaldson's 235 yards on 40 carries weren't enough to avoid a third loss in four games to close the season for the Leathernecks.
Best Performance: Eastern Kentucky 33, (#18) Tennessee-Martin 31 - 5 forced turnovers & a key 2PC stop allow the Colonels to overcome a 501-172 yardage deficit and keep pace with Montana for most all-time I-AA/FCS playoff appearances.
Worst Performance: Tennessee Tech 20, Eastern Illinois 38 - Golden Eagles give up two 100 yard rushers & end the season on an ugly 7 game losing streak.
Most Surprising Result: (#25) Tennessee St. 17, Murray St. 24 - The Tigers were still a good team this season, but its hard to remember that after late season losses to Murray & SEMO.
LEHIGH 31-15 LAF
FORD 21-24 BUCK(OT)
HC 27-28 COLG
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 20-16
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 20-16
Best Performance: (#21) Colgate 28, Holy Cross 27 - Raiders get 65 carries for 276 yards from Nate Eachus, Jordan Scott, and QB Greg Sullivan and come back from a 10 point halftime deficit to earn a playoff berth.
Worst Performance: Fordham 21, Bucknell 24 (OT) - One year removed from their surprising Patriot League title, the Rams finish a disappointing 5-6.
Most Surprising Result: Lafayette 15, Lehigh 31 - After an impressive 6-1 start, the Leopards conclude the season losing 3 of 4 after their first loss to the rival Mountain Hawks in 5 years.
CAA
UNH 28-24 MAINE
HOF 14-28 UMASS URI 29-14 NE NOVA 21-7 UD JMU 58-27 TOW RICH 23-20 W&M (OT)
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 28-17
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 26-5
Best Performance: (#11) New Hampshire 28, (#17) Maine 24 - The Wildcats uncharacteristically threw just 12 passes, but their defense got the job done as they held Maine's potent rushing attack to just 2.9 ypc.
Worst Performance: Northeastern 14, Rhode Island 29 - Huskies conclude yet another disappointing season by gaining just 190 yards against one of FCS's worst defenses.
Most Surprising Result: Northeastern 14, Rhode Island 29 - The Huskies have fallen like a stone since receiving the #4 seed in 2002; it's now 5 straight losing seasons for Northeastern.
MEAC
HAMP 17-13 MORG DSU 10-6 HOW SCSU 55-0 NCAT NFOLK 17-14 WSSU
BCOOK 35-58 FAMU (in Orlando)
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 11-14
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 8-9
Best Performance: Florida A&M 58, Bethune-Cookman 35 - Rattlers run for 330 yards (171 from QB Curtis Pulley) & force 7 turnovers in a Florida Classic rout.
Worst Performance: North Carolina A&T 0, (#15) South Carolina St. 55 - The rivalry has been pretty one-sided of late, but this game was a new low for the Aggies: just 46 yards of offense & minus-5 passing.
Most Surprising Result: Bethune-Cookman 35, Florida A&M 58 - The Wildcats were among the FCS leaders in rushing offense, but they were actually outrushed by their intrastate rivals.
SoCon
APPST 35-10 WCU
ELON 3-26 LIB
FUR 10-35 WOFF
CIT 19-70 UF SAM 30-7 UTC
NConf Record: 0-2 Overall: 18-15
vs. FCS: 0-1 Overall: 12-5
Best Performance: (#9) Wofford 35, (#20) Furman 10 - Terriers do what they do best: run for lots of yards.
Worst Performance: Tennessee-Chattanooga 7, Samford 30 - Mocs finish the season 0-9 against FCS & end up as arguably the worst team in a playoff conference.
Most Surprising Result: (#12) Elon 3, (#22) Liberty 26 - The Phoenix suffer another late season collapse that costs them any hope of their first ever FCS playoff appearance.
UCD 20-28 USD
CPOLY 35-36 WISC(OT) UND 34-31 SDK (OT) UNI 34-24 SUU
NConf Record: 0-3 Overall: 21-17
vs. FCS: 0-2 Overall: 10-14
Best Performance: (#3) Cal Poly 35, (FBS) Wisconsin 36 (OT) - If the Mustangs had made the extra point on their 4th. quarter touchdown, they would have been up 9 and almost certain to score a solid BCS upset. Unfortunately they didn't & then added insult by missing another XP in overtime to lose the game.
Worst Performance: South Dakota 31, North Dakota 34 (OT) - One week after rushing for 445 yards against Southern Utah, the Coyotes manage just 3.5 ypc against the Sioux.
Most Surprising Result: UC Davis 20, San Diego 28 - Greg Denham throws for 434 yards, but the Aggies still suffer their second straight losing season.
Ivy League
PENN 23-6 COR
YALE 0-10 HARV
COLUM 10-41 BROWN
DART 10-28 PRINCE
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 10-14
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 10-14
Best Performance: (#19) Harvard 10, Yale 0 - The Crimson switch to the running & defense gameplan this time as they run for 261 yards & hold the Bulldogs to just 90 total yards.
Worst Performance: Dartmouth 10, Princeton 28 - Big Green are outrushed 343-(-11) as they go winless for the first time since an 0-1 season in 1883.
Most Surprising Result: (none)
Big South
PRESBY 27-49 VMI
ELON 3-26 LIB CHSO 24-0 CCU
NConf Record: 1-0 Overall: 21-18
vs. FCS: 1-0 Overall: 13-13
Best Performance: (#22) Liberty 26, (#12) Elon 3 - It wasn't quite enough to make the playoffs, but the Flames at least succeeded in stunning the SoCon & the FCS establishment.
Worst Performance: Presbyterian 27, VMI 49 - The Blue Hose do their part in allowing the Keydets to finish the year as FCS's top rushing offense.
Most Surprising Result: Coastal Carolina 0, Charleston Southern 24 - The Chanticleers Jekyll & Hyde season concludes in disappointing fashion thanks to 6 turnovers.
SWAC
GRAM 33-7 TXSO AAMU 58-23 MVSU JSU 26-21 ALCORN
NConf Record: 0-0 Overall: 11-22
vs. FCS: 0-0 Overall: 1-12
Best Performance: Grambling 33, Texas Southern 7 - Is Grambling's defense outstanding or what? In this game they scored 3 touchdowns, held Texas Southern to just 101 yards, & gave up no offensive points.
Worst Performance: MIssissippi Valley St. 23, Alabama A&M 58 - Delta Devils give up 525 yards, including 201 yards from WR Thomas Harris.
Most Surprising Result: Alabama A&M 58, Mississippi Valley St. 23 - Bulldog QB Kevin Atkins throws for 357 yards and 5 TDs to score a 201.4 efficiency rating, 82 points above his season mark coming in.
Tomorrow: Independents & the artists formerly known as mid-majors
