So. Illinois has taken a 24-21 lead over Weber late in the 3rd.

Well the Big Sky teams exited the playoffs today in very unimpressive fashion. NDSU literally ran the ball down EWU's throat 42-20 and Southern Illinois scored a TD on a 4th and goal with 51 seconds left in the game. EWU's defense was non-existent after the first 8 minutes of the game and NDSU was able to contain and sack Barriere after getting down 14-0 early.

The play that really hurt Weber was a really stupid late hit on a play where the Weber D had the receiver wrapped up for a loss that would have made it 3rd and long on SI's final drive. What made it so egregious is that the Weber player came in with the hit after the SI player was already down. Unbelievable!

Playoff scores:

Sam Houston State 21 Monmoth 15
James Madison 31 VMI 24
Jacksonville State 49 Davidson 14
South Dakota State 31 Holy Cross 3
North Dakota 44 Missouri State 10
North Dakota State 42 Eastern Washington 20
Illinois State 34 Weber State 31
Delaware 19 Sacred Heart 10

Again, thanks to Victors Valiant on YouTube, the best source for FCS highlights on the web.

FCS Quarterfinals next Saturday:

Southern Illinois at #1 South Dakota State
North Dakota State at #2 Sam Houston State
North Dakota at #3 James Madison
Delaware at #4 Jacksonville State

Southern Illinois at #1 South Dakota State
North Dakota State at #2 Sam Houston State
North Dakota at #3 James Madison
Delaware at #4 Jacksonville State

I think North Dakota might pull it off, but that's a hell of a road trip...I'm assuming they're flying into D.C. and then driving for 2-1/2 hours to Harrisonburg...but maybe there's a charter strip near JMU.

Well Weber finally had the chickens come home to roost after all their close games. Guess Jay Hill wont have to worry about playing 3 more games (early season talk about having to play all those games in ensuing 12 months towards NC in both “seasons”.

EWU has had a porous defenses almost all season so not a great surprise at their downfall. Bottom line - Big Sky has little bragging rights and claims to MVFC bias (I am guilty of that) until they do something about it.

What was so striking to me is how SDSU completely shut down the run against NDSU the prior game. It goes back to the old adage of who controls the line of scrimmage wins games. MVFC is more suited/cognizant of that old axiom.

I will say the Aggies did much better on 2019 against the Bison who were much better last year than EWU did this year (had more offensive yards and contained bison much of the game) - they would have matched up better this year too.

I will say the Aggies did much better on 2019 against the Bison who were much better last year than EWU did this year (had more offensive yards and contained bison much of the game) - they would have matched up better this year too. — NCagalum

It's funny how the transitive property does not exist in football. Over the years we have played tough or beaten teams that beat Eastern but we just haven't been able to knock them off. Perhaps the Big Sky wasn't great this year, though I still think the also-rans in MVFC tend to get overrated with their screeches about strength of schedule. Maybe one struggle in the Big Sky has been the lack of truly dominant leaders due to conference-wide inconsistent streaks and overall lackluster road performance. Seems to end up a fair amount of apparent parity, with the only givens being that Montana will cheat and Northern Colorado will be bad.

“Seems to end up a fair amount of apparent parity, with the only givens being that Montana will cheat and Northern Colorado will be bad.”

Agreed!

Delaware 20 #4 Jacksonville State 14
#2 Sam Houston State 24 North Dakota State 20
#3 James Madison 34 North Dakota 21
@1 South Dakota State 31 Southern Illinois 26

Saturday, May 2nd, 2021
Sam Houston 24 - NDSU 20 (Huntsville, TX)
Delaware 20 - Jacksonville State 14 (Newark, DE)
James Madison 34 - North Dakota 21 (Harrisonburg, VA)
South Dakota State 31 - Southern Illinois 26 (Brookings, SD)

Home Teams went 4 for 4 last weekend during the quarter-finals.

SEMI FINAL MATCHUPS
SATURDAY, May 8th, 2021
DELAWARE @ SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 9:00 AM PACIFIC
Live from Dand J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, SD on ESPN

JAMES MADISON @ SAM HOUSTON STATE, 11:30 AM PACIFIC
Live from Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, TX on ABC

JMU 24. SH 3 at half.

Without looking at the roster, JM looks big and strong.

SH bouncing back, 27-24, JM-SH end of third.

And SH comes back to win it 38-35

WHAT. A. GAME.

It's going to be South Dakota State and Sam Houston State in Frisco, TX. Default home game for the Bearkats. The Jacks absolutely manhandled Delaware, it wasn't even close. SHSU has had the tougher run through the playoffs, but South Dakota State really is firing on all cylinders right now.

New champ this year. South Dakota St has never even been in a title game before and Sam Houston lost their only two appearances, both to NDST in 2011 and 2012.

Well, it's wet and wild in Frisco, TX today.

SDSU up 7-0, 2nd qtr. starting shortly.