The Black Bears will need a much better offensive game against a tougher Eastern Washington team and they are going to have to match their defensive pressure to keep Eric Barriere uncomfortable and in the pocket.
South Dakota State is exactly where it was last year in a semifinal round game. This year’s road contest is one that the Jackrabbits know well–just up I-29 to Fargo to play Dakota Marker rival North Dakota State.
It’s becoming a habit for Aggie fans, trips to Atlanta in mid-December. That’s because North Carolina A&T is once again competing in the Celebration Bowl. In it’s four year history, this will be the third time the Aggies are the MEAC representative. The two other times they came to Atlanta, in 2015 and 2017, they won.
Trailing 21-14, Eastern Washington scored twice within a less than three minute span to pull ahead and ultimately prevail 34-29 over Big Sky conferencemate UC Davis in a frenzied fourth quarter of FCS Playoff action.
South Dakota State surged to a 20-3 lead, and had to withstand a late Kennesaw State surge behind backup quarterback Daniel David, but late in the fourth quarter the Jackrabbits were able to close out a thrilling semifinal with a 27-17 victory.
Top seeded North Dakota State advanced to their eighth straight Division I FCS semifinals with a 35-0 win over eighth seeded Colgate before 16,404 fans at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Seventh seeded Maine’s national championship run continued with its Division I FCS quarterfinals win over two-seeded Weber State 23-18 in front of 7,726 in attendance at Stewart Stadium.
A rematch between Big Sky Conference teams will take place this Saturday when the Eastern Washington University football team hosts UC Davis in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
Kennesaw State’s dream season continues as they reach the FCS Playoff quarterfinals for the second straight year. Unlike last year, however, when the Owls had to make a trip to Huntsville, Texas to play Sam Houston State, this time out they will be hosting one of the perennial powers of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, South Dakota State.
