The Week That Was: Highlights of the Five Top FCS Games, Week Ending 9/7/2019

Most years, it’s FCS teams stunning FBS teams, but this week, it was non-scholarship FCS and sub-Division-I teams stunning FCS squads instead.

In their home opener, non-scholarship Dayton (1-0) stunned Indiana State (0-2) 42-35. Flyer QB Jack Cook accounted for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing, while RB Sean Prophit scored on a 13-yard run with 1:57 left in the game to take the lead for good. The Sycamores were the highest-rated opponent Dayton had ever faced – and had ever beaten.

In Torero Stadium in San Diego, UC Davis came about an inch from becoming the second FCS Top 25 upset victim of the weekend. Up 38-35, the Aggies (1-1) were facing San Diego’s (0-2) final play from UC Davis’ 2 yard line. RB Emilio Martinez ran right and tried to cross the plane of the goal line with the ball – only to see DB Devon King knock the ball out mere inches before he was able t0 do so. UC Davis escaped with a 38-35 win.

Elsewhere, D-II Tarleton State beat Stephen F. Austin 37-26, Division II Truman State bested Drake 10-7, D-II East Stroudsburg upset Wagner 24-14, and D-II Virginia Union didn’t just beat Hampton, they dominated them 36-17.

Southern Illinois got an impressive FBS scalp in UMass this week by reeling off 35 unanswered points to shock UMass on Saturday, 45-20, for its first win against an FBS opponent since 2007 and just the fourth FBS win in school history. QB Stone Labanowitz made defeating an FBS team look easy, with 265 yards passing and 4 TDs.

Kennesaw State came within a whisker of an upset of an FBS team as well, but in overtime Kent State managed to outlast the Owls 26-23. In the extra session, the Owls fumbled on their possession, while PK Matthew Trickett nailed a 38 yard field goal for the Golden Flashes to narrowly escape the upset bid.

Furman too took Georgia State to the absolute limit after finally falling 48-42 to the Panthers. A week after Georgia State upset Tennessee, the Paladins jumped to a 20-3 lead before a Georgia State scoring barrage was enough to withstand a furious Furman rally. QB Darren Grainger caused the Panthers fits all afternoon, with 323 yards passing, 52 yards rushing and 5 total touchdowns.

In HBCU action in the Labor Day Classic in Montgomery, Alabama, Alabama State outlasted rival Tuskegee 38-31 thanks to an 81 yard bomb from QB KHA’Darris Davis to WR Michael Jefferson in the 4th quarter. Davis threw for 347 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Holy Cross got the first Patriot League victory of the year in thrilling fashion over New Hampshire: with 2:02 remaining and the Wildcats in the shadow of their own end zone, Crusader LB Liam Doran forced a fumble by Wildcat RB Carlos Washington in the end zone, and after a mad scramble DB Joe Lang recovered it in the end zone to have the Crusaders prevail 13-10.

And the first-ever night game at Meade Stadium in Kingston, Rhode Island saw a triple-overtime classic between Delaware and Rhode Island, where the Blue Hens outlasted the Rams 44-38. QB Pat Kehoe would find RB Will Knight for the touchdown in the 3rd overtime, while URI would be intercepted on 4thand goal to give Delaware a most hard-earned victory.

Finally, every FCS fan in the state of Montana went home happy this Saturday after both Montana and Montana State came up with big-time wins. The Griz pounded North Alabama 61-17, while the Bobcats invited an FCS Top 25 team to their place and gutted out a hard-earned 38-17 victory.

Below are some video highlights of these games. And the scores have a gap recap link.

1. Southern Illinois 45, FBS UMass 20 (Amherst, MA)

Courtesy Amherst Wire

2. Delaware 44 URI 38, 3OT (Kingston, RI)

3. Montana State 38 SEMO 17 (Bozeman, MT)

4. Alabama State 38, Tuskegee 31 (Montgomery, AL)

5. Georgia State 48, Furman 42 (Atlanta, GA)

Dayton 42, Indiana State 35 (Dayton, OH)

Holy Cross 13, New Hampshire 10 (Worcester, MA)

UC Davis 38, San Diego 35 (San Diego, CA)